“Yes. He comes during the day while I’m gone and he comes at night, while I’m sleeping.”

“And the police didn’t believe you?”

“After the first doll…the detective who was assigned the case, he was sympathetic—I was practically hysterical—but I’m not sure he believed me and he said there was nothing he could do. Without the security camera, without any evidence of forced entry…well, there wasn’t anything. They increased patrols there, that was all. He suggested I hire a bodyguard or a security detail to park at the house.”

“And that didn’t work either?”

Dani shook her head. “I didn’t do it. I can’t live like that. I won’t live like that.”

“Okay. So? Then what?”

“I came here. I hoped maybe my being away would make him stop.”

She sighed. “I don’t think stalkers just stop, Dani. My experiences with something like this are ex-boyfriends harassing the old girlfriend or the new boyfriend. I’ve seen far too many of them end badly.”

“I’m sorry. It didn’t occur to me that he would follow me here.”

Harper frowned. “How did he even know you would be here? Has it been publicized?”

Dani shook her head. “No, not at all. Not unless your department put out a statement or something, which we asked them not to.”

“But you’ve got people? You know, your people talked to my people.”

Dani nodded. “Yes, of course there are some who knew of my plans. But I guard my privacy. They know that. They would never advertise it without my consent.”

Harper started the car again and pulled out into traffic. “Well, if the clown guy is really your stalker, he knew you were here somehow. Not only that, he apparently followed us from the station.”

“Where are we going?”

“I need to let Lieutenant Mize know. I’m responsible for your safety.”

“I don’t think he wants to hurt me, really. I mean, he’s had ample opportunities already. He wants me scared, I think. He wants me punished.”

Harper looked at her questioningly.

“The letters,” Dani explained. “Each one gets a little more…well, detailed.”

“Do you have them?”

Dani shook her head. “No. I mean, yes, I have them, but not with me.”

“You’ve shown them to the police?”

“Not the last few. I really didn’t see the point since the detective there thought I was making it all up anyway.”

“Okay. Give me an example of the letters. What do they say?”

“The early ones were just love letters…infatuation. But now, he’s mad at me. He’s in love with me, but he’s mad at me. I deserve to be punished. That sort of thing.”

“What do you take that to mean?”

“I don’t know. The only thing that comes to mind would be my character Clair in Shores of St. Clair.”

Harper raised her eyebrows.