Page 37 of Stalked

Steve shrugged. “They would’ve helped for sure, especially with prosecution for stalking. But this notebook gives us a lot of information. My people will be able to see what patterns can be established from this.”

“Detective Johnson steered me right by telling me to write everything down. Actually, at the time, I think he just told me that to give me something proactive to do. Make me feel less like a victim, more like an active part in an investigation.”

And it had worked. For the first time Rosalyn had felt hopeful. Right up until Johnson had died two days later.

Steve took her hand. “I already have people looking into his death and the mechanic’s. They’ll dig through what it looks like on the surface to what’s actually underneath, okay?”

Rosalyn nodded. “Thank you.”

He handed the notebook back to her. “I’m going to pay and use the restroom. Then we’ll hit the road again. We should make it to Colorado Springs by this afternoon.”

She smiled. “I’ll try not to sleep the entire day away this time.”

He stood up. “You can do whatever you need to—don’t worry about that. It’s been a stressful couple of days. Your body needs rest.”

It had been a stressful year. But she just nodded.

She was thankful Steve was looking into Detective Johnson’s and Shawn the mechanic’s deaths. She still didn’t know exactly what Steve did in law enforcement, but evidently he was pretty high up. He hadn’t offered any information and she hadn’t wanted to ask.

She needed to call the Ammonses before they got back on the road. She needed to let them know she was okay. They didn’t have a phone upstairs at their house, due mostly to Jim’s paranoia that the government was listening or watching them, but had one at the café.

Rosalyn got change from the waitress and went into the hallway lined with phones, a throwback from before everyone had cell phones and truckers used to have to make calls to their loved ones from pay phones. She dialed the number for the Ammonses’ café, then put in the change required to connect the call.

“Main Street Cafe.”

“Hi, Cheryl, it’s—”

“Oh, Rosalyn, honey! Thank goodness you’re okay.”

It was the most emotion she’d ever heard out of the stoic Cheryl.

“I’m sorry if you’ve been worried about me. I should’ve called earlier.”

But a deranged stalker found me again, killed my sister, then tried to kill me twice.

Rosalyn had never told the Ammonses about the Watcher. She suspected they knew she was on the run from someone but had never pressed for details and she’d never given any.

“That’s all right. I’m just glad to hear you’re safe now. Jim was worried too.”

Rosalyn laughed. “I don’t think Jim worries about anything but the government encroaching on his boundaries.”

“Well, he talked yesterday about putting a phone line in the house so you could call there if you needed anything.”

Rosalyn felt tears come to her eyes. For Jim to have considered that, he really did care about her. “Cheryl, I’ll just call the café, okay? Tell Jim he doesn’t need to do anything so drastic like get a phone in the house.”

The words were in jest, but Rosalyn meant it. She knew what it meant for Jim to have even considered it.

“Are you coming back? You know you’re welcome anytime. You and the baby.”

“Thanks, Cheryl.” Emotion choked Rosalyn’s voice. “I’ve got some things to take care of. But I might be back. I don’t know yet.”

“Well, we both mean it when we say we want you here. Don’t forget that, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m with the baby’s father now and we’re trying to get some stuff figured out.” Probably not the stuff Cheryl was thinking of, but that didn’t matter. “I’ll call in a couple of days with an update, okay?”

“You be careful, hon. And remember you’ve always got a home here if you want it.”

“Thanks, Cheryl. Give Jim my love.”

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