The Stalker

Laura's POV

The black roses arrived at nine in the night. The doorman brought it up to me with a smile on his face. I set them on the kitchen counter, as I tore the card open. I already knew who it was. Donovan Ritcher. A male patient who had fallen in obsession with me and was stalking me now. He was very frightening.

The message on the card read; "you can't hide from me, sweet, sweet Laura. Soon you'll be mine."

The card clattered on the floor as it fell from my trembling hands.

***

My second shift usually ended by 11pm and so when I reached the packing lot of Chicago's Memorial hospital, it was almost empty. Most of the day staff had left hours ago. I didn't like the emptiness at all. For all I know, Donovan could be in the shadows stalking me. Even worse, most of the florescent lights were burnt out. 

I heard footsteps behind me and started speed walking, the footsteps started speed walking too.

"Laura wait!"

Shet, I knew that voice, Donovan. 

"Laura wait please!"

I decided that he was still going to beat me to the car so I spun around and froze.

He stood there in his work suit, one of the rich bachelor's that could afford their mother's treatment in this expensive hospital. His hair was perfectly styled; it look like he just came back from a business meeting. He smiled at me like we were old friends, like it was absolutely normal what he was doing.

"Richard stop." I kept the fear from my voice. "You should stop following me, please.

"I wasn't following you. I came to see you." He took a step closer. "We need to talk."

"No. We don't." I turned back toward my car.

His hand grabbed my arm and when I spun around, I tried to pull away but his grip tightened. My heart thundered in my chest.

"Let go of me." I struggled, sweat pouring from my forehead.

"Just listen," he growled, his smile gone. "You've been avoiding my calls and my texts. Is that even fair, sending back my gifts? I've been patient, Laura and trust me when I say this, I am not a patient person."

"I don't owe you anything, Richard." I tried to yank my arm free but he held on, like his life depended on it. "Let go of me right now or I'll scream."

"Who's going to hear you? We're alone." He pulled me closer. "I've given you time and space. I've tried to court you properly. But you keep pushing me away. Why?"

"Because I'm not interested." My heart pounded. "I told you that six months ago. I'm telling you again now. I don't want to date you. I don't want to marry you. I want you to leave me alone."

His face darkened. "You don't mean that."

"I do mean it." I tried to 

"No. You're just playing hard to get. Women like you always do." His other hand came up to touch my face. I jerked my head back. "You were so kind to my mother. You held her hand when she died. You made her last days bearable. Don't you see? You're perfect. You're exactly what I need."

I thought about his mother. Margaret Donovan had been one of my patients last year. She had stage four pancreatic cancer. She'd lasted three months after her diagnosis. Richard had visited every day. At first I thought it was sweet. He was a devoted son caring for his dying mother. Until, I noticed the way he looked at me, the way he found excuses to touch my hand and how he lingered after visiting hours ended.

After Margaret died, the flowers started, and then the calls. Then he showing up at my apartment. I'd told him no a hundred times but he never listened.

"Your mother was my patient," I said. "I was doing my job. That's all it was. I'm sorry if you misunderstood but there's nothing between us. There never will be."

"You're wrong." His grip on my arm tightened until it hurt. "We're meant to be together. I can give you everything. A house, cars and jewelry. You'll never have to work again. You can quit this terrible job and be my wife. My mother would have wanted this. She told me you were special."

"Richard, please." I tried to keep my voice calm. "You're hurting me."

"I would never hurt you. I love you." He pulled me against him. "Just say yes, say you'll marry me. We can announce it at the charity gala next month. My family knows all about you. They're excited to meet you."

"No." I shoved him as hard as I could. He stumbled back. I ran for my car.

"Laura, wait!"

I didn't wait. I got to my car, fumbled with the keys and dropped them. Richard was coming toward me again. I grabbed the keys off the ground and somehow got the door open. I threw myself inside and locked it just as Richard reached for the handle.

He banged on the window. "Laura, open the door. We need to finish this conversation."

I started the engine. My hands shook so badly I could barely turn the key. Richard kept banging on the window. I threw the car into reverse and backed out fast. He had to jump out of the way. In my rearview mirror, I saw him standing in the parking space watching me drive away.

I made it three blocks before I had to pull over. My whole body was shaking. I grabbed my phone and dialed 911.

"911, what's your emergency?"

"I need to report an assault. A man grabbed me in a parking garage. He wouldn't let me go."

The operator took down all my information. She asked if I needed medical attention. I said no. She asked if I was in immediate danger. I said I didn't think so. She told me an officer would follow up within twenty four hours.

"That's it?" I said. "Someone attacked me and you're going to follow up tomorrow?"

"Ma'am, you said you weren't injured and you said you got away safely, without evidence of physical harm or an immediate threat, we can't dispatch an officer right now. If he contacts you again or shows up at your home, call us immediately."

I hung up. My arm still hurt where Richard had grabbed it. By tomorrow the bruise would be visible but that wouldn't matter. The police wouldn't do anything. They never did, not until it was too late.

I drove home in a daze. When I got inside my apartment, I locked the door. Then I checked every window. Then I checked the doors again. The black roses were still on my counter. I should throw them away but I couldn't make myself touch them.

Grace's funeral invitation sat on my coffee table. The service was tomorrow at two. Xavier's assistant had emailed me the details this morning along with a note that a car would pick me up at one thirty.

I sat on my couch staring at the invitation. Marrying Xavier Blackwell seemed insane yesterday. Tonight it seemed like the only option I had left. Richard wouldn't stop. The police wouldn't help. But maybe being married to one of Chicago's most powerful men would make Richard think twice. Maybe Xavier's name would be enough protection.

Or maybe I was trading one nightmare for another.

My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

I stared at the screen. My stomach dropped.

"I saw you at the hospital today. That nurse uniform drives me crazy. I'm watching you right now."

The blood drained from my face. I looked at my windows. The curtains were closed but suddenly that didn't feel like enough. I stood up on shaking legs and walked to the window. My fingers gripped the curtain.

Don't look. Just don't look.

I looked.

Across the street, under the glow of a streetlight, a figure stood on the sidewalk. He was wearing dark clothes and his hands were in his pockets. The face was turned up toward my apartment. The distance was too great to make out the features but I knew who it was.

Richard.

He raised one hand and waved.