Page 12 of The Rookie's Second Chance

“Not unless you count reaching for the same box of cornflakes at the store that one time I was home visiting my folks," she replied, the edges of her mouth lifting into a small smile.

"Come in," he motioned, stepping aside.

The inside of the house was chaos. Sheets of plastic draped over furniture, paint cans lined up in a row, and tools scattered haphazardly.

"Sent the contractors home after the letter came," Luke explained, leading us deeper into the home.

Lexi was in the living area, curled up on the couch, a blanket wrapped tightly around her, eyes red from crying. A steaming cup of tea sat in her trembling hands. The sight wrenched at my heart. Sitting beside her, I draped an arm around her shoulders, attempting to offer some semblance of comfort.

"Lex, what happened?" I asked softly.

Without a word, Luke handed a folded sheet of paper to Kayla, his face grim. She unfolded it, scanning the contents. As she read, her face drained of color, her eyes widening.

"Shit..." she muttered, handing it over to me with a look of sheer disbelief. The letter read:

Dear Lexi,

I've been watching you. Not from afar, but closer than you think. Each brush of wind you feel, each chill running down your spine? It’s me, always near. I’ve watched you tear apart that old home and witnessed the sweat on your brow as you put your heart into every nail and beam. I know the sound of your laughter, and I’ve counted the tears you've shed.

You can bring all the deputies in the world, but they can’t save you from me. They won’t see me, but I see you. Always.

Until we’re finally together,

The cold, methodical nature of the words sent shivers down my spine. It was filled with a level of obsession and intimate knowledge that was truly unsettling. The way the stalker described their proximity to Lexi, their observations... It was all designed to invoke terror.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to keep my emotions in check. "We need to find this bastard," I said, determination setting in.

Kayla nodded in agreement. "We'll do everything we can, Lexi. We're here for you. How'd you find the letter? Was it mailed?"

Luke leaned against the wall, the worry in his eyes evident. "It was just in the mailbox," he said. "No stamp, no postmark. Just... there. Left for her."

I exhaled heavily, realizing the implications. "So, you're saying it wasn't mailed? No postman just dropped it?"

"Nope. No postmark or stamp. Just the damn letter."

My blood ran cold at the realization. "That means this asshole was on your property, Lexi."

She let out a soft whimper at my words, and I pulled her close. Her frame was fragile, her fear palpable. I tightened my hold, trying to be the pillar she needed. "We're gonna find this son of a bitch," I promised, my voice laced with anger.

Lexi pulled back slightly, meeting my gaze. "No one has yet," she whispered, voice breaking.

Kayla stepped forward, her professional demeanor battling with the empathy she felt for the woman before her. "Then we can at least keep you safe," she promised, determination in her tone.

I nodded, watching as Kayla took the letter carefully, preserving it for evidence. "I'll bag this and put it in the cruiser," she said, turning to leave the room.

I waited for a moment, the atmosphere heavy with tension, before turning my attention back to Lexi. "Look, I know it's a long shot, but maybe we should talk to Mandy about this. She was with you in college. Maybe she saw something, heard something that could help."

Lexi looked taken aback. "I... I never told her about it back then. I was too scared, too ashamed. I doubt she knows anything."

"It won't hurt to ask," I pressed gently. "She cares about you, Lex. And she might offer a different perspective."

She hesitated, her gaze flicking around the room as if searching for an answer. "Alright," she finally conceded. "You can talk to her, but I doubt she’ll know anything."

My heart clenched at the evident pain in her voice. I nodded, "We’re gonna figure this out, Lex."

With that, I headed out, determination fueling my every step. I was resolved to get to the bottom of this, to hunt down the bastard tormenting Lexi. Whatever it took.

The aromatic scent of a homemade dinner wafted through the house as I stepped inside. It was unmistakable – Mandy had cooked again. After a long, distressing day, the gesture was even more touching than usual.

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