Page 64 of Midnight Mooring

I pulled open the side table drawer to pop it in there for him and paused at the folded-up pieces of paper littered inside. What gave me pause was the half-open letter on top with the same handwriting on it as the envelope in my hand. I’m afraid to say, my curiosity then got the better of me.

I dropped his post on top of the sideboard and tentatively pulled out the half-open note first. The misspelled creepy love letter sent my heart racing, and I gave up all sense of moral right and wrongness as I took out the others.

Who was sending Forde stalker notes? These were threatening as much as they were filled with longing for him. A virulent sense of possessiveness took hold of me, tightening my throat with indignation even as my heart beat fast with concern for him. I eyed the new envelope, desperate to open it. However, that would be against the law and totally wrong.

Last year, I might have pretended to have never seen the letters while I waited for Forde to confide in me, knowing he wouldn’t, thus perpetuating this cycle of disappointment and frustration between us.

I didn’t want it to be that way anymore.

The man had a cheek lecturing me on letting people help me when he was hiding the fact that someone was harassing him!

Swinging with renewed energy into the living room, I snatched my phone and called him.

It was gratifying how quickly Forde picked up, the sound of machine noise in the background as he answered, “Babe, what’s up?”

“You need to get over here right now.”

There was a moment of hesitation and then, “On my way.” He hung up without another word.

Two minutes later Forde strode into the house and into the living room where I sat with the pile of letters and the new envelope. I noted the dark circles under his eyes and the beard that needed a trim and cursed men for their ability to still look sexy as hell when they were tired while the rest of us looked like shite.

“Want to explain these?” I gestured to the letters.

Forde scowled at the coffee table. “You went through my post?”

“Nope.” I pushed the new envelope toward him. “I was putting your post in your sideboard, and these were laying there.”

“So, you read my private post?”

“I’ll apologize for that after, I promise. But what the hell, Forde! Someone is stalking you! Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

His shoulders slumped as he sat down on the couch opposite me, scrubbing a hand over his face. The bristles of his short beard sounded loud in the tense quiet between us as I waited for an explanation.

“I did tell the police.” He slowly reached out for the new envelope. “They informed me there was little they could do with the current evidence.”

“They could run fingerprints on the damn things.”

“An expense they’re not willing to incur at this point.”

“Are you kidding me? Whoever this person is, they’ve threatened you.”

“The police think it might be someone pranking me.”

I literally flushed hot from head to toe with anger. “And if it was a woman who was receiving these letters? I’m sure it wouldn’t be cast off as some prank.”

Forde raised an eyebrow. “While I appreciate that, I’m also physically stronger than most women, so I’m not going to argue with the police taking a threat against a woman more seriously than me. Also, I’m not sure you’re right about that. How many women have been killed by their stalkers?”

“How are you the feminist in this discussion?” I threw up my hands. “Forde, I’m worried about this. About you.”

His expression softened. “Babe, you’ve got enough on your plate.” He ripped open the envelope and took out the new note. “Let me deal with …” Forde’s eyes moved over the letter, his features hardening. “What the fuck?!”

“What? What does it say?”

Forde blew out a shaky breath, and his expression was anguished as he met my gaze. “I don’t want to show you but …” He pushed up off the couch and came over to the armchair to hand me the letter.

His bristling demeanor put me instantly on edge as I took the page from him.

Deer Forde,