Page 47 of Dark Obsession

Vicki shuddered.“Oh, that’s gross.You know what he was probably doing with those, right?”

“Yes, I guessed he was masturbating with them.I, of course, threw them away.Then he started taking all the underwear out of my drawers and folding them on top, or he’d turn down the bed I’d made that morning.The first real evidence I had was a note he left on the dashboard of my car.My locked car.It just said,I’m watching you.

“Did you take it to the cops?”

“Yes, but I got the impression he thought it was not enough to investigate.”

Vicki reached across the counter and grasped Keira’s hands.“I’m so sorry, Keira.You are not alone any longer.I know a few people.For God’s sake, no wonder you’re losing weight and exhausted.”

“That’s not the worst.Last night I got home, and he had torn my sheets to threads and all my underwear.”

Vicki gasped.“What did the police say?”

“I didn’t call them.”

“Keira.This is serious.He’s escalating.You’re going to end up hurt.Did you at least tell Daniel?”

Keira shook her head, then shrugged.“No, I don’t want to bother him.I’m so used to taking care of myself, it’s hard to let other people in.I’m also afraid he won’t believe me.I talked to him once, and the look of anger and disgust on his face told me exactly how he felt about the situation.”

“But why?I always got the impression he cared for you very much.”

Keira shrugged, then walked around the counter and took Vicki into her arms.“Thank you.You have no idea how much it means that someone believes me.The sad thing is, this is the third time I’ve gone through this.”

Vicki’s eyes widened in horror, and she leaned back to see Keira’s face.“What?Having a stalker?”

“No, running to people I believed would help me, who were supposed to protect me, and none of them took my word.”

“When?”

“The first time was in a foster home, after my mother died.”

Vicki choked back her tears.“Layla told me about the foster homes.I feel so bad for you both.”

Keira took a step back and leaned against the counter.“Yes, well, the first one they put me in, the father kept touching me.”

“Oh, sweet God.How old were you?”

“Thirteen.The worst was when I told my case worker when she came to check on me.I told her what was happening, and she didn’t believe me.She’d known these foster parents for twenty years and there had never been any whispers about him being sexually abusive.But I think when the man sneaks into my bed in the middle of the night and puts his hand down my panties, that is the definition of sexual abuse.”

Tears welled in Vicki’s eyes and ran down her face as her hands covered her mouth.“What happened?”

“I ran away before he could rape me.The cops found me the next day and took me back to the office instead of the foster home, thank God.My case worker was angry, but thankfully, put me with another family.That worked out okay until they gave me back because they thought they were too old to handle a traumatized teenager.So, I was placed with another family, whom I stayed with until I was eighteen.They were okay.Not very warm, but I had a roof over my head and food.A few of the kids were mean, but I could handle that.”

Keira inhaled a deep, shaky breath.“The second time was when I was in college.I was at a frat party with some friends.When I went to get my coat in a room off the kitchen, a guy pushed me down and was trying to rape me.Someone heard me scream and came and pulled him off me.I reported it, but it was my word against his, and he was one of their rugby players.The kid who pulled him off of me was his buddy and backed his story, not mine.I was told to leave, not expelled, but I had to leave the school before I gave the university a bad reputation.”

“God, Keira.I’m so sorry you’ve had to deal with all of this.I’m surprised you’re not in a loony bin right now.I don’t think I’d be strong enough to handle what you’ve gone through.”

“You’d be amazed at what you can handle when it comes down to survival.”

A knock on the door startled both women.

“We forgot to unlock the door.”Vicki ran to the door, apologizing to the two women who had to wait.Vicki came back to Keira.“Why don’t you go in the back and take a nap on the sofa.I know it’s old and worn, but it’s quite comfy.”

Vicki interrupted Keira when she started to shake her head.“Hun, you need to get some rest.Go on.I’ll be here if you need me.Honey, you look like crap and you’re liable to scare our customers away.Go lie down.I’ll yell for you if it gets too busy.And if you'd like to take time off to clean your house or shop for essentials, I can arrange for my sister-in-law to come in and assist.She’s helped before.”

Keira snorted out a laugh at the insult.“Okay, I’ll lay down for a bit.I could really use some sleep, and I might even take you up on your sister-in-law later.”

“You’re going to eventually have to deal with the police.You can’t do this on your own.

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