Ashley took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I—I don’t usually carry on like this. It’s—it’s just been horrible.”
“Let’s talk,” Sam Blake said.
She managed to force a smile. “All right.”
“How about a nice cup of tea?”
They sat talking over cups of hot tea. “When did all this start, Miss Patterson?”
“About—about six months ago. I felt I was being followed. At first it was just a vague feeling, but then it began to grow. I knew I was being followed, but I couldn’t see anyone. Then at work, someone got into my computer and drew a picture of a hand with a knife in it trying to—to stab me.”
“And do you have any idea who it could have been?”
“No.”
“You said someone has gotten into this apartment before today?”
“Yes. Once, someone turned on all the lights when I was gone. Another time I found a cigarette butt on my dressing table. I don’t smoke. And someone opened a drawer and went through my .. . my underwear.” She took a deep breath. “And now…this.”
“Do you have any boyfriends who might feel rejected?”
Ashley shook her head. “No.”
“Have you had any business dealings where somebody’s lost money because of you?”
“No.”
“No threats from anyone?”
“No.” She thought of telling him about the lost weekend in Chicago, but that might involve mentioning her father. She decided to say nothing.
“I don’t want to be alone here tonight,” Ashley said.
“All right. I’ll call the station and have them send someone here to—”
“No! Please! I’m afraid to trust anyone else. Could you stay here with me, just until morning?”
“I don’t think I—”
“Oh, please.” She was trembling.
He looked into her eyes and thought he had never seen anyone so terrified.
“Isn’t there someplace you could stay tonight? Don’t you have any friends who—?”
“What if it’s one of my friends who’s doing this?”
He nodded. “Right. I’ll stay. In the morning, I’ll arrange for twenty-four-hour protection for you.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was filled with relief.
He patted Ashley’s hand. “And don’t worry. I promise you that we’ll get to the bottom of this. Let me call Sheriff Dowling and tell him what’s going on.”
He spoke on the phone for five minutes, and when he hung up, he said, “I’d better call my wife.”
“Of course.”
Deputy Blake picked up the telephone again and dialed. “Hello, darling. I won’t be home tonight, so why don’t you watch some tel—?”
“You won’t what? Where are you, with one of your cheap whores?”
Ashley could hear her screaming over the phone.
“Serena—”
“You’re not fooling me.”
“Serena—”
“That’s all you men think about—getting laid.”
“Serena—
“Well, I won’t put up with it any longer.”
“Serena—”
“That’s the thanks I get for being such a good wife.…”
The one-sided conversation went on for another ten minutes. Finally, Deputy Blake replaced the receiver and turned to Ashley, embarrassed.
“I’m sorry about that. She’s not like that.”
Ashley looked at him and said, “I understand.”
“No—I mean it. Serena acts that way because she’s scared.”
Ashley looked at him curiously. “Scared?”
He was silent for a moment. “Serena is dying. She has cancer. It was in remission for a while. It first started about seven years ago. We’ve been married for five years.”
“So you knew…?”
“Yes. It didn’t matter. I love her.” He stopped. “It’s gotten worse lately. She’s scared because she’s afraid to die and she’s afraid I’ll leave her. All the yelling is a cover-up to hide that fear.”
“I’m—I’m so sorry.”
“She’s a wonderful person. Inside, she’s gentle and caring and loving. That’s the Serena I know.”
Ashley said, “I’m sorry if I caused any—”
“Not at all.” He looked around.
Ashley said, “There’s just the one bedroom. You can take it, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”
Deputy Blake shook his head. “The couch will be fine for me.”
Ashley said, “I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”
“No problem, Miss Patterson.” He watched her go into a linen closet and take out sheets and blankets.
She walked over to the couch and spread the linen out. “I hope that you’ll—”