Chase was relieved to find Maddy at home,safe and sound. He’d panicked at work and had to come see her.Couldn’t even say why. Bad feeling. Weird. He normally had a levelhead. Had to in his previous line of work. But sometimes it paid totrust a gut feeling.
He’d been on his way out the door when twoofficers had stopped him. Said he was to have protection. Before hefreaked, they’d made sure to tell him Maddy was fine, but he knewshe may be safe, but wasn’t fine.
Deep under water, you often couldn’t see morethan a few inches in front of you and couldn’t afford not to listento your gut. Hadn’t led him astray so far. He pulled her in tightlyas soon as he walked in the door, needing to feel her close. Shewas still warm and rumpled from their night together but was… off.Different.
“Chase, you ok? You’re back early.” Maddypulled back just enough to look up at him.
“I’m fine, thanks,” her look turnedsuspicious. “How are you?”
Andrea interrupted, startling Chase. He’dbeen so caught up in Maddy, he hadn’t realized she was there.Already feeling silly for having fled work to check on Maddy, hekept a calm demeanor, hoping to maintain a façade ofunflappability.
“Chase, I’m glad you’re here actually, wehave some new information for you. As threatened, Mayberry sentpictures to me directly. He’s a smart guy, but I’m not sure he’s sogood with people, or he’d have realized the photos wereincriminating for him alone and would have no effect on Maddy’semployment.”
Chase’s jaw clenched in response; he wassurprised he didn’t have angry dragon-smoke puffing out of hisnostrils. Andrea continued, “Chase, there’s more.” Andrea looked toMaddy in question, waiting for permission before sharing thephotos. Maddy handed him the packet of photos, her expressiongrim.
He quickly rifled through the photos, feelingincreasingly… rabid. Furious. What the fuck? What was this guy’sproblem? Why would he distribute such personal photos? He has to becompletely off his rocker.
This made no sense. The photos of Maddy wereintimate; he’d know how much that would bother her. He shuffledright past the picture with his eyes crossed out. Not surprisedthere. Fucking psycho.
The last photo caught him off guard. Chasewas grossed out just looking at it. He wasn’t a back-alley blow jobsort of guy, so the photo was just… disturbing. Before he realizedhis thoughts were no longer isolated to his head, he found histhoughts expressed aloud, “Agh. Gross. Who is she and why is shedoing that to me and why didn’t I know about it?”
Maddy almost laughed, glad his reaction hadbeen similar to her own, just more humorous. “Photoshop.” Sheheaded back to the living area and crashed back down onto thecouch.
Chase shook his head, trying to find thehumor with her as he followed her into the living room. “But it’sso graphic. And vile. Eww.” The more he stared at the photo, themore obvious the photo editing became.
A deep laugh boiled up from his gut. “Couldyou image him spending hours, trying to connect my head onto someother dude’s body. Staring at that image for hours? Sick perv.” Nolonger able to look at the picture, he stuffed the pile back intothe envelope. He looked to Andrea, “Why do you think he sent theseto you?”
She considered before speaking. “I don’t knowfor sure, but I have a few theories. He used these as a toolbefore, to keep Maddy from being able to leave him. Cutting off heroptions. It would make sense he’s trying it again. Driving her awayfrom you. Scaring you both. Making Maddy feel insecure. She’s aprivate person, and he has completely invaded her privacy. Maybewouldn’t want to go back to work and face us if these are floatingaround.”
“Didn’t exactly get what he wanted, did he?”Chase sat in the armchair across from Maddy, leaning forward andresting his elbows on his knees as he faced her.
Maddy laughed humorlessly. “No, he suredidn’t. Before, the photos completely trashed my career plan, myreputation, and inspired me to move across the country. I wasn’tgoing to be able to pursue a career in the public eye, which ruinedhis dream of our being some sort of power couple. My dreams changedfor the better. His, not so much. Ruined his own future more thanmine. And, again. This time, he has incriminated himself more thanhurt me. He just doesn’t get it.”
The chief leaned in, continuing the debate.“His plan… sucks.”
Chase shook his head. “Those photos sure gota lot of attention last time,” he moved to sit by Maddy. “After youremoved the camera, he had to have been seriously pissed off. Youhave a top-of-the-line alarm system; he’s not getting back in. Hisplans for Seaview aren’t going the way he wants either. He’sgetting desperate.”
“He pissed me off with the photos, but theydon’t have the power to ruin me anymore. The threat against you,however, thatreallycaught my attention.” Maddy leanedforward to sip her now-frigid coffee, but her hands were shaking sohard anyway she had to put it back down before she spilled. So muchfor appearing unperturbed.
Andrea started to speak, but then shook herhead. She stood and walked to the door, grabbing her keys. Shestalked back over to the living room and leaned on the back of theempty chair. “Maddy, you tell me anything, absolutely anything youthink may help. I’m going back to the office to find out where heis. Find out where his home base is. Track this asshole down. Wehave plenty of evidence now; I shouldn’t have any trouble getting awarrant. Then, I’ll put out the word to arrest him on sight.”
Maddy nodded in assent. “His parents soldtheir home in town as soon as he left for college, but I believethey still own a few rentals around town.”
“Thanks, I’ll check those out. And Maddy,it’s time for that restraining order.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Maddy rubbed hereyes and sighed, emotionally exhausted.
“Call if you think of anything. I’ll ensureprotection for both of you until we catch this creep. Don’t leavethe house without an officer. Either of you. I don’t like wherethis is going. I’m calling in for back-up from the county sheriff’soffice.”
Chase stood and walked Andrea to the door.“Thanks Chief.”
She patted him on the shoulder warmly andwalked out the door.
After locking up and setting the alarm, Chaseturned back to Maddy. He hated seeing her like this, so distraught.Her face was sullen, eyes moist. “Hey, can I get you anything?”
Maddy stood and took the coffee cups to thesink. Ignoring the tremoring in her hands. She poured the leftovercoffee into the sink, watching the dark liquid flow down the drain.She gently set the cups down and turned to Chase. “I’m going totake a shower. You’ll stick around?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He watched her slowbut controlled walk into the bedroom, shoulders held back. She wasincredible. She had to be a mess, but she continued, refusing togive in.
