Page 91 of Space Cowgirl: Houston, All Systems Go
“Oh no.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rose shake her head while pulling the reins to the side. In a slow plod, Bess turns in the direction of the barn. “I’m just the baby sister. I thoroughly enjoy knocking sense into you,” Rose calls out over her shoulder, “but you’ve got to figure the rest out on your own.”
As the sun sets, and Rose and Bess plod on toward the barn, I think through various ideas, pleas, and gestures, discarding each one as it comes. It’s fully dark before I push myself off the truck and climb inside.
First things first. I need to make a list.
Twenty-Three
Belly-up
Jules
Turnsout mentioning that you have a stalker and that it justmighthave something to do with a disgraced former astronaut is a big deal.
Dr. Rebecca Sato is concerned with my emotional and mental welfare. Luke wants to choke me out for not coming to them sooner. And Jackie looks like she’d cut a bitch to be the first in line on the choke hold.
I had thought that telling Jackie in front of witnesses would have made it easier. That if she was in her work environment, she would stay logical and calm.
The death glare she’s lazering at me from behind her glasses tells me I was wrong.
A few members of the human resource and public relations departments have been called into a larger conference room and are now watching the news on a projector screen. So talk of my emotional state will have to wait.
Honestly, I’d prefer the choke-out tofeelings.
Emily clicks the remote and the screen goes blank. We just replayed all the news articles and stories that Susan, Whipple’s girlfriend, has reported on since quoting her anonymous source. Seeing them all back to back hasn’t helped my emotional state.
“I’d like to strangle that woman,” Emily says, setting the remote down on the table. It seems the compilation hasn’t helped her emotional state either.
I nod at the woman. “You take Susan, I’ll take Whipple.”
“I’m pretty sure that won’t help the situation,” Luke says, his normal happy expression gone.
“I’ll strangle them both then,” Jackie says, speaking for the first time since I admitted I had a stalker and earning shocked glances from everyone, myself included. Her eyes narrow, the murderous gleam in her eyes strengthening. “After I strangle you for not telling me you have a freakingstalker.”
“Jesus.” Jorge, the human resources guy, throws up his hands, looking a bit uncomfortable. “Can we all stop talking about strangling people?”
“Yes, he’s right. This isn’t helping,” Doc says, folding her hands over her very large pregnant belly. “Let’s start at the beginning.” She looks at me. “Jules, when did you first start getting messages from this person?”
“Herstalker,” Jackie corrects, still giving me the evil eye.
“Whipple,” Joe adds.
“We don’t know for sure it’s Whipple.” At my expression, Luke backs up. “But hedoesseem like the likely suspect.”
Doc nods. “We’ll let the police handle that. For now, just run us through what’s been happening."
I blow out a breath, watching my hair float away from my face for a few seconds. “Okay. So this is what’s been happening…”
I spend the next twenty minutes going over the social media private messages that started the week I got back from the International Space Station, the random text messages from anonymous numbers I keep blocking, and lastly, the package delivered to my condo. There was slight gasp of shock when I mentioned the drugged beer.
“Are you serious right now?” Jackie’s chest heaves. “This psycho drugged you? He came to yourhome?”
I nod.
“And… and you didn’t you tell me?” I’ve never heard her voice so high.
“I—”
“You’re my best friend, you idiot!” She slaps her hand on the table. “I may be new to the whole having a social life and friends thing, but I know you’re supposed to share this kind of stuff with your friends.” She pauses, glancing between Doc and Luke. “Right?”
