At Home

Chapter Four

I walk through the aisles, looking at all the dog toys while simultaneously keeping an eye out for anyone or anything strange. I grab a bag of multi-colored tennis balls off the hook and throw them into my basket. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a toy that it shaped like broccoli. I walk closer to it and notice it has an angry expression, or maybe smug, sewn onto it. I shrug and grab it off the hook thinking about how I am going to tell Blue he needs to "Eat his vegetables." I laugh to myself and grab a carrot with a similar expression sewn in. I spot the frisbees and realize I have never thrown a frisbee for Blue and I wonder if he would like it. I see it's only $1 so I grab an orange one from the bin. I grab other various toys, just killing time while waiting for Maya. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and pull it out to see a message from the devil herself.

Maya: Hereeeeeeeeeee.

I shoot off a quick response.

Me: I'm inside. Meet me in the treat aisle.

The three dots indicating she is typing pop up.

Maya: Okiee dokee

I lock my phone and slide it back into my pocket before heading towards the dog treats. I grab a box of dental chews before I start looking for some other treats he may enjoy. Maya appears a few moments later sneaking a peak at my basket. She lets out a long low whistle. "Blue Baloo is a lucky puppy. What treats are you thinking?" I scan the shelves before grabbing some chicken and peanut butter flavored treats on the shelf. I do a quick scan of the ingredients. "He would probably love these" I say before dropping them in the basket.

Maya and I spend another 10 minutes browsing the aisles before checking out. She convinced me to circle back to the toy aisle, arguing "What kind of Aunt would I be if I showed up empty handed?" As we're walking toward the exit, I contemplate telling Maya about the texts. Before I can decide, I hear "Race you to your house!" And she takes off to her car. Well shit. I guess we are going to my house first. I decide we will check on my pup and I can tell her about the texts when we get there. Then, we can call the cops. Hopefully Unknown isn't waiting at the house.

I pull into my driveway as Maya is stepping out of her car. She sees me and rushes to the door. I chuckle before I feel my stomach drop a little. What if someone is inside? I hurry out of my car and get to the door right as Maya is stepping in. She books it straight to Blue to give him a huge hug and kisses, dropping her stuff on my kitchen counter on the way. I drop my bag on kitchen counter as well before slowly searching my house. I keep my key in between my fingers like they say to do when you're a woman walking to your car alone at night. You know, because that would be TOTALLY useful if someone had a gun. I do feel some sense of comfort from it though, so I guess that's why it's taught. I finish searching my small single story house, thankful that there is no upstairs for a killer to hide in.

I walk back into the kitchen to find Maya sitting on the floor with Blue, giving me a puzzled look. "What the fuck are you doing? Did you freak yourself out watching whatever murder show last night?" She laughs. "Ha. Ha. Very funny." I reply sarcastically. "Actually, I have something I need to show you though." Maya stands up from the floor, Blue's sad puppy eyes following her. "Oh kayyy?" she says slowly, looking at me like I have two heads. I pull my phone out of my pocket and pull up the text thread from Unknown.

I hand my phone to Maya and watch her eyes move back and forth as she reads the messages. Her eyes shoot up to me. "Who the fuck is this?" She asks with a hint of anger in her voice. "I have no idea. I thought bitchy neighbor Karen somehow got my number, but that was before I got the last two texts." I reply. "Well, what are you gonna do about it? Are you going to respond?" Maya questions. I give her an Are you serious? look. "No, OBVIOUSLY I am not going to respond. I have no idea who the fuck it is. It could just be someone playing a prank on me but that's a weird ass prank. I think I should file a report with the police. Better safe than sorry." Maya nods her head. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea. I can call AJ if you want. Then you don't have to talk to some random cop who may not give two shits. At least not off of those 3 texts alone. They aren't exactly threatening." I shift on my leg and pop my hip out while I consider her offer. I'm not sure how much I want to involve AJ. AJ is Maya's cousin who I went on a few dates with a few months back. The sex was great but I felt weird that it was my best friend's cousin, so I cut it off about a month in. It would be SO awkward to reach out to him for help. But, he is a cop and Maya makes a good point. Most cops probably wouldn't care at this point. AJ would though, or, at least pretend so he doesn't feel the wrath of his mother. He's 32 years old, and a cop, but even he is afraid of getting on Brenda Mae Whimsley's bad side.

I sigh. "Yeah, if you could call him that would be great." Maya smiles at me. "Consider it done babes." She pulls out her phone, taps on the screen and holds the phone to her ear. I hear an annoyed male voice on the other end of the phone. "What do you want? I'm at work." Maya rolls her eyes, before turning her phone on speaker and setting it on my kitchen counter. "Hey cuz! I'm doing great thanks. How are you?" I imagine AJ facepalming at his desk. "Seriously My, what do you want. I'm a busy man you know." "Man is questionable. Anyway, this is actually something I need my cousin, the cop, for." She replies. "You know, insulting me is not the best way to get me to help you." AJ says, clearly annoyed. Maya scoffs, "You HAVE to help us. Civic duty or some shit." There is silence on the other end of the line before AJ finally responds. "Who is US?" "Me..... And your favorite ex-lover." Maya giggles. I smack her on the shoulder and mouth "Seriously?" That only makes her laugh harder. There's another silence. "Fine. Come down to the station then and we can talk about." He says, with a tone I can't place. "No can do cuzzo. This is probably a stalker situation, so come to us. We're at Car's. You remember where that is right?" Now I am bringing my palm to my face with a light *smack*. "You are impossible My." AJ responds, the tone of irritation returning. "I will be there in 15."

AJ ends the call as I look at Maya. "You really had to go there? Thanks for making this more awkward than it already will be." I say. "Hey, you can't be mad at me. I brought goodies!" She responds while holding up a 6 pack of Mike's Hard. Black cherry, my favorite. I sigh as I walk over and yank one out of the package. "You're lucky I love you" I throw over my shoulder as I walk towards my living room, Blue hot on my heels.