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“A guy started leaving comments on Ivy's posts. A lot do, so she thought little of it. Just hearted his comment, like she does everyone’s, and moved on.”
“Let me guess, the tone of his comments changed. Became more suggestive and salacious.”
“Actually, no. What turned him into freakin’ Frankenstein was when Ivy missed hearting his comment one day.”
“He took it as a slight?”
She nodded. “He sent her an angry message, and Ivy apologized. For a few weeks, everything was calm. Until she did it again.”
“As an influencer, she must receive hundreds, maybe thousands, of comments.”
“She does. Acknowledging each of her fans was another level of engagement. Needless to say, I’ve discouraged her from further hearting.”
“What did he do after the second perceived slight?”
“He sent her more messages filled with a weird mixture of hate and love. She blocked him, but somehow, he got her phone number and started leaving her voice mails with similar love-hate messages.”
“How’d you get involved?”
“I happened to be at the restaurant when Hailey received a phone call from her sister. Ivy was hysterical, certain someone was stalking her.”
“Did you see him?”
More napkin smoothing. “I not only saw him, I spoke to him.”
Zeke bit down on the scolding comment before it left his lips. In a strained voice, he asked, “What happened?”
“When I arrived at Ivy's, I spotted an SUV matching the description she gave me, idling two doors down from her house. I knocked on his window and asked if he needed assistance. He told me to fuck off, so I pulled out my badge and asked again.”
“What kind of bullshit story did he give you?”
“He apologized and explained that he didn’t want attention drawn to him.”
“No shit.”
“He told me his girlfriend lived down the road and he was keeping an eye on things because she thought someone was stalking her.”
“The guy is either certified or was ballsing his way out of trouble.”
“Probably a little of both.” Her rubbing switched to her temple as if warding off a headache. “I referred to him by his social media handle, which, in hindsight, might not have been my most strategic move.” She gave him a small self-deprecating smile. “I told him I was seeking an Order of Protection against him on Ivy's behalf and, if he ever called, texted, or came near her again, I would—”
She broke off, and frost coated his heart. “You would, what?”
She grimaced. “I would make sure he never posted, commented, or hearted again.”
“Did he go apeshit?”
“Oddly no. The mutinous expression on his face cleared and, before he drove away, he nodded as if I had given him directions to the nearest gas station.”
“She hasn’t heard from him since?”
“Not as far as I know.”
“Suspects are piling up.”
“Welcome to Complications ‘R’ Us.”
“I have stock in that store.”
They shared a smile, and he considered asking her about Intense Dude while they were on the subject of strange guy incidents, but couldn’t bring himself to shatter the moment.
“I wish you would’ve stayed.” The words he’d been harboring for over two weeks tumbled out of his mouth like boulders down the face of a mountain. Their thunderous clatter rocked to a halt, leaving an unbearable silence in the wake.
Her smile faded, replaced by a familiar neutral expression. “Do you have an answer regarding the Bureau’s offer?”
