Them

Heidi was freaking out. “What are we gonna do?” she cried. “I’m scared, Lauren. Really scared. For Timothy. For you. For me.” Lauren gathered her wife into her arms. “I know, honey, and I’m doing all I can along with the others to catch this sicko.” “But how? How do you catch someone who seems to be everywhere but nowhere?” “We don’t think it’s her watching us, but people she hired on the dark web.” “What difference does it make? Whether it’s her or someone she’s hired, we’re all in danger.” “That’s why you and Timothy are going to be under 24-hour protection in a safe place, and I need you to pack now.” “If it weren’t for Timothy, I would refuse to let myself be run out of my own home. But what about you?” “I’ll be fine.” “How do you know that? Do I need to remind you that you weren’t fine for a while there?” “Things are different now, Heidi. To be honest, even if Montenegro were willing to hand her over to the U.S., and even if she was sentenced to life in prison, I don’t know that I would feel safe. I think she would have to be dead for me to feel any sense of safety. She was quoted as saying that she would have escaped had she walked into what she called our trap, and I believe that. We agree that there’s a good chance she would be a serious flight risk. “What are you guys going to do then?” “Well, you said you would feel safe if she were completely gone.” “What are you going to do, Lauren—run over to Montenegro and shoot her?” “I’m not going anywhere.” “But you’re coming with us to the safehouse, aren’t you?” “Of course. But I still have to do my job, so I’ll be in and out.” “But it’s not safe for you!” “Sweetie, I’m never going to be without backup. I promise you have nothing to worry about. There are cops all around this house right now.” “So is someone going to take care of the whacko, even if it can’t be done the legal way?” “I can’t give you any details, only because I don’t have them. All I know is that I’m not going anywhere.” “Do you think her old PO is going after her?” “Probably.” “If it were anyone else, I would condemn that idea left and right, but this case has taught me that just because you may love tigers and other animals doesn’t mean you shouldn’t shoot one that’s trying to kill you.” “Exactly. Now, hurry up and get packing, and have Tim do the same. He’ll have a police escort to and from school, but when he’s not in school, he’s gonna have to be in the safehouse.” “He’ll hate that.” “Yeah, well, when he points that out, be sure to point out to him that he'd hate it even more if he were dead. Now just grab the bare essentials. I can always bring you guys anything else you want later. They’re going to be here soon to take you over to the place.” Heidi threw her arms around her slender husband and hugged her desperately. She could sense Lauren’s own desperation. This was a dire and critical moment in their life. Janelle Stone had to be stopped—somehow, somewhere, some way. With hugs, kisses, and looks of hope, Lauren saw her wife and their son off to the safehouse, promising to join them when her shift ended. She left for the station with her partner, and they headed off. As focused as they were on Stone, other cases still needed their attention. Detective Landon Mercer was in his late 30s and had been Lauren’s partner for a few years now. She liked him a lot. He was laid back and not quick to panic, but he knew when to get serious and down to business. He was fair and always tried to see things from both sides. He was extremely open-minded and accepted all kinds of people from all walks of life. Lauren wished more straight men were that way. Once they were on the road, Mercer asked if there was any news on Stone. “Not yet. I wish I knew what was going on. Not because I would say anything, of course, but just because I’m curious. I guess they figure that what I don’t know won’t hurt me. As even Heidi said, if it were anyone else, I would be quick to disagree with whatever they have in mind, which I highly doubt is legal in any way. “The human race has a right to protect itself against dangerous predators disguised as other humans.” “That’s basically what I told her,” said Lauren. “Even Heidi said you can love tigers and other animals all you want—unless one’s trying to kill you, of course.” “There you go,” said Mercer. “So yeah, I hope someone finds her and takes care of her, because I have a very bad feeling that that’s the only way to stop this sicko.” “Sadly, I agree. If more people don’t suffer at her hands directly, it would just be someone she hired.” “So how’s that book coming?” “It’s coming, but unlike Stone, I’m no writer—not that she’s ever been much of one herself.” Mercer chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve read her so-called stories and journals. Talk about living in a fantasy world.” Lauren nodded in agreement. “The writing isn’t the greatest either, and there have been instances when I had to read things multiple times to try to get a sense of what the lunatic was trying to say.” Again, Lauren nodded. “You have to keep one thing in mind, though,” Mercer told her. “What’s that?” “It’s gonna piss the shit out of her—just like the interviews and news articles. In fact, it might even piss her off more.” “Why is that?” “Because you didn’t really make anything from doing interviews. Even if she may still have some money, she’s not going to be happy at all about the profit you’re no doubt going to make off what she did to you.” Lauren smiled. “That’s part of why I’m doing this, and I’ll admit it. Sure, it’s mostly for therapeutic reasons and to make as many people aware as possible, but the money part is a definite bonus.” “There ya go, partner.” Lauren knew her partner was right. It would be interesting to see just how Stone would react.