Page 552 of Dark Love

Owning a home today does make you rich, but I’m really not. Or not at least to Vex’s level, with a private plane waiting on my every whim. “I’m comfortable.”

“What did you do, invent a widget or something or inherit money?”

I laugh at the idea that I could invent anything mechanical. “A little of both.”

And we’re out of time to chat. Our shift starts.

“That’s really cool. Barbeques here we come.”

The fact that she’s more excited about grilled meat than our financial differences is encouraging. I log in.

My first call pops in immediately.

“911, what is your emergency?”

“My name is Marlie Wonderosh.”

There’s something very off about her tone. Fear? Desperation. “What’s wrong Marlie?”

“No one believes me. My boyfriend has been stalking me and terrorizing me for months and no one believes me.”

Domestic abuse. “Where are you right now? Is he there with you?”

“I can’t tell you yet. I need to find the proof. You need to believe me. Someone needs to believe me.”

Proof. Whatever is going on, that woman has passed afraid, into desperate. “I believe you, Marlie. There are places that we can take you where you’ll be safe. Where he can’t hurt you.”

“He’s never touched me. He’s smart. But he’s always there. I see him everywhere, following me. Watching me.”

“Marlie, where are you so that I can send help? There are things the police can do to keep him away from you.” Or provide you with the medical help you need.

“I tried that. I tried everything. Before I met him, my life was good. I was top of my class in medical school. I was accepted into the best research internship in the country. Everything was good.”

“Everything can be good again. If you tell me where you are, I can get you the help you need.”

“No one can help me. Not without proof. I did everything right. I went to a lawyer. I tried to get a restraining order. But they didn’t believe me. No one believes me because he’s a cop and I’m nothing but a student.”

Possible police involvement means I need to flag this call for Adonis. He immediately gives me a thumbs-up that he’s received it and joins the call.

“Even my lawyer doesn’t believe me. She told me there was nothing she could do and to leave it alone. But she doesn’t understand. He won’t leave me alone.”

“Marlie, I believe you. Tell me where you are. Please let me help you.” There’s no tracking information coming up from her phone. She must be blocking me.

“I will. You are going to help me. As soon as I find the proof, you can send the police to me. Then they will see. Then everyone will believe me.”

Before I can flag it for a possible break-in attempt, Adonis has it done. For now, all I need to do is focus on gaining her trust so that she’ll tell me where she is. “Why don’t you tell me where you are and then we can help you find the evidence?”

“Don’t lie to me. That’s not how it’s going to work. As soon as I tell you where I am, you’re going to send the cops. They’re going to arrest me and then send me to jail or the psych ward. But that won’t matter as long as they have the evidence proving I’m not crazy.”

She’s right. Is this really about a cop who slipped through the cracks? “These calls are recorded. Why don’t you tell me your entire story? This way, it’ll be on the record.”

“You believe me.”

“I do.” To the point that I’m tempted to pull out my cell phone and call Vex for help. But that breaks protocol and might get him in trouble. There are too many good cops in the building not to give them the chance to fix a problem within their ranks.

“It all started a few months ago when I ran into him on campus…”

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