Elizabeth Sherwood was scared, sacred like she’d never been before. Having felt someone had been following her, receiving nuisance phone calls and getting a threatening letter she’d called the police. Two officers had come out to visit her at her apartment. They’d taken a statement and asked all sorts of questions as to why someone might want to hurt her. They’d also taken the letter she received to check it forensically to see if it offered any clues to the identity of the sender.

Elizabeth didn’t feel she had been very much help to the police as she had no clue of the identity of the person terrorising her. They’d asked questions about people she might have fallen out with or had feuds with, in the past. They’d asked about previous relationships and if they had ended badly but Elizabeth couldn’t think of anyone. Apart from now being a celebrity her life had always seemed pretty simple, with no unnecessary drama.

The police had asked about her recent book tour and if she’d met any strange people. Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh at that question. Yes there’d been a few like the scruffy teenager at her last two signings but she didn’t know any of these people by name and no one who could have a possible grudge against her.

It had been an hour since the police had left and Elizabeth had sat on the sofa in silence the whole time wracking her brains to try and think of anyone who might want to hurt her. Her fan Jeffrey kept coming into her mind and she kept dismissing the idea and chastising herself for thinking such thoughts. She had no evidence or reason to think it was Jeffrey apart from deep down she did find it odd that a grown man would become so obsessed with a book and its author, that they would follow them around the county. It may not be the norm but it was also harmless and didn’t warrant making them a suspect in a police investigation so Elizabeth had decided not to mention Jeffrey to the police officers.

Elizabeth’s attention is once more caught by the photo of her Mother which had been turned to face the wall. She gets up and walks over to the dresser and picks up the photo. After looking at the picture for a moment she returns it to the dresser so it faces the right way. A thought strikes her that maybe someone has been in her apartment. Her body goes cold with the thought of a stranger going through her things. She looks around the lounge to see if anything else is out of place but can’t see anything. She moves to the bedroom, opens the door and turns on the light. To her horror she can see that draws are half open and some of her clothes are scattered on the floor. It is now obvious that someone else has been in her apartment and gone through her things.

Elizabeth feels nauseous with the thought of a stranger violating her home and touching her things. Suddenly there is a loud banging on her front door which makes her jump. Nervously she calls out: “Who is it?”

The familiar voice of Lydia calls back: “It’s me Elizabeth and David is with me.”

Elizabeth makes her way to the front door, unlocks and opens it to greet her friends.

Lydia wraps her arms around Elizabeth to give her a comforting hug: “Are you okay?”

Elizabeth nods slowly: “I’m a little shook up but I’m okay. I’ve just discovered that someone has been in my apartment. They’ve moved things around, gone through my draws in the bedroom and left things all over the floor.”

Lydia is horrified: “That’s terrible, did you tell the police?”

Elizabeth shakes her head: “No, they’d already left before I discovered it!”

David asks: “Who do you think has done this?”

Elizabeth looks at him for a moment before responding: “I have no idea! I’ve been through this with the police and I’ve been thinking about it over and over but I haven’t come up with any answers.”

Lydia exclaims: “Well it has to be someone with a grudge against you...”

Elizabeth interrupts: “I know but Who?”

Lydia ponders for a moment: “What about the guy that murdered David’s grandfather. It was your investigation that got him caught.”

Elizabeth shakes her head: “I mentioned him to the police and they checked but he’s in jail.”

Lydia again ponders the situation for a moment: “What about one of David’s crazy family?”

She looks over at David: “No offence, it’s just the way the characters are in the book, they all seemed a little off the wall!”

David laughs a little: “None taken, I’ve often thought of my family as crazy! Trouble is I don’t see what any of them would have against Elizabeth. All we did was clear each of them of murder and found the real culprit so I don’t see why any of them would have a grudge against Elizabeth.”

Lydia sighs and then exclaims frustratedly: “Well it’s got to be someone?.... What about that crazy guy at the book signing, your so called number one fan?”

Elizabeth shakes her head: “I’ve thought about Jeffrey but why would he have a grudge against me? The note said I’d ruined their life and I’d pay with my own life. How could I have possibly ruined Jeffrey’s life?”

Lydia shrugs her shoulders: “I don’t know maybe he’s just crazy and doesn’t need a logical explanation....”

Elizabeth interrupts: “Lydia you’re clutching at straws we can’t just blame someone because they are a little obsessed about my book.”

They are interrupted by a knock at the door. Elizabeth calls out: “Who is it?”

But there is no answer. The three friends exchange concerned looks. David slowly moves to the door and looks out the spy hole, but the corridor is empty. David opens the door.

Lydia calls out nervously: “Wait David he may still be out there!”

David notices the elevator doors at the end of the corridor closing and he runs along the corridor to try and get to the doors to stop them from closing but he’s too late.

Elizabeth and Lydia stand in the doorway watching helplessly.

David returns to the apartment and notices something behind them on the door: “What’s that on the door?”

Elizabeth and Lydia turn round to see a red rose fixed to the door knocker.

Elizabeth grabs the flower and puts her head in her other hand and mutters: “Another rose. Jeffrey told me today that whenever I saw a rose that I should think of him. Oh God, why is he doing this?”

Lydia snaps: “I knew it! I knew it was that crazy psycho. Quick Elizabeth, call the police and get them to pick him up.”

Elizabeth isn’t sure: “Wait, what if it’s not him? What if this is a coincidence? Why would he tell me to think of him when I see roses and then make anonymous nuisance calls and send threatening letters? It’s almost too obvious.”

Lydia becomes frustrated: “Let the police handle it. Who knows how these crazy people think!”

David interrupts: “Why don’t we go and talk to him face to face, confront him and see what he has to say?”

Lydia snaps: “David! Are you crazy too? This guy could be dangerous; you don’t know what he might do. He could have a gun or anything and take you both as hostages. The only rational thing to do is tell the police and let them deal with it. They are trained to deal with this kind of situation, besides they have guns!”

David announces calmly: “I have a gun too at home!”

Lydia is appalled: “What you have a gun? What is this country coming to?”

David explains: “Well after the experience with my family I thought it better to be safe than sorry.”

Lydia shakes her head angrily: “I can’t believe this. Having a gun doesn’t make you safer it just means someone is going to get shot!”

David quips: “Well as long as it’s not me then I don’t see the problem.”

Lydia scowls at him but Elizabeth interupts, thinking aloud: “Maybe David is right maybe we can talk to Jeffrey?”

Lydia exclaims: “What? Have you lost your mind too? Just because you found out the killer in one murder mystery doesn’t make either of you private investigators! I’m having no part of this I’m calling the police.”

David tries to calm things down: “Look at least let us try and if you’ve not heard back from either of us by midnight then you can call the police. Deal?

Lydia reluctantly agrees: “Okay but I’ll be waiting at home. Elizabeth if you want to stay with me tonight then you’d be very welcome?”

Before Elizabeth can answer David cuts in: “Well I don’t mind staying here and sleep on the sofa, if that makes you feel better?”

Elizabeth nods “Yes that would be nice thank you.”

Lydia hugs her friend goodbye: “Now you two be careful okay? And call me as soon as you’re back.”

Having gotten Jeffrey’s address from Elizabeth’s publishers and stopping off at David’s apartment to collect his gun, Elizabeth and David had been sat outside Jeffrey’s home for over an hour.

Elizabeth signs: "This seemed like a good idea at the time but this is getting us nowhere. What do you expect us to find?”

David shrugs his shoulders: “Clues I guess that will link Jeffrey to what’s been happening to you.”

Elizabeth isn’t convinced: “But how long do you think we’ll have to sit here for?”

David thinks for a moment before answering: “As long as it takes I suppose!”

Elizabeth shakes her head slowly: “But we don’t even know if he’s home. For all we know he could be out somewhere and we are here wasting our time.”

At that moment the door to Jeffrey’s home opens and Jeffrey comes out pushing an old woman in a wheelchair.

David becomes excited: “Quick something’s happening!”

Elizabeth is slightly confused: “Nothing is happening. He’s pushing, presumably his mother in a wheelchair. That’s all that’s happening.”

David is more optimistic: “Well maybe there are on their way to your apartment to drop off another rose or something!”

Elizabeth looks at him and pulls a face: “You think he’s really going to try something with a wheelchair in tow? Surely he’d want to be as quick and unnoticeable as possible? Not have a wheelchair with him to slow him down and make him stand out from the crowd!”

David becomes frustrated: “Well I don’t know do I?”

At that moment Jeffrey starts to head towards their car and David orders: “Quick get down!”

He ducks down below the steering wheel but Elizabeth fails to react and Jeffrey notices Elizabeth sitting in the car and gives her a big smile.

Elizabeth feels awkward and it’s obvious that Jeffrey wants to speak to her so she feels compelled to wind the window down.

Jeffrey asks: “What are you doing around here, you don’t live nearby do you?”

Elizabeth shakes her head: “No, no I’m with my friend David and he lives around here.”

David emerges from his hiding place and tries to act casual: “I’ve found the pen I was looking for. Oh, hello there.”

Jeffrey greets David: “Hello, Elizabeth says you live around here. Which street do you live on?”

David isn’t sure what to say and all eyes turn to look at him expectantly: “Erm, ....well...., I’ve only just moved in so I don’t know the address off by heart yet. Erm I’ve got a terrible memory!”

Jeffrey is puzzled: “But aren’t you an actor? Don’t you have to memorise scripts?”

Again David is put on the spot: “Erm... yeah... I, erm , I am an actor and you know what it’s the craziest thing Scripts I’m fine with I can memorise every word but when it comes to everyday stuff like address I’m useless, aren’t I Elizabeth?”

Elizabeth agrees sarcastic: “Oh yes, you’re quite useless at times!"

David flashes her a dirty look and Elizabeth smiles at him sweetly.

Jeffrey notices the tension between the two: “Well I better get going. I look forward to that next book Elizabeth.”

David smirks at Elizabeth: “Well you might be waiting for quite some time!”

Jeffrey becomes concerned: “Why is that?”

David explains: “Well Elizabeth struggles with getting ideas for her books and hasn’t got anything to work on right now, have you Elizabeth?”

This time Elizabeth scowls at David: “Well not right now but ideas come all the time. So don’t worry Jeffrey there will be a new book out soon!”

Jeffrey smiles with relief: “Okay that’s good to know. Bye, I hope to see you soon.”

They exchange goodbyes and Elizabeth winds the window back up: “Well that went well! Anymore bright ideas? It’s obvious Jeffrey isn’t the one trying to terrorise me, he doesn’t even know where I live. Plus you heard him he’s looking forward to my next book so he’s hardly on the verge of trying to kill me. Can you take me home please? ”

David sighs as he starts the car: “So we’re back to square one. I wonder what the killer’s next move is going to be?”

Elizabeth glares at him: “Can we not refer to this person as a killer! It’s unnerving enough without being reminded that some mad man wants to kill me.”

David apologises and they return to Elizabeth’s apartment.

Later that evening after Elizabeth has phoned Lydia to let her know how the evening’s surveillance has gone, she makes up a bed for David on the sofa.

David motions to his gun: “Don’t worry nothings getting past this tonight!”

Elizabeth gives a weak smile, feeling uncomfortable about having a gun in her apartment. She bids him goodnight and makes her way into her bedroom. With everything that’s been going on she hadn’t yet tidied away the clothes that the intruder had left on the floor. Slowly she bends down to pick them up. She feels violated that someone had gone through her personal belongings. Nothing appeared to be missing so Elizabeth didn’t understand why someone would just want to mess things up. She guesses that it was just to scare her and make sure she realised that the person had been in her apartment. She wonders how they got in as the locks hadn’t been forced. Somehow the person must have a key. The thought scares her and she decides she’ll change the locks first thing in the morning just to be on the safe side.

At that moment something gold and shinny catches her eye on the floor, half sticking out from under the bed. She reaches down to pick it up and discovers it’s a man’s gold watch. Turning the watch over she sees an inscription: “D.R. let’s spend more time together Dad.”

Suddenly she realises that it’s David’s missing watch. She wonders aloud: “How on earth did it get into my bedroom?”

She knew David had never been into her bedroom before. Then her mind starts to race, well he’d not been in there when she’d been at home. He would however have had lots of opportunities to access and copy her apartment keys though and maybe he’d been to her flat when she was out.

Suddenly a wave of fear sweeps over her as she realises that David must be her intruder! David her so called friend had instigated a campaign of terror on her and done it so well that he was currently in her living room, which would block her access out of the flat. Not only in her living room but also in possession of a gun! Elizabeth starts to panic, scared as to what David might be capable of doing to her.

To Be Continued......

Part 4