Chapter 3
THE STALKER
Sitting in the nondescript rental car parked along the gravel shoulder of the county road, they pulled the ball cap lower, the worn brim casting shadows across their face.
Not that anyone would know who they were out here in the middle of Nowhere, Nebraska.
The engine had been off for twenty minutes now, windows cracked just enough to prevent fogging while maintaining the silence necessary for surveillance.
With binoculars pressed against their eyes, they scanned the front of the ranch house, waiting.
The white clapboard siding gleamed in the afternoon sun, and the wide, wooden porch with its cheerful welcome mat should have looked welcoming.
Instead, it felt like a fortress keeping them apart.
She didn't come out the front door as expected.
But they knew her routines now. After visits that included careful observation, they understood that she often preferred the back deck in the mornings when the sun rose to cast golden light across the rear of the property.
Leaving the concealment of the vehicle, they moved in a low crouch along the drainage ditch that ran parallel to her property line.
The tall prairie grass and scattered oak trees provided cover as they worked their way toward a better vantage point.
The scrub brush caught on their clothes but couldn’t scratch exposed skin, since there practically wasn’t any.
Wearing long pants, jacket, gloves, socks, shoes, hat, and sunglasses meant almost every inch was covered.
But even the discomfort of the crouching movements was irrelevant.
They would endure far worse to catch glimpses of her.
Through gaps in the vegetation, the back of the house came into view, including the elevated deck attached to it.
And there she was.
She sat in a weathered Adirondack chair, her face tilted toward the sun, eyes closed in peaceful contentment. The morning light turned her hair to ethereal gold and highlighted the elegant line of her neck. Even in simple jeans and a soft sweater, she was breathtaking. Perfect. Untouchable.
They raised the camera, grateful for the telephoto lens attached, and captured frame after frame.
The digital shutter made barely a whisper of sound.
If only they could get closer or could use the scope they'd brought for a clearer view, but moving closer would risk exposure. The lens would have to suffice for now.
She shifted in her chair, and for one heart-stopping moment, seemed to look directly toward their hiding spot. They froze, barely breathing, finger poised over the camera. But her gaze moved on, scanning the horizon as though no longer sure she was alone and safe.
They came whenever possible, timing visits carefully to avoid detection.
It had to be planned perfectly… too frequent and noticeable patterns might alert her or others to their absence.
Too infrequent and opportunities to watch were missed.
The balance required patience, something they'd cultivated over years of waiting.
Sometimes the visits were just sitting nearby in a rental, watching or taking photographs.
At other times, they walked to her house when it was dark or when she was gone.
Recently, leaving a present. Something she would like.
They grinned, bringing a burner phone out of their pocket. Pressing her number, they watched as she leaned over and grabbed her phone from the small table next to her.
“Hello? Hello?”
They didn’t reply. It wasn’t the right time.
“Stop calling me!” she yelled.
They winced, not liking her strident voice. The call died as she stood and shoved her phone into her pocket. Bending, she grabbed her notebook and mug, stomping inside before shutting her door.
Their brow furrowed. Perhaps that hadn’t been the right thing to do. It was one thing to call just to hear her voice when they were far away, but when they were so close, they shouldn’t have made her go inside. Sighing heavily, they crept back to the rental car nearby.
She was Rose... their Rose... always had been and always would be. The character she'd played on television had been written for her, but the connection transcended fiction. While others saw an actress, they saw truth. While others saw a performance, they recognized destiny.
Perhaps next time, I’ll get inside her house. A slow smile spread across their face.
The sun began to shift toward the west, casting longer shadows across the prairie. Soon it would be time to retreat, to drive several hours to a different vehicle rental company. But for now, they slowly crept away from the house to avoid detection. At least until the next time.