Tackling Tobias (Big Sky Universe)

“That I understand. Any news on the stalker? Who is she?” I question.

“The woman is Rebecca Cortez, and she’s in surgery. She’s twenty and works at the grocery store in Cunningham Falls.” They look at me expectantly as if I must have a past with this young girl, but I don’t.

“I thought I saw her before, but I haven’t said more than a few words, if that. The last time I saw her was when I took Ava to the store.” I’m trying to think back to that encounter. Ava accused me of being rude, but she wasn’t mad because it was clear the woman had been interested in me. Shaking my head, I hadn’t realized how close she’d been to us all this time.

“Well, I need to know how she’s tied in with the abduction and Minter.”

“It all has to do with Ava’s father. I’m sure of it.” I sit there trying to puzzle it out when another memory hits me. “Wait…the night that someone flattened my tires and smashed my truck window in town, her father’s investigator saw it happen and even took pictures.”

“So you think they met there and decided to work together?”

“It’s very possible.”

I can see his brain turning, but he’s not the one who’s been through all this mess so it might not seem plausible as it is in my eyes. “I’ll look into all angles.”

“Hello, Mr. Reynolds, your wife would like to see you,” Nurse Martinez says.

“Give us a minute and then you can ask what you need to,” I inform them.

I follow the nurse over to the elevator. We go onto the second floor and down the hall to her private room. “Ava,” I call out as soon as I see her from the doorway. She looks up at me, sitting in the bed covered to her waist with a blanket. God, she looks so sweet and innocent.

“Tobias.” She extends her hand out, waiting for me to take it. I cautiously move to the side of the bed and wrap my hand around hers.

“How are you feeling?”

She smiles, using one of her hands to rub my cheek. “Better. My hero. You saved me.”

“I put you in danger.”

She shakes her head gently. “No. I did it to myself. If I had stayed inside, they wouldn’t have gotten to me easily.”

“No. They could have attacked everyone in the house or created a shootout with security.”

“I suppose you’re right about that. We have to do something about my father. He wants me to live long enough to get me in his hands, but we're married already so the only way he'd get his way is if you were dead."

“Do you think they were going to kill me first?” I ask. It makes sense since we’re married.

“I bet. And I think your stalker is their scapegoat.”

“You think?” I assumed her motive was to get me to herself.

“Yep. They were working together, but she’s out to still get your attention. She said that you would fall in love with her when I was dead.” Ava sounds a bit upset like there’s a remote chance in hell that I’d ever let that happen.

“She’s batshit crazy for sure because that will never, ever happen.”

“I know. It’s funny because I have seen her twice in town and I got the distinct feeling she didn’t like me. Now it all makes sense.”

“I suppose, but I never met her before.”

“What causes any stalker to begin? She could have seen you once on television or in person and dreamed that you would fall in love with her.”

“I feel sorry for her unrequited fascination with me, but that’s the most empathy I can muster. She tried to take you away from me, and that in itself is unforgivable.”

“What about Mr. Henry?”

“We’re going to be dealing with your father soon enough,” a man I don’t recognize says, entering the room. He brings out his badge as I stand guard over my wife. “Sorry, I am Tony Sinclair, and I’m with the Montana State Police. We’ve been brought in to handle this case. My people are taking statements from the parties at the scene, but I needed to speak with you regarding the shooting and your father. Will that be okay, Mrs. Reynolds?”

She nods and then he pulls out the doctor’s seat and sits by the foot of the bed.

We spend the next hour going over everything that has happened since her father struck her in December. The hospital decides to release her before the end of the day because it’s a through and through without any significant damage, although she must remain under medical care and bedrest at home for the next week.

Once we come through the gate, my family bounds out of the house with security on their heels. “Oh my goodness, Ava. We’re so glad you’re alive,” Lara exclaims, trying to hug us as I carry Ava toward the house. This is going to be a trying visit, but I’m going to need all the help I can get to keep Ava in bed like she’s supposed to be.