Rason & Eliza - Cee Bowerman Page 0,34
my job to ask questions, Mr. Harper. I’m not accusing you of anything, I just need to verify the details.”
I nodded, still upset. “If she’s pregnant, it scientifically can’t be mine and no, I haven’t talked to her or communicated with her in any way in over two weeks now.”
“I’ll make arrangements for more units to patrol your house on each shift. You live in a quiet area, so talk to your neighbors and ask them to pay attention to the people they see on the street.”
“I’ve got my neighbors across the street watching out. There are a couple of empty houses around me, but I know most of the people on the block. I’ll give them a heads up.”
“Keep your phone on you all the time and call 911 if you see her. Why didn’t you report her being at the gym this morning?”
“I don’t know.” I sighed. “I’m a man. I’m not supposed to be afraid of anything, let alone someone who’s half my size. I just want her to stop. I don’t wish her any ill will, I just want her to leave me alone and forget we ever met.”
“That’s not how these things usually play out when they’ve already come this far.”
“I’m seeing another woman now. Do you think she’s in any danger?”
“I can’t say. Just talk to her and let her know she needs to be aware of her surroundings and very cautious, especially if she’s approached by Ms. Lomeli.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to Eliza about this again and let her know what you said."
◆◆◆
“What in the world are you doing?” Eliza laughed when I knocked on the back door of her house. “Where did you park? Why in the world are you using the back door?”
“Harley dropped me off,” I told her. “Things are getting more intense and I need to talk to you. I just didn’t want anyone to see me coming over here.”
“You mean Robin?”
I nodded as I pulled her into my arms. “Let’s talk about it later, okay? I brought a bag of clothes, and I was hoping we could hang out at your house tonight.”
“I thought we were going to go out and watch that band you like.”
“I think it’s better if we just stay in this evening.”
“You’re really freaked out about something. What did she do? Why did your friend drop you off in the alley?”
“Robin disappeared from her doctor’s office,” I said as I took Eliza’s hand and led her through the kitchen into the living room. “She told him something crazy and he got worried, so he left her in there while he went out to call her father. He was going to talk to him about having her committed for her own safety. And mine, I guess.”
“Did she threaten to kill you?” Eliza whispered.
“She told him if she couldn’t live with me, she’d die with me.”
“Oh God.” Eliza sat down on the couch next to me and turned my direction. She pulled her legs up in front of her and crossed them, resting her elbows on her knees as she leaned closer. “I’ve been reading about stalkers, and my mom’s been telling me about some of the true crime books she’s read about them. Most people think it’s only men that stalk people, but there are a lot more women that do it and don’t get reported. For some reason, men don’t want to admit it when they’re worried, and there have been lots of cases where they were injured or even killed by an unreported woman who had been stalking them.”
“Well, I reported it, and I’d rather not think about that outcome.”
“I’m sorry! I didn’t even think . . .” Eliza leaned forward and put her hand on my chest. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“No, let’s get it all out there.” I sighed. “You know I told you I never slept with Robin, right?”
“Yeah.”
“She told the doctor that she was five months pregnant with my baby.”
“But you said you’d only known her for…”
“It’s been a little over two months since I met her, and I never slept with her.”
“Oh, that poor woman. What must be going through her head right now?”
“Do you know how wonderful you are?” I leaned down and kissed her. “This is disrupting your life too. Instead of railing about the unfairness of it all, or yelling at me for being stupid enough to involve myself with her, you’re worried about how she feels.”
“I am.” Eliza sighed. “It’s all jumbled up in her