Stalked. (Closed to marauder13)

OOC

Premise

My latest deviant idea is to write a thread featuring a stalker and his intended victim. I'm looking for a good deal of suspense here, before we get to any money shots. He could be a co-worker or casual acquaintance, maybe someone she gave the brush off before. Rather than just watching her while remaining unobserved, he gets a kick out of intimidating, threatening and terrifying her, while staying one step ahead of the police. He could even attempt to be a shoulder to cry on at the same time... till she gets wise. Her increasing paranoia and the way he affects her day to day life give him a feeling of power and that he is important to her because the victims of stalkers end up almost equally obsessed as they try to keep themselves safe and identify the culprit. He is completely deluded in his fantasy that she is secretly attracted to him and even that she invites/enjoys the attention. When things finally come to a head and he has her at his mercy, the stalker's fantasies come crashing down, which leaves him angry, bitter... and vengeful. He loses all semblance of self control, determined to make her pay, and equally determined to make her his. I'm not sure whether I intend for this to eventually become a slavery thread but there will definitely be a strong, dark, violent non-consent/BDSM theme throughout.

Name: Keira Scott
Age: 25
Appearance: Petite at just over 5ft tall. Black hair, fair skin, green eyes, 32B bust.

http://www.womenshealth.gov/violence/images/stalking.jpg

Biography

Keira had worked hard to get the job she had now. At 18, with both parents dead and buried, a very modest inheritance and nothing under her belt but high school, she had started working at an insurance company in central London as a receptionist. She had worked hard and quickly been promoted through various roles and now at 25, she had recently started work in a new department. She was an investigator for contents insurance claims and often had to step out and visit people who had been burgled or suffered some other catastrophe that had resulted in the loss of their belongings. She enjoyed having something more constructive to do than secretarial work and the open-plan office she worked in had desks for 5 other contents insurance investigators. Keira was already firm friends with Michelle, a beautiful black woman in her thirties who chatted endlessly about her husband and her two teenaged sons. They often went for lunch together, even if it was just as far as the park with their sandwiches.

Keira was single and lived in a one bedroom flat on the second floor of her apartment building. It was a modern, open plan apartment and the living room had two glass walls looking out over the business district of Canary Wharf and the Thames River as it meandered by. There was an underground parking lot where she kept her car and she had a small balcony with a table and two chairs. Her best friend, Rebecca, from school was a lawyer now and lived in a fancier block about 15 minutes walk away. Keira had a habit of starting the day with a run along the river.

Her last relationship had been with a friend of Rebecca's and it had only lasted about six months. Lawyers simply didn't have time for love. Rebecca was seeing a co-worker and it seemed to be going well but she still made time for a drink and a chat with Keira at least once a week in one of the trendy bars that had sprung up in the newly developed area. They often cooked for each other and were always only a call away if either one needed a shoulder to cry on.

OOC

Name: John Smith
Age: 22
Appearance: Anglo, 6'2" tall, solid build, short, wavy brown hair and blue eyes.

Biography

Due to problems he has in social interactions, John Smith has never really been able to get to where he feels is his place in life. He gets a little frustrated by that from time to time, but he is bringing that under control as he learns to focus himself better. When he left school with slightly better than average grades, his social related issues interfered with him getting into University and getting a decent job. Eventually, he was hired by an insurance firm as a Mail Room Clerk.

Due to his size, he has also been called on to do a range of physical tasks, like moving furniture, or getting things from places that shorter staff members can't reach. He does it all without complaint, because he enjoys getting the attention and feeling of being useful. But mostly, the thanks he gets is what is his greatest payoff.

He is a electronics hobbyist , and he wanted to get into university to do Electrical Engineering, but he needed to undergo an interview, and he never got passed that stage. But he can put together electronic devices that are functional, but look rather odd and strange.

He lives in old townhouse that has two bedrooms, one he's turned into an electronics workshop where he tinkers with various projects, and browses the internet. The other thing about the townhouse is that it was owned by some music enthusiasts, and they sound proofed the basement so they could have somewhere to play.

Keira sat in the shade of an oak tree, leaning against its trunk and smiling across at Michelle, who had just finished relating an amusing anecdote about her husband.

"So how was your first week, honey?" Michelle asked, leaning forward conspiratorially as she sipped her latte.

Keira surveyed the park and gathered her thoughts. It was late spring and one of those perfect days that is warm and sunny without being too hot.

"It's been fine." She replied. "I only got lost finding the office on the first day. I was actually on the wrong side of the building, trying to march into underwriting. By the time I realised my mistake I was late for meeting with Mr Lambert. I raced along the corridors but took another wrong turn and then, if you'll believe it, the strap broke on my handbag and all my stuff went flying across the floor. John, the tall guy, he came over and helped me pick things up and I asked him if I was going the right way. He pointed straight at Mr Lambert's office door and I was so grateful that I wasn't still miles away that I pecked him on the cheek. I think I scared the shit out of him though because he's never spoken to me since."

"Oh don't mind him. He's always been a bit... peculiar." Michelle shook her head. "Everyone is nice to him but he just doesn't join in. He likes his own company. You shouldn't take it personally sweetheart."

"Well I did try. I smiled and waved at him for a while but we never got chatting so I just left him be."

"So what did you think of Mr Lambert?" Michelle asked.

"Well that first day was the only time I really spoke to him. He said I had a really good resume and my company record was exemplary and all that. I think he was a little unsure about how I'd cope with moving out of secretarial work but so far I've had no complaints."

Keira checked her watch. "We better get going. I don't want to be late back. If I am, I'm blaming you."

Michelle pulled a face at her and the two women rose and dusted off their skirts. The office building was only a 5 minute walk away but they worked on the 12th floor.

Back at her desk, Keira unlocked her screen and started typing up a report about a burglary. It looked like young junkies had done it because everything they hadn't taken had been vandalised and covered in graffiti. It would be quite a substantial claim. Keira filled her glass at the water cooler and held it to her forehead before kicking off her shoes under her desk and stretching her feet for a moment. With a sigh, she turned back to her computer and started pecking away. It was still only Monday but at least she had a date night with Rebecca to look forward to. Their favourite pasta restaurant was offering two-for-one meals on a Monday night so they were going to meet up that evening. She hadn't seen Rebecca since she started her new job and her friend would want all the details.

John sat at his 'desk', which was a wide shelf in the mail room, parked on a padded stool. He was focused on the letter he was typing.

The last week had been so turbulent for him. The previous Monday, he had been doing his normal mail run when a young woman came running around a corner, and her handbag fell apart, scattering everything over the floor. He paused, and helped to gather the widely scattered items from her handbag. He handed them over to her, and she thanked him, then gave him a kiss on the cheek! By the time he registered what had happened, she was gone to her meeting with Mr Lambert.

He later found out her name was Keira. Well, Keira was the first woman outside of his family to have kissed him. His mother and elder sister, who he knew loved him lots, would kiss him on the cheek as a sign of their love for him.

Keira kissed me. Keira loves me?!? Variants of those thoughts played through his mind for the next week. He knew what people who loved each other did. He used to hear his parents at night when they loved each other. So, obviously, he thought Keira wanted to do the same thing with him.

He was still a virgin, and so he turned to the one source of information he had available to him - the internet. He knew that there was porn out there, but he never got around to looking at it. There were far more interesting things out there. So many fun electronic components, and projects that he could do. He was still proud of his laser microphone. And to think Stevo_1860 had been gloating over his parabolic microphone.

But when he saw what sex was like, he was stunned. His parents did stuff like that? And Keira wanted to as well? He couldn't wait.

He even talked to his mother about it.

"Mum, I think I have met a girl who likes me. A lot."

"That's good dear. Now, remember to be a gentleman, and let her set the pace of how things go. Is she someone special?"

"Oh, yes, Mum. Very special." His face lit up at the thoughts of Keira, the woman who loved him.

"Well, then, you definitely let her decide what happens when. That's what a true gentleman does. And we know what you are, don't we, John?"

"A gentleman. Thanks, mum." He got a kiss on the cheek from her. "I love you, John."

So, he waited. Even when he dropped off mail to Keira, and his heart almost exploded out his chest, he was a gentleman and didn't push her about it. He was a gentleman, and he would let Keira set the pace, no matter how eager he was. John was very eager now he had some idea of what could be done.

He finished his letter, reading it over to make sure that it was right.

Dearest Keira,

I shall forever remember the day you burst into my life like the sun rising in the morning. You banished the cold within me, and made me see a world around me that I didn't know existed. You are the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. I count myself blessed every time I see you.

I eagerly await the chance to show you the depth of my feelings for you and be rewarded with your radiant smile.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life

He printed the letter, folded it neatly and inserted it into an envelope he got from the mail room's stores cupboard, along with a stamp. He ran off a label addressing the letter to the office, attn: Keira Scott. He would drop it off into a postbox on the way home, and she would have it on her desk the next morning.

Keira enjoyed her meal out with Rebecca. They shared a bottle of red wine and ate pasta and garlic bread while chatting about their lives. Rebecca was getting more serious with her guy and there was even talk about them co-habiting but it seemed to be more a convenience thing because they spent so much time at each other's apartments than because their relationship had reached a new level. Keira advised caution and Becca promised to think on it.

"Seeing co-workers is almost always a bad idea anyway." Keira said, slightly tipsy by this point. "Never shit where you eat, isn't that the saying?"

"It'll be fine." Becca asserted, waving her wine glass precariously.

By the next morning, Keira had a bit of a hangover and after snoozing her alarm twice, she chugged some OJ and went out for her run. It was a shorter circuit than usual as she had risen late but she felt more human by the time she got back. A quick shower and some breakfast later, she was rushing down to the underground parking lot.

Her car was her baby, a vintage mini cooper in British racing green with go-faster stripes on the roof and big funky headlights. It was small and slow but in the stop-start traffic of central London, it was efficient and easy to park. It was also highly distinctive. Other mini drivers, vintage Beetle drivers and random kids would beep or wave as she went by. Keira loved her car and kept it well maintained.

She breezed into the office wearing a new suit that she had bought online a few days ago. It was a smokey blue, which was perfect for spring/summer. She had teamed it with a fitted white shirt that was tight over her breasts and unbuttoned to just above her cleavage because the weather was so warm. Strappy leather heels completed her outfit and let her feet breathe. She wore no hose and it was clear to anyone who cared to stare at her ass that she had a thong on beneath her skirt. This was pretty much her summer uniform but it hadn't really been warm enough to dress down so much this year.

Keira settled in at her desk and smiled as the mailguy came round. She took a few letters from him and opened them over a strong black coffee. She pulled a piece of paper from one envelope and unfolded it while sipping her drink. Keira nearly choked on the scalding brew as she read the brief lines of printed text. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

Michelle, ever vigilant for office gossip, leaned forwards from behind her monitor at the opposite desk.

"That's a face and a half. Don't tell me the Jamieson claim's getting even more complicated."

Keira shook her head mutely, still speechless. She read the text over again, her mind reeling. The corners of her mouth started to turn upwards in amusement.

Dearest Keira,

I shall forever remember the day you burst into my life like the sun rising in the morning. You banished the cold within me, and made me see a world around me that I didn't know existed. You are the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen. I count myself blessed every time I see you.

I eagerly await the chance to show you the depth of my feelings for you and be rewarded with your radiant smile.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life

Click to expand...

"Michelle," She began, lowering the letter and meeting her friend's eyes, "who would you say is the love of my life?"

Michelle's jaw dropped and she considered for a moment. Keira was examining the envelope. It wasn't internal mail, it had a local postmark.

"Well I have no idea!" She exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "Is there something you haven't told me?"

"Nope. Check this out." Keira handed over the letter, watching as Michelle read through it. The two women smiled at each other.

"Are you telling me you have no clue who this guy is?" She was incredulous.

"None whatsoever. At least... I hope it's from a guy." Keira took the letter back and read it once more. "This must be some kind of joke. 'Let's wind up the new girl.' Well I'm not playing that game."

She put the letter on a pile destined for the shredder.

John did his normal mail run in the morning, successfully suppressing his smile when the letter was handed over. He casually watched her as she went through the mail. He knew when she found it. Her reaction was perfect. He missed what happened after that because he had mail to deliver in other parts of the office.

Still he was happy for the rest of the day. She loved the letter! So, he sat down at his desk and thought of another one. He thought of complimenting her new outfit, but thought that might be a little too forward.


Dearest Keira,

I wish I had the courage to come before you and speak of the pure joy you bring to me. The knowledge that such a beautiful, desirable woman such as yourself actually exists brings me hope in my times of darkness.

It also lifts my spirit to know that you go out to help people in the time of greatest need. It shows me that you are indeed an Angel in hiding.

But in all ways, my dearest Keira, I shall be the Gentleman to match your Lady. I shall be patient, and attending to your desires as a Gentleman should. You deserve nothing less.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life


John did as he did the previous day, and readied his next letter for Keira. After a few more of those letters, he was certain that she would come and thank him for his kind and thoughtful words. The rest of his day disappeared in the fog of memories of Keira.

The next morning Keira was unconcerned about the mail until she spotted an identical envelope with an identical local postmark. She opened it with a small knot in her belly and was flabbergasted to receive another love note. There was absolutely nothing to indicate who it might be from, which irritated her. Michelle asked if she had had another letter.

"It's the same as before." Keira replied. She read the note aloud in a low tone, her expression thoughtful.

Dearest Keira,

I wish I had the courage to come before you and speak of the pure joy you bring to me. The knowledge that such a beautiful, desirable woman such as yourself actually exists brings me hope in my times of darkness.

It also lifts my spirit to know that you go out to help people in the time of greatest need. It shows me that you are indeed an Angel in hiding.

But in all ways, my dearest Keira, I shall be the Gentleman to match your Lady. I shall be patient, and attending to your desires as a Gentleman should. You deserve nothing less.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life

Click to expand...

Michelle was also a little concerned.

"If this is a prank I'll get to the bottom of it. It's not fair to target you like this."

Keira nodded and once more placed the note on the shredder pile, her expression pensive. Almost immediately, she changed her mind and filed the letter away in her handbag. If this turned out to be more than a practical joke, she might need to keep hold of it.

She shook her head and pushed the letter from her mind, confident that it was some kind of joke. If it wasn't, the guy who had sent it would surely make himself known and then she would know whether to give him the brush off.

John was pleased that he had told Keira how he felt about her. Now, all he needed to do was wait for her to come to him, and thank him. He knew that she loved him, and that she would be pleased that he was being kind and waiting for her.

His electronic projects fell to the wayside as he found out that there were videos of women that looked quiet a lot like Keira in size and body shape at least. He was amazed at what they were doing. He even did a rough check of his own size, and he was pleased to see that he was no bigger than the men who enjoyed the women in the videos. After seeing a selection of such videos, he couldn't wait until he and Keira did some of that.

By Friday, there had been no sign of Keira's appreciation of his letters. His patience was wearing down a little from the videos. So he decided on another letter for Keira.

Dearest Keira,

I know that within you burns a fire as hot as what burns in me. I know this because of how you have shown me your true feelings. I know that when we come together and share ourselves, that I will be able to bring you the joy that you have brought to me.

Please do not be afraid to let me know how you feel. If you ever need me, I will be there for you. To hold you, care for you and love you as you so deserve. I am holding myself back for you, and I shall let no other sully what I am keeping just for you.

You, my darling angel, will be taken to heaven and beyond when we have the time together. I will make you feel so loved and adored that you will never feel alone or unloved ever again.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life

He prepared the letter, exactly in the same manner as the previous two. But he was so caught up thinking about the different ways he and Keira would love each other that he forgot to post it as he went home that Friday night.

But on the way to the gym on Saturday morning, he posted the letter using a different post box. All through the weekend, his thoughts drifted to images in his minds eye where instead of the actors in the videos, it was Keira and him. He knew that Monday would bring about a change from Keira. And he would be ready for it.

By Monday Keira had completely forgotten about the letters. The one she had kept was stuffed in a drawer full of other paperwork and she had deduced that as she hadn't risen to whichever joker had sent them, whoever it was had given up pestering her.

So when yet another letter fell from an envelope that morning, a prickle of genuine unease crept down her spine. This letter had a slightly different, more disturbing tone.

"Within you burns a fire? ... You have shown me your true feelings? ... When we come together and share ourselves? What the hell is this shit? Let no other sully what I am keeping just for you?" Keira looked towards her co-worker but Michelle was engrossed in something on her screen.

"Michelle! You have to see this. I'm starting to wonder what this is really about."

Keira thrust the letter at her friend and examined the envelope. It had been sent from another borough but the location was so near as made little difference. Who would go to the trouble of posting these things from outside work? Had they been sent by someone outside work?

"Oh. This is getting creepy. This is beyond a joke. You should report this Keira."

"And say what? That I have received 3 letters, one of which I don't have any more, from someone who professes to love me? What the hell is a stuffy old git like Mr Lambert going to do about that?" Keira stood up and addressed the 4 guys who shared their open-plan office.

"Hey! Can I have you attention for a moment please? If one of you guys is spineless enough to be sending me creepy letters, just know that the next one I receive is going straight to the police. If this is some kind of joke it stops now. OK?"

The guys looked round at each other, all seemingly equally bewildered. Adam, the eldest of the four, shrugged his shoulders.

"Michelle already gave us the third degree about this. Nobody in this office is sending you letters Keira. I'm sorry."

"OK. Well thanks." She mumbled before sitting down, her face flaming with embarrassment. Adam came over to her desk.

"Why don't you let me take a look, get a guy's perspective." He suggested. Michelle handed over the latest note. He read through it and chuckled. "Wow. This is tragic. 'My darling angel?' Who the hell writes stuff like that?" Adam handed the letter to a male co-worker as they all gathered round to see it.

"Let me put your mind at ease on one thing." He said. "If someone in this office had been writing to you, it would be filth. I don't know anyone who would write shmaltzy crap like that."

By this time the other guys were laughing at the letter, repeating bits aloud for their own amusement. Seeing the guys treat it as a huge giggle calmed the worry in Keira and she shrugged and smiled.

"I know it's stupid but that's the third letter a week." She sighed. "They've all been pretty much the same." The letter was handed back to her and she threw it into a drawer.

"Well if anyone shows up here declaring undying love, we'll drop kick him into next week for you, ok? If you get any more you should consider reporting it though, you never know whether it's a psycho or something."

"They were sent from outside work." Keira admitted. "It may not be from somebody in the company at all."

"Well at least they don't have your home address." Michelle interjected.

Keira nodded and logged on to her email, glad that her 'admirer' didn't appear to know that either. She put some franked mail on the corner of the desk for next time the mail guy came around. Halfway into an email about the letters, Keira had to go to the toilet. She left her screen open with the unfinished email on display. It read: -

Hey Becca,

I got another letter today. This time it said I had 'shown him my true feelings' and that we will 'come together and share ourselves.' I feel like I'm being stupid but I can't stop thinking about it and I don't know what to do. I don't even feel like going down to the park for lunch today. I'm just going to sit here worrying...

Click to expand...

When Keira returned from the toilet, her outgoing mail had been collected and she went back to complete her email without a second thought.

... about whether to report the letters to somebody. They weren't sent internally so I don't know how much good it will do to report them at work. I can't go to a police station and say I've had three random letters, one of which I binned. I feel like I'm over-reacting but at the same time, who is this guy and what does he want?

Sorry to vent at you love. I might call you later.

Keira x

Click to expand...

John had spent the day barely present, mentally. He had been thinking of how Keira reacted to his last letter. Surely that was enough to make her come and see him, and thank him and reward his patience. He couldn't wait to be with her, trying out all those things he saw on those videos he got off the net.

Luckily for him, he had a reminder to gather the outgoing mail, or he would have missed it. He wandered around, looking forward to see Keira, and maybe finding out what she thought. But when he got to her desk, she was gone. He hid his disappointment and gathered the mail from everyone's desks. He got the occasional 'thank you' from everyone. But when he got to Keira's desk, he saw an email in her screen.

Hey Becca,

I got another letter today. This time it said I had 'shown him my true feelings' and that we will 'come together and share ourselves.' I feel like I'm being stupid but I can't stop thinking about it...

Click to expand...

It took all of his self control not to react to that. He had no further need to read the rest. He put all the mail into the trolley, and picked up the rest of the mail very quickly so he could sit at his desk and process what he had read.

I can't stop thinking about it... She was as excited about it as he was! John was thrilled beyond words. She would be coming to see him soon, he knew it. The rest of the day disappeared quickly, his jobs all done quickly and efficiently so he could think about Keira and him together.

He went home, and tidied up his living room, and bedroom, and made sure that he had everything ready for work the next day. He would shower and shave in the morning, both thoroughly and carefully so he would look his best for Keira.


The next day, he was in at work early and got everything ready for the mail run so he would get there with plenty of time for Keira to talk to him about his letters to her.

The mail run started a little earlier than normal, but no one really cared that much. Some people were happier that they got the mail earlier than usual. But he approached Keira's desk, his heart started to pound in anticipation. He dropped off the mail to everyone else first, saving Keira for last. He gave Keira her mail, and lingered just a little, covering it as though he dropped a letter into his trolley, giving her the chance to talk to him.

Kiera wasn't at all happy to see the mail guy that morning. She watched him out the corner of her eye with mounting apprehension as he got closer to her desk. Three letters landed beside her monitor and she snatched up the envelopes to examine them, not even glancing at the guy who had brought them over. Keira quickly saw that one was internal and the other two were in brown envelopes. Her 'admirer' had so far used white envelopes so she breathed a slow sigh of relief. Movement nearby made her look up, hoping to see Michelle but the mail guy was still there, dropping more stuff into his trolley. He glanced over at her.

"I don't have any outgoing yet." She replied tersely, pre-occupied. "You're earlier then usual."

Her phone rang and she grabbed the receiver, clearly in a bad mood.

"Liverpool Victoria Insurance." She snapped. It was Becca, calling from her own office. Keira relaxed visibly. "Oh hi sweetheart. How are you today?"

"I wouldn't normally call," Becca replied. "But your email yesterday worried me a little bit. You had any more letters?"

"No, nothing." Keira replied, trying to sound brighter than she felt.

"Oh good. Well anyway, Phil's going out with the lads tonight and I thought we could have a girl's night in, rent a movie, get some wine, colour our hair. Mine needs doing again so you must have brown roots too. How about you come over for 7? I'll cook."

"It's a date." Keira was genuinely happier now. "I'd absolutely love that. I'll see you at 7 then."

She replaced the receiver, slightly perturbed that the mail guy was still loitering. It wasn't like him to dither. Michelle was still away from her desk, maybe he was waiting for her to get back?

"Um... can I help you?" She asked.

John was confused by her initial reaction to him. She was angry. Maybe he hadn't been good enough with the letters? Maybe he needed more letters? Or maybe something more to show he really cared?

Then the phone rang.

"Liverpool Victoria Insurance." Keira was angry at the person on the other end of the phone too. He had really upset her.

"Oh hi sweetheart. How are you today?"

'Sweetheart? Who is she calling sweetheart?' John continued to look through the trolley while the other person spoke.

"No, nothing." Keira replied, trying to sound brighter than she felt. More was said by the other person, and Keira was relaxing as the conversation went on.

"It's a date." Keira was genuinely happier now. "I'd absolutely love that. I'll see you at 7 then."

John's stomach dropped. She was going on a date with someone else. He found it hard to believe that Keira would do that to him. He had been a gentleman for her, but she was going to see someone else.

"Um... can I help you?"

He almost jumped at the sound of her voice. He looked over at her, his nerves getting the better of him. He smiled weakly, and pulled another letter out of the trolley. "Sorry.. I... dropped it." He handed the plain white envelope to her. There was a label stuck to it addressing it to Keira. Once she took a hold of it, John walked off delivering the rest of the mail.

When he got to his desk, he was at a loss as to what was wrong. He had done what his mother suggested, and been a gentleman. Maybe he needed to show her how much he cared about her.

"That's it!" He whispered to himself. He figured out how he would show her how much he cared for her. He would show her in a way that she would not mistake his level of care for her. He relaxed knowing that he would be having sex with Keira once she saw how far he was willing to go to prove himself to her.

Keira had taken the white envelope from the mail guy as though it might bite her. Once he had scuttled off however, it turned out to be work related. After viciously crushing the empty white envelope into a ball before flinging it across the room into the recycling bin, Keira vowed to put weirdos and their stupid letters out of her mind completely. She put her head down and worked hard, looking forward to her night with Becca.

Keira stopped at a supermarket on her way home from work and picked up a box of hair dye amongst her groceries. Becca was right that they both needed retouching and both girls found they got a more even colour if they did each other's hair rather than struggle to do their own. Becca also picked up a couple of cut price, romcom DVDs. She was switching her mind off this evening and that called for an idiot proof film. Her other important purchase was a good Chianti. Just having the bottle in her shopping basket made her feel more relaxed. She dumped her groceries at home, had a quick shower and changed into teans and a T shirt before pulling a hoodie on and heading over to Becca's. It was a short walk so she left the car at home, enjoying the cool evening air.

Becca was an excellent cook and the two girls had a great time watching DVDs and gossiping about nothing in particular. Keira proposed a toast to friendship and they raised their wine glasses.

"Seriously. How many times have we done this since you started seeing Phil?"

"I don't know." Becca replied. "How many times have I coloured my hair?"

"Oh I get it. I'm just a free hairdresser!"

"Free? You've cost me £15 in groceries and wine, plus a movie rental!"

At about midnight, Keira walked home only slightly unsteadily. She let herself into her apartment and flopped on the sofa, looking around the empty place.

"I think I need a cat." She said, before falling asleep on the couch.

The following Tuesday, John was out running some errands for his manager, as was part of his job specifications. But now he was prepared to show Keira how much he wanted her, and how good he would be for her.

As luck would have it, he saw Keira walking down the other side of the street. Without wasting any time, he took out his slimline camera, and started taking photos of Keira. He took about three before he stopped and started to follow her. He got another one of her looking in a shop window, and two more of her grabbing a coffee before heading back into the building. Happy with his efforts, he went about finishing off his other tasks.

Once back at his desk, he downloaded the photos, cleaned the up a little and printed them out. In addition, he added the following.

Dearest Keira,

I wanted to you to know how much you mean to me. I'm still waiting for you.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life


Again, pillaging office supplies, he made up an envelope for her, and dropped it off in the mailbox on the way home.

When he got home, he started a folder of Keira pictures, keeping a copy of them for his own pleasure. He knew she would like the fact that he was keeping them, enjoying them. A sign of how much he longed for her. He decided that the next morning, he would change his routine just a little and deliver her mail first, then the rest of the team theirs after that. She would of course open his letter first, and he would be there to see how she reacted.

He had some dinner, found a few more videos, one of them with a woman so close to being like Keira that he first thought that it was Keira. What she did with him fired John's imagination to new heights. He went to bed with is mind racing. Keira loved him, he knew that. And when people were in love, they had sex. And they had sex like that! John was now really looking forward to the day Keira came to him.

He slept peacefully that night, and woke up refreshed knowing that today would be the day that Keira would finally understand how good he was for her. How much he cared for her, loved her and wanted to make her feel like the most loved woman on the planet.

He got to the mail room, and set to work getting everything ready for the morning mail delivery, breaking up the mail, and organising it to easier delivery. He had to stop and put Keira's at the front of her team's mail, instead of at the end as normal.

He finally arrived at Keira's part of the office, and he dropped her mail to her first, then as he gave out the rest of the team's mail, he watched her out of the corner of his eye.

Keira's gasp when she opened the envelope and saw the photos was audible. There were pictures of her shopping and drinking coffee, nothing showing her home or anything like that but they were more than enough to freak her out. People turned to stare at her and she hastily stuffed the pictures back in the envelope, unwilling for her colleagues to see what she had been sent just yet. It was only as she shoved the pictures back in that she noticed the smaller, folded note. With trembling hands, she drew it out and opened it.

"I wanted to you to know how much you mean to me. I'm still waiting for you."

She took a long swig of coffee, letting the liquid scorch her throat and focus her thoughts. Her hands were still shaky and she spilled a little on the desk. Swearing, she mopped it up with a tissue and sat down, her mind reeling.

There was movement in the periphery of her vision and she turned her head slightly to notice the mailguy again. There was no point asking him anything, the letters had been sent from outside. She caught him looking at her and dropped her gaze, embarrassed that he should notice there was something wrong with her. He moved past another desk and then out of the door. There was something not quite right about him, something that jarred her senses but she didn't know what it was.

'Great. Now I'm going fucking crazy.' She thought.

Keira looked over at Michelle's desk. Her colleague was talking on the phone and besides, Keira had already decided what she was going to do. She retrieved the other two letters that she had kept from a drawer and made two more copies of everything, including the photos. Taking one copy and the originals, she went to Mr Lambert's office door and knocked.

"Enter." Came the slightly irritated reply. Mr Lambert was not a morning person and people approached him before lunch at their peril. Keira just could not sit on the letters any longer though.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, I really need to bring something to your attention though..." Keira went through the letters she had received and explained that she had not kept the first one. Lambert went through everything she gave him and took a set of copies. He was not unkind but it was clear that he really could not see that there was anything he could do internally.

"Are you going to inform the police?" He asked.

"I don't know. He hasn't threatened me or anything. Do you think they'd be interested?"

"If I were you Miss Scott, I would take the letters and photos and make a statement. If things escalate or this man appears on your doorstep, they will know there is an existing problem and they will take you seriously."

He looked down at the letters again, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry there's nothing more I can suggest. If these had been sent internally or you had been photographed while on the premises I would have a duty to investigate. It seems to be an outsider however. Has a claimant expressed a sexual interest in you... or anyone else you have become associated with through your work here?"

Keira racked her brains and slowly shook her head.

"Well I can see that you are going to be no good to me while you are worrying about this intrusive correspondence. I think you should go to the police station now and attend to your work later. I trust you will remain on top of your caseload?"

"Yes Mr Lambert, of course. Thank you."

"Take a colleague with you if you like." His austere countenance softened for a moment. "I can understand that this must be distressing for you."

Keira appraised Michelle of the situation and the two women grabbed their coats and headed for the elevator. On the 10th floor, the mailguy rolled his trolley into the lift, punching the button for floor 9.

"It's good of Mr Lambert to let you leave work like this, he's usually a cantankerous old git." Michelle observed.

"Well he's right." Keira replied, eyeing the mailguy momentarily and deciding he was harmless. "I would have been no good to anyone all day if I had had to wait around and then go and sort this out in the evening. I just wish I knew who it was?"

"Well that's what the police are for sweetheart. You leave the investigating to them and just keep yourself safe."

The elevator pinged to announce floor 9 and the mailguy got out.


The policewoman Keira gave her statement to was pleasant and brisk and it was clear she found the letters concerning. Keira was advised to bring over anything else she received straightaway.

"I'll have a look through the system, people like this often have a background we can pull up; restraining orders, harassment complaints, domestic violence..."

"What?" Keira's eyes widened.

"They usually have a volatile relationship history. This guy thinks he's in love with you and he thinks that it's mutual. Guys like that can get nasty when they realise it's all been a fantasy. I'm telling you for your own protection. What security do you have in your home?"

Over an hour later, Keira was on her way back to her office, having bought a personal alarm and a chainbolt for her front door. She scanned the street, worried that whoever had taken photos of her had seen her go to the police.

"Don't you do that." Michelle warned.

"Do what?"

"Get paranoid. You'll see a man in every shadow."

Keira sighed and hurried to the office building, feeling safer once she was off of the street.

John watched her as she opened the mail. Her reaction was exactly as he hoped. She was surprised at his devotion. Also, she didn't want to share what she had been given. She just wanted it all to herself. She looked at him while he dithered, and she broke off her looking at him. She almost told him how she felt. Oh well, maybe need needed to do a little more. Maybe she wanted to tell him in private.

He delivered the rest of the mail, and continued on his rounds. As he went from the 10th to the 9th floors, he was in the same lift was Keira and Michelle. He observed the normal etiquette and faced forward and kept quiet.

"It's good of Mr Lambert to let you leave work like this, he's usually a cantankerous old git." Michelle observed.

"Well he's right. I would have been no good to anyone all day if I had had to wait around and then go and sort this out in the evening. I just wish I knew who it was?"

"Well that's what the police are for sweetheart. You leave the investigating to them and just keep yourself safe."

As he walked out, this thoughts were jumbled. Was someone threatening his Keira? Someone was doing something to her that required her to go to the Police. He started to think of what he could do to help help. It would be the perfect chance to show her how much he cared for her. He concentrated on getting the rest of the mail run done.

His morning duty out of the way, he looked up the personnel details linked to the email system. Nigel, the sysadmin, had been gloating to John once about how the new directory system was 'so shit hot', how everything was linked at the one spot. Passwords, access levels, personnel details, etc, etc, etc. About a month ago, John found he could get to people's address details through their email client. He forgot all about it until he found a need for it.

It took less than a minute to have Keira's home address, phone numbers and personal email address. Now he could look after her properly, if she needed it.


It took a couple of days before John had the chance to get some more photos of Keira. But when he did, he got a lot of her having lunch with Michelle in the park. He got many photos of her smiling broadly, laughing and, in his opinion, looking incredibly sexy. She never once looked in his direction while he was there, and he waited for them to leave before he moved. He didn't want to miss any time looking at her, admiring her, wanting her.

He printed the photos, and added another letter to Keira.

Dearest Keira,

Here is proof of why I long for you, and why you are so adorable. You have the most gorgeous smile, as well as being the most sexy woman on Earth.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life

The letter was prepared for posting, and was dropped off in a random post box on his way home that night.

Keira had sat quietly in the office, keeping out of the banter and chat. When a colleague asked if she was ok she merely said that she had a headache. Michelle was clucking around her like a mother hen, which was sweet if a little oppressive.

Keira didn't want people to see that there was something wrong with her but she couldn't help it. She sat there all day, ostensibly working but in fact rattling her head trying to figure out who could be infatuated with her. She was suspicious of every glance she got and when she had to leave the office and visit people's houses she carried her personal alarm and stayed no longer than strictly necessary. Usually she enjoyed chatting with people and being offered a hot drink and a few extra minutes out of the office. Now however, she was all business and discouraged idle conversation. It appalled her to think that she had freely talked about herself and her life with total strangers for the price of a coffee. She became reticent and subdued.

The guy could be anyone. Literally anyone. He could be the guy she often passed while jogging, someone who worked in her building, someone who ate in the park, the guy she sometimes bought coffee from, the guy at the news-stand. She wasn't as suspicious of the people in her apartment building but she couldn't completely rule them out either.

At the end of the day she walked to her car quickly and locked the doors once she was inside. She shot the cheerful security gate guard an unpleasant glare and he lifted the barrier without his usual greeting. Keira drove straight home and fixed the new chainbolt to her door. She fired up her laptop and ordered a couple of other things; a small cannister of mace that was disguised as a pen and a collapsible nightstick like the police used. She had looked at baseball bats and decided against them.

She clicked onto the website for her local RSPCA Centre and had a look at the animals up for adoption there. She had thought about getting a cat but a dog would be better protection and she could take it jogging. After clicking through a few pages, her eye fell on Max, a 2 yr old white/tan staffordshire bull terrier. The write-up said that he had been rescued from an abusive homeless owner and was therefore highly strung and mistrustful. He needed a new home with no children or other pets. He sounded a perfect guard dog and Keira dropped them an email.

Over the next couple of days, Keira's new purchases arrived and she was approved to adopt Max. No more letters arrived for her and so she relaxed a little, even venturing out to the park once more with Michelle. The weather was really hotting up and it was hard to dress comfortably without worrying that she might be revealing too much to a faceless stalker hiding in the shadows. It just wasn't possible to be edgy and nervous in the middle of a bright sunny park, surrounded by other office workers. Keira gradually relaxed and Michelle kept her entertained with funny stories about her extended West Indian family.

That night, she prepared everything for Max's arrival. She would be picking him up the following evening and they would have all weekend to get acquainted. She had read up on owning a dog and bought all the things he would need. Because he was an abused animal with challenging behaviour, he would be with her for a trial month. If it didn't work out, he was unlikely to be re-homed again, a thought that broke Keira's heart.

She bounced into the office the next morning, brandishing a photo she had taken of Max to show Michelle. She hardly noticed the mailguy until a handful of letters fell on her desk. Keira thumbed through the envelopes distractedly, opening a white one first to reveal more pictures of her and another note. One photo showed her leaning back on her arms and laughing. A breeze had played with her skirt hem and pushed it up above her knee. It had been taken by someone who was also sitting or kneeling and most of one creamy thigh was visible.

"Here is proof of why I long for you, and why you are so adorable. You have the most gorgeous smile, as well as being the most sexy woman on Earth."

Keira's face blanched and her breathing came short. The thought of some man kneeling in the park with a hard on... taking pictures up her skirt... sitting at home masturbating over them... typing his sick little note... it was revolting. Her stomach lurched and she slipped from her desk to her knees, grabbing her waste basket in case she vomited. After a few hard swallows the nausea abated somewhat. She got back into her seat and grabbed her purse, yanking out the card her case officer had given her.

"I need to make a report... I've had another letter and more pictures." Keira pulled a clear evidence bag from her purse and dropped everything inside it, including the postmarked envelope. "No I haven't copied them or touched them much... yes I'll bring them over right away."

Keira pulled on her suit jacket, grabbed her car keys and left without a word. The only person who would wonder if she was meeting with a claimant was Michelle but it couldn't be helped. She dropped the letter off at the station and made a brief statement confirming how and when she had received it. Then she went home and changed out of her short skirt suit and fitted blouse. She pulled on trousers and a looser top with a shallow V just at the hollow of her throat. She swapped her strappy heels for flats and toned down her make-up a little, then she returned to work.

"Blimey, who died?" Adam smirked, eyeing her new look with derision.

"You, if you don't sod off and leave me to have screaming PMT in peace!" Keira snapped. Adam threw his hands up in mock terror and retreated.

John made an effort not to dawdle when he dropped of the mail that included his last letter. He still kept his eyes and ears open to make sure he knew what her reaction was. He still didn't know why she was delaying coming to see him. He probably have to ask his mum again. He was delivering the last of her team's mail when she saw her grab the bin ready to puke into. He kept his feeling buried deep, as he wanted to comfort her right there and then. She was obviously ill.

But he continued on his rounds, just noticing her getting up in a rush, and head out of the office. He wondered where she was going, but she might have been off to get something to settle her stomach.

The mail was delivered, and he was sitting at his desk, wondering what he would do next. He would definitely ask his mum, and decided to see her on the weekend. She was wise in the ways of women.


Saturday rolled around, and that afternoon, he dropped in at his parents. He walked through the living room, his Dad was glued to the set, watching Chelsea miss a goal by the barest of fractions of an inch. His cry of disappointment was loud enough to match the crowd's. John didn't bother trying to talk to him while he watched the football.

"Hi Mum," he said with a big smile as he received a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello, sweetheart. What's wrong?"

He gave her an embarrassed smile. "I've been trying to woo a girl, mum. Actually a woman. A really nice woman too. Now, I have been a gentleman, but she hasn't taken things any further. I have been showing her how much she means to me, and what I think of her, but..."

"She's liking what you're doing, dear?"

"Yes, Mum! She has been pleasantly surprised everytime. I know she loves what I have been doing too, and she cherishes them too."

"Well, that's good, dear. Maybe she's liking how you're showing your affection. You're not being silly and spend lots of money on her?"

"No, Mum. I'm being sensible, and what I'm doing for her shows her it's more personal than just money, if you know what I mean?"

Sally laughed. It was a rich, joyous sound. "Well, dear, it sounds like your nice lady is enjoying what you're doing for her, and is wanting to draw it out a little more. Now, to really make sure you win her heart, you need to vary things. Don't just keep doing the same thing over and over. It will get boring, and she may end up loosing interest."

"Ok, Mum. I think I can do that. Oh, I can't wait for you to meet her, Mum. You'll like her a lot."

"I know I will sweetheart. She has to be someone special to capture your heart and love you back. Would you like some tea, dear?"

"I'd love some, Mum."

Keira collected Max on Friday evening and took him for a stroll along the river. He was quite well behaved considering and didn't pull on the lead too much, something she had been worrying about. She felt much calmer having him around and by Saturday, she was having one-sided conversations with him as most dog owners will do. She phoned Becca to see what her friend was up to.

"So how's the new man?" Becca asked.

"He's great." Keira replied. "He's loyal, affectionate, protective, housebroken... I think this one's a keeper." She patted Max's head. Although Keira had bought him a nice soft basket, Max preferred the couch and she hadn't had the heart to start laying the law down. Her couch was only a two seater though, which meant she had to shove him over if she wanted to sit on it. "So what are you doing today?"

"Going over to Phil's parents' place. His mother thinks I need feeding up, which is code for stuffing me with suet, waving Phil's baby photos around and dropping tactless hints about marriage and kids."

"Ugh. Coupley stuff." Keira grimaced.

"Yes Miss Havisham, coupley stuff and don't tell me you don't wish you had coupley stuff to do."

"As it happens I'm planning a cosy night in with my guy."

"Well just make sure you take him out to pee first."

After the phonecall was ended Keira showered and took Max for another riverside walk. The riverbank was bustling with walkers, cyclists, dog owners and the patrons of The Dog And Gun pub, whose garden meandered down to the river. Max was a little skittish about all the bustle but they didn't stay long. Keira gave the canoodling young couples sidelong glances. There were some good looking guys around but she was never going to meet somebody who wasn't a colleague of Becca's unless she did something a bit more pro-active.

When she got home, Keira signed up to an internet dating agency. She picked up the verification email from her inbox, filled out a profile and then posted a brief ad in the 'women seeking men' section. It seemed desperate and defeatist even to try internet dating but she just didn't know how else to meet someone and she was lonely.

25y/o woman, slim, petite, fair skin, dark hair, green eyes, seeks man aged 25-35 in central London for friendship & maybe more. Must like rock/metal music, red wine and dog walking. Non-smoker preferred.

Click to expand...

"Nothing will come of it." She informed Max as she clicked 'post.'

Keira decided on the username 'elfin,' something an ex had described her as once. Her profile showed a picture Becca had taken of her a few months ago. She was holding a glass of wine and smiling. Her hair was tousled in a sexy way (something that rarely ever happens to real woman and even less often when there are camera toting friends around) and the camera flash had caught her lipsgloss and sparkly silver-grey eyeshadow. Her black halter dress looked good too. Keira described herself as a 25y/o office worker who needed to widen her social circle. A fact that was born out when all her friends seemed to have plans and she wound up on the couch with Max, watching a film she didn't even like that much and munching Ben & Jerry's.

The next morning, Keira's icecream binge had done its work and as she stepped on the scales for her weekly weight check she was disappointed to find she had gained a few pounds. She hauled her running gear out of the closet and fought with an over-excited Max until he stood still long enough for her to clip his lead on. She flipped on her iPod and carried a small bottle of water in her hand. A half hour jogging would do her the world of good.

She headed to the river once more but in the opposite direction, where the path was nothing more than a dirt track and a wooded area of common land stretched for a couple of miles.

John woke up on Sunday morning feeling good after his talk with his mum. Keira was liking how he was showing her attention, and wanted more of it. He thought he would really show her how much he thought of her, and would send the letters to her at home. Those, and some other stuff too.

Thinking of her home, he decided he would go and have a look at where she lived. He caught a train and a bus, and had a bit of a walk, but he found her place easily enough. He was impressed at the location, and the look of the building.

He stood outside for a few minutes. "Maybe I should just tell her, face to face. If I do it here, then she'll feel more comfortable, and we wont have to worry about the others laughing at us. Well, at me." He took a deep breath, and went up to her flat.

When he got there, her door as ajar, and there were sounds from inside that didn't sound like Keira. Frowning, John slowly nudged the door open, peering in. He saw male figure dashing around the room, with a bag wedged under his arm. John crept in a little more, and saw the bloke shoving valuables into the bag, all the while muttering to himself. The thief turned his back on John, checking for other items to steal.

John didn't waste a moment. He was on top of the intruder before the other man knew what was happening. John hit him once on the back of the head, knocking him to the floor. John grabbed two hand fulls of hair, and slammed the man's head into the floor a couple of times until he stopped moving. He made sure the man was alive, then proceeded to hog tie him using the thief's own shirt. Satisfied that the intruder was secured, John thought about hanging around to bask in the glory of his good deed.

But his earlier courage was fading fast. How long would she be? What if she was out with a friend, and that friend came back with her? Would she be upset that he entered her flat without asking, even if it was to do a good deed? More questions flooded his mind, and he left. He didn't run, but he walked with purpose out of the building, and he headed back to his home.

By the time he was on the bus, he was kicking himself for not staying. The golden opportunity and he blew it. But he knew that he did the right thing, and saved Keira from a nasty surprise. There would be other times when he could tell her.

Keira came back to her building and walked Max up the stairwell. She was exhausted but refused to take the lift. Still listening to music, she looked down at her pocket and pulled her keys out as she approached the door. Keira brought her hand up, raising the key to where the lock should be. It was then she noticed the door was ajar. Heart hammering, she killed the iPod and kicked the door wide open, letting Max pull on the lead and push his nose through first. Almost immediately, he bared his teeth and started growling. Keira crept into the flat, already pulling her mobile phone from her other pocket.

"Police? A guy has been in my flat... no I think the valuables are all still here, he's made a mess though. Yes it was me who complained about a stalker. Holy fuck! Sorry! He's still here, the guy's still here in my flat... he's all tied up though. Please come quickly. Yes, I'll stay on the line."

Keira stared wide eyed at the young man thrashing around on her living room carpet.

"No way man. You ain't just called the police! I got to get out of here. You're gonna let me go or I will come back here and cut you up, understand?"

"Keep talking." Keira snarled. "They can still hear you in the emergency call centre and they'll be recording you too." She let Max stray a bit closer. The dog took his cue from her hard, angry tone and continued growling. She nodded at Max. "If I have to defend myself, believe me, I will."

She could see he was working the shirt loose so Keira fetched some plastic binliner ties from the kitchen. She tethered Max's lead so he was a few inches from the intruder's face and then carefully secured his wrists and ankles. Within a few more minutes, her intercom buzzed. Keira rushed to let the cavalry in.

"Yes, it's one floor up. He's still here."

Three male officers and a female officer burst into the tiny apartment. They were astonished to find their suspect trussed up on the floor, having a staring contest with a dog.

"Blimey." Said the most senior looking bloke, lowering his nightstick, "Looks like we're too late."

Keira shrugged her shoulders.

"He was like that when I found him. Someone tied him with a shirt and left him there. I don't know who." The officer's smile faded and inverted as Keira gave her side of events. The robber was oddly silent.

"So, it's possible that this guy is also your stalker?"

"I have absolutely no idea." Keira sighed. "I don't know what to think anymore. Nothing appears to have been taken but whether that means this guy has been hassling me...?"

They both looked down at the bound guy on the floor. He was in his late teens/early twenties and of mixed race. He didn't seem the type to write flowery letters.

"No bleedin comment!" He yelled, struggling against his makeshift shackles. "I want a solicitor first, don't I?"

He was released, cuffed and bundled into a squad car. Keira locked her door and left with the female cop and her partner in a different vehicle to make her statement. She looked up at her flat window, where Max was now standing guard, and wondered if she would ever feel safe again. She burst into tears.

He got to work on the Monday, and went about his day as if nothing had happened. He did his mail run, not even looking at Keira anymore than he would any other member of the staff. In good time, his run was complete and he was back at his desk.

He got out one of the CD envelopes, ones padded enough to safely send a CD through the mail. He made sure that it had the right amount of postage on it, as well as Keira's home address on it before popping it into his bag. He then composed a letter to Keira.

Dearest Keira,

In one way, I am sorry that I missed you on Sunday. I was going to tell you exactly how I feel about you, and how much you mean to me. I have tried to be patient, and be a gentleman and wait for you to come to me after all I have done to demonstrate the depth of my feelings to you.

But when I arrived, you were out. I found him ransacking your flat. I couldn't just stand by and let that happen. I hope he was still there when you got back, and that you're not missing anything. If he was still there, then I hope that the police will treat him properly for what he tried to do to you.

Again, I'm sorry for not being there when you returned, but please see what I did as another demonstration of my love for you. A love that I return to you in equal measure.


Yours with greatest devotion,

The Love of your Life

Again, he prepared a envelope, printed and prepared the letter for her. If that was not enough, then he would play the game her way, and show her that he indeed loved her more than anything else in the world. So much so she would have no choice but to accept him.

He dropped the last letter destined for her desk in the mail on his way home. He felt comfortable that either way, they would be together.

Keira made her statement about the break-in and the police agreed it was odd that somebody had tied the guy up and then left without calling the police themselves or awaiting Keira's return. Although there was nothing to suggest that her ardent letter-writer was involved, she was advised to be extra vigilant. Officers were dispatched to ask the neighbours if they had seen or heard anything. Keira looked up at her flat with trepidation as she squad car dropped her home. The policewoman who had been dealing with the burglary smiled.

"I know it's not much consolation, but if things escalate and there is evidence that a stalker has your home address and has entered the property, we can install a panic button that you can press if anything else happens."

Keira simply nodded.

She had taken Max out for a walk, mainly because she didn't want to stay in the flat. The only prints that had been found were from the burglar but he had given a description of the man who apprehended him. It didn't sound like anyone she knew but there was apparently nothing striking about the guy. She cleared up the mess that has been left and then dragged her duvet to the couch. She snuggled up beside Max's warm bulk and drifted into a fitful sleep, plagued with dreams of faceless male pursuers.

The next morning, she hauled herself off of the sofa and killed the alarm that was sounding in the bedroom. Keira stretched her stiff limbs and ran a bath, she couldn't be bothered to go running today.

She got to work just about on time and sat on the corner of Michelle's desk, filling her friend in about the break-in. Keira had dark circles of fatigue and stress beneath her eyes and today she was wearing black trousers and a baggy grey shirt with her hair scraped back into a ponytail. There was not even a trace of makeup on her pale complexion. She looked like hell.

When the mail came, she couldn't even open it. Michelle vetted everything for her and then frog-marched Keira to Mr Lambert's office, where she went over recent events. Once again, the old man was sympathetic but felt there was nothing he could do.

"Would you like to take a few days off? Use some annual leave and I'll throw in a couple of compassionate days." He offered. Keira shook her head.

"It won't do any good Sir. I'll just sit and worry. I need to keep busy really. Thanks though."

"Well, if there's anything I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."

After another night spent on the sofa with the TV on for white noise, Keira dragged her bones to the office again. Her friend Becca had come over and commiserated but it being a work night, she had left at 11 and Keira had been left with Max and her worry. She had a quick shower and threw on yesterday's clothes. Keira was again uninterested in jogging but she wasn't eating properly either and weight was falling from her slim frame. She looked gaunt and haunted by the time she got to the office.

Once again, there was a white envelope with the same printed label in that day's mail. Keira opened it herself and with no surprise whatsoever, drew out another folded note from her stalker. She started shaking and her eyes filled with tears. Michelle was beside her in moments, reading over her shoulder, her jaw dropping. Within 20mins, the women were at the police station, handing over another evidence bag.

"Münchhausen By Proxy" The policewoman said.

"I'm sorry?"

"The guy wants to get close to you and 'prove his love' for you, right? So he bribes or tips off a known local thief to threaten and burgle you so that he can show up and play 'knight in shining armour.' Except this knight apparently lost his nerve once he had 'rescued' you from your 'intruder.' He probably expected you to be there to witness his act of heroism."

"Is that what the burglar said?" Keira was wide eyed.

"No, but he's got a string of previous and has never been known for co-operating with us. We'll see if we can't lift that print and run it through the system. In the meantime however, congratulations, you have won yourself a panic button. When would you like it installed?"

Keira took the day off of work and had the button fitted. The policewoman also went over her home security and pronounced it 'adequate.' Keira thought it best not to mention the mace in her blouse pocket and the folded night-stick in her purse. She called Becca at the office and her friend was sympathetic but had plans that evening that she couldn't cancel. She offered to come over the following evening and Keira gratefully accepted.

Then she took Max out, bought a paper and went to The Dog And Gun, where she sat outside and ate pie & mash. She could not sit in her flat and stare at the wall or the TV. It had been violated and she did not feel safe there. Here, in public, she should be ok.

John got home, feeling good about himself. He stopped some lowlife from wrecking Keira's life. He still wished that he could have told her how he felt. There would be another day.

He sat down and went through his video collection, finding examples of what he was looking forward to doing with Keira. He found three such videos, and burned them to a CD. He was going to label the disc, but decided against it. Once it was complete, he packed it up ready for mailing to Keira.

He thought over his mother's words, about how Keira might enjoy and really like how he was demonstrating his affection to her. He wondered how he could do better than he had been. Well, there were the videos. He liked the idea of Keira knowing what they would do together.

But the challenge of how to play the game Keira wanted it played was starting to catch his imagination. She wasn't going to go to him, she was waiting for him to come to her? To profess his love to her direct. Like he was going to on Sunday?

Over the next few days at work, he spoke to Nigel about what features the network had.

"Oh, all the standard stuff. File sharing, email, IM, video conferencing, audio conferencing, collaborative document management and archiving. Some of the peeps can even hook up from the outside and work from home."

"Really? How?"

"Well, we have a VPN setup. They just fire up their computer, and it behaves as if it was on the network. It's a bit slower of course, but not too bad. But it's nicely locked down too. Checks to make sure the IP matches for the outside machine, and of course the authentication is correct too."

"So, that'll be a username and password combo?"

"Yep, when coupled with the IP address, it's impossible to get in unless you are who you claim to be. So, you thinking of getting into software now? Leaving all the hardtech toys behind and playing with the good fellas?"

"Thinking about it." John smiled weakly.

"Well, if you have anymore questions, let me know."

"Thanks, Nigel, I will."


The rest of the week was spent researching all the terms and features Nigel mentioned, and he found some interesting software tools that would help him do what he wanted to do.

He took a look through the central storehouse of personal information, and found Adam was one one of those with a VPN access. He got the details of Adam's computer address, and got to work. The tool he had found was mostly automated and all he needed to do was give it the address, and start it. Within seconds, he found that he could access Adam's computer at home. The tool then found that remote control facilities built into the operating system had been installed and were dormant. They were activated and set so John's computer could control it.

He found the chat application on Adam's computer and fired up a connection to Keira. Before he did anything, he changed the configuration so she didn't get the wrong idea of how it was. In the middle of her screen, a window popped up.

The Love of Your Life is online.
The Love of Your Life: Hello Keira. Didn't you like what I have done for you?

The Love of Your Life: I found him in your home, and I stopped him from stealing your stuff.

The Love of Your Life: When will you come to me and tell me how you feel about me?

The Love of Your Life: I am willing to wait as long as you need, and I will do what ever you want to show you how much you mean to me.

John waited, excited to know what she felt.

Once again, the days that passed without incident eroded the sharp edge of Keira's ever present fear. By the end of the week, she was wearing her favourite workclothes again and eating a little better. She stopped eyeing the mail guy with trepidation and became less careful about handling her mail. Michelle was out of the office for two weeks on vacation and Keira had more than enough work to keep her mind off of burglars and mentally damaged admirers.

So when the window opened on her screen she was incredulous. The text flashed up, demanding her attention.

The Love of Your Life is online.
The Love of Your Life: Hello Keira. Didn't you like what I have done for you?

The Love of Your Life: I found him in your home, and I stopped him from stealing your stuff.

The Love of Your Life: When will you come to me and tell me how you feel about me?

The Love of Your Life: I am willing to wait as long as you need, and I will do what ever you want to show you how much you mean to me.

Click to expand...

The realisation dawned on Keira that her 'admirer' was a company employee. Nobody else could access her screen like this, surely? What planet did he live on? What gave him the idea that she had feelings for him? Keira typed a furious diatribe demanding to know what the fuck he thought he was doing but she deleted it without pressing send. She had no clue what this psycho was capable of. Trying to maintain her composure, she typed the only coherent thought in her head.

"Who are you?"

Keira grabbed her phone and called Mr Lambert's internal number.

"Sir, I'm sorry to bother you but I really need you to look at my screen. It seems the guy harassing my is indeed an employee."

"Good gracious. Well, I have no idea how to look at your screen without walking to your desk. I'll just be a minute." He hung up.