The Watcher Read Online Free Page B

“Around the time I arrested you and Andrew Solomon, six or seven years ago, there were two stalker cases with similar themes and patterns. We called them the Valentine’s stalker cases.”
    She squinted and looked skyward as if trying to recall the information. “The girls reported being sent excessive roses, teddy bears, and expensive chocolates. They said after so many roses, the messages attached to them grew weirder and the roses would end up in frightening places they shouldn’t have been. Like, on a bedroom dresser when one of the victims woke up and on the bathroom sink counter when the other victim was showering.”
    “Did they ever catch the alleged stalker?” He asked, rounding the corner of the street that lead to her house.
    “No, it went cold. If I’m not mistaken… Either the night before, or same night you were arrested, our last victim, Maryann Thomas was chased not far from her home and assaulted before the perp ran away.”
    “Nobody got a description?”
    “No, it was dark and the suspect wore dark or black clothing is all Maryann could gather.”
    TW parked in front of her house. A medium sized, pale yellow, single story home with a well-maintained lawn. He noticed Isabel's hesitation to leave the vehicle as he thought back on the night of his arrest. How that idiot Andrew Solomon had crashed into him at full speed, thus allowing then Detective Isabel Gonzalez to catch up to him before he could escape with $160,000 in cash he worked so hard to steal from the credit union.
    “Invite me in, Isa,” he suggested before adding, “at least until your nerves settle a bit,” sensing her hesitation.
    She nodded, exiting the van.
    Terrance thought that whoever or whatever that idiot Andrew Solomon was had gotten him arrested alongside Terrance for a crime he didn’t commit. Isa opened the door. No one believed Solomon’s story of being out for a jog in all black, including gloves, and just happening to end up near the scene of a bank robbery along with another suspect carrying a bag of cash. Terrance made no attempt to exonerate him. For one: not to incriminate himself, and two: Had it not been for running into that fool he would have possibly escaped. Solomon’s attempt to plead with him back then had only got him an ass whooping. That is, in addition to the same six year sentence that Terrance received.
    Isabel turned on the lights, revealing a cozy looking living room with an excessive amount of roses, and a pile of cushy teddy bears next to a stack of ten boxed chocolates.
    “Y'know, I almost hoped it was you who sent me all of these gifts,” she said, directing him to sit on the brown suede couch in front o the coffee table that held eight of the fourteen vases of various color roses spread around the living room.
    “It could be anybody,” he said.
    Skepticism was etched on her face as she nodded in the negative. “Would you like something to drink? I have water, milk, tea, and wine.”
    “Whatever you're having is fine.”
    “Red wine it is,” she said, disappearing into the kitchen to return a moment later with a large bottle and two glasses. Placing them on the remaining portion of the table. “Help yourself,” she called over her shoulder before disappearing into one of the home’s two bedrooms.
    He poured them both a glass, watching as she returned in a pair of royal blue, silk, pajamas that clung to every curve. His eyes lingered for a bit at the outline of ample breast under her top before he pulled his gaze away to hand her the glass of wine. She sat facing him Indian style on the couch with a small smile on her face before letting him know not to get any bright ideas.
    After their second glass, they shared laughs about the evening's events. Namely the Polish grandmother doing the robot to Justin Beiber's 'as long as you love me' song. That and the overweight aunt who insisted on dancing with Terrance and wouldn’t stop smacking him on the butt. In turn, Terrance reminded