Page 20 of The Rookie's Second Chance

She hesitated, chewing her lip. "There was this one guy... Jared, I think? He was always hanging around our dorm. He claimed he was friends with Lexi from a shared class, but he always gave me the creeps."

"Jared?" I echoed, scribbling the name in my notebook. "Do you remember anything else about him?"

Mandy shook her head. "Just that he had this weird tattoo of a crow on his forearm. Why?"

I frowned. "No reason. Just trying to piece things together." The tattoo detail could be significant or a complete dead end, but it was worth noting.

We stood in silence for a moment. I clenched my jaw, wanting to ask what her problem was but deciding it wasn’t the right time for that conversation.

"Well… Thanks for the information, Mandy."

She gave a mocking half-smile, "Just doing my part, Detective."

The moment I got back in the cruiser, my fingers immediately began their dance across the keyboard, searching through old reports, college rosters, and anything that would lead me to this 'Jared.'

As the screen flickered with search results, a cold shiver crept down my spine. Mandy’s unease was hard to miss. Was it a genuine concern for Lexi, or was she hiding something? Searching, I tried to push away the nagging feeling. Mandy was a new factor in this, but my focus had to remain clear. Still, the way her gaze had shifted, the slight hitch in her voice... It all made me wonder.

Before my mind could spiral further, a name jumped out from the roster. Jared Ravenna. Registered during the same years Lexi attended college. Quickly pulling up his records, my heart raced as I stumbled upon a recent arrest report: Domestic Abuse.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, my pulse quickening. This Jared could actually be our guy. If he was aggressive enough to get arrested for domestic abuse, who's to say he wasn’t twisted enough to be our stalker?

Maybe Mandy's standoffish attitude was just that. Or maybe it was more. But I couldn’t dwell on it. Not now. This lead on Jared was too strong.

I started the engine. This could be the break we needed. The short drive back to the station, I could feel the tension in my shoulders, my grip on the steering wheel a little too tight.

Once inside, I made a beeline to my desk, searching databases, trying to piece together everything I could find on Jared Ravenna. I needed to know his connections, his habits, places he frequented. Any detail could be the key.

"Looks like someone’s on a mission," a voice interrupted my thoughts. It was Danny, one of the guys from narcotics who was always checking in on the “new detective in town.” He peered over, catching a glimpse of the screen.

“Just following up on a lead,” I replied, not looking up. I was on a roll.

"Need help?"

I hesitated for a split second, then shook my head. "I've got it. But thanks."

He gave a knowing nod, a smirk playing on his lips. “Just don’t forget to come up for air, okay?”

I forced a smile, appreciating the sentiment, but my mind was elsewhere.

As the hours dragged on, I dove deep into Jared's past. Multiple charges, not just for abuse, but for cyber-harassment. This was looking more and more like our guy. But I needed to be sure.

Whatever the connection, whatever the truth, I was going to uncover it. And soon.

Chapter Nine

JAKE

I'd barely settled into my chair the following morning when the blaring of the emergency line jolted me. Fumbling for a moment, I snatched up the receiver, "Silver Creek PD, Officer Barrows."

“It’s Lexi!” The unmistakable panic in her voice sent a jolt down my spine. “He was here, Jake. In our home. Luke and I found... just get here, please.”

On any other day, her plea might’ve thrown me off. But today? The urgency in her voice made it clear. The stalker was escalating.

“On our way,” I said tersely, slamming the phone back on its cradle. I shot up, snatching my jacket off the chair. “Kayla!” I called out, locking eyes with her across the room. “We need to roll. Now.”

She didn’t hesitate. Grabbing her coat, she met me at the door, her face a mirror of the concern I felt. “What happened?”

“Stalker hit Lexi's place,” I responded tersely as we made our way to the cruiser. “Don't know the full extent yet, but it sounds bad.”

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