Название: Anonymous
Автор: Dani-Lyn Alexander
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
isbn: 9780007588701
isbn:
He sat down and signed on to Anonymous. This was stupid. What was he looking for anyway? Did he really think he could find true love on a computer, from a bunch of women he couldn’t even look at? Still, he checked, as he had every night for the past few months. He joined Anonymous on a whim, not really expecting anything much, but every day he signed in hoping to find the one woman who’d be compatible with him.
The number two popped up in the new files box, and his heart soared a little. He clicked on the first file. Karen was looking for fun. She liked sports, cars, hanging out in bars and drinking beer. Delete.
Joe wanted a relationship. All of the women he’d dated lately had just been looking for a good time. Funny, he’d wanted the same thing too, not so long ago, had even given up his marriage to have it. Now he just wanted to settle down, have someone to come home to, someone to share his life with. So why was he wasting his time on the computer?
He clicked on the second file. Jane enjoyed walking on the beach, long talks and meeting and getting to know new people. Hmm…maybe. If nothing else, it’d be nice to have someone to talk to, an escape from reality. He hit respond and typed: Hi, Jane. How are you? I’d like to get to know you.
With no clue what else he should write, he hit send and logged off. How had he made such a mess of his life? The ringing of the phone interrupted his thoughts, and he groaned. A phone call at this time of night meant bad news.
“Hello?”
“Can you come over?”
“What’s wrong, Mom? Is Dad all right?” His heart raced. His father’s health was going downhill rapidly.
“He says his chest hurts.”
“I’ll be right there.” He grabbed his keys and ran out the door.
Fear clawed its way up her throat as she reached for the envelope. She wasn’t supposed to open it, but she had to be sure it was from him. At least, she assumed it was a man sending her the death threats. Her hands shook as she pushed the other mail aside in an effort to see the plain, gray envelope. There were no markings, no return address, just her name and address printed in neat block letters in the center of the envelope. The same neat block lettering that had adorned the first three.
Her hands shook so badly, it took three attempts before she was able to dial Detective Sturgis’ number.
“Hello?”
“Ron. It’s me, Ali. I got another one.”
He gave a sharp intake of breath, and a curse followed, as she pulled the afghan from the couch and wrapped it around her shoulders. Her teeth chattered more from fear than cold. She couldn’t sit still, had to keep moving, so she paced back and forth through the apartment. Was he out there? Thankful for the rain probably blocking any view into her apartment, she still avoided the windows.
“I’ll be right there. Don’t touch anything. Stay inside and lock the doors.”
Ali took her first full breath since she’d spotted the envelope. Ron lived about five minutes away. Past experience had taught her he’d look around outside before he came in, but just knowing he was out there comforted her.
Even though she’d been expecting it, the knock on the door still startled her.
“Ali, it’s me.” Ron’s familiar voice propelled her into action.
She opened the door.
“Are you OK?” The older man pulled her into his arms. “It’ll be all right. We’ll find him.” He held her at arm’s length, studying her.
“I’m fine. Thanks for coming, Ron.” The pounding of her heart nearly drowned out his response.
“Ali?” His eyebrows drew together, his concern for her obvious in his expression.
“I’m sorry, Ron. I didn’t hear you.” Ali tried to pull herself together, to concentrate on what he was saying. The last thing she needed was for him to tell Mark she’d fallen apart.
“I said, did you touch anything?”
“No, well, maybe the envelope when I took it from the mailbox. I wasn’t paying attention.” She had originally dismissed the first threat, but since the second envelope had come in, she’d experienced anxiety every time she opened the mailbox. Today, however, she’d been so preoccupied with thoughts of Mark, his Barbie doll girlfriend and self-pity, she hadn’t even thought about it.
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