chasing demons. ***completed***

#13 shadows

after the fireworks ended they got dressed and made their way back to Emma's house. it was almost midnight by the time they opened the door. something felt off. the hair on the back of his neck stood up and something was making his senses go crazy. he grabbed onto her hand pulling him behind her. he lifted his finger to his lips signaling her to be quiet. he leaned in to her ear and whispered softly to her. " stay here. something is wrong." she nodded at him fear rising in her gut. Dan slowly made his way through the bottom of the house clearing every room as he went checking windows and the back door. he then made his way up the stairs his heart pounding faster in his chest. images of Iraq flooding his brain. he stopped shaking his head. he needed to stay present. he needed to block everything out of his head and focus on what was happening now. he made his way into Xavier's bedroom then the spare. nothing seemed out of place. he slowly crept to the outside of Emma's bedroom opening it slowly. "what the f**k?"

Emma came running upstairs just as Dan was coming back out of the room. he tried stopping her from seeing what happened in her bedroom but she pushed past him and was now standing in the door way looking at her room. he heard a loud gasp as she brought her hand to her mouth to stop her screams. she took it all in and fell to her knees. the entire room was destroyed. every piece of clothing she owned was torn and thrown across the room. all of her bra and panties were torn and shredded across the bedroom. Dan came closer pulling her up as they took the scene in. on one wall in red paint was a message.

you are mine

the words sent chills down her spine. "Emma we need to call the police. your dad too. we can get a room for tonight and your brothers, Kevin and I can get this cleaned up tomorrow."

her body was trembling under his grasp. he steered her to the kitchen as he took his cell out calling 911. once he gave the details and address to the police he hung up and wrapped her in his arms. " who would do something like this?"

Dan knew who he thought it was but didn't want to say. Paul was the only person who came to his thoughts. "do you have cameras or a security system?"

Tears were starting to flow down her cheeks. "no. I always meant to get something but just never got around to it. it didn't seem like a big deal. I mean everyone knows everyone here."

" I'm going to call your dad and Kevin and Mary. are you going to be ok here? I'm just going to be right there." he pointed to the back door.

" yes." he gave her a kiss on the forehead and walked to the back door. as he opened it a vanilla envelope fell to the ground at his feet. he looked back at Emma her hands over her face as she sobbed.

Dan picked up the envelope and opened it pulling out the contents. pictures feel into his hand. as he flipped through them Dan couldn't believe what he saw. every moment they were together every intimate detail was in these photos. including ones from tonight in the truck earlier. he closed his eyes. he wasn't sure what to do. he felt himself slipping. this would destroy her. someone had been watching her every move. everything they were doing together was placed in the pictures. her body on full display. he needed to call Kevin. the phone rang out a few the times before Kevin answered the phone. "hey man what's up?"

"Kevin, something happened here at Emma's place. I need you and Mary to get her right now. before the cops get here." Kevin could hear the fear in his voice.

" give us five minutes we will be right there." they hung up and he dialed her father.

a few rings then someone answered still half asleep. " hello?"

" sir it's Dan. Emma's boyfriend."

"what's wrong?"

"there was a break in while we were gone. she is fine but they destroyed her room and tore up all her clothing including more intimate items." Dan breathed for a second unsure if he should say the rest. he decided it wasn't a good idea to hold it back. " there's more. they painted words in her room on the wall that says 'you are mine' and she doesn't know this last part yet. "

"what do you mean what last part?"

"sir when I opened the back door to make these calls there was an envelope with pictures. every time we were together someone was taking pics. most of them are focused on her. "

"what the hell did you just say?" Dan could hear the numbing silence from her father.

"sir, someone has been watching her every move. some of these are before I even got into town. some are with her son, at her office and recently of us. the police are on their way but I'm afraid these pics will throw her over the edge. is Xavier OK? I know she is going to ask. I'm going to rent a room for tonight and I was hoping tomorrow her brother's and I could clean up the bedroom and install a camera system and alarm system. I think at this point it's necessary. "

" yes Xavier is good. sound asleep. I think that all sounds good. I will call the boys right now. call me back after the police get there. "

"yes sir. " after hanging up with Emma's father he shoved his phone in his back pocket. he heard Mary and Kevin make their way through the living room door. " Kevin, Mary. we're in the kitchen." may came over holding Emma as Dan motioned for Kevin to head upstairs. standing in the door Kevin's eyes ran through the mess.

Dan took a deep breath and handed him the envelope. "where was this?"

"back door when I opened it they fell down." he watched as Kevin's eyes grew big.

"these pics have been through at least a year of time. no this here is when I deployed almost two years ago! every detail of her life is here. even with you! they are all focused on her. who do you think it is?"

" me personally I think Paul. I think he has become more dangerous. knowing she is with me has triggered him. I think we need to come up with a plan. her and Xavier aren't safe. "

"I've known Paul a long time it's hard to think of him like this but one thing I've learned working alongside of you is to never underestimate your abilities. does she know about these pics?" Dan shook his head.

"no and given the nature of some of these photos I am reluctant to hand them over to police. This will break her. "

"Dan we have to tell her. giving her all the details will help us keep her safe. "

"crap! you're right. let me go show her then you and I can come up with a plan for catching this bastard. " they made their way back downstairs to where Mary and Emma were sitting. " Emma, I need to show you something you aren't going to like. "

she looked at him confused as he handed over the envelope full of pictures. she pulled them out as she slowly went through each one. he watched as her face went pale. her body started shaking and then her eyes went to his. she looked around the room not sure of what to say. "the last two years of my life is here. every time we were together had been watched. everything. even the truck tonight. who is doing this?" her body was rigid and filled with fear.

"I'm not completely sure who it is. Kevin and I are coming up with a plan to find out. we won't let anything bad happen to you or Xavier." Dan walked to the other side of the counter and pulled her to his chest.

" I don't want the police having the intimate ones of you and I together. this sick bastard took pics of us making love. mostly of me naked in them. what did I do to anyone?" her voice cracked as she started to sob again. Dan motioned for Mary to take those pics out of the pile as she placed them in a drawer in the kitchen hiding them away. when the police arrived everyone went through the motions of what happened. they looked at the room and took pictures and took the pictures that were left from the envelope.

" well we are going to take a report and take all your statements. right now we are kind of flying blind. no leads and no one to arrest. I suggest you get a camera system and some kind of security system for both your home and office. these pictures are pretty serious. Mr sterling we want to try and eliminate you as a suspect. where were you today?"

"with my girlfriend at her father's ranch." Dan knew they were just going to toss the case to cold case giving it little to no effort to solve. Kevin and Dan looked at each other knowingly.

" and during the times these pics were taken?"

" deployed." Dan was growing irritated.

"awe, OK. where were you deployed?"

"sir with all due respect I was deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq for the last three years. I can't tell you what we were doing since it was all special ops with the army rangers. only reason why myself or Kevin is here now is because we were shot multiple times in our last mission. I'm not about to leave my post to scare anyone and her child and then make it back to the desert in time. it wasn't me. half the pictures have Mary in them. one picture has Mary and Kevin in it on the day he deployed two years ago. you are barking up the wrong tree."

"sorry sir. I just have to try and eliminate all suspects."

"so what are you guys going to do to keep her and her son safe from the boogie man?"

" with all due respect we don't have the resources to keep anyone out front or do much without any suspect. we can keep an armed officer outside for a few days see if we see anything but we need more. I'm sorry." the officer handed Dan his card and they walked out the door.

" alright Kevin it's time to start recon. call in the guys. this s**t ain't happening to our families." Emma watched as Dan and Kevin turned into the soldiers mind set. he gave her a kiss on the forehead and she watched as both men walked out the door.

it was quiet for a long time. Mary looked over at Emma. " Come on let's get you to my house. you still have clothes there and grab those pictures we will burn them. although, I did learn a new use for cotton candy. damn it girl that was hot." Emma gave a small laugh as she looked around. she felt violated in her own home. after grabbing the pics they locked up and headed to Mary's place. she definitely couldn't be alone here anymore. she felt like she was seeing shadows everywhere she looked.