Be Mine - Completed

Chapter 25

"Penny, what are we going to do about this? You need to go to the police or tell those FBI agents or something." Viv said Wednesday morning after they'd gotten back to their apartment. They all spent the previous night at the house, trying to think through what to do about this situation while in a space that made them feel safer.

"And say what, Viv? I received the sweater in the mail that I believe is mine and I think someone may have been in my apartment like two weeks ago to take it but I'm not positive because I think I left it on my floor but who knows?"

"But you do know! You know you didn't take it off anywhere outside this apartment or bring it anywhere! What if it has something to do with what happened to Georgia."

"If anything, the fact that he was in here makes me believe it has less to do with what happened to Georgia. He got into our apartment. If he wanted to hurt us or kill us, he's had plenty of opportunities to do so before now. Plus, his letters started before Georgia was, you know..." Penny trailed off, still unable to say the words out loud.

"Are you saying you're okay with this?" Jules cut in, staring at her like she just sprouted a second head.

"No! Definitely not! All I'm saying is that going to the police, or the FBI agents, it's not what's important right now. Look, say they find this guy, and they arrest him for breaking and entering, if they can prove it, or give him a restraining order. That would be amazing, but that's such a small thing in the grand scheme of things. All it's really going to do is distract them from finding the guy who did this to Georgia."

"Nope, nu uh. Penelope Eleanor Mitchell, that's not acceptable." Alice told her in a stern voice, giving her a 'don't mess with me' stare. "You are not the only one who lives in this apartment and you are not the only one this affects. I understand your hesitations, but this is about more than just you. The three of us live here, too. We had our apartment broken into, too. We don't feel safe. This is not just your decision."

"Shit, you guys, I'm sorry." Penny looked down bashfully, feeling terrible for not considering the effect this has on them as well. "I feel terrible. I didn't even think about it that way. I'm so sorry. Look, I'll mention it to the FBI agents and see what they have to say, okay?"

"And you need to tell Daniel." Viv gave her a pointed look, knowing that she'd try to get out of it.

"But-"

"No." Alice cut her off. "You need to tell him. You made the promise. You gotta keep it."

"I know, I know. Do you still have the card for that agent?" She asked Jules, who they had tasked with hanging on to all the important documents because she was much more organized than anyone else in that apartment.

Hey, I'm heading to a meeting that should take no more than an hour. Want to grab coffee after?

"Alright," Penny sighed, grabbing the card from Jules. "I just texted Daniel to see if he wants to meet after I, hopefully, meet with her."

"Do you want us to come with you?" Alice asked after Penny had gotten off the phone with Agent Murray.

"No, that's okay. She's going to meet me at the house so that I can feel as comfortable as possible, is what she said. Daniel texted me back and said to text him when I get done with my meeting and we can meet at Yo Jo for some coffee. Wish me luck!"

Penny walked out the front door as the girls all yelled "good luck!" to her. She was terrified - terrified to be walking across campus by herself and terrified of what Agent Murray' reaction was going to be. She didn't want to tell anyone the truth about why she didn't want to go to the police, but really, she was just scared that she had allowed this to go on so long. Maybe had she put a note on her door earlier or something to say she wasn't interested, this guy would have left her alone. She felt like she had encouraged him or something, that it was her fault this had happened.