Page 55 of Before the Night Falls
Before beginning her morning routine, she reached for her cell phone and called Lyle. She needed to talk to him now more than ever, and he’d told Olivia she could call whenever she needed.
Lyle picked up on the second ring, his voice hoarse as if he’d been sleeping. “Olivia? I wasn’t expecting to hear from you this morning.”
“I know. I’m sorry if I woke you.” Olivia’s voice came out thin, reedy. “But it’s happening again.”
A brief silence. “What’s happening again, exactly?”
“The feeling of being watched. And I’ve received three sets of roses—twelve at first, then ten, then eight. And I got a phone call.” Olivia swallowed hard. “The roses are his signature, Lyle. You know that.”
“Take a deep breath for me.” Lyle’s voice shifted into the calm, measured tone Olivia recognized from their worst sessions. “In through your nose, out through your mouth.”
Olivia obeyed, feeling the oxygen hit her bloodstream.
“Good. Now, let’s think this through logically. Brian Elliot is dead.”
“What if the police were wrong?” Olivia whispered. “Or what if he had a partner?”
“The investigation was thorough,” Lyle reminded her. “But I understand why you’re frightened. Our bodies remember trauma even when we try to forget.”
“So you think I’m imagining things?”
“No,” Lyle said firmly. “I’m saying that someone could be taking advantage of your history. The Admirer case made national news. The details were public. The rose signature was mentioned in every article.”
A chill crawled up Olivia’s spine. “You think someone’s deliberately triggering me.”
“It’s a possibility we need to consider. Have you contacted Special Agent Harris?”
“No. I was afraid he’d think I was being hysterical.”
“Call him after we finish talking. I also want you to document everything. Take photos. Keep a log of unusual occurrences with times and dates.” Lyle paused. “And Olivia? Don’t isolate yourself. That’s exactly what predators want.”
“But what if?—”
“You survived once by keeping your wits about you,” Lyle interrupted gently. “You can do it again. But this time, you’re not alone. You have support. You have tools.”
Yet Olivia knew nothing could prepare her for the horror she might be facing if this was the same guy as before.
“I want you to activate your safety plan,” Lyle continued. “Use your grounding techniques when the anxiety spikes. Pray. Meditate.”
“And if it really is happening again? If someone really is after me?”
“Then we face it head-on.” Lyle’s voice hardened with resolve. “But remember what we’ve talked about. Fear makes the danger feel closer, bigger. Right now, distinguish between what you know and what you fear.”
Olivia closed her eyes. “I know someone called me about the roses. I know there were roses in my room. I fear it’s connected to The Admirer.”
“Good. Keep separating those things. And Olivia?”
“Yes?”
“You’re not the same person you were a year ago. You’re stronger now. Whatever this is, we’ll handle it. Together.”
Olivia stared at her reflection in the mirror across from her bed.
Lyle was right about one thing: She wasn’t the same frightened woman from a year ago. She was damaged—but she was stronger.
Now, she had to keep moving forward.
An occasional setback was to be expected. However, Olivia never would have guessed her next setback would include a repeat of the terror she’d been trying so hard to overcome.
