Rats! This is another chapter that is a little on the short side – so sorry!
Nukegrrrl: Thanks so much for your very complimentary review. I'm sorry to hear about your own experience with a Regina-type-stalker. No one should have to go through that, and it must have been terrible for you. Thankfully, Regina is solely the product of my own imagination, but I am pleased that she is coming across as realistic.
~Lisa.
Chapter Ten - Intruder!
Saturday night was a humid night, and Kimmy tossed and turned restlessly, sleep evading her. She had thrown off her covers, and had opened a nearby window to catch the night air, but with no breeze, and the air outside not much cooler than in, she was feeling little relief.
Deciding that her only option was to jump into a cool shower, she padded barefoot to the bathroom. She wore an oversized tee shirt, which read '333 – only half evil'. Not bothering to turn on the light, Kimmy made her way toward the shower. The shower stall was a small cubicle set into the wall with a glass front door. After turning on the water, Kimmy's eyes were drawn to the shower ledge where an empty plastic bottle sat, and she recalled that she had used the last of her body wash when she had showered earlier. She had visited Bath & Body Works yesterday, so she headed back to the main room, to grab the bag from the kitchen counter.
Upon re-entering the room Kimmy got the shock of her life – someone was climbing over the edge of the window ledge. With a cry, Kimmy ran toward the window. Due to the darkness she was unable to make out who it was. Hearing her cry, the prowler leapt back out the window, disappearing from sight.
Reaching the window, Kimmy peered out, and was just in time to see a figure land in the bushes below. Kimmy raced for the door, fumbling to remove the latch. Throwing it open she ran down the stairs screaming for her father.
"Dad! Dad help!" she yelled, as she raced down the drive. She could hear footsteps a short distance ahead of her, but again it was too dark to see whom.
"Dad!" she kept calling, while running. A light came on next door, illuminating the space in front of Kimmy, which unfortunately for the prowler shone directly on them. The prowler didn't appear to be much taller than Kimmy, and given the build Kimmy guessed it was a female – Regina!
"Regina!" Kimmy called. "Stop! I know it's you."
In her haste to catch 'Regina', Kimmy neglected to notice one of her dad's paint cans lying on the front lawn. Striking it with her toes, she stumbled over the top of it, and next thing she knew she was lying facedown in the grass. She slowly got to her feet, wincing at the pain in her foot. She frantically glanced around, but knew she had no hope of catching the prowler now.
By the time her dad and the entire Tanner family arrived, Kimmy could hear the sound of a car starting in the distance.
"Kimmy, what is going on?" her dad demanded rifle in hand.
Kimmy was doubled over gasping for breath, "Someone was trying to get into my apartment!"
John Gibbler, Danny, and Joey all immediately looked over at Jesse.
"What!" he exclaimed. "It wasn't me. I was asleep in bed – my bed!"
Danny cleared his throat, "John, would you mind lowering your … um … gun. There are kids present."
Kimmy's father reluctantly did so.
"Awesome rifle Mr. Gibbler!" Alex approved.
"I have a question, why would you think Dad would have been trying to get into Kimmy's apartment at night?" Nicky asked.
Again, John, Danny, and Joey looked over at Jesse.
"We have more important questions to worry about at the moment Nick," Jesse said hastily. He frowned as he heard Michelle whisper to his son that she would explain later. He turned his attention to Kimmy, "Kimmy, exactly what happened?"
"Someone was climbing in my bedroom window," Kimmy said anxiously. "I ran outside and tried to catch the prowler on the driveway, but I tripped, and they got away. I'm pretty sure it was Regina!"
"Regina!" Stephanie and Jesse said together.
"How could you tell?" Joey asked.
"I couldn't – it was too dark," Kimmy reluctantly admitted. "But the person was definitely female – or a really thin short male – and about Regina's height."
Jesse ran a hand through his hair, "Kimmy, you shouldn't have gone chasing after an intruder – even Regina! You could have been hurt."
"She's targeting you because you tried to keep her away from me," Stephanie said in a small voice. She rubbed at her tired eyes. She had been awake for hours, prior to Kimmy's call for help, going over both her fight with Dean, and her conversation with Danielle Harris.
Danny, Jesse, and Joey all looked guilty, as they hadn't done a thing to support or protect Stephanie.
"I'm calling the police. This goes way beyond vandalizing a car," Joey said. "Even if it was or wasn't Regina, breaking into someone's home – especially while they're home – is serious!"
Danny, and Jesse nodded in agreement, and even Kimmy didn't argue this time. Joey headed to the house.
Kimmy whirled to face her father, "I probably would have caught Regina if I hadn't of tripped over one of your stupid paint cans Pops."
John stared at his daughter, "Whose Regina?"
"The red headed girl you've noticed hanging around lately," Michelle said. "Remember Mr. Gibbler?"
"Oh yeah, her, I forgot."
Michelle turned to her father, "Dad I just remembered. Our neighbor, Mrs. Graham said she saw someone with red hair going through our mail earlier today – and she said it wasn't Kimmy!" she quickly added as Danny's eyes drifted Kimmy's way.
"Mrs. Graham does tend to get people mixed up though," Jesse reminded everybody.
"Everything alright out there?" Carol Gibbler called out her bedroom window.
Kimmy looked up at the upstairs window, "I'm just fine Mom, thanks for rushing out to see if I was okay," she said sarcastically.
Mrs. Gibbler shrugged, and ducked her head back inside.
"Dad, I think I'll stay in my old room tonight!" Kimmy was still a little freaked out.
"Oh right! Honey there might be a bit of a problem with that. I've nailed the door shut."
Kimmy was too tired, and distracted, to even ask why.
"Kimmy you can sleep in DJ's bed in my room," Michelle invited
"Thanks Michelle," Kimmy said gratefully. "I'll just grab a couple of things, and lock up – plus I left the shower on." She reluctantly looked over at the apartment not wanting to go back there tonight alone.
Jesse followed her gaze, "I'll go with you. Danny, can you make sure Nicky and Alex get back to bed?"
"Dad, can't we stay up and wait for the police?" Alex begged.
"No you can't," Jesse said firmly, as he and Kimmy started up the drive.
Joey met them at the back door, "The police are sending over a car in the morning."
"The morning!" Danny was incredulous.
Joey shrugged, "Unfortunately once I explained the prowler had fled the scene, and that no one was in any immediate danger, they decided it could wait until tomorrow."
Nicky and Alex smiled under their breaths, each thinking that they would get to see the police after all.
Danny put his arm around Stephanie, "Steph, I don't know whether or not Kimmy's prowler was Regina …" Stephanie opened her mouth to interrupt, "let me finish. Like I said, I don't know if it was Regina, but too many things have happened over the last few weeks that don't add up. I think it might be worthwhile reporting Regina to the school disciplinary board. I'll arrange an appointment with the school first thing Monday."
Stephanie sounded worried, "But Dad, won't that just make her madder?"
"She needs help Steph," Danny said quietly. "The school is equipped to handle situations like this."
Stephanie nodded but she still looked frightened.
"It will be okay Steph," Danny enveloped his daughter in a hug. "Tomorrow you and I will sit down and I want you to tell me everything you know about Regina Powell. I'm so sorry we didn't take you more seriously earlier on – but we are here for you now!"