insisted it wasn’t his and left.
I’d never forget that day. It was like Christmas and my birthday with the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy coming to visit.
Of course the fear that he’d return haunted us for a while. That prompted Mom’s “ protect the baby and don’t tell her anything about the time before she was born ” rule. My gut said this stalking could be our father looking for money or trying to blackmail his successful daughter. But if Dad entered California I’d have been notified.
Pulling out of the studio lot, I needed to talk to Danny and see how he reacted first. He wasn’t completely stupid, but he was the jealous type. If Sonia thought he cheated he probably had. His ego bruised easily and there was no doubt in my mind he wanted to get back at her. Cheating was his revenge for her career triumph. The odds of him being the stalker were better than average.
Plugging the address into my old GPS unit, I wanted my cell phone free just in case. Not a technophobe, I still didn’t need to juggle devices while driving. I let it bring up the map while I made my way to the freeway. I had a great sense of direction from moving around so much. Still, I couldn’t afford to be distracted hunting down an address with a stalker on the loose. I focused on the task at hand. None of the threats had been violent or direct. So far.
According to my sister’s divorce lawyer Danny had rented a home in Santa Monica. The GPS guided me and I parked on the street. The single floor dwelling looked modest for the area. Danny, now out of a job, didn’t have much money apparently. He’d asked for alimony as part of the divorce, but Sonia’s lawyer wasn’t worried. Probably a ploy to ask for something in return. Danny had earned money modeling and acting before the marriage and I knew he wouldn’t starve. But a better settlement certainly was motivation for him to intimidate her.
His bright yellow Hummer sat in the driveway. I walked around the outside of the house discretely. The strategic shrubs and palm trees gave me plenty of cover from the neighbors and everything seemed quiet and ordinary. Rounding back to the front door, I rang the bell.
“Coming,” Danny shouted from inside.
I smiled so I made a good impression when he opened the door. I’d known him for years and while he wasn’t the best actor or the smartest guy, I’d never questioned my sister’s safety with him. If he was the stalker I’d bet it was all about money and the divorce. He didn’t really want to hurt her. If that was the case then I’d beat him senseless and dump him in Area 51 I had an ex-boyfriend there too. I’d dated around during my eight years of single adulthood.
The door swung open and Danny’s face froze. “I thought you were the pizza.”
“Nope, just popping in to say hi.” I stepped inside. “Can I come in?”
He stepped back. “Didn’t know you were in town. You know Sonia and I—”
“I know about the divorce. Sorry things didn’t work out.” I scanned the living room. Brown leather couches, all functional and manly. “Nice place.”
“That’s why you’re here?” He frowned. “My agent got me this place as a rental. Her husband bought and rehabbed a bunch of homes when the market tanked. Better for my image than some crap apartment.”
The former model didn’t have a line on his face. Sonia told me he’d had a little work done around the eyes. Women getting some nips and tucks didn’t seem nearly as weird as men having Botox parties. In Chicago men watched sports and drank beer...caring about their looks generally stopped at avoiding pot bellies and baldness. Todd was a real hottie there. My sister’s taste in men was different. Danny was pretty and pure Hollywood.
“I’m here for my sister.” I walked back toward the kitchen and saw pretty flowered towels and a pink centerpiece on the wooden table.
“She wants me to back off? This is a divorce, lawyers negotiate. She can’t send in
I’d never forget that day. It was like Christmas and my birthday with the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy coming to visit.
Of course the fear that he’d return haunted us for a while. That prompted Mom’s “ protect the baby and don’t tell her anything about the time before she was born ” rule. My gut said this stalking could be our father looking for money or trying to blackmail his successful daughter. But if Dad entered California I’d have been notified.
Pulling out of the studio lot, I needed to talk to Danny and see how he reacted first. He wasn’t completely stupid, but he was the jealous type. If Sonia thought he cheated he probably had. His ego bruised easily and there was no doubt in my mind he wanted to get back at her. Cheating was his revenge for her career triumph. The odds of him being the stalker were better than average.
Plugging the address into my old GPS unit, I wanted my cell phone free just in case. Not a technophobe, I still didn’t need to juggle devices while driving. I let it bring up the map while I made my way to the freeway. I had a great sense of direction from moving around so much. Still, I couldn’t afford to be distracted hunting down an address with a stalker on the loose. I focused on the task at hand. None of the threats had been violent or direct. So far.
According to my sister’s divorce lawyer Danny had rented a home in Santa Monica. The GPS guided me and I parked on the street. The single floor dwelling looked modest for the area. Danny, now out of a job, didn’t have much money apparently. He’d asked for alimony as part of the divorce, but Sonia’s lawyer wasn’t worried. Probably a ploy to ask for something in return. Danny had earned money modeling and acting before the marriage and I knew he wouldn’t starve. But a better settlement certainly was motivation for him to intimidate her.
His bright yellow Hummer sat in the driveway. I walked around the outside of the house discretely. The strategic shrubs and palm trees gave me plenty of cover from the neighbors and everything seemed quiet and ordinary. Rounding back to the front door, I rang the bell.
“Coming,” Danny shouted from inside.
I smiled so I made a good impression when he opened the door. I’d known him for years and while he wasn’t the best actor or the smartest guy, I’d never questioned my sister’s safety with him. If he was the stalker I’d bet it was all about money and the divorce. He didn’t really want to hurt her. If that was the case then I’d beat him senseless and dump him in Area 51 I had an ex-boyfriend there too. I’d dated around during my eight years of single adulthood.
The door swung open and Danny’s face froze. “I thought you were the pizza.”
“Nope, just popping in to say hi.” I stepped inside. “Can I come in?”
He stepped back. “Didn’t know you were in town. You know Sonia and I—”
“I know about the divorce. Sorry things didn’t work out.” I scanned the living room. Brown leather couches, all functional and manly. “Nice place.”
“That’s why you’re here?” He frowned. “My agent got me this place as a rental. Her husband bought and rehabbed a bunch of homes when the market tanked. Better for my image than some crap apartment.”
The former model didn’t have a line on his face. Sonia told me he’d had a little work done around the eyes. Women getting some nips and tucks didn’t seem nearly as weird as men having Botox parties. In Chicago men watched sports and drank beer...caring about their looks generally stopped at avoiding pot bellies and baldness. Todd was a real hottie there. My sister’s taste in men was different. Danny was pretty and pure Hollywood.
“I’m here for my sister.” I walked back toward the kitchen and saw pretty flowered towels and a pink centerpiece on the wooden table.
“She wants me to back off? This is a divorce, lawyers negotiate. She can’t send in
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