Lookin’ For U

Uma Freeman is at the Bear Rock Cafe with her best friend Jennifer anxiously waiting on a phone call. “So is this mystery creep still spamming your phone?” Jennifer asked. “Yes” Uma replied anxiously. “I swear I don’t know who this is but he keeps sending me random messages everyday like “Hey beautiful” while describing what I’m wearing” Uma replied.

“What did your cousin Donovan say about his hacker buddy Stuart?” Jennifer asked. “He said he’s free today to look at my phone and do a trace on the number even if it is hidden” Uma began. “Donny said he’s really good. He told me Stu was military intelligence back when they served in the army together 10 years ago. Soon we’re gonna find out who he is and report this jackass so I can get him out of my life.” Uma’s phone began vibrating and she looked down to see a text message from a number she didn’t recognize.

510-299-7655: “You’ll be mine soon enough. We will be together as one dancing together on that beautiful patio behind your house.” “Okay that’s it” Uma uttered frantically as she got up to leave the cafe. “What is it?” A concerned Jennifer asked. “I have to hurry up and get to this Stuart guy because I’m tired of this creep harassing me.” Uma continued as she flew out of the cafe and made it to her car.

Uma hopped in her car and frantically began driving to the electronic store known as Box Me In Digital. In her hectic driving she was clocking nearly 50 miles an hour in the 35 miles per hour zone. “I’m almost there, it’s only a couple minutes away I just gotta-” Before Uma could finish her train of thought her phone vibrated on the dashboard. She hesitated to grab it and check it, but her curiousity got the best of her.

She picked up the phone and read the new message: “There’s nowhere to go. I am with you everywhere my love”. Once more those words struck fear in Uma’s heart. She finally arrived at Box Me In Digital and flew out of her car and into the entrance of the shop. She found a man sitting at the front counter typing on the laptop that was in front of him. The man’s focus was suddenly broken as he was startled by Uma’s entrance. “You must be Uma” the man said sarcastically.

“Yes…yes I am” Uma replied short of breath. “And you must be Stuart” Uma continued. “Yes I am” Stuart began. “So it looks like you got a stalker on your hands. Come on in and I’ll run that trace on you with my special equipment. We’ll get to the bottom of who this psycho is” Stuart assured her. “Thank you” Uma exhaled. “You don’t know how long I’ve-”

Before Uma could finish her statement a man dressed in all black wearing a black ski mask busted through the door of the shop. Uma screamed as he pushed her to the ground. “HEY!” Stuart screamed as he quickly rose up from behind Uma and tackled the masked assailant. As Stuart raised his hand to punch the man in the face the masked man kneed him in the stomach and pushed him over as Stuart fell on his back holding himself.

“I told you little Uma” the man said menacingly as he pulled a knife from the small of his waist. “My love for you is everywhere. There is no escape from-” Before the man could continue the sound of a gun went off behind him and a bullet entered his back and came out of his chest. The shot was taken by Stuart. The man then collapsed on the floor in front of Uma as he bled out. “You okay Uma?” Stuart asked as he made it to his feet. “Yes, yes I’m okay. Thanks to you” a relieved Uma exhaled.

With ten minutes police and paramedics were all over the store. The had just finished getting a statement from a relieved Uma as she went to approach Stuart. “Looks like you won’t be needing that trace” Stuart joked. “I guess not” Uma replied. “Thank you for saving my life Stuart. You’re my hero and I don’t know how I could ever repay you”.

“Well, would it be too straightforward if your hero asked you could he take you out for dinner later this week?” Stuart asked confidently. “As a matter of fact, I think I’d like that very much” Uma agreed. “I’ll call you later then” Stuart concluded. As police, paramedics and Uma all departed from the store Stuart went back inside the store and sat behind his desk thinking about what he had just accomplished.

“I did it. I got Uma to fall for me. I stalked her with a burner number then let it slip to her brother that I knew how to trace numbers so that she would seek me out for help. Then I was able to hire a sucker to pretend to be her attacker and then shoot him dead without him seeing it coming , so I would look like the hero who saved her and it all paid off. Tonight’s dinner date is just the beginning. Uma will be mine…”