Chapter Twelve – It's not over!
"Mr. Tanner, do you know where you daughter is?" a female voice taunted down the phone line to Danny Sunday morning.
"I do!" the abuser continued. "She's alone in an apartment with a boy, up to who knows what. I'm surprised you would allow it!"
"Regina …" Danny began, but he was already talking to dead air.
Joey jumped to his feet a concerned look on his face, "Danny, what did she want?"
"She called to tell me that Stephanie's at Dean's, which I knew. And she implied that they were up to something … physically speaking," Danny stumbled over the last two words. He walked to the backdoor, "I'm heading over there."
"Danny, don't do anything rash," Joey said. "You can trust Stephanie. Regina would have been just trying to get a rise out of you, and it looks like she succeeded. Phone Dean's … warn them that Regina might be watching the house."
"Your right, phoning is quicker," Danny reached for the phone.
"Hello," a familiar child's voice answered the call.
"Hi Amelia," Danny relief was evident. Surely Stephanie and Dean couldn't get up to anything with Amelia present. "It's Mr. Tanner. May I speak to Steph?"
"Sure," Danny heard Amelia call out to Stephanie that her dad was on the phone.
"Hey Dad," his daughter said. "What's up?"
"Steph, I don't want to alarm you, but I just received a call from Regina," Danny heard Stephanie's sharp intake of breath, "She referenced Dean's place, which worried me enough to call. Did you notice anyone following you on the drive over?"
"Mrs. Gibbler dropped me off on her way to do some grocery shopping. To be honest Dad I didn't even think to check … and I should have! Maybe Kimmy's mom noticed something?" Stephanie's voice was shaking. "I was pretty distracted over my argument with Dean."
"Steph, what's happened?" Dean was asking in the background.
"It's Regina!" Danny heard her say. "She just phoned Dad, said she's been watching us here." Stephanie spoke to Danny directly, "Dad, what else did she say?"
"Um … nothing!" Danny attempted to lie, knowing he was the worst liar ever.
"Dad! What else?"
"She pointed out that I should be concerned over you and Dean being alone together!"
"We weren't doing anything," Stephanie cried. "Dad, why is Regina doing this? I don't know what I'm supposed to have done to provoke her!"
"Sweetheart, I know this isn't easy, but you need to calm down. You haven't done anything wrong. I'm leaving now to pick you up okay?"
"No, Dad it's okay, I'm all right. I'll be home soon. Dean will drive me."
"I love you Steph," Danny said quietly.
"I love you too Dad." Stephanie pushed the button to hang up the call, her hand quivering.
Dean stood at the window overlooking the street, "What does Regina's car look like?"
"It's a white Toyota Sedan."
Dean scanned the street, "Nope don't see one."
"Dean," Stephanie breathed. "Regina saw us! She saw us … you know … on the couch." Stephanie glanced at Amelia, but she was occupied watching TV.
"What!"
"She told my dad."
Dean looked out the window again, a grim look on his face, "With all this glass, and a pair of binoculars, you could see straight in here – easy."
Goose pimples prickled up and down Stephanie's arms, and she hugged her arms around herself. When was this torment going to end!
By Monday afternoon, Regina Powell had been suspended from Bayview High School!
Both her dad and Officer Grant of the San Francisco Police Department had spoken to Principal Robolard first thing Monday morning, and a meeting had immediately been arranged for ten o'clock that morning with Principal Robolard, the Deputy Principal, and the School Guidance Counselor.
Stephanie had been nervous the morning of the meeting, worried that the school wouldn't believe her, but both her dad and Officer Grant had assured her that she had no reason to be concerned, and to just stick to the truth. During the meeting Stephanie had been required to verbally describe each incident, and to fill out a signed written account in the form of a 'Harassment Incident Report'. Her dad, Uncle Jesse, Joey, and especially Kimmy had backed Stephanie up, and Gia, Melissa, and Jennifer Cashmore had been called in as potential witnesses to Regina's abnormal behavior.
As she had promised, Stephanie had not mentioned Danielle Harris' name, or any of the events she had confided in Stephanie. It hadn't been necessary anyway, as Principal Robolard, the Deputy Principal, and the School Counselor had been more than satisfied with Stephanie's account of events.
Bayview's strict zero tolerance policy regarding harassment of any form between students, had resulted in the immediate suspension of Regina pending a full investigation. Once the investigation was completed there was a very real possibility that Regina would be expelled from Bayview
Ryan Doveman, the school counselor, had made himself available to Stephanie anytime if she needed to talk to him. Like Officer Grant, Principal Robolard had stressed that he be contacted immediately should any other incidents occur. Although it was his hope that her confrontation with the police, suspension pending possible expulsion, and the fact that her parents were now aware of the situation, would be enough of a deterrent for Regina to cease her inappropriate behavior.
Following the meeting, her dad had wanted her to take the rest of the day off, but Stephanie had been adamant that Regina had disrupted her life enough all ready, and that she was determined for things to return to normal as quickly as possible.
Throughout the afternoon several curious students had asked Stephanie what was going on. Thankfully Gia had fielded a lot of the questions, providing answers to students 'whom' they considered friends, while telling others who were just being nosey to 'get lost'. Stephanie had been extremely grateful for her help and had told her so. Her teachers had all been apprised of the situation, and if Regina did return to school her schedule would be changed so that she had no classes in common with Stephanie, including lunch.
Stephanie just hoped Principal Robolard's assessment was correct, and that today's events had been enough to scare Regina away from her and her family for good!
After school, Stephanie opened the mailbox, grabbing the stack of letters from within. She started to sort through them, looking for any addressed to her. She had been expecting a letter from Mrs. Adams at the Pacific Heights Animal Kennel for over a week now, and it still hadn't arrived. Locating an envelope with the familiar logo, Stephanie sighed with relief. It had arrived!
Her relief was short lived, as the last envelope in the stack also had her name on it, but unlike the previous piece of mail this one definitely wasn't from the Kennel. The envelope was plain and white, with 'Stephanie Judith' pasted on using cut out letters from a newspaper. There was no address or postal stamp, so it was obvious it had been hand delivered, and even more obvious whom by.
Grimacing, Stephanie held the envelope up to eye level – it felt weightless, but she could see tiny pieces of something making dents in the envelope, so she knew it wasn't empty. Stephanie gently shook it, and a tiny rattle sounded in response. It didn't appear threatening, but Stephanie didn't want to risk opening it, so she headed for the house.
The living room was empty, but her dad had been in the kitchen when she left for the mailbox, so Stephanie called out to him, "Dad!"
"What is it Steph?" Danny entered the room, carrying a tea towel.
Stephanie held out the envelope, "Dad! This was in the mailbox."
Danny accepted the envelope with caution. Like Stephanie he examined the envelope and lettering, turning it over several times in his hands. He also gave it a shake, hearing the same metallic sound.
Danny took a deep breath, "Let's see what it is!" He walked over to the computer desk to retrieve the letter opener from the top drawer. Sliding it out of its protective sleeve, he carefully severed the envelope seal.
Returning to where Stephanie stood motionless in the middle of the room, Danny carefully emptied the contents onto the coffee table. Small pieces of turquoise mixed with silver glittered on the wood surface.
Danny looked perplexed, "What is it?" He looked into the envelope, half expecting to see a note, but there was nothing else inside.
Stephanie didn't need an explanation, "It's definitely Regina! Those are the earrings she tried to give me on Thursday – well at least they were the earrings! It looks like she pulverized them with something!"
"She probably used a mortar and pestle!" Danny said.
"What's that?"
"It's a tool, found generally in the kitchen, to crush, grind, and mix, herbs and spices, and other ingredients."
"Oh that thing!" Stephanie nodded. "Yep that would work."
"Dad!" something was still bothering Stephanie. "You don't think there's a chance that Regina will return to school do you?"
"I would doubt it," Danny reassured her. "And definitely not once I contact Principal Robolard and explain Regina is still harassing you. "
"So Mrs. Graham did see Regina at our mailbox on Saturday!" Stephanie said.
Danny kept stacks of zip lock plastic bags all over the house, including the shelf under the coffee table. Unzipping one he swept the broken earrings and the envelope itself into the bag, sealing it closed. "I'm passing this onto the police right now!" Danny picked up the cordless from the coffee table, "I have the number in the kitchen."
"Dad, I'll be in my room, if the police need to talk to me," Danny heard Stephanie call as he entered the kitchen.
Jesse was just closing the back door, as Danny crossed the room.
Danny looked over at him, "Oh Jess, before I forget, I found your keys while vacuuming the kitchen. They had fallen down the back of the phone table. You must have left them by the phone. They're on the kitchen counter now."
"Oh thanks!" Jesse bounded across the kitchen to retrieve them. He noticed the preoccupied expression on Danny's face, "Daniel, has something else happened?"
"It sure has!" Danny opened his address book, which sat permanently by the phone in the kitchen. He retrieved a business card from within the pages, which contained Officer Grant's details. "Remember the earrings Regina tried to give Steph as a gift last Thursday?" Jesse gave a small nod. "Well they were crushed into tiny pieces, and left in our mailbox."
Jesse expression was harsh, "God Danny. Something needs to be done about that girl! This can't carry on – look at the effect it's having on Steph!"
"Jess, don't you think I know that!" Danny hissed, his ear to the phone. "Hello, this is Danny Tanner – Officer Grant please!"
Smiling to herself, Stephanie made her way up to her room. She was reading the reference letter from Mrs. Adams as she walked, and even though she knew it would be good, it was much better than even she had expected. As promised, Mrs. Adams had also provided a decent list of people for Stephanie to contact in regards to an after school job.
Entering her bedroom, she closed the door behind her. Stephanie scanned the list of names, deciding to call a couple now. Reaching for the phone she selected the Bayview Veterinarian Clinic first, as it was only two blocks down from school.
A pleasant sounding receptionist answered, "Bayview Veterinarian Clinic! How may I assist you?"
"Good afternoon," Stephanie said politely. "May I be put through to Ms. Clarkson please?"
"May I have a name?"
"Stephanie Tanner!"
"Thank you! One moment please – I'll try that extension."
In place of hold music was a commercial advertising the benefits of choosing the Bayview Veterinarian Clinic.
"This is Ms. Clarkson!" a no nonsense voice said. "And I must say Stephanie Tanner I'm very surprised, and disappointed, to hear from you!"
Stephanie's mouth flew open in shock, "I'm sorry – I don't understand! I think you have me confused with someone else! I worked at the Pacific Heights Animal Kennel over the summer, and my supervisor, Mrs. Adams recommended that I contact you in regards to a part time job."
Ms. Clarkson's tone was firm, "I can assure you there's no confusion young lady. What I don't understand is why you are wasting my time for the second time today, when you made it quite clear on your previous call that you have no interest in working here."
"I swear to you, this is my first and only phone call. I only … just now, opened the letter from Mrs. Adams."
"I don't know what kind of game you are playing Ms. Tanner, but the Bayview Veterinarian Clinic has no interest in hiring you. Good day!" The line went dead in Stephanie's ear.
Tears prickled Stephanie's eyes as she replaced the receiver. She had no idea what had just happened. Taking a deep breath, and not giving up, she consulted the next name on her list. Two minutes later she was rejected again – and twice more after that.
Stephanie angrily threw the list on her bed – the answer now clear – Regina Powell had struck again! What made it even scarier was the fact that Regina had evidently visited the Tanner mailbox a second time, as the letter from Mrs. Adams hadn't arrived with Saturday's post; it had arrived today. Stephanie was so upset she couldn't stop trembling. If being investigated, and suspended by the school, and questioned by police didn't stop Regina from pursuing her – what would!