Page 25 of The Flame of Carson
“Uncle Roy’s office had faced toward the Towers.He had his windows open and surprisingly we heard the plane over the traffic down on the street.I remembered thinking how weird it was to hear a plane in the city.After we heard the explosion, we ran to the window and there was that gaping hole in the side of the building.Dad and Uncle Roy knew it wasn’t an accident.The three of us got out of the building and by the time we got to the street we heard the second plane.I don’t know if it was instinct or a morbid curiosity, but all three of us looked up and watched the second plane.I screamed when I saw it hit.”Stacey explained, shuddering as she remembered that day.“We managed to flag down a cab and get across the Brooklyn Bridge before they shut them down.”
“Oh baby.”Gage sighed.
“Seeing those two massive buildings burning, then watching them collapse at home...ever since that day, I’ve feared being trapped in a tall building during a fire.”Stacey said.
“Being through that, witnessing it first-hand would make anybody scared I would imagine.I was in my science class when we got word about New York.That was the day I knew I was joining the military.It took another two years to decide which branch.”
“I knew quite a few seniors that joined up a few days after once you could move more freely through Manhattan anyway.My family knew a lot of people that worked in those buildings, but we were lucky they all managed to make it out.I had a few classmates who lost a parent, or other family members that day.”
When she pulled back slightly, Gage reached out and brushed the tears off her cheeks.“I want you to know, this guy won’t hurt you.I promise you that.I won’t let him.If I can, I won’t let anyone ever hurt you.”
Stacey lifted her hands to squeeze his wrists as he cupped her face.“I know that Gage.After that day, that’s really when I started working on being able to take care of myself.I vowed I would never let myself be in a vulnerable situation.I would take control and not be somebody’s victim.”
Gage felt his heart swell at her words.He leaned down and kissed her.His woman was tougher than anyone he had ever met.And he knew in that moment that he was one hundred percent, head-over-heels in love with Stacey Carlin.
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“Well, I have to admitthis guy is good.He knows his way around the Internet and server systems.The best I can figure is the email originated from somewhere in New York.”Tony sighed.For the last hour he had been in Stacey’s home office combing through the enigma that was cyber space.
“That’s not much help Tony.”Gage growled.
“I know it’s not and that’s what pisses me off too.He has an elaborate system that is bouncing his IP all over the god damned place.”Tony stated.“Stacey, you said that your boss in New York said the detective on your case had reached out to the cyber division of the FBI, right?”
“Yeah.Not sure who he spoke to, but he and Detective Sherman would know.Do you want me to call Walt?”Stacey nodded.
“Yes.After I get their names, I’ll reach out to the agent or agents and find out what they have and then I’ll talk to Jimmy and Cain.”Tony replied.
Stacey picked up her phone and dialed Walt.It rang for a while before his voice mail finally answered.“Hey Walt, it’s Stacey.Looks like my friend found me.As soon as you get this message call me.I need the names of the FBI agent or agents you and Sherman talked to in New York.Gage’s friend Tony is going to reach out to them and compare notes.Call me as soon as you can, don’t worry about the hour.Take care and watch yourself.”As she hung up, she frowned.
“What is it babe?”Gage asked.
“It’s not like Walt to not answer.”Stacey said.“I’m calling Detective Sherman.Something is wrong I just know it.”
Before Gage or Tony could stop her, she was off the couch and already dialing the detective as she headed for the kitchen.“Tony, I don’t like this.”
“I’m with you there brother.This isn’t the same shit we had with Ingram.This is deeper than that.That email doesn’t read like a stalker.”Tony nodded.
“What do you mean?”Gage asked.
Tony stroked his chin a little, “Well, it reads like this person is someone that Stacey knows or maybe knew.Or at least knows about her.He says she’ll know the pain and fear he knew.That’s a red flag for me.I bet once we figure out who it is, we’ll also discover it’s someone she knows.”
“That’s what I thought too Tony.”Stacey spoke up walking back into the room.“Detective Sherman had just got to Walt’s place and would call me back.After Walt talked to Gage today, Walt called him.Sherman had told Walt he would swing by after his shift so they could talk.As for your theory Tony, I think you’re right.I kind of came to that conclusion myself after I told Gage what was happening.But whoever this is, is killing me.I’m thinking back to people I know or knew that I may have rejected in some way.Guys who asked me out, hit on me in bars or clubs, old friends I lost touch with over the years, but nobody is standing out.”
“That’s because this person doesn’t show it.”Tony replied leaning forward in the chair.“This person blends in emotionally.They don’t show their feelings like the rest of us.They bottle it up and that in turn can be a dangerous thing.”
“Great.”Stacey groaned, sitting beside Gage and her head dropping back against the back of the couch.When her phone rang in her hand about thirty minutes later, she answered after the first ring.“Hello?”
“Ms.Carlin, it’s Detective Sherman.”
“Is Walt okay?”
Sherman sighed,“He’s currently heading to Mercy General.When I got here, I found the front door ajar.I called out to him as I walked in and found him bound to a dining room chair in the living room.He had been beaten and was unconscious.My guess is, it happened maybe an hour before I got there.”
“Fuck!”Stacey yelled jumping from the couch.She began to pace again, feeling Tony and Gage watching her.“Will he be all right?”
“I don’t know.They just took him away in the squad.I’m still here waiting for my crime guys to get here.As soon as I hear anything I’ll call you.Same goes once I get anything from my crime guys.”
