Preface

Jessica O'Brien, a petite 5'3" woman, has a face that radiates warmth and character. Her curly red hair, a striking auburn shade, frames her face in wild, playful tendrils that seem to have a life of their own. The vibrant curls cascade around her shoulders, enhancing the fair, porcelain-like complexion of her skin, which has a smattering of light freckles across her nose and cheeks, adding a touch of youthful charm. Her red hair and freckles contrasted with her emerald-green eyes.

Shopping in the junior department of Angstrom's department store, she caught a glimpse of a man. She found it odd that he be shopping in this area, as he was the only male around.

"Must be buying something for a lady friend or maybe his wife," she surmised. Although if he wanted to buy something pretty for himself, who was Jessica to judge?

The freckles that Jessica had all of her life, disappeared from her face appearing on the man. Not that she noticed the transformation in either of them. As far as she could tell, he hadn't changed at all, and neither did she.

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In a brightly lit police station, a young married woman named Jessica sits across from Officer Davis, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes dart nervously around the room, the anxiety palpable in her posture. The walls are adorned with community safety posters, and the air is filled with the faint hum of fluorescent lights. Officer Davis, a composed and attentive man in his forties, leans forward slightly, giving Jessica his undivided attention.

Jessica sat opposite Officer Davis with her legs spread apart. She was wearing a button-down long-sleeved navy collared blouse with brown slacks and minimal makeup.

"Alright, Mrs. O'Brien," he begins in a calm, reassuring tone. "Can you describe the man you believe has been following you?"

Jessica takes a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Yes, I've seen him several times now. He's about 5'9", with a slim build. He has brown hair, neatly parted on the side, and he's always clean-shaven. He has an oval face and expressive brown eyes, glasses with a thin metallic frame. There's something very distinctive about the way he looks—almost like he takes great care in his appearance, which makes him stand out more."

Officer Davis nods, jotting down notes. "And what about his clothing? Does he wear anything specific that you remember?"

Jessica nods, her voice steady but tinged with apprehension. "He usually wears business-casual clothes. I’ve seen him in a light blue dress shirt and dark pleated trousers a few times. Once, he was wearing a gray blazer over it. It’s always neat and very put together. He also has a brown leather shoulder bag that he carries with him."

"Have you noticed any particular behaviors or actions that make you feel uneasy?" Officer Davis asks, his pen poised over his notepad.

"Yes," Jessica replies, her eyes widening slightly as she recalls the encounters. "The first place I spotted him was the women's department of a department store. I was looking at a floral shift dress with a U-neck and..."

Officer Davis cuts Jessica off, "and then..."

"I noticed him because he was the only man there at the time. I assumed that he was looking for something for his wife or girlfriend or something so I ignored him. But he seemed to be spending all his time watching me instead of looking through the racks. He didn't approach me so I went on with my business and forgot all about it."

"Next I noticed him outside my office building. At first, I wasn't sure it was the same man. I thought he might just be another worker there, but then I started seeing him in other places too. He was at the grocery store when I was shopping, at the park where I take my morning jog, and even outside my gym. He never approaches me or says anything, but he's always watching, and it’s really starting to scare me."

Officer Davis writes this down, his expression serious. "Has he ever tried to make contact with you in any way, either directly or indirectly?"

Jessica shakes her head. "No, he’s never spoken to me or tried to approach me. But there’s something very unsettling about his presence. It’s like he’s studying me, making me feel like I’m being monitored all the time. My husband noticed him too, once, when he came to pick me up from work. We both thought it was odd."

Officer Davis looks up from his notes, his gaze reassuring. "You did the right thing by coming to us, Mrs. O'Brien. We'll take your statement seriously and look into this. We’ll increase patrols in your area and see if we can identify this man. In the meantime, try to avoid being alone as much as possible, and keep your husband or a friend with you when you can."