Chapter 4
Shannon
My mother talked me into sleeping at a hotel for one night, allowing me to get a great night of sleep.
I’m in a better mood now and determined to either get to the bottom of whatever is going on or get out of my own head.
I’m going to buy a nanny cam of some kind as soon as I get off work today, and either prove there’s something going on or figure out why I’m freaking myself out.
Douglas did a number on my self-esteem, but I’ve never been the melodramatic type and this is getting ridiculous. I’m Wayne Barrow’s daughter, dammit, and it’s time to take control of the situation. If I’m having hallucinations or anxiety attacks or some other mental issue, I’ll get help.
The problem with that is, I don’t think I’m crazy. It feels like it sometimes lately, but I’m too sane and rational in trying to sort out the situation, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
“Have a good day,” the man at the front desk tells me as I brush past him on my way out.
“You too!” I call back.
It’s a dreary day, cold and overcast, much like my mood yesterday. I’m not as depressed today, but melancholy has set in instead. I know what I’ve been seeing, but there’s no proof so I feel a little silly. Maybe I should report what’s going on. It’s just so hard.
I like my life here; I have a handful of friends and a good job, so I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize either of those by being the American who brought trouble to the neighborhood.
I shake off the negative thoughts and find a taxi instead of walking, even though it isn’t very far.
I have the driver go around the block and drop me off on the far side of the school.
Then I double back and come up the street along the side.
Changing up my routine will confuse anyone watching me, and it helps my mood to feel like I’m being proactive.
“How are you?” My friend and coworker, Sandra Barnes, joins me as I walk to the teachers’ lounge to get some coffee.
“Well-rested,” I tell her.
“I’m glad you stayed at a hotel last night. You needed it.”
“Also, the room service and the porn channels,” I joke.
She laughs. “There is no shortage of men interested in taking you out. Porn shouldn’t be necessary.”
I shrug. “I’m still a little gun-shy from my divorce. And until I figure out why things keep moving in my apartment, I’m not in a position to trust anyone.”
“Makes sense.” Sandra pours herself a cup of coffee. “Well, anyway, I’m off to what promises to be a very exciting history department meeting.” She rolls her eyes.
“Better you than me!” I call after her, chuckling.
I don’t mind staff meetings. It’s a good way to keep up with what’s going on within my department and all the students in the school.
We teach kindergarten through high school, so we have a wide range of students and most classrooms include multiple ages and grade levels.
I teach British literature and English at the high school level, which means grades nine through twelve, and I have students anywhere from fourteen to eighteen years old.
I think it’s fun, but Sandra says she misses teaching in the U.S.
, that things aren’t regulated enough here.
Personally, I’m good with less regulation and no standardized tests other than voluntary SAT and ACT testing for those that want to go to American universities, but not everyone agrees with me.
To each his own, right?
* * *
On the way home, I stop at a computer store and spend an hour choosing the right system.
I tell the owner I believe my maid is stealing from me, since I’m still a little self-conscious about admitting I might have a stalker.
He’s knowledgeable and extremely helpful in showing me how to set up and use the system.
I leave feeling a lot better about everything.
Hopefully, within the next few days, I’ll have answers. Of course, I’m not sure what I’ll do if there actually is a stalker and I catch him. Going to the police will mean doing all the things I want to avoid, which leaves me with a dilemma.
I need answers, but I don’t want to bring trouble to Mrs. Winkelhofer or my job, and a stalker isn’t the kind of thing you can cover up. Would there be a trial? Arrests? Is it someone I know?
There are a million questions, and I’ll only drive myself crazy trying to figure out the answers, so I take a deep breath and force myself to take things one step at a time. Until I have a clearer picture of what’s going on, everything else is speculation and that doesn’t do anything for me.