Maddy shook her head and smiled. “Thanks forthinking of him. That’ll make my next shift much more pleasant.That man loves food. I would hate to see what he would look like ifhe didn’t hit the gym every day.”
They sat side by side at the island again andchatted about nothing in particular, a pleasant distraction for themoment. She couldn’t concentrate anyway with her stomach rumblingso loudly. At the doorbell, she felt stupid when she about leapedoff of the stool when she’d been expecting the doorbell to ring.Chase paid for the pizza and gave a wave to Ian, who was alreadydevouring a gigantic slice outside in the patrol car.
As they dug into their piping hot pizza,Maddy grabbed a notepad. “Ok, now I’m ready. What have youaccomplished?”
“Can I eat first?” Chase garbled out througha huge bite.
“I suppose so.” She smiled and wolfed downher own. Her stomach yelled at her for not having thought of thissooner. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was. She leaned intoChase as she finally slowed down on the pizza. “Beer?”
“Nah, better not. Not only do I need acomplete brain, I had some last night and the night before. Iusually try to keep it at a maximum of every other day.”
Of course he was careful. She knew a lot ofothers who didn’t drink at all to compensate for their parents.Chase enjoyed an occasional drink, but she’d never seen him drinkmore than one. “Would I look like a total lush if I have one?”
Through a very full mouth, “It’s fine.” Shewas not a big drinker either, but decided to splurge tonight. Shecracked open a stout and poured it into her favorite glass. Shepoured him a water and led them to the couch, laptop tucked underher arm. “I found a few things that may be helpful. Andrea’s likelylong gone for tonight, so I’ll call her in the morning withupdates.”
“I found a little too. You first.” Chase satbeside her on the couch, his socked feet on the coffee table. Maddysat facing him, feet tucked under his leg.
She set her beer on the coffee table andcleared her voice to give her official report. “His currentresidence is listed as an apartment in Georgetown. I searchedaround the area. He works out of an office not far from there.There’s not a lot about his business available online, but it lookslike he owns a corporate realty company. I’ll have to dig somemore; something just feels off about it.”
“What feels off?” Pulling her feet onto hislap, he pulled her closer and covered her legs with a blanket.
“I couldn’t say for sure. Almost like theirwebsite had too flowery of a description about its ethical businesspractices, some raving client reviews, but actual usefulinformation was pretty slim. Like the site is there just forshow.”
“Huh. Weird. Let’s keep digging.”
“Agreed. I searched another route as well.Dylan was always active in the best teams and clubs, captain of thesailing club in high school and active in the communityorganizations while we were in college. I sent some emails to seeif anyone kept in contact with him. I didn’t ever see him developany close friendships though; more superficial relationships, so Idon’t think that’s going to go anywhere. He has no presence insocial media. Unfortunately, if Andrea and Mike can’t find schoolrecords for him after he was arrested, I’m not sure many of his oldfriends will know much.” Maddy shook her head, frustrated.
“Maybe if we could get in touch with his oldcellmate from jail, that might get us further.”
She nearly laughed, but realized thatactually could be a better lead. “Hmm. I wonder if Andrea can getthat information.”
“I was kidding, but maybe that willhelp.”
Maddy pondered. She nudged her foot closer toChase’s hands, grinning as she subtly requested a foot-rub. “Well,anyway. He played baseball in college; said he’d never be able togive up the sport. I’ve looked around to different amateur baseballleagues near his house. Luckily, I didn’t have to expand my searchtoo far out so far. He just finished up with a local rec league;they won the local championship this year. His photo is right therewith them. I emailed the link to Andrea and Mike to let them dosome digging there, see if they want to interview any of histeammates.”
“Sounds like a good plan. Anything else?”
Maddy picked up her beer and took a few sips,thinking. “Actually, I didn’t get to it yet, but should have. Hisonly other interest was sailing. He loved to sail. Lived in starkwhite boat shoes, even in winter. I wonder if Andrea can see if heowns a boat.”
Continuing her train of thought, Chase pausedhis foot-rub, distracted, “We’re not too far from the marina. Isyour dad still part of the yacht club?”
Sitting up, Maddy reached for her phone. “Hesure is. We could go check it out, but I’ll behave and text Andreafirst. See if she wants to send out a unit to look for any sign ofhim.” Her fingers flew across the screen as she texted her boss. Afew seconds later, her phone buzzed. “She’s on it. She’s sendingout a unit to look around the marina, find out if anyone has seenhim. I hope they find something.”
Not ready to stop yet, she gulped the last ofher beer and continued. “I also spent some time researching stalkerbehavior. Trying to predict his next moves. Trying to map out hispatterns. I know he’s a control freak, a total narcissist. He’sfixated on showing a successful front.”
“He’s fixated on you. Maybe you are part ofhis perfect picture, but I think it all comes back to you. Hewanted you all through school, finally got you and kept you close.He tore you down until you didn’t question him anymore, abusivebehavior toward you.”
“He was only violent the one time. The lasttime I saw him before he was arrested.”
“True, but physical abuse is not the onlykind of abuse.”
“I know. I talked a whole lot with mytherapist about exactly what happened, and it was a whole lot morethan I’m willing to think about anymore.” She sighed, eyes lookingdown.
“He’s got that creepy obsession with secretlytaking photos of you and using them against you. You broke freefrom him, you left him, and he ended up with nothing butphotographs. And, he’s clearly been adding more photographs overthe years.”
Maddy agreed with that. “I’m sure he couldfind someone else to worship him. Someone who might even let himtake creepy pictures. It took a lot of therapy to allow anyone totake normal pictures of me. I had a bit of a complex for a whilethough.”
“I’ll bet.” She’d had to go through so muchbecause of that asshole. “I gotta say again, I hate that you wentthrough all that. That I left you alone,” Maddy tried to interrupt,“I know. I had to get out. But I wish things had played outdifferently.”
