Obsession (Stalker #1)

by Alice C. Hart

  “Let’s just go one day at a time. Pick a day next week since I’m off for a month anyway.” Did that sound snarky? I must still be a little on edge.

  “Sounds good, Abby, I can’t wait!” And I know she really can’t. Maybe this month off will do me some good.

  “Me, too. I think it’s just what I need, after my month off, of course, as per Dr. Kylie.” Fuck, that sounded snarky again. What the hell is wrong with me? “I’m sorry. I was a bit snarky, but I’m still wound up from what happened, I think.”

  Jake stands and puts his arm around me. “Baby, it’s ok and nobody is telling you to rush anything. Take your time. Hell, you might as well enjoy it,” he says and pecks my lips. Amanda and Izzy are staring at us. Well shit, I guess that’s our first public peck.

  “Daddy kissed Abby!” Izzy throws her head back and laughs, which makes us all laugh.

  We head out of the park with Amanda and her pack and she lets Izzy pet all the dogs, but tries to keep cool when some of the dogs want to lick her face.

  “I have wet naps, Amanda, remember?” Jake chuckles.

  “It’s not funny! You do know dogs lick their own asses, right?”

  Izzy catches her. “Bad word, Daddy. She said a bad word,” Izzy tattles, making Amanda and I laugh.

  “Ha ha, you got in trouble!” I taunt her.

  “Yes, I did. Sorry, Izzy, no more bad words,” Amanda lies.

  We hang out a bit longer and decide it’s time to head home. Amanda has to get her dogs back to the lot. Working at a doggie daycare ought to be an interesting change of pace. It cannot be worse than what I do now, right? God, I hope not. I’m actually more excited at the prospect of quitting The Shelter than I thought I would be. I mean, how fun would it be to take Ozzy to work with me every day? We’ll see how it goes next week. I’m going to take the rest of this week to just chill.

  We walk to the Jeep after saying our good-byes and head for home.

  Stalker

  I hate taking the fucking bus when I have a car. I can’t drive my car to The Shelter or I’d clearly give myself away, so, I take the fucking bus. I finally reach home and feel zero excitement because I know I won’t be able to watch Abby anymore. I need to get back into her apartment to disable those cameras I have in there. Oh fuck, Kevin is sitting out front having a smoke. It’s show time.

  “Hey Kev, how’s it going?” I politely smile and nod in his direction. He looks perplexed and a bit tense. “Hey, Brody, I’m ok. I don’t know if you met the other tenant that lived here, Abby, but she’s recently moved out.”

  I know I need to lie, lie, lie. “Oh, no, I didn’t get the chance to meet her at all, actually. I haven’t been around much due to traveling for work.” He seems to buy it. His expression isn’t changing.

  “That’s right, you work with computers.” It’s not a question.

  “Yeah, I dabble in a little bit of everything, but I focus on graphics and design,” I lie, again.

  “Oh, I thought you were an IT Tech or something.”

  He stubs out his smoke and lights another. He’s clearly not done talking to me and this is going to be the longest conversation of my life. I need to let him lead the conversation and deflect without being obvious.

  “I’m not a technician by any means, but I know my way around a computer and I do make excellent graphics.” I pride myself on my work, even though it’s a lie.

  “It’s too bad you never got to meet her, she’s like a little sister to me and moved out because she didn’t feel safe here anymore,” Kev replies, puffing on his smoke.

  I take one out and light it up. “Man,that sucks. Did something happen?” I’m trying to sound concerned over the safety of his friend.

  “Well, nothing specific happened except that when she came home a few nights ago, she found blood on her floor and on her cat.” Does he see the tiny scratches on my face and hands, I wonder?

  “She also got a weird message supposedly from me on Facebook that basically said I wanted her and a bunch of other bullshit.” He’s getting angry and I let him continue. “Then, her boyfriend, Jake, popped over and discovered all of this shit going on. Jake decided Abby would stay with him and I’m pretty sure she won’t be moving back in.” He takes a long haul and I do the same.

  “That seems a bit over dramatic to cause her to move out,” I casually state, hoping I don’t sound like an asshole.

  “Abby’s lived here two years and there has never once been an incident to speak of, and now she’s moved out because she doesn’t feel safe.” He looks me dead in the eyes.

  “Aren’t you a cop? Who wouldn’t feel safe living with a cop? I saw that as a perk of renting your apartment because it couldn’t be any safer, right?” Is he buying this? It’s so hard to say since he’s a cop. He has a complete poker face.

  “Yes, I’m a cop and I’ll be looking around her apartment to see if I can find anything.”

  This is my opportunity. “Do you want me to help?” I offer.

  “Naw, but thanks for offering. I think it’s better if I do it myself, but I might need you to help me out with something later on, if you don’t mind.” Is he baiting me? I feel like he’s fucking with me.

  “I’m not sure if I’ll be around later. I have a date tonight,” I lie, again.

  “Oh, nice. Maybe another time then,” he says as he puts his smoke out. He tosses it into the butt can before he goes inside. I toss mine in the can and follow him inside.

  “Sure, another time,” I say, as he goes to Abby’s apartment and I head upstairs to mine.

  “Hey, Brody,” he shouts.

  “Yes?” I answer.

  “Would you mind just keeping an eye out around here, and if you see anything suspicious or out of the ordinary let me know.”

  I know I need to agree. “No problem, Kev, and if there is anything you need, just let me know.” I’m almost buying my own shit.

  “Thanks.” I hear him open Abby’s door.

  “Anytime.” I sound like a nice fucking guy. I look respectable and I’ve never caused a problem. He couldn’t possibly suspect me. I do need to clear out my apartment of anything that looks even remotely suspicious. In case he decides to snoop in here, I need to be gone. I did say I was going out tonight. Did he play into my hand or did I play into his? I wonder.

  ********

  There is no evidence to speak of except what is on my computer. I start deleting anything I may have kept about Abby. I have one folder called INSTRUCTIONS and I delete it. I’m almost positive nobody would look into a folder labeled INSTRUCTIONS, but I’m not taking any chances. I don’t have pictures on my phone, I don’t need them when she’s burned into my memory. Every feature, all of her perfection, her face when she comes, I see it all.

  After talking to Kev, it’s clear that Abby won’t be coming back. I need to figure out when I can go back into her apartment and take the cameras out. They are all pinhole cameras and I’m not worried they will be found, but one can never be too careful.

  Everything happened so quickly, I wasn’t prepared for any of this to happen this way. I need to figure out a new way to be connected to Abby since she won’t be living here. I will continue to live here as long as I don’t suspect Kev the cop is on to me. It would really be a pain to find a new apartment, and who knows, this may open up more options for me.

  I need to keep watching both Jake and Abby now and find a way in. I have a few ideas in mind that may work, but I need to watch first to make sure I can make them happen.

  SLAM! I hear Kev and he must be done in Abby’s apartment for now. I can hear him coming up the stairs. He stops. He doesn’t go into his apartment right away, I know this because all the doors fuckin’ creak around here and you can hear almost everything. I walk over to my door and look through the peephole. I see Kev staring at my door.

  FUCK ME. Can he see that I’m looking at him? Shit. Why did I need to know? It doesn’t matter. Kev turns and opens his door and goes inside. I swear, is this guy trying
to fuck with me? Fuck him. He’s got nothing. There is no trail, no trace of anything so even if he is suspicious of me, he can’t do fucking anything.

  A shower is needed so I head to the bathroom and strip myself bare. Looking in the mirror at myself, I don’t look like a monster. I’m actually rather handsome and have my height going for me. I have short, dark, wavy hair and eyes the color of dark chocolate. I’m built, but not overly muscular and I’ve never had a shortage of women approaching me for sex. Sure, I fucked some of them, and while it was enjoyable, none of them ever struck me the way Abby has. None of the other women I’ve watched before have captured my attention the way Abby has.

  I never killed anyone before meeting Abby. What a rush that was to hold someone’s life in my hands. It was so exhilarating; I had to jerk off when I got home. I need to jerk off now. I step into the shower and soap up, lathering my body with soap. Reaching for my already hard cock, thoughts and images of Abby swirl in my head and I pump my cock harder and faster. I picture Abby from earlier riding the fuck out of Jake’s cock and finding her orgasm. My balls tighten and I spurt all over the shower floor. Fuck, I needed that.

  I suppose I should get ready for my “date.”

  What the fuck am I going to do tonight to occupy my time?

  Abby

  They ate my food. I can’t fucking believe it. I made a roast and they ate it. It is one of my signature dishes and tastes fabulous, if I do say so myself. As it turns out, three year olds can eat any food as long as it’s cut up small for them. I didn’t know this and Jake thought it was funny as hell that I didn’t. I’ve never been around kids, how the hell would I know anything? I’m still not sure if I should even be allowed around this one. My cooking didn’t kill her so that’s a bonus, but I’m going to have to figure out some more kid friendly meals. Dare I say, I even enjoyed cooking for them. I’ll have to check some shit out on Pinterest.

  I file that away in my head under: Shit I’m Probably Going To Forget To Do Later.

  I’ll remember eventually.

  Jake is telling Izzy to go put her jams on and we can watch a movie. He grabs our smokes and tells Izzy to stay in the living room while we take Ozzy outside.

  “Dinner was great, babe, thanks for cooking tonight.” He lights up his smoke, hands me the lighter, and I light mine.

  “Thanks, I can only do a couple things really well, so I’m going to look up recipes.” He tries to suppress a small grin. “Don’t think I’m all domesticated and shit, Jake, because I’m not.” I take a drag and continue on. “I’m not even sure I’m qualified to be around children.” I exhale.

  “Abby, what the fuck are you talking about being qualified?” he laughs at me.

  Dick. I’m being serious. “I’m being serious, Jake, I have a foul mouth that I don’t always have control over. Needless to say, my friends are the same, if not worse, and they will be in our lives now,” I warn him, and he doesn’t even flinch. He’s not scared.

  “Abby, I love you just the way you fucking are, baby. Come here.” He reaches out his hand to me and brings me closer to him. “I know exactly how you are and I wouldn’t want you any other way.” He tilts my chin up so I’m looking up at him, he blows out his smoke to the side and kisses my lips. I love the way the smoke tastes on him and he doesn’t seem to mind the taste on me, either.

  “I don’t want to fuck up your life.” Honesty spews from my mouth.

  “You will not fuck up my life.” His response is instantaneous, so I know it’s genuine. “Now, how about we make plans to pick up the rest of your stuff and officially let Kev know you won’t be moving back. There is a key to our house on your key ring and I’d like to talk about getting you a car. You’re going to need transportation since you won’t be living downtown anymore.”

  What in the fuck is happening right now?

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” He can’t be serious, can he?

  “It doesn’t need to happen tomorrow or anything, but you will need a car before this month is over. I already feel like shit for leaving you without a car when I go back to work next week.”

  Does he not realize I take the bus everywhere?

  “Jake, I take the bus everywhere. I’ve gotten around just fine for this long. I really don’t think I need a car of my own.” I shake my head at him, and he laughs.

  “You’re going to take that job at The Barking Lot?” he asks. Ironically, I tilt my head to the side.

  “Well, all signs are pointing to yes, I suppose. But, I wouldn’t say anything is official. It’s not like I’ve signed employment papers yet.”

  “Do you plan on bringing Ozzy with you?” I see where he’s going with this.

  “I can’t bring a dog on the bus, can I?” I hang my head in defeat and he laughs.

  “It’s ok if I win this battle, baby, and I don’t want you to have to take the bus to whateverthefuck it is that you want to do. Hey, you won’t be getting no Maseratti or anything, but something safe and reliable.”

  I can’t believe this. “I can’t believe this.” And I feel a tear slide down my cheek.

  He flicks his smoke into the butt can and cups my head in his hands, wipes my tear away with his thumb and kisses me. I’ll be dammed if my heart isn’t all aflutter. This can’t be real.

  “I’m down, Jake. I love you.” I feel like I have all the reassurance I need. This guy fucking loves my ass and I don’t even know why. Never question a good thing, just go with it.

  “Let’s go watch a movie with Izzy before she goes to bed,” Jake says as he breaks away from me. He gives a whistle for Ozzy to come back. We head inside. Ozzy comes running in and heads straight for the living room, jumps up on the couch, and snuggles with Izzy.

  “Daddy, ‘Fwozen,’ pwease!” Izzy shoots Jake the look and he’s done for.

  “Anything for my girls.” He winks at me and heads over to put ‘Frozen’ on. I’m down with this movie because I haven’t seen it yet.

  Who doesn’t love a good a Disney flick?

  I’m pretty sure these two have watched ‘Frozen’ more than once. With all their singing, it was a dead giveaway. It was so cute watching Jake sing with Izzy. He’s got a killer voice, and I know he has a guitar, and I need to ask him about it. Izzy falls asleep on the couch before the movie is over, but we watch it all the way to the end anyway. Ozzy is letting Izzy use him as her personal pillow, and it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. They really love each other.

  Jake gets up and scoops Izzy up off of Ozzy and takes her to bed. Man, what is it about watching him with her that makes me feel like I swallowed an orange, for fuck’s sakes? Is it because my old man is an asshat and I’m so happy Izzy will have better memories of her father than I ever I did? I love this side of Jake and it comes so naturally to him, he looks like a pro.

  Jake comes back and sits on the couch. He grabs me so he’s snuggled into me. I love that this big strong man has no problems just taking what he wants from me.

  “Jake, I saw you have a guitar in the closet, do you play?” I ask, hoping it’s not a sore subject.

  “I used to play, not that I was in a band or anything, but I like to play for fun.” He nibbles on my ear.

  “I’d love to hear you play sometime.” The nibbling stops.

  “Baby, I haven’t really played since my folks died.” He sounds sad.

  “Well, then I’m sure it’s about time you did so they can hear you.” I lightly kiss his lips.

  “I’ll play for you one day, baby.” He leans in and breathes in my ear and I get all tingly. “But, there will be conditions and stipulations on that, and unless you follow them, I won’t.”

  He thinks he’s so smart. He is, because I want to hear him play. “Oh really, and what might those stipulations be?” I feel like I’m being coy.

  “You will do a striptease for me.” And the fucker is grinning at me like nobody’s business.

  “Are you serious?” I laugh.

  “Yes, baby, I am.” And I
can tell by his tone, he means it.

  Ok, I can do that right? Striptease? “I’m by no means a professional, but I’ll give it go, for you.” I kiss him again.

  “Let’s go for a smoke, babe, I’m sure Ozzy needs to go outside.” He gets up and grabs our stuff. I smile to myself thinking about the things we did on his deck and it makes me shiver. The combination of the cold and hot was so intense. I loved every second of it.

  We head outside and it’s getting chillier each night that passes. I can see my own breath and I make little O rings before I light up my smoke. Ozzy comes barreling out of the house at top speed, again. I’m pretty sure he only has one speed for outside.

  Ozzy starts barking his head off near the side of the fence, which is odd because he’s never really gone over there before. I’m sure it’s just some raccoons or something he wants to catch. Jake is trying to quiet him, but is not having any luck so he makes his way over to where Ozzy is to check it out.

  I stay put because I’m not down with critters of the night.

  Jake

  “Ozzy, buddy, get over here! What are you barking at anyway?” I ask, knowing full well he can’t answer me.

  He’s on the side of the house and he usually doesn’t go over there. He’s usually full speed ahead and out towards the back of the yard. I make my way to Ozzy and he has his paws up on the fence which is really weird, considering I’ve never seen him do that before. I open the gate to the side of the house and see nothing. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything there. It could be an animal, but my Spidey senses are on high alert.

  I make my way outside the gate and walk on the front lawn and still see nothing. Hmmmm… I get to the sidewalk and look both ways. To the right, I see a car sitting up at the top of the street and to the left, at the bottom, I see a tall shadowy figure making its way down the street. I can’t be sure and I have no proof or evidence, but whoever is trying to get to Abby knows she’s here now. The only people who are aware of this information is her mother, her friends, and my ex. Tiff has a few screws loose and I don’t know if she’s crazy enough to fuck around with us like this or not. Abby is the first girl that Tiff has met and she knows she will be a permanent fixture in my life.