Through the Eyes of Prendle

Chapter 3: The Anonymous Caller

The police station was buzzing with chatter when Lucas Findlay finally returned. He had a lot of things to do that day, including shopping for office supplies. Then Lucas patrolled the streets to try and get used to the street names and where everything was. He had not been in Marshlyn very long and had only started on the force a week ago. The former Chief Detective, John Justice, had retired. He was taking his place permanently. Most of the guys had welcomed him with open arms, but some of them, he assumed the ones who were close to John, hadn't quite let him into their hearts yet. Still, everyone got along pretty well, given the circumstances. Lucas's office was the biggest in the station's center, so everyone knew where to find him. That's where he headed as he took in the scene around him. The office seemed to be much more alive than it was when he had left earlier. He ignored that fact and went inside his office. He had always honored the open-door policy at his last post and didn't plan to do anything different here. In his experience, co-workers were more apt to come to him if they didn't have to knock on his door first. If the door was open, they wouldn't have to feel like they were interrupting anything.

He sat down in his desk chair and took a deep breath. He hadn't known quite what to make of Ms. Rose. On the outside, she seemed to be an ordinary red-blooded American girl. Her disposition was even sweet at first. He could tell she was defensive when she realized what he wanted. She was also a bit sarcastic. They were going to clash in the future.

"So, how did it go with your stalker this morning?"

Lucas looked up. He was so lost in the folds of his mind he hadn't even noticed Jeff Burns stick his head in. Jeff was one of John's closest friends and his former partner, one of the best cops on the force he had observed.

"It went okay," he told him.

"So, there was one then?" Jeff questioned further. "Sometimes, the females in this town get a little jumpy."

Lucas smiled briefly. Jeff was a funny guy. "Yes, I suppose so. But Mrs. Franks had a stalker." Interested, Jeff walked into the office. He made himself comfortable in one of the chairs in front of the desk. "Who was it?"

"Prendle Rose. Do you know her?"

Jeff frowned. "I can't say I do." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Wait a minute. Yes, I know her. Kathleen Rose, her mother, died about a year ago. I was in the car in the front at the funeral because John had to be in court that day. She was the stalker?"

Lucas nodded. He had found it a little hard to believe himself, but there she was, in her car, just as the Franks woman said she would be. It was unusual for a stalker to be so out in the open.

"So, what did you do, Findlay?" Jeff had a habit of calling his colleagues by their last names. "Did you read her the riot act?"

He smirked. "I used the good old intimidation technique. I followed Ms. Rose to her workplace and told her I would be watching. I said if I caught her around the Franks's house again, I'd bring her down here."

Jeff stared at him, half in awe, half smiling. "What did she say?"

"I caught her red-handed," Lucas continued. "She didn't even try to deny it. I think we understood each other before I left."

"You're my new hero. Justice would have never approached a subject like that. He believed in the good old-fashioned way of doing things, catching them in the act and then arresting them."

"There's nothing wrong with old-fashioned. I assure you."

"There never was. It doesn't mean the girl won't do it again."