Page 55 of Risk Assessment
“Soon. Soon, my love, we will be together.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Dylan stopped Raleigh on the path. “Stay right here. I want to check the porch.”
He moved away, scanned the area, then returned to her.
“Anything?” she asked.Please let her stalker have been there. She sent up a silent prayer but Dylan shook his head.
“Damn.” She trudged her way up the stairs as Dylan unlocked the door.
She leaned against the doorjamb as Dylan went inside to his search. She was fed up with the emotional rollercoaster she was on. Every time she thought she had a handle on her emotions, something else happened and she became a mess all over again. The stalker boldness in following them to the pier had just about done her in. She wanted to be mad, but being angry took energy, and she just didn’t have any left.
Dylan came back and motioned her inside. “It’s clear. But honey, he left another note.”
“But I thought no one walked on the front porch.”
“No one did. He came in through the side porch off the master bedroom. The lock is damaged.”
She sagged in the doorway. What does it say?”
Dylan held the note by the corner. “You were warned.”
“That’s it? Seriously? He couldn’t get more creative than that? He’s losing his touch.”
“Raleigh?”
His gaze was glued to her face as she walked past him into the foyer. “I’m fine, but if you’re sure he didn’t do anything else, then I think I’ll head to bed.”
“Raleigh, I think you need to be aware that this is another escalation in behavior. This is a direct threat. We have to take it seriously. I think we should stay somewhere else tonight.”
Frustration coursed through her.
Sighing, she leaned against the wall in the hallway. “No. I’m not changing hotels.” She held up her hands. “I know what you’re saying and you’re undoubtedly correct, but I can’t leave. He wins if I leave. He’s a coward. He follows me around and breaks in when I’m not here. He won’t break in again tonight.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re right. I don’t.” She shook her head. “But I’ve lost all of my peace of mind because of this guy. I can’t lose my freedom too. Can’t you ask Cosgrove to place a guard outside or something? We already have Connor is looking at my security system and Pete is getting the other note tested for fingerprints. I don’t see what else we can do at the moment. If Cosgrove would put a guard outside then we should be fine.”
He hesitated. “I don’t like it.” He leaned on the doorjamb.
She snorted. “No shit. Well, that makes us a party of two, but it is what it is. I am so exhausted and drained I just can’t deal with anything else at the moment. I’m numb Dylan. I just need sleep. I have to get up early in the morning and look at the stuff Phil sent me for the barbecue. After talking with Max, we decided to make it into one long spread with lots of pictures instead of smaller articles. Lydia is so thrilled she’s willing to give up all the creative suggestions she’s put forward." The onething going right with her day. “So, please find a way to make it safe so we can stay here tonight.” She dragged herself over to the sofa and flopped down.”
Dylan frowned but pulled out his phone. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Twenty minutes later two uniformed cops knocked at the door. They were accompanied by Cosgrove. They spoke quietly with Dylan for a few minutes and then one cop went into the back bedroom with Dylan and Cosgrove while the other asked Raleigh all about her stalker.
Dylan, Cosgrove, and the other officer came back into the foyer. The cop who’d been questioning Raleigh stood up. “Thanks for answering my questions. I am sorry you’re going through all this.” He gave her a brief smiled. Then joined the rest of the crew in the foyer. Two minutes later they all left, and Dylan came in and sat down in the chair across from her.
“Cosgrove is going to place a guard out front and another in the back. I convinced her it’s the least she could do since we’ve been broken into twice. The cops promised to take a look around and run background checks on the wedding guests and any of the hotel guests that were seen on camera in the vicinity of this cabin. They said there was no point in trying for prints. It’s a hotel room and God knows there will be millions of them.”
Raleigh crossed her arms over her chest. Her heart pounded in her ears, fear fought to crawl up her throat but she swallowed it back down. Dylan was being serious. His expression said it all. He was worried about this all going sideways. He was worried about her. And she was worried, too—worried and exhausted—but she had a job to finish. What would it say about her if she gave up now?
She stood up. “Dylan, I understand my stalker is threatening me, but if I leave now I might as well keep going. Leave alltogether. Lydia will personally freeze me out of events and shut down any chance of me advancing in any kind of career.
“I have worked very hard to get to the point that one of the top members of Bedford Hills society wants me specifically to cover her event. My boss is thrilled with my progress. This wedding is a career-defining moment. If I do this well, I might be able to make the leap to writing pieces for a bona fide newspaper. I’d probably have to start with the local color puff pieces because I have those connections but I can work my way up to investigative reporter. I know I can but all of it goes away if I screw this up. My connections to Lydia are my best way in at this point.”
Dylan sighed. “It’s not just staying here tonight. I don’t think it’s safe to go to the wedding tomorrow. No job is worth your life.”
