Page 38 of This Time I'm Keeping You
“And?”
“And they brought Malcolm in for questioning.He denied it and said I was hysterical when he’d been trying to break up with me.I’d overreacted because I wanted to stay in a relationship with him?—”
“The cops didn’t buy that, surely?”
“No, but stalking and harassment are misdemeanors.Malcolm was an upstanding citizen, and people were willing to be character witnesses for him.”
Nick swore.
“He doesn’t have a record, so he got probation for a few months, and a fine, and then he had paid his dues, or so they said, and the phone calls started.But this time, he was clever.The phone numbers were always different, and he disguised his voice.I don’t know how, but he always seemed to know where I was.
“And you contacted the police again?”Nick said.
“Of course, and they checked his phone and went to his house, but they found no further evidence he was stalking me.I knew it was him, and that he was even more determined now because he wanted revenge for what I’d done to him.On one call he told me I’d never be free of him because we were meant to be together.
Nick couldn’t believe this had been going on as long as it had, and no one had done anything to stop Davy again.
“I kept contacting the police, but they couldn’t find any evidence.One officer said that Malcolm Davy had paid for his crime, and apparently, I make up stories for a living, so it wasn’t a stretch to think I’d be doing that in real life.”
“So what?You just stopped reporting things?”Nick asked.
“No one listened, so I gave up and left my home,” she said.Her arms were wrapped around her waist now, as if to protect herself.
“If he tried it with you, he’d have done something like that before surely?There would have been a pattern of this kind of behavior, Poppy.”
“The police said before me there were no complaints.”
Nick swore, long and loud.
“Where were you living?”
“Baltimore.”
“How many years ago did this happen?”
“Five.”
“And what?You’ve been moving around ever since?”Nick asked.
Her eyes dropped to her plate.
“Poppy, answer me.This is the time for truth.”
“Not constantly.But I didn’t want to live with Aunt Jenny or near her because I worried he’d come after her.”
“Has he come at you again?”
“I haven’t seen him, but I would get these phone calls saying he knew where I was, plus he would make contact with me through my author website, but I just blocked them.When that happened, I changed my phone and moved.I basically relocated every few months just to be sure he never found me.I’ve seen a lot of the country.”
He didn’t laugh at her pathetic attempt at a joke.
“This is bullshit,” Nick hissed.“When did you hear from him last?”
“About a year ago, and that’s why I thought this wasn’t him and the reason I came here to settle.I believed he’d stopped or died, and I was safe.I want to have a life, Nick.”
“But he hasn’t stopped.”His heart hurt for the woman who had been on the run for so long.“He’s been stalking you for five years, Poppy.This has to stop now, and Malcolm Davy needs to be caught, and with Billy’s help, we’ll ensure that happens.”
“I should leave here, Nick.It’s not safe for you if I stay.”She got to her feet and started backing away.“I can pack and call a cab.”
