The Scripted Stalker - Chapters 40 & 41
A Psychological Thriller
Marissa yawned, she was beyond exhausted. Tad was continuing to text her and she didn’t want anything to do with him. It was over. He was unfaithful. He was the one who wanted to end their marriage to be with his therapist.
Tad was pleading for Marissa to talk to him all week and reluctantly she agreed.
Their children were at his mother’s again for the weekend and he had to pick up a few things at the house.
Marissa sighed and walked to the back door to let out their tiny dog, Pickles. She barked at almost everything, but something was different tonight. The last few nights Pickles had been more vigilant than usual. It was almost as if someone was out there. Camera footage didn’t show a thing, except a dark car stopped in front of her house a few times. The car would sit parked for a few minutes and drive away.
Maybe she should call the police and ask them to check on the neighborhood. You never know. She was alone but Tad would be here soon anyway. He was verbally abusive to her, but he never gave her any reason to fear him physically, although the thought did occur to her. Sometimes emotions cause people to snap.
She could call Detective Reed and maybe he would send someone out to make sure there was no one prowling around outside.
Barney was getting ready to park in front Marissa’s house and warn her that she may be in danger when he noticed another car parked in her driveway. He casually drove by. He’d go into town for a few errands and check back later.
“Thanks so much for stopping by detective,” Marissa said as she greeted him at the door.
Detective Reed smiled at her. There was something about the way he tilted his head and smiled at her that made Marissa wonder if he thought she was crazy, or maybe he felt sorry for her. It was difficult to read him.
“Anytime,” Douglass said.
He looked at her again and studied her face. “Are you sure you’re OK? I can stay or park outside to make sure.”
“Honestly! I’m fine!” Marissa told him. “My dog barks at anything. I get nervous when I’m alone. Tad will be stopping by soon too.”
He knew Marissa and Tad were separated and he had recently filed for divorce. Douglass wanted to make sure she was safe.
“I’ll drive around your neighborhood for a little bit and then send a patrol car out,” Douglass said. He held his hand out. “Deal?”
She shook his hand. “Deal.”
Marissa waved goodbye to the detective and locked the door behind him. The clock in the hall chimed 7:00 p.m., and she jumped. She hated that old grandfather clock Tad got from his grandmother. She decided that clock would move out with him too.
Shortly before 8 p.m., Marissa heard a car pull into the driveway. It was Tad. She checked herself in the mirror and wasn’t sure why. She did look less tired lately, not to mention thinner. Why did she still care what Tad thought?
Marissa drew in her breath. It was over between them. She hoped Tad would pack up a few more of his belongings tonight, sign the divorce papers and be on his way.
Chapter 41
“Really, Tad?” Amanda said out loud to her phone when she noticed the GPS tracker on Tad’s car indicated he had pulled into Marissa’s driveway. What the fuck was he doing there?
Amanda recalled the fight she and Tad had earlier that evening.
“You have to think of both of us now,” she told him when he mentioned Marissa to her.
Tad backed away. “You are not going to trap me Amanda! I gave you the money for you to, you know, take care of your situation.” He motioned to her waist which was starting to show the telltale baby bump.
“Go to hell Tad! Why can’t you take responsibility? I am going to have our child! You aren’t going to stop me!” Amanda shouted and threw his phone at him.
Tad picked up his phone and inspected it. “You are insane, Amanda!! I’d like to see proof that it is actually mine.”
“Goodbye Amanda,” Tad said and walked out the door.
Amanda screamed and tossed the TV remote against the door so hard it left a dent.
She caught a glimpse of a wild looking woman she didn’t recognize in the mirror. Her tear-stained face was streaked with the make-up she had so artfully tried to apply earlier.
Once again, she was a broken woman. This would not happen again she told herself. Tad and Marissa would not do this to her. Never!
Barney parked his car across the street from Marissa’s house. The other car was gone now. As he was working up the courage to go into her house and confess his love to her, he saw a black Lamborghini pull into her driveway. He watched as a tall, good-looking man got out of the car.
It was him! The man that hurt his angel. Broke her heart. Barney’s hands gripped his steering wheel wishing it were his neck. The day of reckoning would come for that man. He quietly opened his car door and crept towards Marissa’s house avoiding all of the cameras he knew were in place.
He would be there for her.
Been waiting for the next chapters! Yikes, Tad's got himself into a mess. Barney's under my radar right now, as I'm more focused on Tad - gee, what a guy!
Ugh! Barney is so creepy! Yay that he's looking out for Marissa, but *shiver*