should mention this to somebody?’ do it. We’re not so busy at the station that we can’t handle the calls. In fact, we want them. Citizens are our best sources for crime prevention. In town alone, we have several thousand citizens and only a few police officers. And by things, I mean suspicious vehicles, persons, or something out of place. Just call it in, and we’ll check it out. Then you won’t have to wonder anymore.”
He looked around to see if there were any questions. No one raised a hand. “Now more specifically, I believe Anna’s letter explained the current situation next door with Isaac and Sarah.” He drew a long breath and pulled his lips in tightly, figuring on how best to proceed. “When the intruder broke into their home, it was the middle of the night. The abduction in Kansas—admittedly done by the same man—happened in the late afternoon. A little girl was taken in broad daylight. According to the letter he sent, there are implications that he may come back this way. That threat could be empty, or it could be true. It might be never, but it might also be tomorrow, next week, or next year. Please know I don’t tell you this to suggest that he will, but to make you aware of the possibility. Reaching out like that is a serious action. Hopefully, he will be caught sooner rather than later. In the meantime, we need to keep a watch out, and it’s up to you to help make this neighborhood safe.”
Isaac held Sarah’s hand. This was what a small town is all about, and despite the uncomfortable topic, he knew it was the best thing that could happen, especially for Josie.
“You all know the ins and outs around here. You know each other’s cars, vehicles that visit frequently and park on the street, and who walks around the streets. If someone you don’t know or have never seen is prowling around, give us a call. If they belong, they won’t mind a few questions from us. If you see a company car or any company vehicle that is unusual or has an unfamiliar logo, give us a call.”
Isaac was impressed with the way Charlie presented the material. He didn’t see this side of him often. It was direct and straightforward. Through his chubby appearance and good-ol-boy façade, there was a professional. By the looks on the guests’ faces, they too were surprised. They didn’t know him like Isaac, but opinions were opinions. Charlie was not a washed-up city cop who couldn’t hack it. He simply wanted a different lifestyle, and that was why he returned to the scenic mountain village.
When it was over, Josie came down from playing with Jason. Her facial expression was one of pure exasperation. That was how everyone felt after an hour with the energetic little boy.
Outside on the lawn, the day was bright. It was the first time in a while that Isaac felt productive. Like any road to recovery, though, two steps forward eventually means one step back.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A double vision of wavy blonde hair, fair, smooth complexions, and deep green eyes seductively stared at Ricky in his daydream. He smiled, and his cheek twitched. The world was perfect, the best he could imagine.
“Caroline … Josie,” he whispered. A false anticipation of events heightened his demented, mental stimulation.
He was in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, waiting for nine-year-old Lindsay Watson to finish her music lesson. When she was through—just like every other Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—she walked to the corner, turned off the main street, and made the one block trek home. She lived less than two hundred yards behind the historic row of main street offices where she took violin lessons.
The streets in Shepherdstown are classic, old-town style and have no end to their charm. Since the late 1700s, business fronts have lined the sidewalks where pedestrians and cyclists move about. The atmosphere is friendly, college liberal, and eclectic. An artsy, quaint atmosphere is ideal for all walks of life, and Ricky relished
He looked around to see if there were any questions. No one raised a hand. “Now more specifically, I believe Anna’s letter explained the current situation next door with Isaac and Sarah.” He drew a long breath and pulled his lips in tightly, figuring on how best to proceed. “When the intruder broke into their home, it was the middle of the night. The abduction in Kansas—admittedly done by the same man—happened in the late afternoon. A little girl was taken in broad daylight. According to the letter he sent, there are implications that he may come back this way. That threat could be empty, or it could be true. It might be never, but it might also be tomorrow, next week, or next year. Please know I don’t tell you this to suggest that he will, but to make you aware of the possibility. Reaching out like that is a serious action. Hopefully, he will be caught sooner rather than later. In the meantime, we need to keep a watch out, and it’s up to you to help make this neighborhood safe.”
Isaac held Sarah’s hand. This was what a small town is all about, and despite the uncomfortable topic, he knew it was the best thing that could happen, especially for Josie.
“You all know the ins and outs around here. You know each other’s cars, vehicles that visit frequently and park on the street, and who walks around the streets. If someone you don’t know or have never seen is prowling around, give us a call. If they belong, they won’t mind a few questions from us. If you see a company car or any company vehicle that is unusual or has an unfamiliar logo, give us a call.”
Isaac was impressed with the way Charlie presented the material. He didn’t see this side of him often. It was direct and straightforward. Through his chubby appearance and good-ol-boy façade, there was a professional. By the looks on the guests’ faces, they too were surprised. They didn’t know him like Isaac, but opinions were opinions. Charlie was not a washed-up city cop who couldn’t hack it. He simply wanted a different lifestyle, and that was why he returned to the scenic mountain village.
When it was over, Josie came down from playing with Jason. Her facial expression was one of pure exasperation. That was how everyone felt after an hour with the energetic little boy.
Outside on the lawn, the day was bright. It was the first time in a while that Isaac felt productive. Like any road to recovery, though, two steps forward eventually means one step back.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A double vision of wavy blonde hair, fair, smooth complexions, and deep green eyes seductively stared at Ricky in his daydream. He smiled, and his cheek twitched. The world was perfect, the best he could imagine.
“Caroline … Josie,” he whispered. A false anticipation of events heightened his demented, mental stimulation.
He was in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, waiting for nine-year-old Lindsay Watson to finish her music lesson. When she was through—just like every other Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—she walked to the corner, turned off the main street, and made the one block trek home. She lived less than two hundred yards behind the historic row of main street offices where she took violin lessons.
The streets in Shepherdstown are classic, old-town style and have no end to their charm. Since the late 1700s, business fronts have lined the sidewalks where pedestrians and cyclists move about. The atmosphere is friendly, college liberal, and eclectic. An artsy, quaint atmosphere is ideal for all walks of life, and Ricky relished
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