I wasn’t sure why, but my gut told me he wasn’t. That he’d bolted after leaving the note. “He could be, but I don’t think so. It seems like he’s good at staying hidden but I think he’s just a coward. He put that note on your car and took off.”
“Or maybe he got someone else to do it for him.”
“Maybe. Hard to say.”
She tucked herself against me again and took a deep breath. I kept an eye out for Max, but he was busy sniffing her car. Probably still smelling the stalker.
“I should go in,” she said. “I need to call Garrett and let him know about the call and the note. And my mom will be early. She’s early for everything.”
We went inside and Max went straight for his water dish, then to his favorite spot on the couch. He curled up and closed his eyes. Apparently his adventure to the pet store had been enough to tire him out.
Audrey got out her phone to call my brother. “Hi, Garrett. Yeah, there’s been another incident.”
I waited, listening while she relayed the information to my brother. When she finished, she put him on speaker so I could hear what he had to say.
“I’m sorry that happened, Audrey. Do you still have the note?”
“Yeah.”
“Stick it in a plastic bag for me. Based on the other incidents, I doubt we’ll get anything off it, but we’ll take a look anyway.”
“My fingerprints are all over it. I let Josiah touch it, too. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. We already know he’s careful.”
“What about the phone calls?” I asked. “Can’t you trace those?”
“We’re doing our best, but the guy knows what he’s doing. Every call originates from a different number, probably a different phone, and he’s using offshore VPNs.”
“Who would know how to do all that?” she asked.
“Anyone with internet access could figure it out,” Garrett said.
And a lawyer would be familiar with what the police could or couldn’t do, what they could track and what they couldn’t.
I kept that to myself.
“So you didn’t see anyone?” Garrett asked. “No one walking or driving away.”
“Not really,” Audrey said. “I didn’t realize there was anything on the car at first. Max was going crazy because of the scent and I had my arms full of stuff.”
“Okay. Well, we’re doing everything we can.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“What do you want me to say?” Garrett asked and I didn’t miss the irritation in his voice. “I want answers as much as you do.”
“I doubt that.”
Audrey put a hand on my arm. “Josiah.”
“No, this is bullshit,” I said. “This guy keeps getting closer and closer to her and all I hear from you is what you can’t do. Can’t trace the calls. Can’t find fingerprints. Can’t find anything to identify who’s doing this. Do we have to wait until he fucking murders her before we find him?”
“I know you’re worried about her. So just trust me and let me do my job.”
I was so angry I wanted to put my fist through a wall. But then I’d have to fix it and I hated repairing drywall.
So I just shook my head and stalked into the kitchen.
Audrey finished up with Garrett while I seethed. I was fucking sick of this. Sick of handing everything to the cops, hoping they’d come up with a lead. Sick of waiting for someone else to take care of my girl.
I was done.
Audrey put a gentle hand on my arm and while her touch didn’t calm me down, it did harden my resolve.
I knew what I had to do.
“So your mom will be here soon?” I asked.
“Yeah, ten minutes or so.”
“And then Marigold is coming over?”
“I haven’t called her yet, but I’m sure she won’t mind coming here. We can order in.”
I touched her face and met her eyes. “You’re not going anywhere else, right?”
“No. I ran my errand and the last thing I want to do is go into town right now. Why?”
“I have to go do something. I don’t want to leave you alone, but as long as you stay here, you’ll be fine. And you’ll have your mom and Marigold to keep you company.”
“What do you have to do?”
I could see the suspicion in her eyes. I hated to lie to her, but I couldn’t very well tell her the truth. Not yet.
I’d tell her when it was over. It wasn’t lying, exactly. Just delaying the explanation.