Page 27 of Fractured Fate

“Is there anyone you believe would do this? An ex-boyfriend? Friend who you’re having a disagreement with?”

“No, not really.”

“Think real hard, Miss Walsh. There isn’t a boyfriend who wasn’t happy with the breakup?”

She shuffled her feet, bumping her toes together. “Sir, I’ve only had one boyfriend, and that was in high school when I was seventeen. I haven’t dated anyone since I was a senior in high school, two years ago.”

The deputy tilted her head. “Two years isn’t necessarily a long time for someone with a grudge.”

“Yes, ma’am, I understand. But Shawn and I didn’t break up because of bad blood. He was moving to Arizona for college. We decided it was better to make a clean break. It was mutual, and we’d known each other as friends before that.”

The lieutenant nodded, seemingly satisfied by her response. “Any friends or enemies that would wish to play a prank on you?”

“None that I can think of…” She shook her head. “I’m sure no one like that is doing this. It started when I moved here. I left all my friends back in Rosebrook Valley.”

“No one who you’ve had issues with since your arrival?”

“Other than whoever is doing this, no.”

The deputy crossed her arms. “No one-night-stands gone wrong?”

This woman…

Everything Deputy Burgess said sounded like an accusation.

“I’m not like that. I don’t sleep around.”

The deputy squinted. “Really,” she deadpanned.

“Really,” Charlotte snapped with more bite than she intended. What happened to protect and serve? She wasn’t the criminal. She was the victim here.

The lieutenant cleared his throat, and the deputy turned her attention to him. He shook his head and looked at Charlotte again.

“With no leads on possible suspects to check into, at this point, we can only look for physical evidence.” He leaned to the side of his chair, propping his cheek against his index and middle finger. “We can request the CCTV footage from your building, see if we can catch the delivery person on camera, and follow up with the flower shop to get a name there. We’ll also follow up with your building manager to see if there are any cameras with views of your balcony.” He sat up and jotted a few notes on a legal pad on the desk in front of him. “I’ll have a couple of officers come to your apartment, dust for fingerprints on your balcony—you haven’t been out there and cleaned up the flowerpot, have you?”

Her curls brushed her cheeks as she shook her head hurriedly. “No, sir. I haven’t felt comfortable moving the loveseat from in front of my sliding glass doors.”

“Good, good. Hopefully, we can find something useful there on the door, or perhaps the broken pot.” Setting his pen down, the lieutenant sat back in his plush desk chair, his elbows on each arm. He steepled his fingers. “I can’t promise you anything, but you’ve taken the proper first step by coming in today. We’ll file this and get on checking into these avenues. In the meantime, if anything changes, I want you to contact us.”

“Yes, sir.”

It wasn’t much, but it was more than she could do for herself.

He turned to his computer and began typing. “I’ll contact the business manager today and get that footage. I can send officers now to dust for fingerprints and look for other physical evidence if you have the time.” He glanced over at her.

“I have a meeting with my group members for a school project, but that isn’t until after eight tonight.”

“This shouldn’t take that long.” He looked at his watch. “It’s only ten-thirty. It shouldn’t take all day.”

“Okay.” She shifted in her seat, trying not to make eye contact with the deputy, who eyed her with a sour expression. “I can meet them over there once the next bus comes through.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll have them escort you home. Considering the scope of things, it wouldn’t hurt. I’d like you to avoid sticking to your usual routes. Whoever this person is likely knows of your schedule and routine. In similar cases, the predictability of your day-to-day life can be the draw for these types of people.”

She frowned. This reminded her of all the things she read online when she researched how to deal with a suspected stalker.

Make sure you don’t wear clothes that are too appealing. Never wear a ponytail at night. Carry your keys when going to your car. Don’t stay out after dark alone. Stay in a group. Never walk to your car at night alone.

Now, don’t have any kind of routine or structure in your life or you’re inviting unwanted attention. Do better. Know better. Act better. Society always held women responsible, regardless of their actions.