The sight of the pink envelope on her desk caused Marley Brooks’s steps to falter. After two weeks of not receiving one, she’d thought her “fan” had moved on to harassing someone else. Despite being careful as she set her cup of coffee on her desk blotter, her hand trembled. Dark spots marred the white of the paper.
“Something wrong?” Her co-anchor at the local news station, Stan Blake, glanced up from his desk.
Marley forced a smile. “Lots of mail today.”
“Oh. I almost forgot. Here’s some mail that was set on my desk instead of yours.” He smiled and handed her a stack of pink envelopes. “New mail clerk, I guess.”
Her heart dropped to her knees. Hand shaking, she took the letters to her desk. They hadn’t stopped after all. At first, the fan mail had started out nice, almost sweet, but as time went on, they’d taken on a menacing tone.
After glancing at the postmarks, she put them in order and opened the first one.
Marley!
I thought we were becoming friends. I mean, I watch every. Single. Newscast. You’re on. I still think you’d do better on the screen rather than in the field. You’re easily the best there is. I’ve told you several times that all you have to do is say the word, and I’ll clear the path for you. Get rid of the obstacles. For you, I’d do anything!
Your best friend.
The do anything remark chilled her blood. What exactly did the writer mean by that? She set the letter down and picked up the next one.
Marley,
Your nonresponse to my letters is beginning to be irksome. Yes, I said irksome. I’m an old-fashioned gal and like the sound of the old words. Did you miss my letter asking that you do a news report on the local animal shelter? How they’re mistreating the animals? Or what about the soup kitchen? The food there is slop. I ought to know because I eat there on a regular basis. I save what little income I have for postage!
Really, if we’re going to remain friends, you need to do some of the things I ask. That’s what friends do. Remember, pretty is as pretty does, and you ignoring me is NOT PRETTY!
Your best friend (I think).
But Marley had visited both those places, and both seemed legit. She hadn’t seen anything going on that warranted drawing the public’s attention. She took a sip of her tepid coffee and thought about the people she’d seen at both places. Someone who had been at both.
Being a reporter gave her a good eye for details. Who had stood out? Maybe someone overly friendly toward her? While she’d suspected her “fan” to be female, the last letter pretty much confirmed it. A man wouldn’t call himself a gal.
With a sigh, she set down her cup and picked up the next letter. The postmarks were closer together. No longer one a week but several. Each letter more threatening. She opened the last one.
OK. We are obviously not friends. If we are not friends, we are enemies. I have wasted so much of my time writing to you, spilling out my feelings, trying to help you grow in your career. Why? Because I felt a connection the first time I saw you on TV.
Foolish me. Stupid Annie!
Tell Stan the Snake to watch his back. I’m going to use him as an example then…
I’M COMING FOR YOU!
Marley gasped.
“Something wrong?” Stan glanced up from his computer.
She bolted to her feet and dropped the letter on his desk.
He scanned the printed words. “Just a weirdo. Nothing to worry about.”
“You think so?” She didn’t. The writer was insane. “I think you should be worried. I am. We work together, Stan.”
“Nah.” He waved a dismissive hand. “It isn’t the first time a crazy person has threatened me. They’re all talk.” He pushed to his feet. “I’m going to go grab me a breakfast sandwich from the coffee shop. Want anything?”
“No, thanks.” She returned to her desk and stared at the pile of letters. They needed to be brought to the boss’s attention and the police. “I’m going to show these to Merle. I should have as soon as they turned threatening.”
“Suit yourself.” He flashed his megawatt smile that had every female viewer’s heart aflutter and sauntered out the door.
Could he be right? Was the writer nothing more than someone wanting attention and not to be worried about? No, she should err on the side of caution and show Merle.
She gathered up the letters, glancing outside before leaving the room. A crowd had gathered on the sidewalk waiting for the next bus.
Stan stood a few inches taller than most who waited, a big grin on his face as he bent to talk to a dark-haired woman. He waved and said something to someone else, then turned toward the street.
A scream rang out as he fell.
The city bus couldn’t stop in time.
Stan’s body hit the front of the bus, sending him flying.
The letters in Marley’s hands fluttered to the floor like oversized rose petals. She sprinted from the building and outside as the crowd now circled Stan who lay on the road like a broken doll.
“A woman pushed him!” An elderly man leaning on a cane pointed down the street. “A woman with a knit cap on her head. I saw it as plain as day.”
The fan meant every word she’d said. Marley needed to leave, find a place to hide. She darted back into the building and gathered up the letters before rushing to Merle’s office. She quickly explained about Stan lying outside, the letters, and her taking a leave immediately. “I’ll go by the police station, but I’m out of here for a while.”
He stared at her as if she babbled in a language he didn’t understand. “Stan was hit by a bus?”
“Yes.” She shook her head. “I have to go. Please, go outside.” Her throat clogged as she scooped up the letters. “I can’t. I’ll be in the open.” She rushed to her office and grabbed her purse before ducking out the back door.
With every step toward the parking garage, she felt as if hands would press against her back and shove her in front of a moving vehicle. Inside her car, she locked the doors and sped from the garage toward the police station. If Annie followed her, maybe she’d lose her at the station.
The officer behind a desk frowned. “You’ve been receiving these for how long?”
“A few months.” Her shoulders sagged.
“You didn’t think anything of them?” He tilted his head.
“No.” She sighed. “I’m going to take a leave for a while. Here is my cell phone number. Please call me if you find out anything.”
He nodded, taking the business card from her hand. “I doubt we will. With you gone, this woman will probably find someone else to torment.”
“She killed someone.”
“Allegedly. We will treat this as an accident unless further evidence presents itself. Be careful, Miss Brooks. Any idea of where you’re going?”
“No. I’m going to look for some rentals in the northern part of the state and go from there. Thank you.” Outside, she glanced both ways before almost running to her car. Soon, she locked her apartment door behind her and tried to decide what to take since she had no idea how long she’d be gone.
Springtime weather didn’t warrant warm clothes, so her suitcase could carry more. She filled the hard-sided case with clothes, toiletries, and the nine-millimeter Luger she’d only shot for target practice.
Packed, she logged onto her laptop and spent half an hour finding a place to rent for a while in a town called Misty Hollow deep in the mountains, then put the laptop into its bag, threw food and water into a box, and rushed back to her car several times to fit it all in. Ridiculous, really, but she didn’t make enough money to repurchase everything.
With each trip she felt sharp eyes on her but didn’t spot anyone. Not even a neighbor, but of course they were all still at work. Her breath came in gasps as she fought off a full-fledged panic attack, something she hadn’t experienced in years.
Not now, please. After shoving the last item in the backseat of her car, she slid into the driver’s seat. Her hands shook as she tried inserting the key into the ignition. Finally, she turned the key and the engine roared to life.
Should she stop at the bank? She definitely needed to fill up with gas. Every stop she needed to make could mean that Annie would find her. She’d gas up in a different town. No need to go to the bank. A homeless woman wouldn’t know how to follow any withdrawals Marley might make.
Four and a half hours later, she drove down a winding mountain road into a picturesque town in a hollow. She continued following the GPS until she pulled in front of a lovely Victorian home. Wow. She couldn’t believe the house could possibly rent for the amount she’d been given.
She exited the vehicle and hurried up the flagstone pathway to the porch. Before she climbed the stairs, a dark-haired woman with a baby on her hip opened the door.
“You must be Marley. I’m Gemma. Please come in.” She stepped aside.
Marley stepped into luxury. “Wow.”
“Yeah, my ex really did the place up. It’s not exactly my taste, but we’re headed to Europe for a while so there’s no time to renovate. It’s fully furnished.”
“So much space for one person.” She ran her hand over the polished banister of the sweeping staircase.
Gemma laughed. “Too much room for three, in my opinion, but we hope to fill the rooms with children. I’m sure you’ll be happy here, Miss Brooks.”
“You recognized me?”
“Of course. Your face is on the news every night. Don’t worry. Folks around here mind their own business.”
She’d hoped to be incognito longer. “How long do I have here?”
“At least six months.”
Perfect. Marley faced the woman and thrust out her hand. “I’ll take it. Six months is a perfect amount of time for a sabbatical.”
Gemma returned the handshake. “Wonderful. I need to run, so just drop the rental check off at the bank. Welcome to Misty Hollow. You’ll love it here.”
Marley followed the woman outside and stared up and down the street. Folks smiled and waved at the woman and child, several of them turning curious eyes on Marley. No one seemed to recognize her or, if they did, they chose not to say so.
She took a deep breath of the clean mountain air. Yes, she could be very happy here if no one showed up named Annie, or if she didn’t receive any more “fan” letters.
No one could find her here.
- Publisher : Winged Publications
- Publication date : June 23, 2023
- Language : English
- Print length : 211 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1959788817
- ISBN-13 : 978-1959788812