Page 12 of Talon
“Like for food?”She frowned, not sure where he was going with the question.
“Yeah.And I don’t mean small stuff like rabbits or squirrels.I’m talking big game.Deer, elk, moose.Something like that.”
“Yeah.Of course.I was raised by a prepper.We ate more game than meat from a grocery store and Dad made sure I knew how to harvest it, so I could continue once he was gone.”
“And have you?”
“Not really, but not because I can’t or don’t want to.It’s more because I don’t have the room to store it right now.”
Talon tilted his head to one side.“And even if you were using your dad’s place to store it, you wouldn’t risk going out to pick up meat, because that could draw Billy’s attention.At least that would be my fear, if I were in your position.”
“Exactly.”She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.“I’m just at my wit’s end with it all.I have done everything I know of, short of shooting him, to discourage him, but nothing works.I’m starting to wonder if I need to just get out of this part of the country.Go somewhere completely new and far from here.”
“You shouldn’t have to do that.You have just as much right to live where you want as he does, and he does not have the right to stalk you, harass you, or whatever you want to call it.”
The vehemence in Talon’s voice made her turn to look at him.He watched her with a determination on his face she found endearing.As if he was set on making sure she got to do what she wanted and if Billy didn’t back off, Talon would make sure he did.Even if it took doing something drastic.
That was probably her imagination but that’s what he looked like.She liked the idea that someone would go that far to help her, to make sure she was happy.The idea of it sent a warmth through her she hadn’t felt in a long time.Not since before Dad had died.It wasn’t a sensation she associated with want or sex, but more of being loved.
Madison reached over and put one hand on top of his.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For caring.You’re the first person I’ve told about all this who cared.I mean the police acted sorry when they said they couldn’t help me, but I got the feeling that they get too many paranoid people coming in with similar notes, whether real or fake, and that they thought I was one of those.”
“I do care.While I get that the police have rules and regulations that they have to follow, all of it together seems like pretty damning evidence, at least in my opinion.Especially since he’s signing them.”
Madison shrugged.“I thought so too, but they said no.”
9
Talonhatedthatshefelt like she’d have to leave the area, the only place she knew, because some misbegotten fucker thought she belonged to him.Talon hadn’t missed the reference to the ‘biker’ in that last note.It had to refer to him.At least he thought so.
“That last note in the file, the one that mentioned the biker, when did you get that one?”
Madison scrubbed one hand over her face, moving back and forth for a minute before answering him.
“It was under the wiper on my truck when I got out of work today.I didn’t see it right away and I wasn’t going to get back out to retrieve it, so it stayed there while I went to the post office.I didn’t read it until I was home.I had a good idea of who it was from and didn’t want to let him see my reaction to it.”
“That was smart.From what you’ve told me, you’re doing everything right.What’s your schedule like the next few days?”
“I’ve got work tomorrow and the day after, then I’m off for three days.”
“All right.That works.I talked to my boss, he gave me two days for now, with the possibility for more if I need it.How about we take the next two days one day at a time, then see how things are then.If we think he’s still around or still causing problems, you can come spend some time at the ranch.If nothing else it gets you out of town for a day or two, gets you away from him and what seems to be his constant watching of you.How does he live his own life if he’s here watching you all the time?”
“I don’t think he’s watching all the time.I think he just happened to be watching when I helped you.”She shrugged and shook her head.“I don’t know.Maybe he’s got people watching and reporting?I’ve never seen him watching me, so I don’t know how he’s getting his information.”
Talon watched her for a moment, wondering how the guy might be doing it.Knowing where she was going and who she was spending time around.He thought back through all the notes he’d read not an hour before.
“He didn’t mention anyone else you’ve spent time with.Have you been out on dates or spent time with any men other than me since you moved to Newcastle?”
She frowned at him, but Talon remained silent, waiting for an answer.
“I’ve been out on a couple of dates since I moved here.Why?”
“Because he mentioned me in today’s note, but he didn’t mention anyone else in any of the others.It makes me wonder if maybe he’s not actually watching you, but has you bugged somehow.”He frowned as he thought about how her stalker might have known about him, but not her other dates.When the thought came to him, he wanted to smack himself in the head, it was so obvious.“Since you moved here, have you had any guy other than me in your truck?”
