Page 104 of Rear View
“876 Lemon Grove Lane, apartment 204,” I said, my voice broken and shaky. “He’s right outside. Please, hurry.”
“And what’s your name?”
“Ryah,” I said through a sob. “Ryah Nolan.”
“Can you tell me who’s outside, Ryah?” the operator asked.
Anotherboom.
I screamed and crawled toward the kitchen.
“The guy who’s after me!” I sobbed.
“Do you have his name?”
“No. Ask Officer Maynard. He knows about him.”
Some buttons clicked on her end. “Are you in immediate danger?”
“He’s right outside!”I cried. “Just get here. Please, just get here!”
My phone pinged. Then pinged again. I set the call to speaker as I drew the device away to better see.
Picture after picture flooded the screen. Me in my room, in only my panties, while I changed. Me bent over in a thong. All older, before I’d known to cover my laptop’s camera. Then some newer. The more I saw, the sicker I felt. Me walking across the U of E campus. Meoutside my apartment. Me at the Parc Ferme in Emerald Cove. Me in Xavier’s arms at the pub.
Oh, God! He knew.He knew!
More snow collided with the window and anotherboomrang out.
I screamed again.
The ringing started in my ears. “LEAVE ME ALONE! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”
“Ryah, if it’s possible to do so, I’d like you to lock yourself into a room,” the operator ordered. “I’ll let you know when the police have arrived, and it’s safe for you to come out.”
Jolting to my feet, I grabbed the butcher block of knives from the kitchen, ran to the bathroom and slammed the door. My breath exploded from me in erratic pants as I locked it and dropped to the floor.
The ringing came louder, and the operator’s voice grew distant. My sight narrowed, going dark around the edges.
“Ryah? Are you still there?”
“Help me!” I breathed, tears blurring my sight as they seared my cheeks. They needed to come. Please,just come! “Just help me! Do your job and help me! Just do your job! JUSTDOYOURFUCKINGJOB!”
* * *
“There were footprints in the snow under your window at the perimeter of the apartment building,” Officer Maynard said, watching me intently from my living room chair. “They led across the street where you indicated, then further south before they disappeared. I suspect that’s where he got into his car. We’ve lifted the shoe imprint and tire treads, but both are pretty generic brands.”
I sniffed and tugged the throw blanket from my couchtighter around my shoulders. “So, what you’re saying is, you have nothing?”
He shifted, his leather service belt creaking when he leaned forward. “We’re asking around about cameras in the area. I’m still looking into things, Miss Nolan, but—”
“But you have nothing.”
Voices carried over his radio while he stared at me, his expression hardening. But I could care less. What was he gonna do? Arrest me? I’d probably be safer behind bars anyway.
I was done. So done with a cop that didn’t care and tired of trying to make him. Like I needed to prove my life had value for him to give a shit. I met Maynard’s gaze head-on. “Do you need anything else from me?”
He shook his head. “Not for now.”
