Wide Angle(A Psychological Suspense Thriller)

By Erica R. Stinson

Alice Blaylock, a renowned TV personality, appears to have it all—wealth, success, and a loving family. However, behind the façade of their perfect life lies a sinister threat. A relentless stalker emerges, wielding cryptic threats and haunting wide-angle photos that invade Alice's privacy at every turn.

 

As the menacing presence escalates, so do the stakes. Alice's son, Matty, suddenly withdraws into silence, and his behavior turns erratic. Concerned for her child's safety and tormented by the shadowy figure's threats, Alice scrambles to unravel the stalker's identity.

 

But the deeper Alice delves, the more sinister the situation becomes, unearthing dark family secrets and risking the lives of those she holds dear. As the malevolent intentions of the stalker escalate, Alice must race against time to unearth the identity of this faceless tormentor before the unthinkable occurs.

 

In this gripping psychological thriller, Alice is propelled into a spine-tingling quest to protect her family while navigating the treacherous labyrinth of a twisted stalker's game. Will she uncover the stalker's true identity before the danger becomes a devastating reality?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erica R. Stinson
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215753842

Erica R. Stinson

Hi there! I'm Erica R. Stinson, a suspenseful and fast-paced thriller author, known for the NYPD Detective Millicent Harvey series and the Doctor Oliver Perritt series. My love for writing is only surpassed by my love for cooking, knitting, gardening, playing chess and video games, and spending time with my niece, Gianna. I used to own Gigi Cake Shoppe, but I closed it in 2017 to focus solely on writing. I am a lifelong New Yorker, residing on the East Coast, and you can stay up to date with my latest work by signing up for updates. You can also connect with me on social media: Instagram (@authorericarstinson) Twitter (@authorericarsti) Facebook (Authorericarstinson) TikTok((@authorericarstinson) I invite you to enjoy "Succession", a free short story from the world of Oliver Perritt, simply by clicking the following link: https://linktr.ee/authorericarstinson My books, "The Doctor", "Mirror Mirror" and "Shelter" are also still available. And while I have taken down the Detective Millicent Harvey series for re-editing and re-branding, don't worry, she'll be back!

Book preview

Books by Erica R. Stinson

––––––––

Oliver Perritt Psychological Medical Thrillers

The Doctor: A Psychological Thriller (An Oliver Perritt Thriller)

Mirror, Mirror: A Psychological Thriller (Hannah Sloane)

Succession (obtained by signing up for my mailing list)

Stand-Alone Titles

Shelter: A Gripping Suspense Thriller

Wide Angle

Smothered(Coming Spring 2024)

Chapter 1

Alice Blaylock jolted upright in her bed as a flash suddenly lit up the room, her body drenched in a cold sweat. She gasped for breath, her heart pounding in her chest, as the remnants of her haunting dream slowly faded away. A sense of relief washed over her as she realized it was just a dream—a mere figment of her imagination. Outside, a fierce lightning storm raged, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls of her room. The abrupt flashes of light and the booming thunderclaps made her heart skip a beat, amplifying her already heightened state of unease.

For a moment, Alice found solace in the realization that the camera flash she had mistaken for reality was nothing more than the natural spectacle of the storm. The darkness outside seemed to swallow her fears, allowing her to catch her breath. However, even amid this relief, a lingering trepidation lingered within her. The weight of her public persona, the constant exposure to the prying eyes of the world, had taken its toll on her. Her life had become a never-ending performance, where every move she made was scrutinized and dissected by an audience she had never asked for.  The pressure to maintain an illusion of normalcy, to navigate the intricacies of life in the spotlight, had left her mentally and emotionally drained. Her once-vibrant energy had dimmed, replaced by a constant undercurrent of anxiety.

As the storm outside raged on, each lightning strike and thunderous rumble only served to remind Alice of the immense stress that weighed upon her. She couldn't escape the relentless demands of her public image, nor the suffocating expectations placed upon her.  During the thunderstorm, she felt a twinge of unease—a deep-rooted apprehension that something far more sinister lurked beneath the surface. The lightning, once a symbol of nature's power, now served as a grim reminder of the relentless scrutiny that had become her reality.

Alice sighed, the tension in her body refusing to dissipate. Alice tossed and turned in her bed, her mind swirling with a tangled web of worries and anxieties. The weight of her public persona bore down on her shoulders, suffocating her sense of regularity. She longed for solitude, for a moment of respite from the prying eyes and relentless scrutiny of the outside world.

As the night pressed on, Alice's dreams grew restless, entwining reality and fiction into a disorienting tapestry. Flashes of cameras illuminated her subconscious, capturing fragmented moments of her life like stolen glimpses of a forbidden reality. The intrusive paparazzi, with their insatiable hunger for scandal, haunted her thoughts.

Suddenly, a brilliant burst of light pierced through the darkness, again jolting Alice from her slumber. Her eyes flew open, her heart racing, as she instinctively shielded her face from the blinding glare. But as her vision cleared, she realized it was not the intrusive lens of a camera that had startled her awake.  Outside her window, the tempestuous lightning storm still raged, casting erratic bursts of illumination across the room that had now increased dramatically. The thunderous roars of the storm mingled with her racing heartbeat, creating an unsettling symphony that echoed her inner turmoil.

Alice took a deep breath, attempting to steady her frayed nerves. The lines between her reality and her dreams blurred together, leaving her feeling disoriented and vulnerable. She knew she had not been sleeping well, her restless nights haunted by the weight of her public image and the constant scrutiny it entailed. This relentless exposure, the constant pressure to maintain a facade of normalcy, had taken its toll on Alice. Her appetite had waned, and her once-vibrant energy diminished. The daily struggles of navigating life under the spotlight had left her emotionally drained, teetering on the edge of a precipice.

As the storm outside raged on, Alice settled back into her bed, her mind still swirling with unease. She knew she had to find a way to regain control, to reclaim her sense of self amidst the chaos. But for now, she would allow the storm and the flashes of lightning to lull her back into an uneasy sleep, hoping that tomorrow would bring a respite from the relentless glare of the world she inhabited. 

Her mind swirling with a sense of unease, Alice Blaylock found herself immersed in another intense dream, her mind conjuring up images of the bustling red carpet. The blinding flashes of paparazzi cameras illuminated the night sky, their dazzling lights reflecting off her shimmering gown.  In the depths of her subconscious, flashes of light pierced through the darkness, as if paparazzi cameras were capturing her every move. The dream felt vivid, almost too real.  But then, a sudden jolt of awareness disrupted the fantasy. A flash, unmistakably real, pierced through the darkness of her closed eyelids. As the flashes intensified, Alice's eyes fluttered open.  She found herself lying in bed, the dark bedroom continually lighting up from the thunderstorm outside.

To her surprise, the man lying beside her remained motionless, undisturbed by the intrusion that had shattered her sleep. She glanced at her companion, searching for any sign of consciousness, but he appeared serene, lost in his dreams. Confusion clouded Alice's thoughts as she tried to reconcile what she had just experienced. Was it merely a trick of her imagination, a distorted blend of dream and reality? She hesitated, lingering on the edge of disbelief, before tentatively allowing herself to accept it as a mere figment of her imagination.

Reluctantly, she lay back down, her body tensed and her mind restless. Sleep eluded her as doubts gnawed at her sanity. What if it wasn't a dream after all? What if there had been a presence, lurking in the shadows, capturing her in that fleeting moment of vulnerability?  The covers felt stifling, suffocating, as Alice tossed and turned, her mind plagued by unanswered questions. Every creak of the house, every whisper of the wind outside, seemed amplified, fueling her growing unease. Though she yearned for rest, her subconscious remained on high alert, attuned to the possibility that something sinister lingered just beyond her grasp.

As the night wore on, Alice's thoughts continued to swirl, a tempest of uncertainty and fear. Sleep became an elusive commodity, slipping through her fingers like grains of sand. The boundaries between dreams and reality blurred, leaving her trapped in a limbo of restless consciousness.  Though she attempted to convince herself that it had been a mere illusion, deep down, Alice knew she had witnessed something inexplicable.  As the night waned and the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, she vowed to uncover the truth behind the flashes that had disrupted her dreams.

***

Alice pushed open the door to her son’s room upon waking an hour or two later, her heart sinking at the sight before her. Matty sat on the floor next to his bed, designed to look like a race car, his small frame curled up and withdrawn with knees tucked to his little chest. His eyes filled with a mix of sadness and fear as the older woman who served as his nanny, Bridget McKee, spoke softly to him as she completed her task.  Alice watched as Bridget hastily set about tossing the Thor-themed sheets just stripped from the small bed into a laundry basket. Alice noticed fresh underpants on the dresser, her eyes moving the damp stain on the front of Matty’s pajama bottoms as Bridget beckoned the child to her and he stood up.

What happened? Alice's voice cracked with a mix of worry and protectiveness, her eyes darting between Matty and Bridget.

Bridget appeared to be startled by Alice’s sudden appearance, glancing up at the younger woman whose expression seemed to freeze the nanny in her tracks.

Matty had a little accident, Bridget explained hastily, her voice calm so as not to embarrass the child but strained. I'll just change out the sheets, Ms. Blaylock.

Alice's gaze lingered on her six-year-old son, her mind racing to make sense of his sudden behavior change. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than a simple accident.

Why are those in there? Alice's voice trembled, her eyes narrowing as she pointed at a stuffed teddy bear nestled among a flannel blanket in the recesses of the small closet.  Matty never went to bed without his favorite toy or that blanket, "Did he sleep in the closet, Bridget?"

Bridget hesitated for a moment as Alice’s piercing stare hardened, her eyes shifting uncomfortably before she finally spoke. I found him asleep in there when I came in to wake him, Mrs. Blaylock. I'm not sure why he went into the closet.

Alice's concern deepened, her protective instincts kicking into high gear. She took a step closer to Matty, crouching down to his eye level.

Matty, sweetheart, why were you in the closet? Alice asked, her voice gentle but firm.

Matty remained silent, his eyes fixed on the floor, his small hands fidgeting nervously. Alice's heart ached at his withdrawal, her instincts screaming that something wasn't right.

Bridget, this isn't like him, Alice stated, her voice tinged with suspicion. He's never done anything like this before. Now tell me what happened?

Bridget's face flushed, her eyes avoiding Alice's gaze. I honestly don't know, Ms. Blaylock. He didn't say anything to me, and I didn't want to push him.

Alice's worry grew, her mind racing to unravel the mystery surrounding Matty's behavior. She couldn't shake the feeling that Bridget was keeping something from her, a feeling that fueled her determination to protect her son at all costs.

Alright, Bridget, Alice's voice hardened, her eyes cold as they locked onto the nanny's. I want you to keep a close eye on him. If anything else happens or if he shows any signs of distress, I expect to be informed immediately.

Bridget nodded, her face etched with a mix of guilt and unease. Alice stood up, her focus solely on Matty. She pulled him into a gentle embrace, her heart breaking for the little boy who seemed burdened by something he couldn't express.

As Alice left the room, her mind buzzed with questions and concerns. She knew she had to dig deeper, to uncover the truth hidden beneath Matty's silence and the secrets Bridget seemed unwilling to share.

When she went downstairs a short time later Matty was already dressed and seated at the large center island in the kitchen, stools propped at one side of it.  Alice was relieved to see that he was happily eating whatever kids' cereal Bridget had put out for him, the colorful rings bobbing on top of the milk in his Thor-themed plastic bowl.  Bridget knew better than to give him sugar, but Alice kept quiet so as not to upset the boy.  Just this once, she would allow it but she planned to speak to the nanny again about Matty’s strict diet. Alice quickly scanned through a few emails and then poured herself a cup of coffee, setting her pale blue leather purse on the counter.  After the night she’d had, it was a much-needed thing this morning.

Finish up your breakfast, Matty and we’ll get you off to school.  Do you have your backpack? Bridget asked the boy, which took his attention away from his breakfast momentarily and he stared at her wordlessly. 

Bridget didn’t say anything as she disappeared from the kitchen and returned a moment later with the Thor backpack that Matty used for school.  She was smiling at the little boy as she unzipped the bag and began to pack some snacks into it, along with a small lunch container that had been removed from the refrigerator.

See to it that you pick him up on time today, is that clear? Alice suddenly shot out as Bridget appeared startled, the backpack falling over as nodded and retrieved it.

Yes, Ms. Blaylock. I will be there early.

Good. Alice said, her expression softening as she leaned to press a delicate kiss on top of Matty’s head as the boy continued to eat his cereal, Have a good day at school, Matty. Mommy loves you.

As she walked outside and to her SUV, Alice tapped a few buttons on her phone and waited as the phone trilled in her ear. She stepped into her car and pulled the door shut behind her as she pressed the ‘start’ button that served as the vehicle’s ignition.

Good morning, this is Alice Blaylock. Do you have availability sometime this afternoon? I have an important matter I need some assistance with.

***

Alice’s face was mottled red with anger as she drew back her arm, hurling the expensive glass knick-knack she had ripped from her desk and held within manicured fingers to crash against the nearest wall, along with a loud expletive.  A moment later the door to her office opened and a tall, timid, moon-faced woman peeked in to stare at her through large tortoise-shell framed eyeglasses.  Ms. Blaylock! Are you all...

Don’t just stand there, Kimmie! Get in here!! Alice snarled as the other woman nodded, shutting the door behind her with a quiet click but not before her livid boss could see puzzled faces in the outer office area staring in at them, curiously. What the hell are you all gawking at?! Get back to work!!

Heads lowered and eyes moved away from the commotion coming from the office of the President for Blaylock Real Estate.  Every employee there knew that Alice waffled between psychotic and just being a bitch, which was the way that she liked it.  She wasn’t there to be friends with the people who worked for her because she needed them on their game at every minute. 

The housing market was precarious now and the company wasn’t in danger, not exactly, but anything was possible if these idiots dropped the ball.  But right now, Alice had a much bigger problem such as her husband, rather soon-to-be ex-husband, breaking the rules that both their divorce lawyers had agreed on about Matty.  How Bruce could have done this, even after the conditions were made crystal clear verbally and in writing, which was something Alice had insisted on, she did not know but she wasn’t going to take it sitting down.

Get my attorney on the phone and tell him that The Asshole has struck again.

Kimmie nodded as she stared expectantly to hear what else Alice was going to say as the irate woman was on a roll now and not going to stop anytime soon.  The assistant was privy to Alice’s life both at home as well as at the office, a very precise combination of what was needed to take care of Alice Blaylock.  Alice had dubbed Kimmie as her First Assistant and had delegated the woman to procure a Second Assistant to pick up the slack in the office when she needed Kimmie for more personal matters as was the case currently.

It had been very difficult to keep assistants after a few days of what was commonly referred to as the Blaylock Initiation in which Alice would test these young girls to see what they were made of.  Often, many of them were reduced to tears and would quit and this would sometimes happen within hours of dealing with the psychological and verbal carnage Alice would spew at them.  She certainly didn’t have time for those who didn’t have the belly for what she expected from them and did her best to weed them out early.  It was better that way and Kimmie, who had been with her for about a year now, had passed with flying colors.  Alice could admit sometimes that she could be downright mean and spiteful to the girl, deliberately at times even, but deep down she greatly appreciated everything that Kimmie did.  She always wore a smile and just took whatever Alice threw at her with a grain of salt.  Had the situation been reversed, Alice could freely admit that she would have quit ages ago. 

She could freely admit that Kimmie was an extremely skilled worker across the board and an asset not only to the company but in taking care of Alice’s personal affairs, seamlessly.  So, once she was convinced that Kimmie was suitable to have her deal with issues concerning Matty at times, she tasked her assistant with minimal domestic duties as necessary. 

Alice had recently gone through the finalization of an incredibly messy divorce.  The media couldn’t get enough of it and annoyed her by constantly fishing for details regarding the much-publicized dissolution of their marriage.  She had seen quite a few social media posts from the major magazines and a bunch of nonsense in the tabloids.  She already had her publicist all over that mess and she was promised that it was being taken care of.  She had even seen a few things being said about Matty, which was completely off-limits as far as she was concerned.  Say what you would about her or Bruce, but Alice did not want her son’s name mentioned in the more spiteful comments from the general public. 

But there was very little she could do to control that, so she authorized Kimmie to only alert her of major posts that she could sue them for if they were untrue.  However, one of the very true posts was about Bruce who, of course, had quickly moved on to a newer, younger model of Alice before the ink on the divorce papers was even dry.  Matty had casually mentioned a few days ago that Daddy had a ‘new friend’ who had spent the night during his last visitation with Bruce.

And now here she was getting a call from the very expensive private school Matty attended, informing her about Bruce’s new plaything currently waiting in the office, and who was most assuredly not on the list of people permitted to pick Matty up.  Alice had gritted her teeth as she ordered the principal’s office not to let her son leave with the woman. 

I need you to get over to Matty’s school and bring him back here. Immediately. Alice ordered as Kimmie nodded obediently.

Oh, I thought Mr. Hudson.... Kimmie asked with a confused expression on her face as she double-checked her tablet.

He was supposed to but for whatever stupid reason, Bruce sent that girlfriend of his there to get Matty instead. I already told the school that you were on your way there to get him and I did not want him to be released to Stephanie. Alice admitted with a heavy sigh.

I’m on it, Ms. Blaylock, Kimmie promised as she tapped the tablet’s screen a few times Alice continued speaking, pacing back and forth behind her desk like a caged animal.

"I need you to let the attorney know that I want this issue with Stephanie and Bruce handled today."

Kimmie was on the list, merely as a backup but it would do for right now, and Alice was assured there would be no problem.  She had already scheduled a meeting with the principal of the school where she intended to make it clear that under no circumstances was Matty allowed to be released to Stephanie Carmichael.  Bruce needed to do his duty as a father and pick up his child when it was his turn, per the custody agreement.  Alice was still fuming as she thought of how she’d donated hundreds and thousands of dollars a year to the school and they needed to remember that.  Right now, she was stalking back and forth as Kimmie hurriedly tapped nimble fingers on her tablet, head full of slightly unruly, thick brown curls, nodding as she kept perfect pace with her boss, her face close to the tablet deep in concentration.

"Call the attorney on the drive there. I don’t want my son to be kept waiting another moment longer than he already has.  I want it to be known that my son is not to be approached at school, little league, or any other activity by that.... that...home-wrecking.... bitch!  I need you to get on finding a new nanny ASAP. Where is the new nanny that you were supposed to get, by the way? Have you, at all, tried to at least find me a new nanny to deal with picking my son up from school on time?!"

Alice had let Bridget go earlier that week, still convinced that something had happened between the nanny and Matty that changed his behavior to such an extent. Bridget hadn’t taken the decision well but it was Alice’s to make and she had done it.  Already she was dealing with the wrongful termination lawsuit that Bridget had threatened her with as security had escorted her from the house. It had been a tumultuous event over the week and Alice’s nerves were still frayed as a result.

Uh.... Kimmie hedged, looking uncomfortable as Alice finally snapped at her to speak up if she had something to say.

I am still trying to get through the paperwork the agency....

"Well, don’t try, Kimmie, succeed! Suc-CEED! Is this or is this not part of your job?"

I-It is, but...but... Kimmie stuttered, her mouth opening to say more but Alice cut her off.

Then do it! the woman snarled at her subordinate before waving her away, "Get out! Get out of here!  And when you see that bitch at the school you tell her that I will personally come after her if she ever tries this shit again!"

Kimmie nodded and quickly backed from the office as Alice sighed, plopping down in her leather chair.  She was tired of doing everything herself and hated dealing with Bruce and his bullshit right in the middle of all the other stuff she had going on. 

Chapter 2

By the time Kimmie returned to the office nearly an hour later, Matty in tow, Alice had calmed down considerably. Mommy’s sorry that you had to wait so long after school. Alice immediately apologized as Matty seemed not to be bothered about it at all one way or the other.  Are you hungry?

On it, Ms. Blaylock, The woman chirped in a bright tone, wearing her customary megawatt smile, and stretched out her hand to catch his small one as Matty obediently walked over to stand beside the assistant, Let’s go to the employee lounge and see what kind of goodies we can find.

Thank you, Kimmie, Alice said, her tone much softer now that everything had worked out.  Kimmie paused at the door to look back at Alice and nodded, wearing the same understanding expression she always did after one of her boss’s Jekyll and Hyde routines. 

The rest of the day went without incident and when she peeked out at Kimmie’s desk, she saw Matty having some of the candy she always kept there in a glass jar.  While she didn’t like him having so much sugar, and the woman should have known better than to offer it to him, Alice let it slide. 

She was still feeling guilty about Matty being stuck at school while everything was being organized around him.  She decided to simply let it go just this once, and could already hear her father Carleton’s voice in her head, berating her for being weak and not asserting herself more with Matty. 

Of course, and after prompting from Alice, she learned that Kimmie hadn’t said a word to Stephanie when she saw the other woman at the school but had simply done as she was told and collected Matty from the Principal’s office.  Kimmie could be such a meekling at times and some part of Alice knew that she wasn’t going to say anything which was why she deliberately asked Kimmie about it.  Any notion of the stalwart assistant impressing her by finding a backbone went away as soon as she saw the look on Kimmie’s face when questioned about what had happened at the school.  By the time it neared six, Alice’s stomach was rumbling.  She had been so upset about what Bruce had tried to pull with Stephanie that she hadn’t had a single morsel of food since breakfast.  Alice looked up as Kimmie rapped on the door frame to the office softly and she and Matty entered hand-in-hand.

Dinner? Alice asked, wearily, as Kimmie replied that she had accepted Carleton’s dinner invitation for seven sharp at one of the Blaylock family’s preferred restaurants.  Carleton’s way was to have his assistant set up any meeting, business or personal, that way and Kimmie organized things on Alice’s end.  If it wasn’t well known already no one would believe the two were father and daughter as Carleton kept things at a distance, which had always been his way.  Alice could barely remember a time when things had not been this way.

Oh, good news, Kimmie began as she looked at her tablet and her fingers tapped a few times against the screen, I have someone coming in to interview for the nanny position first thing tomorrow morning.

"Good news? That’s great news," Alice replied with a look of immense relief on her face as Kimmie agreed, pushing up her large tortoise-shell framed glasses higher on the bridge of her nose as she glanced at her electronic tablet.

Her name is...uh...Morgan Everett.  She’s a little younger than Bridget but she has tons of experience.

Alice nodded, appearing to be satisfied as she listened to Kimmie list the applicant’s details.  According to her file, Morgan was only a year or so older than Alice, but she had an extensive background in childcare, which was imperative for all applicants for the position. 

The job required keeping any areas Matty was in clean and neat, on top of doing his laundry.  Alice would not put up with any filth or clutter in her home.  Transportation to his after-school activities was vital.  Her son was a bit of a fussy eater, so grocery shopping, with advanced knowledge of a healthy diet suitable for a six-year-old boy, was non-negotiable.  His father allowed him to eat all kinds of garbage behind her back, as had Bridget, but Alice was putting a stop to it with this new nanny. 

Does she do any domestic work as well? Alice asked just as Kimmie was going on about Morgan’s impressive credentials. 

Yes, I believe so... Kimmie stammered, her finger swiping the screen to another digital page to verify.

"Do you believe, or do you know?" Alice pushed as Kimmie clarified that Morgan did, indeed, do light housekeeping