The Scripted Stalker (Chapters 21 & 22)
A Psychological Thriller
Chapter 21
Amanda hated talking to detectives. What the hell? Barney was as nutty as they came, and she had him exactly where she wanted him. Now they were going to ruin things.
She was headed down the hall at the police station. After she met with Detective Douglass Reed, Barney was due for a therapy appointment.
Amanda opted to wear basic khaki pants and a crisp white top. Her hair was in a bun, and later she would slip on a baggy brown cardigan to see Barney. The police officer waved her into the detective’s office after she gave her credentials. The young cop was still looking at her anyway. It was tough to hide her figure and not be noticed by men. She was hoping not to make any lasting impressions while at the police station.
The detective was sitting at his desk. He wasn’t bad looking Amanda decided. She wished she had undone one of her shirt buttons, but she had to be professional for this meeting.
He stood up and walked towards the door and held out a hand. “Doctor Greer. It’s nice to meet you. I'm Detective Douglass Reed,” he said shaking her hand. He motioned to a chair on the other side of his desk for her to sit.
Amanda took a seat facing Douglass.
“Just a few questions, Doctor Greer,” Douglass said his voice even.
“Of course,” Amanda answered cooly. She would not let him know he made her nervous.
“Barney is currently one of your patients, correct?” Douglass asked.
“Yes, for several years. Please remember detective, there are laws to protect the patient. Patient confidentiality,” she crossed her legs and leaned forward showing ample cleavage.
“I understand, Doctor Greer, but this does regard a murder investigation,” Douglass told her.
Her hands went to her chest. “Murder? Barney? Do you think he’s somehow involved?”
Douglass pushed a paper in her direction. “Do you recognize her?”
Amanda paused, “I think she was a singer. What does this have to do with Barney?”
Douglass swiveled in his chair and reached for his cell phone. “We noticed he had this photo on him, in his wallet. We also found photos of this woman on the walls of his closet in his apartment. Has he talked about her or any other women?”
Amanda squinted her eyes as she peered at the photo. “He did mention a woman that he was in love with. He mentions other women too. Between you and I, I think he fantasizes about celebrities,” she said with a laugh.
“Did he mention, a Natalia?” The detective asked.
“Detective, or can I call you Douglass,” her words rolled almost seductively off her tongue, and then she added a smile, “patient confidentiality, may I remind you.”
Douglass leaned closer to her, his hazel eyes intent. “May I remind you this is a police investigation Doctor Greer.”
Amanda shrugged. “Well, then I will need to talk to a lawyer, before answering any more questions.”
Douglass stood up. “Very well. I will be in touch.”
Amanda stood up to leave.
Douglass turned to her and lowered his voice. “I’m concerned about Barney’s mental health. He could be putting others in danger. Including yourself Doctor Greer.”
Amanda felt a cold shiver run down her spine. “Is that all for now detective?” she asked, wanting to get as far away from this place as possible.
“For now. Thank you, Doctor.” Detective Reed opened the door, dismissing her.
She nodded briefly at him before heading out the door.
Detective Douglass Reed sat back in his chair and shook his head. He knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere with Amanda, but he did get some information. Barney has delusions about other celebrities. Did he have them about other people as well? He knew Amanda could be in danger too. He also knew she was hiding something. He would get a warrant and do whatever was necessary to uncover the truth.
Chapter 22
Detective Reed was far more competent than she had expected him to be. Poking his nose in and analyzing Barney’s mental state, acting like he was a psychiatrist! Amanda knew that she wouldn’t be able to make any progress with Barney in this hospital. How would she get him out of there?
She was going to talk to his nurse there, and perhaps even the hospital director if necessary. After all, Amanda was his doctor and could sign him out. This would have to be done before the nosy detective asked more questions.
Today, her agenda was to get Barney out of there. If not today, then very soon.
After a lengthy discussion, the director of the hospital agreed to give Barney a day or two for continued observation before being released. Amanda told them that he was suffering from PTSD. She made him aware that Barney served in Vietnam many years ago, and this environment could trigger it. She also let them know, he was safer at his home and would be under her care.
Barney was sitting on the edge of his bed when Amanda got to his room, “Good news, Barney. You will soon be released to go home,” Amanda said.
Barney’s shoulders slumped. “What good is it. She left me.”
“Who?” Amamda asked.
“Natalia,” he said with a sigh.
“Now, Barney,” she said walking closer to him. “There are other women out there.”
His face seemed to brighten. “Maybe,” he said quietly.
“Good.” Amanda said. “Now, remember what I said about your psychological evaluation tomorrow. Do you remember what we talked about?”
“Yes, I will do all that I can to get out of this place,” Barney said.
I would love it if you would treat me to a coffee or tea!
Barney sat at his computer in the common room at the hospital. He smiled at the screen. His angel, who went by the name “Rissa” online, was as beautiful as ever. He sighed blissfully. Tomorrow he was going to be released. He was getting one step closer to finding her!
In today’s photo, she was smiling, but behind her soulful eyes he could see pain. Was someone hurting her? He would find out and they would pay!
He looked at Natalia’s photo and tossed it in the trash can. “It’s over babe,” he said out loud.
The woman at the desk with the owl-like eyes shushed him. He usually would give her the finger and then he’d get sent back to his room. He stifled his rage. He needed to do this for her, his Rissa.
Natalia was a whore, not Rissa. She was pure. Women needed to be pure! Barney told himself.
He was having dreams about Natalia. Nightmares. She would be screaming, there was water, and she was sinking. The other night he saw a boat and a shadow of someone standing next to him. The boat looked like the one Rissa was on, but that could be because he was thinking of her so much.
Those dreams still gave him chills. They seemed so real, almost like a memory. Maybe it was the medication he was on? He would stop taking it the minute he got out of this hell hole.
Barney scanned more photos of Rissa and zeroed in on a few landmarks around her. This one looked like the fountain in downtown Ventura, and he recognized a few of the shops. Maybe she was visiting on vacation, or did she live near there too? In one of the other photos, he noticed an emblem of a sport’s team on the hat of a boy who was with her. He looked to be about 10. It was the Ventura Vultures, a college football team.
If this was true, she was only about a half hour from him! He scrolled through more photos. He saw a tall good-looking man standing next to Rissa. He flashed white teeth against tan skin. Barney considered himself to be unattractive, and the photo made him angrier.
Life wasn’t fair for guys like Barney. It was always some dickhead who got everything, and he was certain that this particular dickhead didn’t appreciate the angel who was beside him. Anger boiled up and Barney could feel his face turning red. He needed to calm down. He…wait a minute, there was something familiar about that man. Barney knew he saw him somewhere before and couldn’t place it. He almost looked like one of those pompous sportscasters, but that wasn’t it either.
Barney shut down the computer. He was getting closer. Soon he would meet his angel and there would be no denying their love. It was destiny.
Marissa closed her computer. Her article for Foodies was completed. She did an article on creme brulé. Tad would joke with her and tell her she was getting fat from all this taste testing. It struck a chord. She was running now and lost 5 pounds in the past week. There was still a long way to go.
Women like Amanda were women that she could not compete with. She certainly could not compete with her for Tad, and she knew that deep down inside.
He always had a roving eye and always would. Marissa didn’t want to be with Tad anymore, but she had their children to think about. At this point she already felt like a single parent. She was tired to the bone, exhausted from everything. Financially, could she possibly do this? If she could prove infidelity, she could have a legitimate case. But how to start? Maybe hire one of those private detectives.
Tad was so absorbed in his case. The one with the singer Natalia Novita and it was going back to trial next week. Soon it would be all over the news. The media surprisingly kept it under wraps for now.
One positive thing, Marissa was relieved there hadn’t been any creepy messages from that man online named Barr. She shivered thinking about him. That was one thing she did not need in her life.
She had to take charge. Her best friend Connie’s cousin, Douglass, was a detective and she had sent Marissa his contact information. He was willing to give her a consult and possibly refer her to a private investigator. Her finger hovered over the number of Detective Douglass Reed. Marissa took a deep breath as she decided she needed to make a move now.
Written by: Jane Deegan
Edited by: Mike Deegan
I love how this story is unfolding!
I may not always comment but I always read the chapters