OBSESSED WITH TAYLOR JAMES

by Toye Lawson Brown

  “Plaster dust on the bathroom floor. I turned the on the shower to let the steam rise. There is a tiny hole in the ceiling; I found a camera inside. Baby, it’s directly over your shower.”

  She looks as if a wave of nausea was rumbling in her belly. “Did you find any cameras in here?”

  “No, but I don’t suspect whoever is watching you is into bathroom fetishes. I'm guessing cameras are in every room of the house.”

  She folded her legs holding onto her ankles. “My God, I walk around my bedroom naked. I do my womanly grooming in the shower.” She sucked in a frightened breath.

  “What, do you remember something?” He asked.

  “Baby, we’ve been spied on having sex. What if we’re being streamed across the internet?”

  The heat was stifling under the tent of bedding. He rubbed his brows. “I guess we’ll both be answering questions about our new career as internet porn stars.”

  “This is not funny. How are we going to find these cameras and disable them?”

  “You stay under the cover. I’m going to the basement to shut-off the power,” he said getting out of bed.

  Taylor cocooned the bedspread around her and hopped to the closet to get a robe; cameras or not, she had to brush her teeth. The peeping pervert would get one last look before the curtain came down for good.

  Mario located the electrical box pulling the lever shutting power to the entire house. He looked around the basement for any obscure wiring. Whoever installed the cameras knew their way around electricity. He dropped his shoulders remembering the window by the dryer. He cursed again. Damn it, the window! He pushed on it, but it did not open. It had been nailed shut.

  He went upstairs. Walking through the kitchen, he noticed the window over the sink was new. He shook his head continuing to the second floor.

  “Taylor, where are you?” He asked not seeing her in the bedroom.

  She came out of the closet dressed in jeans and a cotton shirt. “Here I am. What did you find in the basement?”

  “Nothing, but I’m not an expert at looking for hidden cameras. You had the window nailed shut in the basement?”

  “Yeah, I did. You told me to do that.”

  “Yes, I did. Who installed the window in the kitchen? I asked if you had any workers in the house.”

  She paced the quiet bedroom. With no power to run the central air, the light humming of the unit stopped. “Sebastian replaced the window.”

  “Who the hell is Sebastian?”

  “He’s my neighbor across the street. The builder I told you about. He saved me the hassle of calling someone to fix the window the neighborhood kids broke.”

  Mario beat his fist against his forehead, frustrated. “Yeah right; I remember. He is a builder who had access to your house. Why didn’t you tell me any of this?”

  “Mario, I was here when he installed the window. I sat in the kitchen and watched him do it. He didn’t go anywhere else in the house.”

  “Did he do the window in the basement?”

  She chewed her lip folding her hands together. “Yes! It took him five minutes to do it. He was not down there long enough to do anything else.”

  He went to the bed laying on his back staring at the ceiling. Taylor opened the curtains to let in sunshine. The sun’s rays bounced off the ceiling fan’s gold base. He rose to stand on the bed and fiddle with the fan. “There is a camera hidden in the ceiling fan.” He attempted to pluck it from the base with his finger. “These things are small and may not need electricity to power them.”

  Taylor rubbed her arms. “So the snake could be watching us now?”

  He nodded. Let’s go,” he said gathering his shoes and shirt.”

  “Mario, shouldn’t we call the….”

  He hurried over to where she stood and pinched her lips together. “We’ll talk in the car. I don’t know if these damn cameras carry sound or not.”

  *****

  The laptop closed when the screen went black. The intruding eyes lost the feed to all cameras instantly. The intruder got up from the desk and walked to the shrine holding the items lifted from Taylor’s house. Fingers brushed across the red bra and panties pinned to a white satin pillow. The wine glass with the lipstick imprint of Taylor’s perfect lips lay protected in a clear glass box. A plush towel she’d used after a shower lay folded in a plastic bag.

  Anger grumbled in the belly of the intruder. The boyfriend had discovered the cameras cutting off the viewing of the desired object. Clenching a fist, the intruder pounded it against a stiff leg deciding the boyfriend had to go if he continued to interfere.

  *****

  Seated in the car, Taylor finally let what was happening sink in. “This is not Dillon, Mario. He couldn’t change the battery in my car. There is no way he could install cameras in my house.”

  “I’m not convinced it isn’t Dillon. But humor me, who else could it be? What other person have you cut loose who isn’t taking it well?”

  She shook her head missing his sarcasm. “I haven’t had a serious boyfriend in years. I don’t even know where he is these days. I have to call the police, Mario.”

  “Yes, call them. They need to know what is going on.”

  Taylor’s eyes shot to Mario’s face. “What if a client is behind this?”

  “Do you suspect any of your clients could be stalking you?”

  She grimaced. “Not likely. I deal with heads of corporations. None of them would be interested in me personally.”

  “Baby, you never know what is on the mind of a sick individual.” He shifted his weight in the bucket seat to face Taylor. “The person we are dealing with knows where you live and has been in your house before.”

  “Wh-what do you mean?”

  “A couple of weeks ago, remember? I stepped in a wet spot on your carpet. It smelled like wine. Taylor, We had wine with dinner that night but did not take it upstairs with us.”

  “The scumbag was watching us then? I am not going back in that house. I will stay with Sabrina until I find a place, but I’m done.”

  “You will stay with me so I can keep an eye on you. However, we have to go in one more time and look for anything missing or moved out of place.”

  “Missing? What would be missing besides me if I don’t leave?”

  “I’m talking about personal belongings of yours. Taylor, voyeurs take keepsakes from their victims. He has been in your house before watching you on camera. He has taken something of yours, trust me.”

  Taylor frowned shaking her head. “I’ve been taking stuff to your place when I spend the nights with you. I don’t know what could be missing or just left at your house.”

  “Hmm, true. What is easier to take other than clothing items?” He snapped a finger. “The wine glasses? Do you remember washing both of them?”

  “You’re right. I remember only washing one wine glass. Come to think about it, I haven’t seen my red lacey underwear I purchased from my trip to Italy. Did I leave those at your place?”

  “I don’t recall, but will look for those later.”

  Her cell phone rang startling her. “It’s work,” she said answering it. “Good morning, Lynda.”

  “Good morning, Taylor. Are you coming in this morning? Mr. Cartwright has been calling for you.”

  “No, I will not be in today. I have a power failure at the house. Did he say what he wants?”

  “Not to me. He asks you call as soon as you arrive. I’ll send him an email that you won’t be in today.”

  Taylor rolled her eyes upward. “I have a feeling I know what he wants, Lynda. Can you do me a huge favor and work on getting my files in order for all current cases I’m working on; it will make the transition easier for the next attorney.”

  “Taylor, what are you talking about?”

  She switched the phone to her other ear. “Lynda, I suspect the rumors have already circulated around the office concerning me. There is a good chance I won’t return to the firm at all. I want you to know you have
been a valuable assistant, and I’ve enjoyed working with you the last five years.”

  “I’ve heard but don’t pay attention to the rumors, Taylor. I know you are a good person and take your job seriously. Anyhow, wherever you go, please let me know if you need an assistant. I’d leave here in hot second.”

  Her eyes leaked tears as Mario rubbed her leg comforting her. “I might take you up on that.”

  “I’m going to go before I start crying like a baby. FYI, Mr. Stevenson has not shown up either. If I see him later, I will let him know you won’t be in today.”

  Taylor’s tears cut off. “Dillon isn’t in the office?”

  “No one has seen him since yesterday around noon. Maybe that is what Mr. Cartwright wants to talk about with you. He knows you two are friends.”

  “I haven’t spoken or seen him since early morning yesterday. Lynda, will you call me if he doesn’t show up at all today.”

  Mario reversed out of the driveway before Taylor could hang up the phone. “We’re going to pay Dillon a visit at home.”

  “Mario, we can’t bust inside his home and demand anything; we’re not cops.”

  “And he’s not the NSA. Spying is illegal for common folks,” he said tooling the Mercedes down the street.

  Chapter 15

  Dillon sat in the attic of his home flipping through his journal. His headache was easing from the pill Kelly had given him, but his heart weighed heavy with sadness. As he looked at the pictures of happier times in his life, the tears ran down his face.

  The secret crush he held for Taylor started the first day he laid eyes on her and never ended. They were kids, but he knew he had special feelings for her from an early age. He recalled her smile and the twinkles her light brown eyes gave off when she introduced herself at the playground. They were both nine years old, and her family had just moved into the integrated neighborhood.

  Once he discovered girls aroused his libido, Taylor became the object of him satisfying himself in private. When he was old enough to date, he only wanted Taylor, but so did every other teenage boy in his school. Taylor blossomed into a beautiful young woman with a personality to match her womanly assets. No other girl in his high school held a candle to her.

  He always a day late when he mustered the courage to approach Taylor with the subject of them being a couple. The first time he got the nerve to ask was during their first year of high school. Taylor was in a relationship, but a rocky one, with a member of the football team. When it ended, she was too distraught to talk about being in a relationship with another boy. He didn’t push himself on her out of fear of destroying their friendship.

  He tried to give her subtle hints of his attraction to her throughout high school, but Taylor didn’t see him as a love interest only a good friend. It didn’t matter they shared many interests such as both wanting careers as attorneys. They also enjoyed scary movies and rollercoasters. And, once they found love and marriage, they wanted large families.

  His heart shattered when she would talk about her dates to him. Not able to deal with other men being with her, he set his mind to make Taylor love him, however, possible. During senior year, she called it quits with her long-time boyfriend. He figured his chance had finally arrived. They’d spend the whole night together talking. He was there for her. She opened up letting him comfort her. It was a night he would never forget only Taylor didn’t see it as memorable and went on to make plans to attend college out of State.

  Taylor had set her sights on attending Penn State after graduation. It wasn’t his first choice for college, but he was going wherever she was going to be near her. He’d never dropped the plan to get Taylor to fall in love. At the last minute, she attend Howard University instead of Penn State, with that, ended his quest to get her to marry him before embarking on their legal careers.

  It didn’t take him long to resume his obsession with Taylor once they were reunited at the law firm. He would often find himself daydreaming about her in the middle of the day. He fantasized about tasting her full lips and running his fingers against her soft skin. Even though he was in a relationship with Kelly, and she would come along with them on movie nights, he made sure to sit between the two women. He had to have his Taylor fix, and it didn’t matter his current girlfriend was in the room.

  He closed the book shoving it aside. It was over. Everything was over. The news he received from the doctor about the tumor growing in his brain explained a lot of what was going on with him. Why he’d ruined his relationship with Taylor and possibly why he treated Kelly the way he did.

  The tumor was operable, but one hundred percent recovery the doctor could not guarantee. Kelly advised him to have the operation, and she would take care of him if the operation failed. He didn’t want to burden her with taking care of an invalid if the operation left him a vegetable. He’d rather die first. And that was a possibility if he didn’t make a decision soon.

  Hearing a ruckus outside, he got off the floor looking out the window. A man and woman were standing in the yard arguing with Kelly. “What the hell…” he said leaving the window.

  Outside he confronted a heated Mario yelling at Kelly. “Leave her alone, Mario!” He shouted.

  Mario fixed his gaze on him and charged after him, slamming him against the front door. “You took to spying on Taylor as a hobby?”

  “What are you talking about? I’m not spying on anybody!” Dillon grabbed Mario’s wrist trying to pry them away from his neck.

  “We found the cameras in her house! You planted them so you could watch her. You sick motherfucker!” He spewed drawing back his fist to punch Dillon.

  Taylor grabbed his hand before it could make contact with Dillon’s face. “Don’t hit him, Mario. We’ll call the police and let them handle it!”

  “Let me go, Taylor. I’m ending this bullshit once and for all!” He growled.

  “Please! If you hit him, that doesn’t make you the better person, Mario!”

  Kelly ran from the house holding the phone. “I’m calling the police! I want you both arrested for trespassing.”

  Mario kept Dillon in place and fumed at Kelly. “What about your boyfriend? Are you going to tell the police he is spying on Taylor? I guess you are okay with that?”

  “He isn’t spying on anyone! He has been home since coming from the emergency room last night.”

  “Mario, please let him go,” Taylor begged tugging at his hands. “It’s not Dillon doing this.”

  Mario released Dillon. He slumped to the ground. Taylor kneeled down beside him. “Why were you at the emergency room?”

  He didn’t say anything or look at her. Kelly rushed over to him holding him in her arms. “He has a brain tumor. He could die, Taylor.”

  She stood straight backing away from him “What?”

  Kelly’s face reddened. Streaks from her makeup stained her face from her tears. “Yeah, your boyfriend could have killed him, if he’d hit him. Go away and leave us alone. This is what you wanted, and now you have it.”

  Taylor scanned their faces. They both looked to be under great stress. She believed Kelly was being truthful and not covering up for Dillon. “Kelly, I never wished him an illness.”

  “Me neither. I was willing to take care of him even though he loves you, but he won’t have the surgery…”

  “Kelly, shut up,” he shouted at her.

  “No, I won’t shut up. She should hear this.”

  Taylor watched Mario storm to the car and lean against it pouting. She would deal with him later. “I want to hear it. Kelly, tell me, what has to be done to remove the tumor.”

  “The tumor is growing slowly. They can remove it, but recovery of all his motor skills isn’t guaranteed.”

  Taylor asked swallowing. “And, if they don’t remove it?”

  “He will die as the tumor grows and takes over his brain.”

  She looked down at Dillon. ”Dillon, have you talked to your parents.”

  He shook his head. Kelly brushed strand
s of hair away from his face. “He doesn’t want them to know. No one else knows but you and Mario now.”

  Taylor blinked letting tears fall down her face. “I can’t deal with this and everything else going on in my life. I can’t,” she said walking away and over to Mario.

  Mario welcomed her in his arms. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

  *****

  They drove in silence as Taylor sobbed. Although mad at Dillon to the point of never wanting to talk to him again, she didn’t want him to die. She wiped her nose. “Where do we go from here now that you realize Dillon is not out to harm me?”

  Mario shook his head. He was upset for charging after Dillon. If Taylor hadn’t intervened, he could have killed Dillon had he hit him. “I was wrong about him. I acted an ass, and I owe him an apology. But in my defense, he was acting weird and gave me reason to believe he could stalk you.”

  “He told me about the headaches and I wouldn’t listen to him. I threw him out of my office without letting him explain he was sick.” The tears returned. “I’ve known him since I was nine. He is part of my family; he can’t die and leave me.”

  “Taylor, I understand you are upset about Dillon and my heart is breaking knowing I can’t fix that for you. However, we have to concentrate on you right now. You are in danger, and until we find the person responsible for installing the cameras in your house, you are my first priority.”

  “Concentrate! I don’t have anything to concentrate on,” she yelled at him. “I don’t know who the hell, is after me or why. I mind my own freaking business. I don’t lead men on at bars or parties. So, whoever this person is, is someone I don’t know. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

  “Okay, Taylor,” he said calmly. She was beyond upset and teetering on the edge of collapsing. You should eat and get a little rest before we go to the police.”

  “I don’t want to eat, rest, or call the police yet. I want a private investigator. I want this asshole caught and brought to me so I can fucking rip his guts out with my bare hands!”

  His hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Get real, Taylor! This is not a joke! Whoever this person is knows your routine well enough to get inside your house any time of the day or night. He is taking small stuff working his way up to getting you. I understand what is happening in your life is building you with enough rage to kill someone, but don’t be a fool—this person is more dangerous than you, and will not hesitate to kill.”