Page 32 of The Rookie's Second Chance

I could hear the raw vulnerability in her voice, and my heart ached for her. "It’s not your fault, Lex. None of this is. We're going to figure it out, I promise."

"I know," she replied, but her voice lacked conviction. "It's just... it's been so long. Why now? Why is all this happening now?"

I didn't have an answer for her, and it killed me. "Just stay safe, okay? Luke's with you, right?"

"Yeah. He's been amazing, Jake. But I hate that he's wrapped up in all this."

A pang of guilt hit me. This was my first case on the force, and it was spiraling fast. "Look, I’m going to dig deeper into this Ethan guy, okay? You just focus on staying safe. I'll handle the rest."

She was quiet for a moment. "Thank you, Jake. For everything."

We said our goodbyes, and as I ended the call, a burning determination settled in. Whoever was behind this, I would find them. I would end this nightmare for Lexi, for all of us.

I looked over at Kayla, who'd been listening in silence. She squeezed my arm, a silent show of support. "We're close," she said, mirroring her words from earlier. "I can feel it."

The weight on my shoulders felt slightly lighter with her by my side. Together, we were a force to be reckoned with. And we were coming for the stalker.

Chapter Fourteen

KAYLA

Ileaned back, the glare of the computer screen momentarily blinded me. Hours had passed as I'd delved deeper and deeper into the digital life of Ethan Mitchell, and what I found was unsettling, to say the least.

"Ethan's online footprint is... disturbing," I began, rubbing my temples.

Jake glanced over from the paperwork he'd been sifting through. "What have you got?"

"You ever heard of 'Red Room Forums'?" I asked, my eyes still on the computer.

He frowned. "No. What is it?"

"It's this sick corner of the internet, where people get off on power plays, stalking stories, and... god, it's just a cesspool of toxicity," I spat out. "Guess who's an active member?"

Jake's face darkened. "Ethan."

I nodded. "He goes by 'ShadowStalker' on there. Fitting, right?" Jake leaned over to take a closer look at the screen, his eyes scanning through posts, comments, and a myriad of disturbing content. "Jesus, this shit's real?"

"Unfortunately, yes. And there's more. He's quite vocal about his... let's say, 'disagreements' with women who 'betray' or 'abandon' him. He refers to someone named 'L' multiple times."

A chill ran down my spine, and I knew Jake felt the same. "That's got to be Lexi," he murmured.

I scrolled down, showcasing an endless list of discussions Ethan had participated in. The conversations varied from basic stalking tips to venting about personal grudges. "This guy's a damn ticking time bomb."

Jake ran his fingers through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his face. "We need more. As sick as this all is, it isn't concrete evidence against him."

I sighed. "Yeah, I know. I did find out he's working at some tech firm in the city, though. Might be worth paying a visit."

Jake nodded. "We'll head there first thing tomorrow. God, I can't believe Lexi was caught up with this creep."

"You and me both," I replied, feeling a growing sense of anger. It was one thing to suspect someone, but having it laid out, seeing the depth of their depravity... it hit differently.

I shut down the computer, feeling drained. "I need a break from this."

Jake put a comforting hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "We'll figure this out, Kayla. One step at a time."

I looked up into his eyes, finding solace there. "Yeah," I whispered, "We will."

The evening air was warm, filled with a promise of serenity as Jake pulled up into my driveway. His tall frame emerged, moving with a certain urgency, but his eyes betrayed a vulnerability that tugged at my heartstrings.

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