It had been three weeks since the chaos had begun. She was glad to be back at her apartment even if the idea of that creep knowing where she lived freaked her out. Notes kept getting delivered every three days at her building or at AWN, each one more disturbing. She had found flowers in her office one morning and, two nights ago, she had begun receiving strange phone calls at her landline. The police was still investigating but they hadn't found a thing: that guy was a master at covering his tracks.
She tried to mask her worry at work, keeping her mind focused on what she was doing and forgetting, even if it was only for a few hours, about the creep that was trying to make her life hell. She knew everyone was a little concerned about her strange behavior: she wouldn't win an Oscar for a wonderful performance but she had managed to convince them that everything was , more or less, all right. Well, almost everyone: Will and Sloan kept asking her what was wrong but she dismissed her questions with a quick I'm fine and a smile.
On Friday, once the show was over, she hurried to her office to gather her things. She tried to leave as fast as she could but she wasn't able to avoid some of her staff. She ran into Tess, Kendra and Gary near the elevators, waiting for the rest of the gang to go have a drink.
"Hey Mac!" Tess stopped her after she had walked past them with a quick Have a great weekend, guys. "Aren't you coming to Hang Chew's?"
"Not tonight, but thank you." Mac replied, smiling. "I'll see you on Monday."
"Bye Mac!" They all said all the same time.
She called the elevator and, while she waited, she took out her Blackberry to pass the time. When the doors opened, she quickly stepped inside. Just when they were closing, an arm stopped them.
"You're in a hurry tonight." Will told her, stepping in along with Lonny. "Hot date?" He said, apparently teasing but a bit jealous, deep down.
"Yeah." Mac replied. "With a hot bath and a big glass of wine."
"Sounds pretty boring." Will said.
"Whiskey and football doesn't sound much better, Billy." She told him, knowing pretty well what he would do once he got home.
Lonny snickered, behind them, and Will turned around to glare at him. "She's right." Lonny said.
"Shut up." Will told him. He turned to look at Mac. "Want a lift home?"
"Oh, no, thank you. I have a car waiting downstairs." Mac answered.
"Since when do you use the car service?" Will asked her, confused. She had always refused to use it, saying she liked to walk home or that she could always call a cab.
"Oh, I only use it sometimes." She lied after realizing she didn't have a better excuse.
The elevator reached its destination, preventing Will of continue with his questioning. They got out and walked outside. Will and Lonny escorted her to the waiting car.
"Have a good weekend." Will told her, holding the car's door open for her to get in.
"You too." Mac replied, smiling kindly. "Bye Lonny."
"Bye Ms. McHale."
Will closed the door and, once the car was on its way, she released the breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
When, very early Saturday morning, Sloan had called and had invited her to lunch, Mac felt she couldn't say no. She had been neglecting her best friend the past few weeks and, even if she hadn't been really in the mood to go out, Sloan always managed to bright her days with her talking about her economics nonsense and her dating disasters. Besides, truth be told, a morning of shopping with her friend would certainly cheer her up.
They met in front of Barneys at Maddison Avenue and proceeded to spend their well-earned money. Two hours later, each woman was holding two bags in each hand while they walked into the restaurant to have lunch. They were laughing and having a great time, something than Mac needed more than she would care to admit. They ordered a bottle of wine while they waited for their lunch to be served.
After draining the first glass, Sloan knew it was time to disclose the truth behind that lunch invitation. "Kenzie, what is going on with you?" She directly asked her friend, concerned.
"Way to kill the mood, Sloan." Mac muttered.
"You've been telling me you're fine for the past two weeks but you are not. I might not be the best in human relationships but I can tell when my best friend is going through something while trying to keep it from me." Sloan said, making sure to sound more hurt and disappointed than she really was. Mac looked down at her wine glass, avoiding eye contact with her friend, knowing that she wouldn't be able to hold it together if Sloan gave her the sad-puppy-eyed look she did so well. "Spill it." Sloan urged her.
"Do we really have to do this now?" Mac asked without raising her eyes.
"Don't you trust me?" Sloan replied.
Mackenzie's head went quickly up to look at her friend. "Of course I trust you!" She told her, slightly hurt by her words.
"Then?" Sloan continued pressing her for information.
"I don't want to bother any more people." Mac said, leaning back on her chair and taking a deep breath.
"That's what friends are for." Sloan assured her. "To help each other." She reminded her.
"Alright." Mac say, resigned. She grabbed the wine bottle and poured some of the dark liquid into their glasses before she began explaining what had been going on in her life. "What I'm about to say stays between us, ok?"
"Pinky swear." Sloan teased her, raising her right pinky finger. Amused, Mac entwined her finger with Sloan's before they both bursted out laughing. "Tell me." Sloan told her once they both had calmed down.
"Three weeks ago, I came home to find that my flat had been broken into. Whoever did it, spent his time trashing my living-room and going through my drawers. He took an old picture and left a note. He's been sending me notes, both at home and at work, he sent flowers twice and I've been receiving strange phone calls for the last few days." Mac paused to take a deep breath while Sloan sat there, her mouth hanging open, too astonished to say anything. "NYPD is investigating this, along with AWN Security, but they haven't been able to find anything yet. They think it's related to the American Taliban broadcast but, lately, the notes have become more personal towards me, not my work. They think he might be becoming obsessed with me."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Sloan muttered. "You've been going through all this alone?" She asked, outraged.
"Charlie knows." Mac quickly told her friend.
"Still!" Sloan exclaimed, attracting a few looks from the people around them.
"I'm fine. I spent a few nights at The Plaza while my door was being replaced and my flat was being cleaned up. I have a car picking me up at home every morning and driving me back every night. Security has been increased both at AWN and at my building."
"You went back to your place? Are you nuts?" Sloan told her, trying very hard not to scream at her and making a scene in the restaurant.
"I need to keep control of my life, Sloan, I can't let that creep take that away from me. I know it's not the most sensible decision but I'm being extra careful, ok? Don't worry."
"You could stay with me." She sincerely offered.
"Thank you." Mac told her, grateful. She extended her arm to grab her friend's hand and gently squeezed it. "Charlie's already offered. It wouldn't matter."
"Didn't they offer you protection?" Sloan asked her.
"I refused it." Mac simply said.
"Kenzie!" She exclaimed out loud. Mac hushed her, urging her to keep her voice down. "Sorry."
The waiter brought their lunch, an opportunity Mackenzie took to change the subject of their conversation. Sloan reluctantly complied.
They were finishing their coffees when Mackenzie's Blackberry beeped, alerting her she had a new email. She grabbed her bag and took out her phone to check it. When she saw the email, her face went pale. Sloan noticed it and carefully touched her friend's arm to gain her attention.
"What's wrong?" She asked Mac. Instead of answering, Mac handed her the phone. Sloan took it and looked at the picture on the screen. "Mac?" She asked again, confused and beginning to feel a bit scared.
"He's here." Mac said, confirming Sloan's suspicions. "Oh my God!" Mac whispered while looking around the room searching for someone who looked suspicious.
"Calm down, ok?" Sloan told her, grabbing her hand. "Take a deep breath through your nose and slowly release it through your mouth." Mac followed her directions, trying to stay calm. "Is there someone we can call?"
"Detective Johnson. I have his number saved."
Sloan made the call and explained their situation. Detective Johnson told Sloan to stay there, he would come to get them. While they waited, Sloan paid the check and moved her chair to sit as close to Mac as possible. Mac grabbed her hand and didn't let it go the entire time they waited.
At the police precinct, while Mackenzie talked to Detective Johnson, Sloan quietly called Charlie to make him aware of the recent situation. Charlie called Lonny who, just as Mac was leaving the office where she had been, appeared into the squad room.
"Lonny?" Mac called him. "What are you doing here?"
"Mr. Skinner asked me to escort you to AWM."
Mac turned around to look at Sloan, a murderous look on her face, while her friend raised her eyebrows at her, daring Mac to say something. Ignoring them, Lonny walked past them to talk to the Detective.
Mac approached Sloan and took her bags from Sloan's hands. "Why did you tell Charlie?" She angrily whispered.
"Because this is serious and he had to know." Sloan quietly replied. "I understand that you're pissed but you're being stubborn. This guy is stalking you, Kenzie."
"I know, ok? I know." Mac told her, slightly defeated, admitting Sloan was right.
"Ready?" Lonny asked them, once his conversation with Detective Johnson was over.
"Let's go." Sloan said, grabbing Mac's arm.
"Why do I feel like being escorted to the principal's office?" Mac thought, out loud, after stepping out of the elevator at the executive floor of the AWN building.
"Have you ever been sent to the principal's office?" Sloan asked her.
"Once, on my senior year. I sneaked out of class to smoke with one of the hot guys of the football team." Mac explained, grinning at the memory of that day. "My parents were pissed as hell."
Lonny knocked on Charlie's door before opening it, letting the ladies enter before he got inside behind them and closed the door.
"Had a good day of shopping?" Charlie said, trying to lighten the mood beforehand.
"Very funny." Mac told him while she sat down. Sloan mimicked her actions while Lonny remained standing, just behind them.
"What did they tell you?" He asked, getting to the point.
"Nothing useful." Mac quickly replied before Lonny or Sloan could. "They're still investigating. They'll check the security cameras and tell us if they find something."
"Detective Johnson strongly suggested Ms. McHale to get protection." Lonny told Charlie.
"He did?" Charlie and Sloan asked at the same time, looking directly at her.
Mackenzie leant back on her chair and sighed deeply. "Are you ganging up on me?"
"Yes!" Sloan exclaimed. "Maybe, this way, we'll be able to knock some sense into you!"
Mac got up from her chair and walked to the windows in Charlie's office. She turned her back at them, staring at the busy streets of New York, while they looked at her, concerned. A few minutes went by, in silence, until Charlie softly spoke.
"Could you give us the room, please?"
Without saying a word, Sloan and Lonny stepped out and left them alone. Charlie got up and quietly approached her. Mac felt his presence next to her but continued with her eyes staring at window. Charlie noticed she was tense, her arms tightly crossed over her chest, her right foot constantly tapping the floor. He knew her façade was about to crack, he knew she was scared even if she didn't want anyone to know.
"You're a strong woman, Mackenzie." Charlie began. "You're an intelligent, amazing, brave and, I repeat, strong woman who's facing a difficult situation and needs some help. You won't be less strong, less amazing or less brave if you acknowledge that you need it. Yet, you'll be slightly less intelligent if you don't." He teased her a bit. "I understand your reluctance, I do, but nobody will think less of you for accepting protection, Mackenzie."
"I know." Mac softly said.
"Then?"
Mac turned to look at him, letting her arms fall at her sides, defeated. "Alright, you win, I'll get the damn bodyguard, but under one condition."
"Name it."
"I don't want anyone to know." Mac told him, even if it was pretty clear who she wanted to keep on the dark.
"You'll have to tell him someday, Mac. He's gonna notice the man following you around." Charlie said, trying to make her understand the situation.
"He won't, Charlie. Whoever you get to follow me like a goddamn puppy will leave and pick me up downstairs, at the lobby, not at the newsroom. If you agree to that, I'll agree to whatever demands you have about my protection. Deal?" She firmly told him.
"Deal."
They spent another hour at Charlie's office, working out the details of Mackenzie's protection with Lonny and AWN Security. When they finally left Charlie's office, Mac was exhausted and only wanted to get home. They got into the elevator and Sloan immediately pressed the button for the News Night floor. Mac looked at her, curious about why, and Sloan quickly explained.
"I need something from my office."
They rode down in silence. Once in their floor, Lonny and Mac waited by the elevator while Sloan went to her office. It only took her a couple of minutes. She reappeared with a gym bag hanging on her shoulder. Mac raised her eyebrows at her friend, smiling.
"Are you going to the gym?" Mac mocked her.
"No, I'm staying with you. These are the spare clothes I keep in my office."
Mac stared at her, her look a mix between gratefulness and annoyance. "You don't have to. I'll be fine."
"I don't care." Sloan told her, stepping inside the elevator once again. "Do it for me, I'll feel better knowing you're not alone."
"Ok." Mac simply replied.
"You don't have to sound so resigned, Kenzie. It'll be fun!" Sloan cheerfully exclaimed, wanting to cheer her up. "We'll order expensive food, drink good wine and paint each other's nails." She continued, determinately. Lonny snickered, behind them, and Mac laughed out loud at her friends antics. "Wanna come too, Lonny? I think your toenails would look great in red."
Both Lonny and Mac ignored her last comment. Instead, Mackenzie put her arm around Sloan's waist and tugged her closer in a half-hug. "Thank you." She softly told her friend.
"As I said, that's what friends are for."