S T A L K E D
By: incoherenThought

Chapter Four: For Your Protection

The photograph was of a crime scene. In the background, and slightly out of focus, two uniformed officers could be seen guarding the parameter. Behind the parameter tape, frozen forever in time, dozens of onlookers stood trying to get a glimpse of the recently discovered body. A body that had been only bones by the time it was discovered.

Samuel Garry, a 33-year-old lawyer. He had gone missing nearly twelve years prior to his body being discovered. One of the construction workers, that had found the body, could be seen in the background with the rest of the onlookers. It had been a near open and closed case, save for the twelve years in between. Garry had been murdered by his ex-wife's new boyfriend. The two of them had planned the murder in defense of the son Garry liked to beat up on during his visitation weekends.

Scotty swapped his attention to the blond, female detective in the picture. She was its focal point. In fact, she was clearly the focal point of all the photos they had discovered and taken into evidence just that morning. In this photo, she could be seen kneeling at the edge of the pit that contained Samuel Garry's skeletal remains.

"Forensic's find anything on those?" asked the same detective from the photo as she leaned back against the edge of his desk. Scotty glanced up at her and placed down the magnifying glass he'd been using to study the photo with.

"Nothing," he said, leaning back into his chair with a sigh. "Not so much as a partial print."

Her brow creased in contemplation of his words. Scotty thought it was cute. "He put up all those pictures using gloves?" she wondered aloud and Scotty nodded.

"It appears so," he spoke. "I think we can safely say that basement was for show. It was the perfect haven for any stalker... in a movie. And he made sure that we'd find it by leaving that door open."

"Then it was just another scare tactic," suggested Lilly and Scotty sighed. He wanted it to be nothing more than that but it was something much more.

"It was more than a scare tactic, Lil," he informed her and then handed over the photograph he'd been studying.

"The Samuel Garry case," Lilly stated, matter-of-factly, and Scotty was both amused and proud of her ability to remember cases. It had taken him nearly twenty minutes to put that crime scene together with the case it belonged to.

Scotty simply nodded his agreement. "That case from from a year ago," he informed her and the two made eye contact. "Some of the clippings and other pictures go back about ten months or so but that picture is the oldest."

"He's been following me around for a year," Lilly said softly and almost to herself.

"And that's more than just a scare tactic," Scotty pointed out needlessly, but gently.

"Then you think this guy's for real?" she asked him softly and they were suddenly interrupted by another voice.

"We certainly are going to behave like he is," John Stillman said. Scotty glanced over to find their lieutenant walking up to his desk. "I'm not taking any changes with someone out there threatening one of my detectives. We take every threat he makes seriously." He looked at Scotty. "If he makes another phone call, I want to hear about it."

"Sure thing, Boss," Scotty agreed with a nod.

"Good," continued Stillman. "Now, do some digging into your memory and see if you can come up with any viable threats you've received that might relate to this. I'd start around the time that first picture was taken."

"That's a pretty big order," Scotty pointed out. "I can think of a lot of times I've been threatened on this job."

Stillman nodded his understanding. "Think of the threats that stand out the most and the ones that could be relevant to someone using your partner against you. Also, think personal because this guy may not be from the job." Scotty nodded his agreement as he felt just a little more ill at the situation they were facing. Someone threatening Lilly for personal reasons opened up a whole new can of worms that John Stillman could know nothing about. It would bring into light things that neither he, nor Lilly, wanted him to know anything about.

"Lil," Stillman continued, "you need to avoid being alone and make sure someone is always with you or close by. I'm going to put a detail on your house for when you're home."

"That's not necessary, Boss," Lilly interjected and Scotty looked up at her. He knew what she was thinking. He even knew why she felt a car outside her house wasn't necessary. Still, he couldn't help but feel, that it was very much necessary.

"There's someone out there threatening your life," Stillman argued, "and you live alone. I fail to see how it's not necessary when we've put cops on houses for far less."

"That's very true," agreed Lilly, "but I'm not going to need one because I got something they didn't." Scotty had to keep from smiling.

"What's that?" asked Stillman, sounding very much annoyed. "A gun?"

"No," Lilly shook her head. "I've got my partner and, I intend, to volunteer him for my protection." Scotty had to keep from laughing. He did believe she was adorable. Stillman simply seemed at a loss. "It'll save the department some money and save me the stress of a stranger outside my house all the time."

"Uh," began the lieutenant, sounding a bit uncertain, "that okay with you, Scotty?"

"Yeah, Boss," Scotty responded with a nod of his head. "I'll take care of her." No truer words had he ever spoken.

Stillman seemed to consider this for a moment and then nodded. "Okay," he spoke, "if you two want to play sleepover then that's fine by me but... I'm still putting a detail outside that house for the hours you're there."

"Boss..." Lilly began but was interrupted.

"This is not for debate, Rush. The guy's been snapping pictures of you for at least a year. It's my hope we can catch him snooping around your house taking more pictures. Scotty being inside isn't going to help what's going on outside. I want someone outside that house."

"He's right," Scotty spoke his agreement gently. She wasn't going to like this but it was the best way to keep her safe. Lilly remained silent and Scotty assumed that meant she'd agreed to the detail. Not that she really had much choice.

"Let me know if you come up with anything, Scotty?" Stillman said.

"Will do, Boss," Scotty responded and looked up to Lilly as their boss walked away. She was looking at the floor. She wasn't happy.

"I'm sorry, Lil," he began, "but Boss is right."

She nodded and looked at him. "I know," she said and Scotty suddenly wanted nothing more but to cheer her up. A mischievous smile spread across his face.

"Volunteer me for your protection, huh?" he asked and a small smile spread across her own features. He felt slightly triumphant.

Lilly shrugged. "I don't like strangers."

"Really?" Scotty questioned, unbelieving.

Lilly laughed and leaned in closer to him. "You know you love me," she whispered in his ear and then stood back up. She walked off without giving him a chance to respond.

Scotty smiled after her. "Absolutely," he whispered to himself as she disappeared inside the break room. Then, he stood up and went after her.