by Tessa Walton
What Nate hadn’t expected was for Dove to come walking in. “Hey, D—Ms. Babcock, how could I help you?” he asked.
“I was wondering if we could have increased security around the school,” she said. “What if he comes looking for me around the children?”
“That’s a fair question,” he admitted. “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll talk to the police chief.”
“He didn’t want anyone watching my house; why would he want someone watching the school?”
“Well, the school is a more worrisome target.”
“Right. Well, please try, for me,” Dove said, and the eyes she threw at him melted Nate. He didn’t know how he was meant to say no to that. A woman wanted him to make sure a bunch of kids were safe. He had to see if there was a way to make that happen.
“I’ll try,” he answered.
“School starts in an hour. Maybe get something worked out before that,” she suggested.
“I’ll try,” he repeated.
“Thank you.” She walked out.
“You and your girlfriend having trouble?” Jessica said, walking over to him.
“She’s worried the stalker might come to the school now that she’s not home.”
“Hmm. That’s actually fair. It’s easy to figure out she works at the school.”
“Do you think the chief would allow us to increase security there?” he asked. He knew it was a long shot, knew she would probably say no, no matter how badly he wanted it. Wanting something didn’t make it happen.
“If you ask him? Absolutely not. If I ask him? There’s a chance.”
“Will you ask him?”
“Just for you. But if we close this case, I expect you to ask her out.”
“I think I can live with that,” he answered.
He watched Jessica walk into the chief’s office. They didn’t talk long; it seemed like no one ever talked to the chief long. He was known for his quick decisiveness. Jessica came back out.
“Well?”
“Well, we’re going to be at the school all day. You owe me; this sounds completely boring.”
“Not if he comes,” Nate said.
“Even if he comes. Stalking isn’t exactly an exciting crime.”
“I wasn’t aware we only solved exciting crimes.”
“We don’t, but I’m allowed to be bored when we solve boring ones.”
Nate thought that over. He wondered if he’d get to that point when he had worked here for a while. Where he would long for big, exciting crimes. Hadn’t he already sort of felt that way at the car chase? Then again, where had that gotten him? Maybe he had learned his lesson.
“I guess it’s time to go out there,” Nate said, and began making his way outside.
“You’re really in a rush to meet your girl, aren’t you?” Jessica asked.
“She’s going to be inside, stupid. I just want to be there before the kids start arriving.”
“And what would you know about when kids start arriving? It’s not as if you’re a parent.”
“The school hasn’t changed much in twenty years. Class still starts at 7:30. Early risers will still get there at 7. There’s no surprises anymore.”
“Man, you make everything boring, don’t you?” she asked.
Nate elected to ignore her as he got in the car and drove to the school. The brown brick building was long, though not tall, immaculately maintained, and had a banner on the side saying it was the second-best-scoring elementary school in the state.
Nate felt a flash of nostalgia. “This is where I met Dove,” he said.
“Were you into her then?” Jessica asked.
“No, when I was in first grade she was in fifth. Girl weren’t on my radar yet.”
“What about later? She was a senior when you were a freshman. I bet she was at least as pretty then.”
“But by then she had already been going steady with Harold for a few years. I thought she was pretty—gosh, I thought every senior girl was pretty, but in an unobtainable sort of way. I didn’t really give it much thought.”
“It would be more romantic if you always loved her,” Jessica said.
“Maybe, but it would be less real.”
“Hey, but look at you now. Little freshman that is totally going to get the hot senior.”
“You know, despite all the years’ difference, it feels pretty much the same. At least as exciting, if not more so.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter
Dove loved teaching with a passion reserved for no one else, except maybe Harold in their heyday. She loved patiently explaining everything step by step, repeating the same answer to the same question over and over again, telling the same kid to stop talking or sit still over and over again in the same day. It was monotonous, while somehow each day was new.
Her classroom was filled with the artwork of students, and tons of charts. Dove was a sucker for a good chart, and many of them were partly of the children’s creation. What made a good and a bad student, a line graph of what foods were “sometimes” food and what foods were “everyday” foods, a basic multiplication chart. But all the charts in the world could not control the behavior of kids when something new and exciting was happening.
Her kids had been begging her to let them go see the policemen all day. She knew better, though, than to let 23 third graders bombard policemen on their job. As much as she wanted them to learn the importance of such a career, their safety was paramount, so she ignored their increasingly insistent cries to see the policemen in action.
That was, until one of the kids pointed and said, “Why is there a man looking in the window?”
Dove’s eyes darted over and took in the masked man once more. “Okay, it’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about. The cops will take care of it.” None of the kids were listening, as they ran to the window and pressed their faces up against the window. The man was running away.
Soon Nate and Jessica could be seen, guns drawn, around the side of the building. “He’s over there!” a kid screamed, pointing. Dove doubted Nate or Jessica could hear them, but they seemed to notice where the man was anyway, and went taking off after him. He ran off into the one-way streets, and Nate and Jessica ran after him.
Nate stumbled after Jessica. They couldn’t chase him in their car; he was ducking over and over again between alleys and houses. Nate’s foot caught on the loose sidewalk, but he managed to propel himself a step forward. The man was nowhere to be seen. “Jess,” he called. “We may as well stop.”
“Right,” she said. “Guess it’s time to tell the captain this guy is the real deal.”
“What do we do about Dove? We can’t very well tell her to walk back to Ms. Orolv’s house all alone.”
“I’m not sure we should drive her back in the police car. If he’s watching us, he’ll know where she is.”
“But what do we do with her then?”
“Take her to the station with us. He won’t follow her there. From there, maybe someone can drive her back in an unmarked car.”
“What about her class?”
“That’s for the school to take care of. Surely they can have someone come watch them, even after such short notice. It’s for the safety of the children, after all. That must matter to them if nothing else does.”
“Let’s go get her,” Nate said. They walked into the school.
When they got into the classroom, a man was there with Dove. Principal Lestrade, in fact. Dove was packing up her things.
“Oh, good, you’re getting ready,” Jessica said. “We’d like to take you back to the precinct with us, at least until we can find a place for you to be safe. Can I assume the principal will watch your class for now?”
“Yeah, he’ll take care of them,” she answered.
Nate was relieved. He knew Dove wouldn’t leave her class with just anyone, but she must trust the man if he was the principal. He didn’t want her having any worries.
She waved to the class. “Go
odbye, I’ll see you all soon. There’s nothing to be scared of. The police are going to take care of us.”
“Why can’t you stay with us?” one of the kids called out, fear behind his little voice.
“She’s going to help us catch the bad guy,” Jessica said.
“Ms. Babcock, you’re like a superhero!” a little girl said.
“No, she’s like a cop,” a boy retorted.
“Sometimes those people are the same things,” another kid said.
Nate would’ve laughed at that if the moment hadn’t been so serious. He didn’t think it would be right to laugh when Dove seemed in such danger. Instead, he waved goodbye to the kids. “Maybe someday later we can come talk to you,” he said, “but for now we have to go.” He led the women out of the room and to the car.
“Back of a cop car again,” Jessica said, opening a door for Dove.
“For now, this feels pretty safe, believe it or not,” she said. Nate believed it.
He drove to the precinct and opened the door for her. He was just thankful this time he didn’t push her head down. Dove climbed out. He ushered her inside. Everyone looked when they entered, and Nate thought he saw a few eyes roll. He wanted to scream at them, but he held back his anger. He remembered Dove’s constant calm. He wanted to figure out how to live that out.
Lieutenant Monroe came over. “Well, to what do we owe the pleasure, Ms. Babcock?”
“We found a man stalking her at school,” Nate said. “Didn’t you hear us call for backup?”
“And where is this man?”
“Somewhere off in Washington Road, in all black. Thin frame, pink lips, blue eyes. Not a lot else could be made out,” Jessica answered.
“Right. Well, why is Ms. Babcock here, then?”
“We thought we could take her in an unmarked car back to where she’s staying so that the man won’t know where that is.” Nate didn’t like getting the third degree, especially from Leslie. He thought the woman trusted him by now. They had known each other practically forever.
“Very well. Jessica, why don’t you take her back while Nate and I have a talk?”
Jessica nodded, and led Dove out. Nate walked over to Leslie, wondering what was going on.
“You actually saw the man, right, Nate?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Good, good. You know, there’s some rumors spreading around about you and Dove.”
“What? Why?” Nate didn’t think he did very well hiding his surprise.
“Apparently, she came to your house last night, and you ate dinner together. I’m sure you know what happens when people date someone who’s involved in a case.”
“We’re not dating! She heard about the accident and brought me lasagna. I invited her in, because it seemed like the polite thing to do. She wasn’t there long, and it definitely wasn’t a date.”
“But you wanted it to be one.”
“Who said that?”
“Everyone, but that’s not the point. Rumors only matter if they’re true. This one is.”
“So what? I like someone. I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
“You’d better not. Your sister is never going to forgive me if you get kicked off the force.”
Nate wanted out of the conversation. It wasn’t up to Leslie who he liked. It wasn’t up to his sister, either. He was insulted anyone would think he would try something.
But he remembered the message of the pastor that week. That there was grace to be given. Maybe he needed to give Leslie’s intent another look. Maybe she wasn’t hoping to control him, but rather keep him out of trouble. Maybe she didn’t approach it in the kindest way, but she was trying to do what was best for him.
“Thank you, Leslie,” he said. “I’ll be careful.”
“Good. And find that bastard. As soon as you do, you have free rein.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said. He wanted to have a shot with Dove, but he thought it might take a lot more than simply wanting her badly and getting permission from the force. What he needed most was permission from Dove.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter
Teressa was home when Dove got home. “What are you doing back already? Don’t tell me they found him.”
“Sort of,” she answered.
“How do they sort of find him?”
“They found him, but he got away. I’m off work till further notice. I can still write lesson plans for the sub, but I can’t be at school.”
“Oh, Dove, I’m so sorry.”
“What do I do with my day? I can’t even go to the school! I’m scared to leave the house, because who knows where this guy is, and even after two cops seeing the guy some of the others doubted me.”
“Dove, I think it’s time we pray,” Teressa said.
Dove scoffed. “Yeah, that’s what I need now. Prayer. Not some real police presence.”
“Dove, who’s more powerful? God or the police?”
“You know how I have to answer that.”
“But do you believe it?”
“As much as one can believe such things, I guess.” Dove wasn’t sure she believed it all. If God was going to help her, wouldn’t he have done it already? It wasn’t that Dove wasn’t sure whether or not he could do it; Dove wasn’t sure God wanted to do it. He was powerful, but maybe not good.
“Can I pray for you?”
“Sure, why not?”
Teressa grabbed Dove’s hands, and they both closed their eyes. “God, please help Dove,” Teressa prayed, “she’s scared, and unsafe, and is having trouble seeing your plan. Please keep her safe and show her how you’re using this situation for her benefit. Help her feel you and have your peace. Amen.” Teressa opened her eyes and let go of Dove’s hand. “You feel anything?”
“Not really,” Dove answered.
“Good thing it’s not about feelings, then. He’s there whether you feel it or not.”
“Then I hope he helps me out of this mess,” she said, but she didn’t say it with much conviction or belief.
Teressa patted her hand. “He will. I believe he doesn’t give his creatures more than they can handle. God wants what’s best, though it might not always seem clear. He’s going to do what’s good.”
“Yeah, best overall. Maybe it’s best for everyone if I’m dead,” Dove said.
“Dove! Don’t say such things!”
“I’m not saying I’m going to kill myself or whatever. I’m just saying, when God does ‘what’s best,’ it’s not what’s best for the individual for all the martyrs. It was best for the world that they died, but not best for them.”
“What about heaven?”
“That’s a crappy answer and you know it.”
“Fine. You’re right. Maybe God’s not doing what’s best for you. But if you weren’t so selfish, that wouldn’t bother you.”
“Are you calling me selfish?” Dove snapped.
“I said it, didn’t I?” Teressa said back.
“I’m out of here,” Dove said, and she turned and walked out, slamming the door behind her. Dove couldn’t remember the last time she had been so mad. The cops not believing her had never produced that kind of anger. She wanted to run till she completely forgot what she was running from. But someone was after her. Where could she go where it was safe? She wanted to be angry at her home, where she belonged. It only made sense to her that she would feel better home. So many emotions seemed more manageable away from everyone and everything, curled up in bed with the TV on.
I am selfish? She wondered while walking. She should want what’s best for the world, shouldn’t she? But everyone felt some sort of sense of self-preservation, didn’t they? Wasn’t that just how the world worked? Dove wanted to be able to ask someone, but she wasn’t sure how to ask. She didn’t know who would talk to her. She realized she could call Nate, but he was still at work, and besides, she wasn’t sure she wanted to talk to him. He may like her, but he was powerless to stop her stalker. Everyone was powerl
ess against him.
Dove realized she really probably shouldn’t go home. So she started walking towards town. Maybe if she went back to the precinct they could help her. She just wanted to go somewhere where someone would try to understand her pain instead of just spouting out something about how it would all work out for the best. She didn’t need anyone else telling her that the best was going happen. She wanted, just for a moment, to be selfish. Was that so wrong?
She walked to the precinct, then stood at the edge of the room, not quite sure what to do. She walked towards Nate’s turned back. “Uh, Officer O’Bannon?” she said.
He turned towards her. “Oh, Ms. Babcock! What is it? Did you see him again?”
“No, I, uh—I was just wondering if I could talk to you in private.”
“Yeah, okay, let me just take you into one of the private interview rooms.” He put a hand gently on her arm, and led her forward.
Dove’s entire body lit up. He was touching her. What more could she want out of life? Some of her anger dissipated. Just being around him made her calm.
He shut the door behind them and led her to a seat. This room contained no two-way mirror or intercom. Just the two of them and the tiny window in the door. “What is it, Dove?” he asked, face showing concern. “Do you still feel unsafe?”
“No, no, it’s not that exactly. I’m not sure it’s a police matter at all,” Dove said, and she saw him glance towards the door.
“It’s only us here, Dove. You can tell me what’s wrong.”
“Well, Teressa, she called me selfish. Do you think I’m selfish?”
“What in the world have you done that was selfish?” Dove heard the protectiveness in his voice and was thankful. She could use someone who was protective.
