Chapter 15: The Stalker
Kimberly sat in her dressmaking shop, her fingers deftly working on the delicate fabric of a bridal gown. The soft hum of the sewing machine was usually a soothing sound, but today, an undercurrent of anxiety buzzed in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her.
The bell above the door chimed, and Kimberly looked up to see Timothy walking in. His presence instantly made her feel safer. 
"Hey, Tim," Kimberly said, smiling despite her unease.
"What brings you here?"
Timothy returned her smile, though his eyes were sharp and observant.
"Just wanted to check on you. How's the wedding dress coming along?"
Kimberly sighed, her hands pausing in their work.
"It's coming along fine, but... something's been bothering me."
Timothy frowned, moving closer.
"What's wrong?"
Kimberly hesitated, unsure if she was overreacting.
"I think someone has been following me. I keep getting this weird feeling, and I've noticed the same car parked outside a few times."
Timothy's expression darkened.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Have you seen who it is?"
"No, I haven't," Kimberly admitted.
"I just see the car, but I never catch a glimpse of the driver."
Timothy nodded, his protective instincts kicking in.
"I'll stay here with you for a while, see if we can catch whoever it is. If someone is stalking you, we need to find out who and why."
---
That evening, Timothy stayed close to Kimberly, keeping an eye on her shop from a discreet spot across the street. As night fell, the streets grew quieter, and Timothy's vigilance increased.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared, lurking near the shop's entrance. Timothy tensed, ready to confront the intruder. He moved swiftly and silently, closing the distance between them.
"Hey!" Timothy called out, his voice low and threatening.
"What are you doing here?"
The figure turned and bolted, but Timothy was faster. He caught up, grabbing the person by the arm and spinning them around. To his surprise, it was a young man, probably no older than twenty.
"Please, don't hurt me!" the young man pleaded, his eyes wide with fear.
Timothy's grip tightened.
"Who are you, and why are you stalking Kimberly?"
The young man swallowed hard, trembling. "My name is Alex. I... I wasn't stalking her, I swear! I just... I needed to talk to her."
Timothy's eyes narrowed.
"About what?"
Alex took a deep breath, clearly terrified.
"I work for Keno. I was sent to keep an eye on her and report back. But I don't want to do this anymore. I want out."
Timothy studied Alex, assessing his sincerity. "Why should I believe you?"
"Please," Alex begged.
"I can help you. I know things about Keno's operation. I can give you information. Just... don't let him find out I talked to you."
Timothy considered this, then nodded. "Alright. We'll take you somewhere safe, and you can tell us everything you know. But if you're lying, you won't like what happens next."
Alex nodded fervently.
"I understand. Thank you."
---
Back at the safe house, Janeth was waiting. She raised an eyebrow when she saw Alex but didn't question Timothy's decision.
"We have a new source of information," Timothy explained.
"Alex here works for Keno and wants out. He says he can help us."
Janeth nodded, turning to Alex.
"Start talking. We need everything you know about Keno's operations, his men, and his plans."
Alex nodded nervously and began to speak, his voice shaky. "Keno has been expanding his drug operations. He's setting up new labs and recruiting more people. He's also planning something big, but I don't know the details yet. He just told me to keep an eye on Kimberly and report back."
Timothy frowned. "Why Kimberly? What's his interest in her?"
Alex looked down, ashamed. "He knows you two are close. He thinks she might be a weak point, a way to get to you."
Kimberly's face went pale. "So he was planning to use me to get to you, Tim."
Timothy squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Not anymore. We'll keep you safe, Kim. And we'll use this information to bring Keno down."
Janeth leaned forward, her eyes intense. "Do you have any evidence? Anything we can use to corroborate your story?"
Alex nodded. "I have a few documents and recordings. I kept them as insurance, in case I ever needed a way out."
"Good," Janeth said. "We'll need those. And you'll stay here with us, under protection, until we can figure out the next steps."
Alex looked visibly relieved. "Thank you. I don't want to be part of this anymore. I just want to be free."
Timothy nodded. "We'll make sure of that. But first, we need to make sure Kimberly is safe and use your information to take Keno down."
---
The next morning, they went through Alex's evidence. The documents and recordings provided valuable insights into Keno's operations, confirming much of what they already suspected and revealing new details they hadn't known.
Janeth compiled the information, ready to present it to her contact in the police force. "This could be the break we need," she said. "But we need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more danger Kimberly is in."
Timothy agreed. "Let's get this to Detective Harris. And we need to keep a close eye on Kimberly. Keno won't stop until he's dealt with."
---
That afternoon, Timothy and Janeth met with Detective Harris, presenting the evidence Alex had provided. Harris examined the documents and recordings, his expression growing more serious by the minute.
"This is solid," he said finally. "We can use this to secure warrants and start making arrests. But you need to be careful. Keno is dangerous, and he won't take this lightly."
"We know," Timothy said. "But we can't let him continue. We'll do whatever it takes to bring him down."
Harris nodded. "Alright. I'll get things in motion. In the meantime, keep Kimberly safe. And if you get any more information, bring it to me immediately."
---
As they left the police station, Timothy felt a mix of relief and apprehension. They were making progress, but the stakes were higher than ever. He couldn't afford to let his guard down, not with Kimberly's safety on the line.
Back at the safe house, Timothy found Kimberly working on a dress, trying to distract herself from the fear that had been gnawing at her. He walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey," he said softly. "We talked to Detective Harris. We're making progress. But we need to be careful."
Kimberly looked up, her eyes filled with worry. "I just want this to be over, Tim. I hate feeling like I'm being watched."
Timothy pulled her into a hug, holding her close. "I know, Kim. But we'll get through this. We'll take down Keno, and you'll be safe. I promise."
Kimberly leaned into him, finding comfort in his embrace. "I trust you, Tim. I just wish it didn't have to be like this."
Timothy kissed the top of her head. "Me too. But we'll get through it together."
---
Over the next few days, they remained vigilant, keeping a close watch on Kimberly and gathering more information from Alex. The tension was palpable, but they knew they had to stay focused.
One evening, as they were reviewing their plans, Alex approached them hesitantly. "I remembered something else. Keno has a meeting scheduled with one of his suppliers tomorrow. It might be a good opportunity to gather more evidence or make a move."
Janeth nodded. "Where's the meeting?"
"At a warehouse on the outskirts of the city," Alex replied. "I can give you the details."
Timothy looked at Janeth. "We need to check it out. If we can get more evidence or disrupt their operations, it'll be a big win."
Janeth agreed. "Let's do it. But we need to be careful. Keno won't hesitate to use violence if he feels threatened."
Kimberly looked at them, her expression resolute. "I'll stay here and keep an eye on things. Just... be safe."
Timothy nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "We will. And we'll be back soon."
---
The next day, Timothy and Janeth set out for the warehouse, their nerves steeled for whatever they might face. They parked a distance away, approaching the building cautiously.
As they reached the warehouse, they could hear voices inside. Timothy signaled for Janeth to follow him, and they crept closer, finding a vantage point where they could observe without being seen.
Inside, Keno was meeting with his supplier, discussing their next shipment. Timothy strained to hear their conversation, catching bits and pieces of crucial information.
"This next batch needs to be top quality," Keno was saying. "We can't afford any mistakes."
The supplier nodded. "Don't worry. Everything is on schedule. You'll have it by the end of the week."
Timothy glanced at Janeth, who was recording the conversation with a small device. This was the evidence they needed.
Suddenly, a guard spotted them, raising the alarm. "Hey! Intruders!"
Chaos erupted as Timothy and Janeth tried to make their escape. They ducked behind crates, dodging bullets and returning fire.
Timothy grabbed Janeth's arm, pulling her toward an exit. "Come on! We need to get out of here!"