Prowl

By Amy Shannon

Prowl
Book 1 in the Profiler's Duo
2023 version

Bank Manager Andrea Wallace can't go anywhere without her unwanted shadow, Keith Leonard Fontana, a man obsessed with her. He's been stalking her for years and then his behavior escalates, especially when she starts dating a police officer. Anyone who comes in contact with her is attacked or killed.

Insert Special Agent John Marshall, a profiler who works at the local FBI office, who connects with her and teachers her how to use her own natural talents of observation and perception. He gives her tips on how to survive, if, actually more like when she is caught in Fontana's net.

Her capture is not the end of the story, not for Andrea and not for her family and friends. Andrea retreats into her home, with her new best friend, Ralph, a German Shepard, recently retired from the police department. Fontana is on the prowl, but he may not be the only one.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amy Shannon
• Release date: Nov 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215173565

Amy Shannon

Amy Shannon is an author, professional book reviewer and literary consultant. Amy is republishing and publishing some for the first time, her MOD Life Epic Saga, which has over 67 volumes, and 9 bonus books.

Book preview

Prowl

An Andrea Wallace Story

Amy Shannon

A picture containing linedrawing Description automatically generated

ISBN:

Essence Enterprises

Copyright © 2022 by Amy C Shannon

2023 Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except by a review who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Credits:

Cover Illustration Copyright © 2023

Cover design by Amy Shannon

Introduction

Bank Manager Andrea Wallace can't go anywhere without her unwanted shadow, Keith Leonard Fontana, a man obsessed with her. He's been stalking her for years and then, his behavior escalates, especially when she starts dating a police officer. Anyone who comes in contact with her, is attacked or killed.

Insert Special Agent John Marshall, a profiler who works at the local FBI office, who connects with her and teachers her how to use her own natural talents of observation and perception. He gives her tips on how to survive, if, more like when she is caught in Fontana's net.

Her capture is not the end of the story, not for Andrea and not for her family and friends. Andrea retreats into her home, with her new best friend, Ralph. A German Shepard, recently retired from the police department. Fontana is on the prowl, but he may not be the only one.

Chapter 1: Shadow

ANDREA STARED OUT the window as the rain splattered against the glass. Her eyes focused on the streetlight that was blurred by shadows. She couldn’t see him, but she knew he was there. Hiding in the shadows. Following her wherever she went. Wherever she was, he was there. He wasn’t even hiding. He was in plain sight. Her sight and she was in his sight. No one thought it was a big deal. Just ignore him, her friends would say, but how can a shadow be ignored?

The police were unable to help. He wasn’t hurting her. He wasn’t threatening her. He was just there. Call us when he does something wrong, she could hear Officer Harmon of the Louisville police department say to her the last time she reported him.

Him. Yeah, him. Keith Leonard Fontana. Why did all the creepy men have three names? She had no idea how long he had been following her, but it wasn’t until about two and a half years ago when he first approached her directly. He said he was her admirer. He said he loved her. He said they would always be together. That he would never let her go.

Andrea pulled down the shade and walked over to the sofa. This was the sixth apartment in two years. She thought she could run away from Fontana, but somehow, no matter what she did, he found her.

Andrea sat on the sofa and picked up her glass of wine. She jumped slightly when her cell phone rang. She looked at the number shown on the caller ID and took a deep breath. Hello? she answered.

It’s me, Carla, her best friend said on the other end of the line.

Oh, hi, she said. So, did he ask you out?

Yes, Andi, her voice smiled. I don’t know why it took him so long, but he finally did. He does have a friend.

I don’t know, Andrea said.

It’s been years since you dated, Carla said.

Every time I like someone, he gets scared away, she said.

Oh, right, your shadow, Carla said. I don’t know how you deal with it.

I don’t do it very well. No matter what I do, he finds me, she said. He even has my phone number.

Again? How did he get it?

I have no idea, Andrea said. He thinks we’re dating.

I wish I could help, Carla said.

I don’t know how to help myself. I’ve had to make all the allowances and it still doesn’t work. Maybe I should get myself admitted into the hospital just to get a break.

You want that? Carla said. I can get you admitted.

Yeah, for what? Going insane?

Mental health is not my specialty. Now, if you have a heart attack …

I just may with my blood pressure, Andrea said.

I’m on call tonight, but if you need me, just call me, she said.

I’ll be fine, Andrea said. I hope. Some days … she said.

What is it? she asked.

If he would do something … other than what he is doing now, I could get a restraining order or even have him arrested.

I don’t want you hurt, Carla said. Oh, crap. I’m being paged. I have to go. I’ll call you later. Think about the date.

I’ll think about it, she said. I’ll talk to you soon. She hung up. She sipped her wine and stared at the blank television set. She looked toward the window and shook her head. She picked up her journal and stared down at last night’s entry. She picked up her pen and started to write. Shadows lurking in every corner, voices in the distance, watching … that’s all he does … following, lurking, obsessed. In the mind of connections, when all links shall be broken, feelings that once were are gone. But lingering thoughts, imagination, hallucinations. Intense and fearful that will be captured. Feelings intensified, feelings not returned lead to danger. The danger of the unknown when obsession is on the prowl.

Chapter 2: Shuddering

ANDREA LOOKED UP at the clock as she sat up from the sofa. Oh, damn, she said, as she slowly stood up. She walked into the kitchen and turned on the coffeemaker. She gathered up her wine glass from the night before and washed it out in the sink. She headed down the hall to her bedroom. She looked around the dark room as a bit of sunlight peered in on the side of the dark curtains that hung from the large windows. She opened the closet door, pulled out her outfit for the day, and then headed into the bathroom to take her shower.

She looked at the fog on the mirror as the water droplets dripped down the mirror. She wiped the mirror with her hand so that she could see herself as she dried her dark hair. Another day, she said, as she put on her robe and headed into the kitchen.

She stared at her cell phone as it vibrated. Damn, now what? She poured herself a cup of coffee and walked over to the coffee table. She sat on the sofa and picked up her phone. She read the text.

Thanks for last night, sweet baby.

She shuddered. Bastard. Just leave me alone. She stared at the phone as it vibrated again.

I had a great time- Keith.

She set the phone on the table, watching it continually vibrate. Nice to know I don’t have to answer since you do it for me, she sipped her coffee. I wish he had his own text shorthand so I wouldn’t know what he meant. He doesn’t even use text codes. God, leave me alone! she yelled at her cell phone, as it kept vibrating.

Andrea walked into the First National Bank of Hilltown and smiled at the tellers. She looked around and headed straight for her office. She took a deep breath as she opened her office door. She shook her head and picked up the phone. Yes, this is Andrea Wallace. How did these flowers get here?

I’m sorry, head Security officer Rey Owens said. They were delivered before we opened, so I just put them in your office. They’re from your boyfriend.

"I don’t have a boyfriend, she said, looking at the card. Anything from Keith Leonard Fontana is not welcome here."

I’m sorry, ma’am, Rey said. I’ll alert all my security officers.

Thank you, she said, as she hung up. She pulled the flowers out of the vase and threw them in the garbage. She noticed the card fell to the floor. She picked it up and stared at his words.

Have a nice day. See you soon, sweet baby-Keith.

She crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash. She stood up and opened the blinds that looked out into the bank. She was the bank manager of the bank. This was her fourth job in the past two years. It wasn’t her first choice of work, but she could no longer work at the accounting firm. Andrea was CPA and had her master’s degree in Accounting and Business Management. She used to work at Brosh, Lambert, and Giambetti, an accounting firm in Louisville. She worked there for 10 years but was forced to leave because of him.

She looked up, to the knocking on the door. Yes?

Tomas walked in and smiled. Ma’am, there is a couple here to apply for a homeowners loan.

Do they have an appointment?

No, he said.

I guess I have time, she said. Send them in.

Andrea watched as the couple left her office. She smiled to herself, as it felt good to be able to help a new couple starting off. She stood up and walked over to the filing cabinet and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him. She turned away from the window that faced the tellers in the bank and sat at her desk. She glanced up and he was at the teller. She held her breath until she watched him walk out of the bank. She slowly stood up and walked over to the window that overlooked the parking lot. She peered through the blinds that covered her window. She could see Fontana standing in the parking lot near a dark blue sedan. She waited and waited. Eventually, he got into the red sedan and pulled away. She quickly hurried to her desk and wrote down his license plate number. She had no idea what she needed it for, but she folded up the paper and put it in her purse.

The days seemed to get longer and longer, and Andrea felt more isolated than ever. She walked into her apartment and made her way down the door, locking all 10 locks. Andrea walked over to the window and looked out to the street. This time, the street was empty except for Mr. Erlich’s German Shepard, Thor. She watched as the dog walked up and down the street, in front of his owner’s home, as if he were guarding the property. Must be nice to have someone so loyal and protective, she thought.She always wanted a pet, but her apartment complex didn’t allow pets. Not even pets for security.

She walked over to the telephone and dialed the number for the Italian Restaurant down the road from her apartment. Yes, this is Andrea Wallace. I’d like to order the number three and number six, she said.

Very good. Will you be picking it up or do you want delivery?

Delivery, she said. Please, follow my personal delivery instructions.

Yes, Miss. Wallace. We are aware of your instructions. The driver will meet you behind your building in half an hour, Mr. Arsizio said.

Thank you, she said, as she hung up.

As Andrea sat down to eat, someone knocked on the door. She looked through the peephole but didn’t see anyone. She walked back to her table and sat down. Someone knocked on the door. She got up again and looked through the peephole but didn’t see anyone. She stepped back from the door and noticed a shadow at the base of the door. She slowly unlocked nine of the locks and then opened the door, leaving the chain still attached. Yes, can I help you?

Aren’t you going to let me in? Keith said.

No, she said.

Yes, please, I need to talk to you, Keith said. I’m not leaving until I talk to you.

So, talk, she said.

I want us to go out for coffee tomorrow, he said. So, we can talk. We’re friends, right?

"No, we’re nothing. Not lovers and not friends, nothing, she said. We are strangers! That’s the way I want to keep it. Please, go away."

You ordered my favorite. I can smell it from here, Keith said.

You are nothing to me, Andrea said.

Andi, now, you know that’s not true, he said. I love you and we are together.

No, we’re not, she said.

That’s just your imagination talking, he said, as he tried to grab her hand in the gap in the door.

Remove your hand or lose it, she said.

I’ll be back, my sweet baby, he smiled, blowing her a kiss while walking away.

She slammed the door and quickly locked the rest of the nine locks. She walked over to her dinner and sat down. She stared at the bag that it came in and noticed an envelope sticking out with writing on it. All my love, sweet baby, she shuddered. How do I get rid of him? she said, as she drank down her wine and poured another glass.

Chapter 3: Pressure

ANDREA SEEMED TO be spending her days either behind her desk at the bank or locked up in her apartment. The walls were closing in, and she felt she couldn’t escape. Day after day, hour after hour, the texts kept coming in. She changed her phone three more times, but the texts kept coming. She didn’t just change her phone number, but her phone, too. Sim card, everything, and she even kept the location off on every single phone. She had no idea how he discovered her number, but he did.

She woke up again on the sofa to the ringtone she had set for Keith. ♫Every breath you take, and every move you make, every bond you break, every step you take, I’ll be watching you.[1]♫ The song made her shudder and that was her warning. For some reason, whenever she added his number to the cell phone blocked list, he managed to get through. She couldn’t help but read the latest text.

Good morning, sweet baby.

She set the phone on the table. How can I get rid of him? she said. She got dressed and grabbed her coffee off the counter. She could feel the anger inside her as her blood pressure rose. Her heart beat faster the angrier and more helpless she felt. The heat rose up to her head, making it spin. She grabbed for her phone as she fell to the ground.

Andrea opened her eyes in the bright white room. She looked up as Carla was standing over her. Where am I?

You’re in the hospital, she said.

How did I get here?

Carla took her hand. They had to break down the door, she said. You managed to call 9-1-1 before you collapsed.

What happened to me?

You had a cardiac episode, Carla said.

Cardiac episode? Can’t you just say heart attack?

"Well, then, heart attack, she said. Mild but yes, you had one. Feel better now?"

No, she grunted.

Can you tell me what happened? Your blood pressure is through the roof.

Andrea bit her lip nervously. He won’t leave me alone. He keeps texting me. The new phone I got … just kept going off. All morning. I’m so tired of it. I guess I can’t take it anymore, she said.

Why don’t you turn it off? she asked.

I’m afraid that if I turn it off, he’ll start doing something else, something worse. He already showed up at my door. I don’t know what to do, she said.

I wish I could help you, Carla said. But you have to do something to limit this stress.

I try but I guess it just gets to me, Andrea said. Can I go home yet?

No, you need to be admitted for a few days. I want to monitor you, she said.

He can’t get to me in here, can he? she asked.

No, she said. Don’t turn on your phone. It’s with your personal belongings.

I need to call my job, Andrea said.

I called Simon. Don’t worry, Carla said. Oh, there was a police officer looking for you.

It wasn’t Harmon, was it?

No, it was an Officer Armenti, she said. He came in with the paramedics.

I don’t know any Officer Armenti. Carla, I’m sorry.

"When I said I’d take care of you, I didn’t mean for you to have a real heart attack in order to get admitted. You could’ve just faked one," she smiled.

I know. I’m sorry, she said. I don’t want any visitors or deliveries.

No flowers are allowed in here anyway, she said. I have rounds, but I’ll be back to check in on you.

Thanks, Andrea said.

I ordered the TV and there is a landline phone on the desk you can use if you need to. Carla kissed her cheek. You will get through this.

Thanks, she took a deep breath as Carla left the room.

A nurse walked in and hung another IV bag on the pole. Hi, I’m Nancy. I’ll be your nurse for the night, she smiled.

Thank you, Andrea said.

Um, there is a police officer that wants to speak to you, she said.

Oh, Andrea pulled the sheet up over her chest. I guess it’s all right. Did he say why?

No, she said, as she changed the IV bag. I’ll send him in. Nancy left the room.

Andrea stared at the door and watched as it opened. A man, dressed in a black police officer’s uniform, walked toward her. He smiled gently as he took a black notebook out of his pocket. His silver badge twinkled