Page 26 of Shadow Running
“I can see how you would think that,” Carson said.
“Right.It was a whirlwind marriage, but we were crazy for each other and even immigration could see that.I thought everything was wonderful until a year later, when she met Harry.That’s the first guy she stalked.I didn’t realize it in the beginning, of course, but she was stalking me as well.I just happen to be free and interested in her.But the newness wore off, and when she met Harry, she fell for him.Hard.”
“How did he feel about her?”I asked.
“Oh, he didn’t reciprocate her feelings.He was gay, and she drove off his fiancé with her antics.”
“I’m not sure antics would be exactly the word I’d use,” Carson said.
Lou shrugged.“You’re right.Anyway, she drove off Harry’s fiancé, and she destroyed his car.She put sugar in his gas tank when he told her to leave him alone.”
“What would happen if they were to arrest her for stalking Dante?”I asked.“What would happen toyou, I mean.”
“Oh, I’d be okay.It’s past the time when ICE can deport me if the marriage fails.I stay with her mainly because I worry about her mental health.And… Against all odds… I do love the woman.I hate what she’s doing, and I hate that she doesn’t feel passion for me anymore.I keep thinking that if I stay long enough, she’ll come full circle back to me.Then, maybe I can get her into therapy and we can have the family that I hoped for.I guess I’m fooling myself,” Lou said.
“You deserve better than this, man,” Carson said.
I nodded.“Youdo, you really do deserve more than this.I’m sorry, but we have to do something before she hurts Dante, because I swear to you — if she lays one hand on him, I’ll let my demon out and there won’t be anything left of her.”I held Lou’s gaze, feeling that inner shift that happened when my demon rose her head out of the shadows.
Lou blanched.“I see,” he said.“You’re right, of course.We have to stop her.I wonder…let me see If I can call her therapist.Maybe he can commit her for an observation period.I’m still in contact with him.Let me put in a call and see what he has to say.”
“When is Rowan due home?She knows who we are and I don’t want to trigger her to act out.”
Lou glanced at the clock on the wall.“Not for a couple of hours.She’s working until two o’clock today.”He picked up his phone and excused himself.
Carson glanced over at me, shaking his head.“I didn’t expect this,” he said.“If she’s that far gone, she wouldn’t think twice about hurting anybody she thought was an enemy.”
“Unfortunately, I think you’re right.”I pulled out my phone and texted Dante with the information that we gotten so far.I had to truncate it, of course, but I gave him the gist of the conversation.I also told him we were waiting to hear what her former therapist might have to say.
When Lou returned, he looked like he’d just seen a ghost.
“All right,” he said.“Dr.Hedges thinks that she is a danger to your friend Dante.And to herself.He’s going to drive up here, and he, along with the police, will escort Rowan to the hospital, where she’ll undergo psychiatric evaluation.Apparently, he recently dealt with a similar case that didn’t end well.In fact, it ended up in a murder-suicide.”Lou looked horrified.“Let me give you the doctor’s number so you can call him.He should be here within two hours, three if traffic is bad.”
The pain on his face was palpable.He looked like he was about to lose his best friend.I wanted to say something to help, but even if we reassured him this was for the best all around, that wouldn’t take the pain away.I stood, with Carson following suit.
“You know this is for the best,” I said.“She’s a danger to others and she’s a danger to herself, and she’s already ripped apart your heart.”
“I know, but it’s hard when you love someone so much that you desperately want to overlook the problems.I’ve never met another woman like her.When she was in love with me, it was like a fairytale.I know women talk about the Cinderella fantasy, but trust me — the Prince wants his Princess as well.Or the pauper, depending on who it is.Finding the woman of your dreams isn’t easy, and I thought I did.I guess sometimes it’s easier to pretend things are okay.”
Lou walked us to the door, and I could tell he was trying not to cry.Rabbit shifters were emotional, and they valued family over everything else.If he had truly foreseen having a family with Rowan, chances are he’d go through hell and high water to get there.And now that wasn’t going to happen.
Impulsively, I reached out and gave him a quick hug.Startled, he returned it.I stood back, holding him by the shoulders.
“Listen to me.You deserve more than this.You deserve a woman is going to want to make a home with you, who isn’t going to look at anyone else.You deserve someone who will value your love and not throw it away.Please, believe me.”I held his gaze, watching as a myriad of emotions flashed through his eyes.
“Thank you,” he said.“Thank you for that.I’ll ask the doctor to get in touch with you once Rowan is in the hospital.I’m pretty sure that Dante will need to come in and make a formal statement.If you have any evidence, it probably be wise to bring it.That’s what happened in the first case.”
I nodded, and Carson and I thanked him and took our leave.As we drove away, it occurred to me how many people were living in fantasy worlds they had created, with no basis in reality.And how many people were hurt, thanks to those fantasies?I had a feeling it was far more than we wanted to think.
CHAPTERTEN
When we arrived backat the office I called an immediate meeting.I opened up a Meet-Me room and texted Lazenti and Orik, asking them to join our chat.The moment they were online, Carson and I told them what we found out about Rowan.
“Until we know that she’s locked away, everyone in this office needs to take extra care.I don’t care how safe youthinkyou are, keep an eye out.The psychologist thinks she’s dangerous to others as well as herself.I really feel for her husband, but he needs to get the hell out of that marriage.”I turned to Dante.“And you, my friend, aren’t going anywhere without one of us with you.You can sleep on my sofa, if need be.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said.“Remember, she’s banned from my building.I’ll just ask security to keep a tight watch.”
“I’ll come back in tomorrow,” Orik said.“Hilda will be good with it, and her mother’s doing so much that my presence isn’t a necessity most of the time.Hilda will understand.I’d offer you a place to stay, Dante, except with the new twins, I think my mother-in-law would kill me.”
