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“Because the world is full of ignorant fucks who don’t care about anyone but themselves,” I reply quietly.
“She didn’t deserve that,” Serena says through her tears.
“No one does,” I reply. Then I remember the unfinished text she got earlier, “When did it happen?”
“They found her three days ago,” she sobs. “Three days ago, that means—”
Her phone jingles again but she’s too distraught to answer it. I pull it out and turn it on. It’s a text from Gina, or at least whoever has her friend’s phone. My blood runs cold when I read it. Better look out. You could be next.
This is serious, her stalker is clearly someone she knew back in San Francisco, and I would bet my bottom dollar that they murdered her friend in an attempt to find out where Serena is. I pull back and look down into her tear-stained face.
“Serena, do you need me to call in a doctor to give you something to help you calm down, do you need to lie down for a while, or can you pull it together to talk to me for a minute?”
She wipes her eyes with the back of her hands. “I can talk. I can. I promise.”
She’s practically hyperventilating. She used to get panic attacks when she was younger, so I know just how to help her.
“Take a deep breath and hold it for ten seconds. I don’t want you passing out on me, sweetness.”
She did it a few times and managed to slow her breathing.
“Is that better?”
She nods, “I’m better. I just can’t believe this happened. Her dad said the police don’t have any clues. That means whoever did this is going to get away with it.”
“No, they’re not. Trust me on that, princess. We’ll figure out who took your friend’s life and make sure they pay.”
“Okay, I’ll do anything I can to help.” She wraps her arms around her stomach in a protective pose and rocks back and forth in some kind of self-soothing gesture.
I ask gently, “Who were you running from when you came here?”
She doesn’t even deny it. “My ex. He was a domestic abuser who got arrested. I got a restraining order. He was an attorney. Smooth talking. Charming until he wasn’t.”
“What made you finally decide to leave him?” I ask, trying my best to understand her situation.
“He threw me into a cabinet and I fractured my wrist. Then a couple of months later he came home drunk and tried to rape me. When I fought him off, he punched me in the ribs. It was the second time he hurt me. I quit my job, got a new phone, and filed legal charges. After that I stayed with Gina because he didn’t know where she lived. It was awful. I’m glad to be back here where things make some semblance of sense.”
“Did he know where she worked?” I ask, praying the answer is no.
“Yeah, he knew. She and I worked for the same law office, only in different branches. I met Gina at Bromwell and Perkins. She was their receptionist.
I display the message about her being next and hold it up for her to read. Her eyes get big.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying? You think it could be Stan?”
“I don’t know for sure, but rule number one is always start with the most obvious monster and work your way down.
“Stan is definitely a monster, but I never thought he was capable of cold-blooded murder,” she responds. Scrubbing her hand down her face, she blurts out. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“This is enough for you, for one night,” I say as I scoop her up and carry her to my bed.
I help her get undressed and put on one of my t-shirts so she can be comfortable. Then I tuck her into bed. It breaks my heart when she turns onto her side and begins to sob again. I sit with her until she cries herself to sleep and then I get up and call in the reinforcements.
My first call is to Siege.
He answers, still angry about Serena, “What the hell do you want? Is my sister still at your place?”
“We’ve got exactly zero time for your bullshit control issues. I just found out your sister has a stalker back in San Francisco. An ex who abused her until she ended up in the hospital.”
