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Stuck inside, I called Bree. “Hey, how are you? Faron told me what he found out.”
She made a disgusted sound. “I wanted to vomit. How gross was that? And if he’s been watching me for awhile, does he have film? What about when I…” She fell silent for a moment.
“Masturbate? It’s okay, we all do it.”
“Yeah, we do, but not for anaudience!” She sounded mortified. “What if he uploaded those pictures somewhere? What if I’m out there on the net, naked? Or worse?”
I wanted to calm her down. She was starting to spiral, and it wasn’t like Bree to spiral. “Hey, catch your breath. If he’s so obsessed, chances are he’ll want to keep those pictures all for himself. He won’t want to share them!”
She hiccupped. “You think so?”
“Iknowso,” I said. I didn’t, but that didn’t matter right now. Bree needed something to hold onto, and that was the best thing I could think of. “Did you talk to Daisy again?”
“Yeah. She sent out an officer to take prints around where we found the cameras. They also had me look through a book of mug shots of sex offenders.Thatwas a delight. At least it wasn’t a bunch of selfies. But I didn’t recognize any of them—” she paused. “Hold on, someone’s at the door. I’ll call you right back.”
I curled up on the sofa, waiting. Five minutes later, the phone rang.
“Hey, who was it?”
“I don’t know,” Bree said, her voice shaking. “There was nobody there, but there was a box on my porch. Elphyra, it’s a bouquet of dead roses. They’re falling apart.”
I tensed. “Is there a card?”
“Yeah. I’m afraid to open it.”
“Then wait. I’m coming over.” I jumped up and, with Fancypants flying behind me, I grabbed my keys and purse and cautiously exited the house. It looked like Kyle was keeping the action by the tree. I waved to him and motioned to myself and the car. He waved back as I fastened my seatbelt. Fancypants settled himself on the passenger’s seat and I helped him into the dragon-sized harness I’d rigged up for him. Before pulling out of the driveway, I texted Grams.
i’m headed over to bree’s house. she’s in a state—something’s going on. i’ll try to be home before you get there but if i’m not, i’ll text you more.
go with no worries. dinner will take me an hour to make. feel free to invite her to eat. she can stay for the cord cutting if you’d like—if she’s up for it. in fact, it might help to have a good friend there.
thanks. heading out now. kyle’s almost done with the wasps.
* * *
Bree was waitingat the door. As she unlocked it and let me in, Oscar and Atlas crowded close to her. Their ears on alert, they looked ready to pounce. It was obvious they sensed something was up.
I gave her a tight hug. “Show me the flowers.”
She led me over to the coffee table, where a long square box rested. It was open. The ribbon that had tied it shut was black, and inside was a full bouquet of dead roses. A card sat on the table next to it. I didn’t touch the box or the card. I didn’t want to disrupt any finger prints. The card read:
You spoiled my surprise, you, who fill my eyes,
Every waking moment, within my heart you lie.
I would be your King, I would be your savior,
I would be your everything, you, my sacred treasure.
Don’t push me away, I won’t let you go,
The harder you resist, the darker I’ll grow.
I am the moth to your luminous sun,
We’re wedded in soul, we’re already one.
I’m waiting for you. Don’t disappoint me again. Don’t try to get away. I’ll always be watching you. If I see that wolf shifter at your house again, I’ll dismember him piece by piece and then I’ll have to punish you. And I don’t want to have to punish you.
