Chapter Six #2
“Rebecca, it’s the police,” yelled a deep voice. “Can you open the door?”
“Rebecca, can you hear me?” A faint female voice.
I realized I’d let the phone slip to the floor. I grabbed it. “Yes, yes, they’re here.”
“Do you think you can open the front door or shall I have them bash it down?”
“No, no, I’ll open it.” I swallowed down the bitter taste of fear. “Yes, I’ll do it. It’s at the bottom of the stairs, and the bathroom is directly at the top. I can do it in under five seconds.”
“Okay, if you’re sure, and stay on the phone. I’ll hang up when I hear the officers’ voices.”
I flicked the lock, my vision blurred, adrenaline a wild drug racing through my system.
Pulling open the bathroom door, I half expected to see a monster, the devil, a crazed murderer, standing before me, but I didn’t linger on the images. I bolted down the stairs, my hand sliding down the rail, and flung open the front door.
I’d never been so pleased to see two tall uniformed men in all of my life.
“Are you hurt?” the big one with the dark eyes, slim moustache, and dark hair asked. He scanned me head to toe as though searching for blood.
“No.” I opened the door wide and gestured for them to step inside. “But someone has been here. I think I’m being stalked. And he’s broken into my home.”
He nodded, his mouth a sharp, straight line. “Mind if we take a scout around?”
“No, please, go ahead.”
I stayed by the front door, an escape route, and waited whilst one officer moved into the living area and one went upstairs. I didn’t live in a mansion, two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open-plan living area and kitchen.
They were back at my side within minutes.
“No one here now,” the officer said. His badge read: Sergeant Mitch Cooper . “They’ve given you a fright, though, yeah?”
“Most definitely, yes.” I placed my hand on my chest. “Horrible. Someone in my house…what if I’d been home and they’d come in? Then what would have happened?”
“There’s no sign of forced entry,” he said. “How could someone have got in?”
“I don’t know because I’m not a thief, or a burglar, though I suspect my stalker is and knows how to gain access.”
“Mind if we take these?” The other officer held up the rose and the note now placed in a clear plastic bag.
“No, not at all. And I need to report a case of stalking and harassment.”
“It certainly seems that way,” Sergeant Cooper said and withdrew a notebook. “If you’d like we can take preliminary details now and then you can come to the station tomorrow and we can complete the report.” He frowned at me. “You’ve had a terrible fright. You’re sheet-white.”
“Yes, yes, it was frightening.” I turned to the stairs I’d just raced down.
“Is there someone we can call for you?”
“I…yes, my friend, Amy. I’ll call her.” I opened my phone and tapped her number.
She answered on the third ring. “Hey, chick, what’s up? Thought you were out having fun with the hot Irish twins?”
“I’m with the police, someone has been in my house. I just got back and—”
“Fuck, I’ll come over.”
“No, no, it’s okay. Can I come to you?”
“Good idea,” the cop said.
“Of course,” she said, “I’ll open another bottle of wine, emergency wine.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
“Do you need anything from the house?” the other officer asked and pointed at the hallway.
“No, I’m good.” I stepped in and put my shoes back on. “I’ve stayed at my friend’s often enough. I have a toothbrush there.”
“Lock up securely and we’ll drive you there,” Sergeant Cooper said.
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
As I sat in the car with the two officers, I felt as safe as I had with Finn and Cillian.
Safe.
Yes, the twins made me feel safe. They made me feel wanted and desired, heard, appreciated, and safe.
I liked that a lot.
“This is Amy’s place,” I said as we stopped outside a pretty mock Tudor apartment block.
“We’ll wait until we see you safely inside.” Sergeant Cooper stepped out with me then hooked his thumbs into his belt.
“Okay, thanks, and thanks for everything, and for coming so promptly.”
“It’s our job.” He smiled, his eyes sparkling, and his serious demeanor lifted for a second. He really was a very handsome man, buff, too.
“I appreciate it.”
“We won’t be on duty tomorrow, but just give the desk your name, you’ve got a case number now and someone will help you.
” He tapped his handheld device. “And we will get to the bottom of this, no woman should feel scared in their own home, or on the streets come to that.” There was passion in his voice, and his jaw tensed.
“Becca, Becca, you okay?”
A force hitting me from the right almost sent me flying, and then I was in Amy’s arms.
“You poor thing, this is awful.” She hugged me close. “Let me at him, I’ll sort him out. I won’t let him bother you ever again. I’ll strangle him with my own bare hands. Watch his eyes pop out as I do it.”
“We’d rather you didn’t take the law into your own hands.” Sergeant Cooper raised his eyebrows at her.
“Oh.” She released me slightly and then turned to the tall cop at her side. “Sorry, I didn’t mean I was planning a killing rampage or anything like that. Or grabbing my machine gun to take him out with.”
“I should think not.” He tapped his finger on his chin and surveyed her. “That would be very bad behavior.”
“I mean.” She giggled. “I haven’t even got a machine gun. They’re illegal in the UK, right? I think they are, not sure. I’m not a gun girl, never even held one and—”
“Amy.” I squeezed her. “Come on, let’s go inside.”
“Yes, yes of course.” She slipped her hand around my waist and looked up at Sergeant Cooper. “Thank you for bringing my friend to me. I’ll take good care of her now.”
He tipped his head, studying her. “Be sure to.”
“I will.” Again she giggled then she held up her hand and did a silly little wave. “Goodnight, Officer, don’t let the bugs bite.”
He didn’t reply, but he did watch us walk into the lobby of her apartment block and waited until the door had clicked shut behind us.
“Fuck, he was hot!” Amy said. “Trust you to get the fittest copper in Oxford turn up to save you. I mean, did you see the biceps on him, and those eyes…blimey, he can cuff me to his bed any day.”
I felt my nerves settle. Amy’s chatter was a soothing balm after my fright. The only question now was, would I tell Finn and Cillian about my stalker? Their reaction was hard to predict…but it wouldn’t be to do nothing, I knew that for certain.