Page 145 of Stormswept Colorado

My eyes scanned the small basement. Looking for a tool maybe, anything small I could hide in my clothes and use as a weapon. But the place was stripped clean.

After a while, the door at the top of the steps opened. “Ayla? It’s me. I’m coming down.” He’d spoken as if this was a normal visit. But then he paused on the steps, the gun pointing down. “Come to where I can see you. Show me your hands.”

I stepped into the light coming from the exposed bulb. Held out my open palms. I hadn’t found anything, anyway.

The stairs creaked as Jarod made his way down. He’d changed out of Officer Duncan’s uniform. His hair was damp like he’d showered. Like he’d wanted to look nice for me.

“I’ve been waiting so long for this,” he said, repeating his words from earlier.

I backed up against the wall, while Jarod sat on the bench, still pointing the gun at me. At least he didn’t make me sit next to him. “What do you want?” I asked.

His gaze slowly moved over me from head to foot. “You said you wanted to talk. Let’s start there.”

The bitter taste of bile hit my tongue. “You sent the flowers to me in Toronto, didn’t you? With that old photo of me.”

He nodded. “Lori gave me a copy of the photo. That was after you’d left. I missed you so much. The night that it all happened, when my dad tried to kiss you…”

“You knew about that?”

“I snuck out when he walked you home. I’d seen the way he looked at you. The way he looked at other girls around the base. I didn’t trust him. I saw him try to kiss you, and you hit him. That was so badass.”

A smile lit Jarod’s face. He looked so normal. I could imagine how he’d managed to fool everyone in Silver Ridge, pretending he wasn’t unhinged.

“But then, when you went inside, your dad was yelling at you. Saying all those terrible things. I’m so sorry, Ayla. I wanted to do something,anything, to help you. But I was just a kid. I was scared.”

A tear streaked down my cheek. I wiped it quickly away. Maybe it would gain more sympathy from Jarod if I cried, but I had to hold them back. Keep my strength.Focus.

“I watched you through your bedroom window afterward,” he continued. “I saw you packing a bag. I knew you were leaving, and I wanted to go with you. Ran home to pack a bag of my own.But my dad caught me. He made me stay in my room, and I fell asleep. By the time I woke up and got back to your house the next day, you were already gone. I tried calling your phone, but you didn’t answer.”

“I left it behind.”

“Yeah. You had to leave a lot of things behind. I was in love with you back then. I even gave you that bouquet of daisies on your birthday. I left them on your porch. I was too nervous to do it in person.”

Jarod looked so sad and small. Like the twelve-year-old I’d once taken care of. And yeah, I did recall letting some things slip. Confiding in him a little when I was really upset after my dad was awful to me.

But I’d had no idea about his feelings for me. I’d thought his father Sergeant Carpenter left the birthday bouquet. I should’ve known the man wasn’t that thoughtful.

“I was heartbroken when you left,” Jarod went on. “I didn’t blame you, though. I blamedmyself, for not being able to stand up for you. Nobody stood up for you. Your mom had left. Lori was always off with her friends. You were alone. That’s why my dad thought he could kiss you. And why your dad thought he could treat you the way he did.”

I crossed my arms, hugging my middle. “I did feel alone. But I went to New York City and made something of myself.”

“I know. When I first heard your music and saw your picture and realized it wasyou, I was so proud of you. You’d turned out okay. I was happy for you.” His expression darkened. “But then a couple years ago, everything fell apart for you. You suspended your tour. Ran away from that rehab facility. I realized you were still lost. As lost asIfelt. You needed my help.”

My skin crawled.

“At first, I tried contacting you on your social media. But you never responded. I guess my voice got drowned out by all the other people wanting your attention. I was taking some college classes already, so I got a transfer to a school in Denver. My planwas to move here, to Hart County. Silver Ridge. So I’d be closer to you.”

“I’ve never heard of a Jarod Carpenter living in Silver Ridge, though.”

“Because I changed my name. I’m Finn Mackie now. I…” He glanced guiltily to the side. “I had some issues back on the east coast. Misunderstandings. Some women thought I was following them around, watching them. After I got to Colorado, I filed the paperwork to take my Mom’s last name. And switch my middle name to my first.”

So he’d had a history of stalking. Not remotely surprising.

“Then late last year, I saw the job opening for a dispatcher in Silver Ridge. I applied. It was so perfect. And I thought it was time to reach out to you in a way you couldn’t overlook.”

“You sent the flower arrangement to my concert venue last fall.”

“I didn’t want to tip my hand just yet. Just…get your attention. Get you thinking about your old life and people you used to know. That’s why I included the photo.”

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