Page 28 of Unexpected Danger
A man rushed by and took a double-take. His attention veered to BJ Nuss, then back to Londyn. “Is everything okay here?”
She was about to reply when Nuss said, “Yes, it is, we're just having a conversation, but thank you for your concern.”
“What is it that you need to say that is so important that it can't be said over the phone?” She sized up the man in front of her. He was thin, and he definitely could have been the man at the door that night and across the street.
“I need you to stop lying about me to the cops.”
“I'm not lying about you. You have been texting, calling, and loitering around my apartment. That’s called stalking. Grabbing my shoulder today was assault.” Londyn was grateful her voice sounded stronger than she felt.
“Texting you, calling you, stalking you, and showing up at your apartment wasn't me.”
She wanted to dispute his answer but didn't want to rile him further.
“I haven’t done any of those things, just as I told the cops.”
She didn't believe him. Londyn turned over the engine. The line to exit the parking lot hadn’t budged.
“No, wait. Just a few more minutes to explain myself.”
He’d respectfully kept his distance. She’d give him that at least. “Make it quick.”
“Look, I was not happy about the hospital bill. It was more than I thought it was going to be for the back surgery, and then with all the additional fees that have accumulated. I was furious when you sent me to collections. But I would never show up at your apartment or send you a text. He ran a hand through his thinning red hair. “The detective even checked my phone. There were no texts to you.”
Londyn didn't mention that those could easily be deleted, or in the case of burner phones, discarded. “You mentioned on the phone that you weren't satisfied with the bill.”
“I'm not. There's absolutely no way I can pay that. “
“I told you we could talk about payment terms.”
“Yes, and I was angry that last time we spoke and said some things I regret. I mishandled that phone call, and I'm sorry about that.”
“Those words sounded like a threat.” She eyed the increasing line of cars. It would be tomorrow before she was able to exit onto the main road.
Mr. Nuss released a long, slow sigh. “I accumulated a lot of bills while I was out of work after the back surgery. And then you went to the cops, and they showed up on my doorstep and contacted my probation officer. I'm on probation for embezzling some funds from my former employer. Slowly paying that back. But when my probation officer heard that I was potentiallystalking someone, it didn't do me any favors. I need you to stop lying to the cops,” he repeated.
She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something that seemed genuine about BJ Nuss’s pleas.
“I will pay back all that I owe, along with the interest. I can't do it right away, but I will do it. I just need a little more time.”
“This is all stuff that you can tell me over the phone during work hours.”
“Not the cop stuff, and not the reassurance that I'm not the one who's stalking you.”
“You don't know where I live?”
“I don’t. And even if I did, I wouldn't go to your house. I may have made a lot of mistakes, like embezzlement and drinking while driving, losing the only woman I ever loved, and the harsh words I said to you over the phone, but I'm not a stalker. Please believe me.”
His eyes searched her face. Eyes that might not have been the eyes of the one who was at her door that day. Eyes that may not have been the ones watching her in her bedroom that night.
“Look. I never meant to scare you.”
She peered again at the dilapidated pizza.
“I’ll buy you another pizza.” Nuss stuck his hand in his pocket and withdrew a wad of cash. “Please take it and get another pizza.”
He held it out to her. But no matter what he was promising, Londyn wasn’t going to leave the safe confines of her locked vehicle.
“No, thank you. I’m going to go now.”
