Paul

by A. Joseph, Jason

  About halfway through the store, her phone rang. She searched hurriedly through her purse and answered.

  “Hello?” Her voice was even sweeter than he imagined. “Oh, yes. I was calling about the coffee table you had listed… That sounds great!... My name is Annalise Johnson… Ok, I will be there to look at it this evening… Thank you!!!”

  Annalise… what a lovely name.

  He hoped he could find out a little more about her, but the rest of the shopping trip was uneventful. Stepping in line behind her as the cashier completed her transaction, he was able to get a better look at her. He had to admire everything about her. Her beautiful creamy skin. Those beautiful brown eyes. The way she laughed at the cashier’s jokes. She picked up her purchases and was gone before he could snap out of his thoughts.

  “Paper or plastic, sir?” the young kid bagging at the end of the lane asked.

  “Oh, plastic is fine…” He acted as though he was searching his pocket for a moment. “Oh, no! I think I left my wallet at home. I’m going to have to come back later. Sorry!” He didn’t wait for a reaction as he followed her back onto the street.

  Fortunately, she hadn’t walked too far. He quickly crossed the street and walked the same direction as he kept an eye on her.

  Annalise. You will be mine.

  As she drifted off to sleep that night, Annalise began to feel apprehensive. She couldn’t understand why, but it felt like someone was watching her. Even though she kept telling herself that her imagination was working overtime, she still felt as though someone was outside her window looking in at her.

  She got out of bed a few times and made sure that the windows were covered and that the door was locked. Even checking the closets did nothing to relieve the feeling. There was no on there, so she headed back to the bedroom.

  She chastised herself for being so silly, wrapped the covers more tightly around her, and fell into a light sleep.

  The alarm went off much earlier than she would have liked. Stretching to get herself awake, she slid out of bed and shuffled to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. She needed a jolt to get her going. The coffee maker rumbled into action as she headed back to her room to shower and dress.

  She had to choke back a laugh as she looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her brown hair stood up in different directions, and there were indentations in

  her right cheek where the pillow had been wrinkled under her face. She looked like a zombie!

  Pulling a brush through her hair, she somewhat tamed her unruly locks. She turned the water on in the shower and let it warm up before stepping in to the flow of steamy water. Even as the shower washed some of the sleep away, the nagging feeling that she was being watched rushed back over her. She felt a chill run down her spine. Shaking the feeling off once again, she let the sleepiness wash down the drain.

  After she dried off, she wrapped a towel around herself and returned to the kitchen where her coffee awaited. She filled a cup and sipped down the liquid energy and began dressing for the day ahead. No matter how much makeup she put on, she still could see the circles underneath her eyes. Oh, well, there would be no more sleep until bedtime tonight.

  The doctor’s office was only three blocks from her apartment, so she pulled on a jacket and decided to walk the short distance. Whatever remnants of sleep that remained fell away as the cold breeze hit her face.

  Weirdly enough, she still couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was right behind her. However, every time she turned, nothing seemed unusual. She kept telling herself that her mother’s fears of the city were just getting to her.

  Watching her had become a hobby of his. He had found a place where he could look into her apartment and see what she was doing. She kept her curtains open most of the time. From when she woke up to when she fell asleep, he knew exactly what she was doing. He felt like he was becoming a part of her life.

  He knew that she worked at a doctor’s office during the week, so he had to make his move to really get into her life. That would involve walking around her apartment. He had experience with picking locks, and he knew how to make it look like he wasn’t even in the place.

  As she left her apartment about a week after he had found out her routine, he slipped into the building and made his way up to her seventh floor apartment. Looking around to make sure no one noticed, he easily picked the lock of the door and slipped inside. He careful closed and locked the door once he was sure that no one else was in the apartment.

  The smell of her hit his senses immediately. Apples, cinnamon, and a hint of vanilla came to him in subtle waves. He breathed in the welcoming scents deeply. Now that he knew her smells, he had a craving to get to know even more about her.

  He drifted into the kitchen and looked around. Placing gloves on his hands so that he didn’t leave prints, he prepared to see what secrets lay in her cupboards. Did she cook? Bake? The exhilaration of the moment made him jumpy. Opening the refrigerator, he noticed numerous bottles of drinking water. She also had many pieces of fruit and containers of yogurt. He smiled. She was health-conscious.

  Turning, he opened a couple of cupboards. The dishes seemed old and used. Somehow that made him feel at home. Cans of soup and boxes of pasta filled the shelves of another cupboard. Another cupboard revealed herbs and spices.

  She must spend a lot of time cooking for herself. Soon enough, he told himself, she could cook for him as well.

  From the kitchen he made his way into the bedroom. Bedrooms kept more secrets than anywhere else in a home. He opened her dresser drawers and lightly touched the garments that filled them. Taking just one pair of underwear from the bottom of the stack, he shoved them in his jacket pocket. He needed a memento.

  Suddenly, he heard keys turn in the front lock. He stood in shock. She wasn’t supposed to be home until later that evening! Quickly sliding into the closet, he listened to what was going on in the living room. A rustling sound followed the opening of the door, and he heard something being thrown on the couch.

  “Anna? Are you here? It’s Brent. I thought that I would come spend the weekend. Anna?” He moved toward the bedroom door.

  He peeked out of the crack in the closet door as Brent stuck his head in. Looking around and not finding her, he slipped out of the room and left the apartment. His heart pounded in his chest and he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Once he was sure that Brent had left for awhile, he would get out of there.

  Five minutes later, it appeared as though Brent went elsewhere, so he slipped out of the apartment. He needed a drink after that scare. If he would have been prepared, the muscular guy would have been done for. Too soon, he kept telling himself. The promise of relief from the scare sat on a shelf behind a bar counter.

  He would find a way to get her soon enough.

  As the week progressed since he had left Annalise, Brent became more and more worried. He couldn’t get rid of the feeling that she was in danger. Calling frequently just didn’t seem like it was enough, so he made the decision to visit her that weekend. It was a week earlier than planned, but he could make it seem like he just really missed her. He didn’t want her to know that he felt uncomfortable with her situation.

  The drive into the city that morning had been cold and foggy. As he reached the city, the streets became congested. His hope of seeing Annalise before she left slowly diminished as the stop and go traffic inched along. He let the radio blare as he eased his way through traffic. The closer he got to her apartment, the stronger the feeling of danger felt in his chest.

  After what seemed like years, he pulled into the parking garage at her apartment building. He grabbed the duffle bag he had packed for the weekend and caught the elevator up to her place. Maybe she would still be there. Taking the keys she had given him, he let himself into her apartment. Something felt wrong. He couldn’t place it, but something didn’t seem right about her apartment.

  Brent told himself he was being silly. He hadn’t even been back to her apartment sin
ce he had helped move her in. Of course her place would look and feel different after she had unpacked.

  “Anna! Are you here! I thought I would come and spend the weekend with you,” he called as he tossed his bag on her couch. “Anna?” She had done a lot to make her apartment home. He liked it.

  Receiving no answer, he headed towards her open bedroom door. Maybe she was finishing getting ready for work. Peeking in the door, he realized that she had already gone for the day. He looked around the apartment one last time, and then decided he would go and surprise her at work.

  He still had a strong feeling that something was wrong, but he pushed it aside and decided to walk to her work and take her out to an early lunch.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Knowing that the guy was staying the weekend really annoyed him. He was so close to introducing himself and asking her out. Then that moron showed up. Things were taking a little longer than he had hoped.

  I need to just back off a little. If she thinks I’m nervous, she will think I’m crazy and turn me down. Just like the others did…

  He followed them at a distance that weekend. Wanting to get a feel for that Brent guy before he made his move, he made a special effort to observe him. He knew that Brent had a car, but he noticed that the couple walked everywhere.

  Maybe his car will have some answers.

  After watching the couple had walked away for the afternoon, he slipped into the parking garage and picked the lock to Brent’s car. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he again pulled on his gloves and began looking in the small spaces people kept items in. The glove compartment held an array of condiment packages and napkins. The center consol had extra hair supplies and cologne. Nothing too unusual.

  He popped the trunk of the car and began looking through the trunk. Nothing turned up in there either. Just a spare tire and a roadside tool kit.

  This guy is boring compared to me. Now I know I stand a chance!

  He locked up the car, making it look like nothing had even happened. Now for his next move. Getting that date with Annalise.

  Annalise…

  Annalise was thrilled when Brent showed up at the office to take her to lunch. She squealed as she threw her arms around his neck. The office assistants just grinned and shook their heads. She knew they thought there was more between her and Brent than just friendship.

  She missed him so much and spending the weekend with him would be great. He made her feel safe. Maybe she could talk to him about her fears of being watched. She didn’t want him to think that she was crazy though.

  “Any good food near here?” Brent grinned at her. Leave it to Brent to ask about the quality of the food.

  “There’s a burger joint a few blocks away,” she smiled back at him.

  “Let’s go then! Driving makes me hungry!” He hopped up and helped her put her jacket on.

  “Everything makes you hungry, buddy!” She giggled.

  Settling down with their lunches, Brent looked her in the eyes. He could tell that she hadn’t been sleeping well. Something was wrong and she wasn’t telling anyone.

  “Anna, are you doing okay? You look tired,” he said as he popped a French fry into his mouth.

  “I’m fine. Just been busy. How are you?”

  “I’m worried about you. I don’t believe you, Anna. I wasn’t going to tell you, but I get a weird feeling that something isn’t quite right about your situation. Are you in trouble?” He kept his eyes on her as she shifted slightly in her seat.

  “I just have a strange feeling here. I keep telling myself that I’m imagining it.” She glanced away again.

  “What kind of feeling?”

  “Like someone is watching me.” She looked at him again, and he could tell that tears were about to stream out of her eyes.

  “Watching you? Like how?”

  “When I’m at home, it’s like someone is looking in my window. When I go out, I feel like someone is right behind me. I keep turning around, but I never see anyone. I’ve started to keep the curtains pulled closed, hoping that will make it feel better, but it doesn’t,” she said as she took a bite of her salad.

  “You’ve never seen anyone?” She shook her head.

  “I wanted to tell you, Brent, but I didn’t want you to think that I was overreacting. You know what that head injury from my accident did to me. I still have trouble thinking sometimes.” The tears had begun to flow down her cheeks.

  “Anna, can I tell you something?” She nodded. “I get the feeling that something’s wrong here too. I’ve felt it ever since I left you last weekend.”

  “What kind of wrong?” she asked in a whisper.

  “I feel like you’re in danger,” he grasped her hand across the table. “I stopped at your apartment when I got into town, and something just felt wrong.”

  “I’m glad you’re here, Brent.” She smiled weakly and pushed her food away.

  “If I don’t feel better by the end of this weekend, please promise me that you will consider coming home with me for a few days.”

  “I can’t, I have my job to think about,” she said as she squeezed his fingers. “Everything will turn out okay. I know how to defend myself.”

  Defend herself against what, she had no idea.

  Brent felt relieved that he had told Annalise about his fears for her safety. Knowing that she felt something was off also, he stayed as close to her as possible whenever they went out that weekend. He hated the thought of leaving her alone, feeling like there was something wrong, but she was insistent that she needed to be there for work.

  Before going to bed at night, Brent made sure that all of her windows were locked and secured, the shades drawn, and that her door was locked. He needed to know that her apartment would be safe when he left. Periodically, he would glance out the window to see if he could see anyone trying to look into her apartment. He had a feeling there was someone there, but he just couldn’t tell who.

  They enjoyed each other’s company for the two days that he was in town. She showed him where the good food was and he took her for walks to explore her part of the city. He just wished he could be by her side to protect her forever.

  Right before he left on Sunday, he took her for a walk at a nearby park. Strolling down the well-kept paths and watching the colored leaves flow down around them, they walked in silence for a long time. They both knew that the parting would be inevitable, and talking about it made them both uncomfortable.

  “Anna, I really think you should leave with me tonight,” he pleaded with her.

  “You know I can’t. I’ll be okay, I promise. We talk every night, so you know that I’ll be fine.” She smiled weakly at him.

  “If you feel unsafe, please call the police.” He knew making her come home with him would be a losing battle. She was stubborn and always had been. That’s how she made it through the accident.

  “I will.” She squeezed his upper arm and they continued to talk as they walked.

  He knew that Brent was leaving that evening. When she was alone, he would finally have his chance to talk to her. After a week of following her, he felt like he knew her better than anyone he had ever met. He could picture himself holding hands with her and walking through the same park that she and Brent had just returned from.

  After observing the tearful goodbye in the parking garage, he headed back to the street and watched as Brent’s car left. He would wait until she went out again to make his next move. Hopefully she would go to a restaurant or something, and he could pretend to just notice her.

  Annalise, I know we’re going to be happy together!

  Annalise missed her best friend deeply after she watched him drive off. As the tail lights of his light blue car disappeared down the street, she had to push back the tears that were about to spill out of her eyes.

  She knew something was wrong. However, she couldn’t figure out what it was. It was just a feeling, but if Brent had a feeling too, she knew that something was definitely wrong.

  Wrap
ping her arms around herself, she headed back up to her apartment. She kept a can of pepper spray in her pocket, but she knew that if someone really was after her, then pepper spray would do her little good.

  She sighed as she locked the door behind her. Maybe it was just the area of town she was in. She could always move. Just the thought of that settled her down. Going into the kitchen, she decided she would make herself some soup to help get rid of the chill that had taken a hold of her.

  As she pulled open the cupboard, a weird feeling settled over her. She couldn’t be sure, but it felt as though something had been moved. She usually made sure that everything in her cupboards was arranged in neat rows. Shaking off the feeling, she pulled down a can of chicken noodle soup and started to warm it on the stove. She had to be out of her mind. Imagining soup moving!

  She nervously laughed off the feeling and sat down in front of her television to watch the evening news.

  The normal stories came on the news. Weather, sports, current events, and what was happening around the country. Just as the program was about to go to a commercial “Breaking News” filled the screen.

  “After the unsolved murder of Amy Alvarez, police are still looking for clues as to who killed her. At the end of August, Amy was killed in her apartment by an unknown assailant. Friends and family have told the authorities that she had had uneasy feelings of being watched and followed. About a week before her death, Amy told a close friend that she had met a man at a local restaurant who kept asking her out. After repeated turndowns, the man was said to have become upset.”