Broken Pasts Read Online Free Page B

money,” Jamie had said and then paused. “And
if you need him longer, you could always dip into your house money.”
    “ No.”
That was that. Jamie had written me a massive check that I felt
horrible for taking and had taken Rhea to school for me only after I
had sworn on my life that I would call as soon as she had left.
    “ This
is nuts,” I told myself as I picked up the phone and dialed the
number.
    “ Personal
Private, this is Emily. How may I help you?”
    “ I,
uh.” I had no idea what to say. That my ex-husband may or may
not have been purposely driving down my street last night? That he'd
been a little weird in the parking lot the night before? That my
best friend was paranoid and it was really nothing and I had no idea
what I was doing. “My husband is stalking me.” Emily
tsk-tsked and I could hear keys pounding a million miles an hour as
she typed.
    “ You
were right to call us,” she said, taking control of the
conversation. I couldn't have been more grateful. “We have a
couple employees who specialize in stalking. They can act as a
witness to your case and help you document the incidents. Without
that, the police can't do a thing.” She paused. “Have
you gone to the police yet, Ms. … ” It took me a moment
to realize I hadn't given her my name.
    “ Theresa
McMaster. And, uh, no. I haven't gone to the police.” I
hadn't even thought about doing that. I mean, it wasn't such a big
deal yet, right? “I feel silly,” I admitted as Emily
continued typing.
    “ Why's
that?” she asked me as she made a little ooh in the back
of her throat. “Nathaniel is free and he's absolutely lovely.
What's your budget, darling?”
    “ Um,”
I didn't know which question to answer first. I told her the amount
on Jamie's check.
    “ Per
week?” she asked. I stared at the four figures in front of me
and tried not to choke.
    “ Um,
total?” I asked more than told her. “I just need him
until I get the house secured. I mean, I don't even know why I'm
really calling. I mean, Gary hasn't exactly done a whole lot other
than call me.” And corner you in a dark parking lot.
Remember the threats he made to you before you left? What if he
acted out on them? What about Rhea? No amount of paranoia is too
much to keep her safe. Emily stopped talking and I could just
imagine her sitting in front of me, gray hair coiffed atop her
delicate head, blue eyes twinkling as she took my hands in hers and
tried to reassure me. Maybe I was way off course, but that's what I
saw in my head. Emily was an excellent saleswoman.
    “ When
it comes to your personal safety, there's never a reason to feel
ashamed. You have the right to take advantage of your destiny, don't
you, Theresa? If it turns out that this is nothing, that you're
overreacting, then this will pass and you'll go on with your life.
If you're not and this man attacks you, you'll be safe and you'll
still have a life. Isn't that worth the expense?” I sat there
in silence for a moment before sighing heavily.
    “ Nathaniel,
was it?” I asked. Emily chuckled and an hour later, a man in a
dark suit was standing on my porch, ready to flip my world upside
down.
    ***
    Three
times I picked up the phone to call and cancel. Three times I put it
back on the counter and paced while I waited for my very own
bodyguard.
    “ This
is just too weird,” I said as I grabbed the phone one last
time. “And way too expensive. What was I even thinking?”
I stared at the screen, at the eight missed calls from Gary and then
dialed the number for PPSD.
    “ Personal
Private, this is Emily. How may I help you?”
    “ Emily,
I – ” I started to speak when the doorbell rang. A
brusque knock followed, loud and authoritative, strong.
    “ Ms.
McMaster?” she asked and I was surprised she recognized my
voice. “Is everything okay? Nathaniel should be arriving any
moment. Are you in trouble?” I moved to the doorway and
checked out the peephole. It was indeed the infamous Nathaniel.