Page 29 of Unexpected Danger
Easier said than done, based on a cursory glance at the line of vehicles still waiting to exit the parking lot. She made a mental note to never again assume “grabbing” a pizza on the way home from work was an efficient idea.
BJ Nuss put the money back in his pocket. “Just please believe me. I’m not the one who’s been stalking you. I’m mad about the bill, yeah, but I’m not going to hurt you.”
She scrutinized him. Londyn had always figured herself a good judge of character, yet BJ Nuss could be a professional at lying. He hadn’t exactly lived a law-abiding life.
Mr. Nuss swiped again at his nose, which had slowed its bleeding. A police car entered the parking lot, and Londyn recognized it as Officer Nelson.
“I will call you tomorrow during normal business hours. Maybe we can get my bill back from collections.” He turned on his heel and started toward an older model vehicle that appeared to be held together by duct tape.
Thank You, Lord,she breathed.
Officer Nelson intercepted BJ Nuss. “Please wait a minute, Mr. Nuss.” The officer approached Londyn’s SUV, and she further rolled down her window.
“We received a call from a concerned citizen.”
“Yes, sir. Mr. Nuss needed to talk to me.”
“Doesn’t look like he went about it the right way.”
“No, he grabbed my shoulder, and I defended myself.”
“I want you both to come down to the station and give your statements. Nuss?”
BJ Nuss nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll be there.”
After another fifteen minutes of waiting in line, Londyn and BJ Nuss followed Officer Nelson to the police station. She thanked the Lord for keeping her safe in what could have been a volatile situation. It was only after she was halfway to the station that her heartbeat finally returned to a normal rhythm.
BJ Nuss was denying his involvement in the past several weeks of texts, calls, and fear. Londyn shook her head. Oddly enough, she believed he was telling the truth.
But if he wasn’t the one who’d committed these crimes, who had?
And if BJ Nuss hadn’t stalked her, threatened her, scared her, and made her scared to even leave her own apartment, then who was it?
Londyn cleaned out her desk the next day. She regretted she hadn’t been able to chat with Jasmine beforehand, but she was in Sonja’s office. And Dustin was out sick.
Both deserved to know she was leaving. She felt like a heel. Their friendship was important to her.
After the discussion at the police department, she was more assured than ever that BJ Nuss was not her stalker. Detective Rivas informed her that tracing the several burner phones had resulted in mixed results. It had been purchased with cash at an out-of-the-way convenience store located ten miles east of Rowland. The purchaser was dressed in all black, including a hoodie. The images were grainy, but the clerk didn’t think it was BJ Nuss. And the purchaser had an erect and upright posture and was a few inches shorter than Mr. Nuss.
BJ Nuss had an alibi for the time the burner phones were purchased.
Which meant it was someone else—someone still out there.
Jasmine poked her head around the corner. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, there you are.”
“Yeah, I was in Sonja’s office discussing a recalcitrant client. What’s going on?”
“I'm quitting.”
“What? Are you serious? And you were going to tell me when?”
“I’m sorry, Jasmine. I decided just last night.”
Jasmine pinned her thin arms across her chest. “Does this have anything to do with Mr. Nuss cornering you in the pizza place parking lot?”
“That confirmed it even more.”
