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A half-hour later, they watched as Neil Truman pled guilty to three counts of felony stalking, as well as all the other charges related to his threats against Shelby and the senator. The judge accepted the agreed upon plea deal from the prosecutor, and it was all over in about fifteen minutes.
Surprisingly anti-climatic, but satisfying none-the-less.
Back out on the steps of the courthouse, Dev offered Mark a smile and a handshake. “It’s been nice working for you.”
Mark chuckled. “I guess we are done, aren’t we?”
“Happy it was short-lived.”
“Me, too. And if you’d like a letter of recommendation for anything, just say the word.”
“Thanks, but working with Shelby actually gave me an idea I’m mulling over. If that doesn’t pan out, I’ll let you know.”
“Sounds good.” Mark glanced toward the street as a black SUV pulled up to the curb. “That’s my ride back to the office. Give my baby Bells a hug for me.”
Dev smiled at the nickname, even as the not so subtle reminder to treat his daughter right rang loud and clear. “I will.”
A second later, as he watched the senator descend the steps, a memory of the message on Shelby’s vanity mirror flickered in his mind.
Beautiful silver Bells.
Bells. What was the likelihood Neil Truman knew her family nickname? He supposed a lot of people knew it, like Eli at the veterans foundation. And it was very possible the guy overheard it at an event or something, but…
But no amount of rationalizing could stop the sliver of unease that slid down his spine.
While taking the steps as quickly as possible without his knee giving out, he pulled out his phone and called Gus. The moment the PI answered, he asked, “Do you have a detailed list of what Truman all confessed to?”
“No, but I heard he pled guilty to all charges.”
“Yeah, he did, I’m just leaving the courthouse. But there were a few details missing. There was one count of breaking and entering on private property, but they didn’t specify if it was for the Diamond estate, or Shelby’s apartment. Shouldn’t there have been two?”
“Hold on, let me see what I got in my notes.” Paper rustled and then he said, “My contact at the department said he copped to the note on her windshield at the hospital, the power steering tampering, and the break-in at the estate.”
“And Shelby’s apartment?”
“Yeah. He knew where she lived and admitted to being there more than once.”
Dev fisted his fingers around his keys in frustration. “But did he actually break-in? Did he write the message on her mirror, or did he just say he’d been there? What about the flowers sent to her at work? The phone calls? The vandalism at her vet clinic? Did the cops cover all those things in his confession?”
“I do know the vandalism was not him, but I’d have to call my guy on the rest of it.”
“Do that,” Dev said as he got in his truck. “Call me back as soon as you’ve talked to him.”
“Sure, but…what are you thinking here?”
I’m thinking I let down my guard way too fucking much the second Truman was caught.
A huge ball of lead sunk in his stomach as he said the words out loud. “I think Shelby has a second stalker.”
Chapter 28
“I’m so sorry. I’ll give you a few minutes to say goodbye.”
Unfortunately, Shelby had said those words twice in a matter of just three hours this morning. Needing a breath of fresh air, she told her vet tech she was stepping out for a few minutes, and slipped out the back door of the animal hospital into the chilly sunshine. The second worst part of her job was telling someone she hadn’t been able to save their beloved four-legged family member. The worst was when she couldn’t save them.
The last one had been more heart-wrenching than usual. The family dog had been hit by a car, and the mom had had to bring her two kids along because no one else was home to watch them. Seeing their tear-streaked faces tore at her heart.
She leaned back against the brick wall and closed her eyes while turning her face up to the sun. What she wouldn’t give for a hug from Dev right now. The weekend had been amazing beyond what she ever could’ve dreamed, and as much as she had hated having someone watching her every second of every day, she’d found she’d missed him all morning. Countless times she’d glanced up looking for his handsome face, only to remember he’d gone to the courthouse for the arraignment.
