Page 104 of Middle Ground
He holds a piece of paper toward us.
I warned you, it says.
“It’s a reminder,” Meyer says. “Of the spray paint on the wall. Now this.”
“Reggie?” I ask.
Constable Reyes shakes his head. “We finally tracked him down. He’s been sleeping on his cousin’s couch down in Scarborough. He wasn’t in Fraisier Creek when any of the incidences occurred, including the vandalism.”
My heart stops, and Meyer stiffens beside me. If Reggie wasn’t involved in any of it…then who was?
“We’ll have to hold this scene for a while to gather any evidence they left behind,” the constable continues.
“Can I go inside?” Meyer asks. “I won’t touch anything, I just need to find my cat.” Her voice cracks, threatening tears. “Please.”
He hesitates, but the desperation in her eyes wins out, and he nods. “Just the cat. If you need anything else, make a list and one of the other constables will get it to you.”
With a quick nod, Meyer is up the porch steps and through the open front door. I follow close behind. Like hell am I letting her out of my sight right now.
After a cursory glance through the living room and kitchen, we decide Fish isn’t there. With all the commotion, he’s likely at the back of the house. We head for Meyer’s bedroom next.
We check the laundry baskets first, his preferred place to sleep, but they’re empty. Then Meyer lowers herself to the floor and peers under the bed.
With a relieved cry, Meyer reaches underneath and pulls Fish out from his hiding spot. The cat lets out a perturbed meow, but he doesn’t struggle in her arms. He lets her crush him against her chest, almost like he senses that Meyer needs this right now.
I can feel Meyer shaking. “Hey, you’re safe,” I say, placing a hand on her back. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not scared right now, I’m fuckingangry.” When she looks up at me, her blue eyes are blazing. “This has to stop.”
“I know, baby.” With my arm around her, we exit her bedroom. “We’ll figure it out.”
I’m not sure how, but we will. Because Meyer is right. We can’t keep living like this, wondering when this sick person will strike next. Constantly looking over our shoulders.
Not to mention, this could be detrimental to the inn. If word gets out to tourists about the shit that’s been happening, they aren’t going to want to stay here, and I wouldn’t blame them.
This has to end.
CHAPTER 36
JACKSON
“For the third time today,I’mfine.”
Meyer’s voice rings out through the speakers of my car, and hearing it eases something in my chest. Leaving her this morning was the last thing I wanted to do, but one of us needed to stay back to help at the inn while the other picked up supplies in Calderville. Having Meyer surrounded by a group of people that love her seemed like the safest option to me.
“Just checking,” I say.
She laughs. “I know you’rejust checking. I’m safe and sound, right where you left me.”
“Good, let’s keep it that way. I just left Calderville, so I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll be waiting for you. Bye, Jackson.”
“Bye, baby.”
The calls disconnects, and I let out a sigh.
Driving back from the city, setting aside the stressors that come with an anonymous stalker, it occurs to me how relaxedI feel. Even the most stressful days at the inn leave me feeling a sense of peace when I climb into bed at night. The same couldn’t be said for the life I lived back home.
