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life?”
    “Only all sleepless night long, and I’m no closer to an answer than I was yesterday.”
    “The telephone number was untraceable, probably from a throwaway cell.”
    “Do you think he was close enough to watch when I came home?”
    “Anything’s possible. I’ll have the cruisers add you to their routes.”
    The thought of police cars circling her house every hour made the break-in even more ominous. It meant Detective Valkonis worried that the intruder might return. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”
    “Can’t hurt.”
    “I appreciate your concern.”
    “Let me know if anything suspicious occurs or if you get another call. Anything, okay?”
    “I will, and thanks.”
    Abby decided to check her email before doing any work. Nothing from Luke McCallister, which caused an irritating twinge of disappointment. She opened the only email since yesterday, and an uncontrollable wave of panic shot through her.
    It’s not over , the mechanical voice said.
    * * * * *
    P ete Valkonis called later in the day. “I’d like your patient list, Dr. Gallant.”
    “You know that’s privileged.”
    “Someone’s trying to hurt you, and I can’t help if you’re not willing to be forthcoming.”
    “Well, I’m not. But I will vet my patient list. I promise if I find anything pertinent to your investigation, I’ll inform you. Fair enough?”
    Valkonis exhaled a long breath. “I guess it’ll have to be. Don’t wait too long. This guy’s fixated on you. I don’t want to scare you, but guys like this become bolder the longer they go unchecked. We need to find him and fast.”
    “You are scaring me, Detective.” An understatement. Her heart pounded like a jackhammer.
    “I’ll get back to you.”
    “I’m ready to leave, Dr. Gallant,” Bertie said. “Got everything back in place. Anything else I can do before I go?”
    “Thank you, Bertie. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Would you let Daisy out, please? And make sure the back door is secured when you come in.”
    “Sure. Come on, Daisy, Bertie’s gonna take you out.”
    Daisy padded to the door, her excitement audible. When she returned, she stuck her head under Abby’s hand, demanding attention. Golden retrievers were affectionate and eager to please, but Daisy took her guide responsibilities seriously. Abby would be lost without her.
    After thanking Bertie and letting her out, Abby double-locked the door, hooked the safety chain, and returned to her office. Current patients’ information was on the computer and on audio. When a patient completed counseling, she converted the text, using Braille translation software, then printed it onto special one-hundred-pound paper on a Braille embosser. She pulled up records going back five years. The files were kept in an unlocked cabinet. No one with access could read the code but her. The system worked well.
    A couple of hours buried in the files uncovered no surprises. No one reached the level of likely suspect. Then who? And why?
    The only person who ever wished her harm was dead.
    * * * * *
    A bby referred Luke to Greenville psychologist, Dr. Mack Tollison, a colleague and friend. She made sure Mack understood that the reason she withdrew from Luke’s therapy was personal and didn’t reflect on him as a patient.
    She and Luke agreed to wait until after his evaluation to explore a relationship, for his protection as well as hers. Abby wanted no hint of impropriety. That didn’t stop Luke from emailing or having Pete check on her, which instilled a sense of security into her unraveling life.
    Everything all right? he wrote. Drop a line if you need to talk. I won’t tell.
    You’re making this hard as hell, she answered.
    Still, she looked forward to his messages and felt disappointed when they weren’t there.
    The next month passed without incident. No break-ins, no scary emails or phone calls, nothing suspicious at work. Abby tried to put the menacing situation out of her mind, but it