Leave Linda alone!

Somebody wanted to break up Peter' s relationship. But who?

Peter Hornby pulled the typed note from under the windscreen wiper of his red truck.

Leave Linda Griffin alone or you'l l be sorry! it read.

As he showed it to his girlfriend Linda, he grinned.

So, which one of your old boyfriends is the jealous type?' he asked.

Linda stared.

This is crazy,' she said. None of the guys I' ve been out with in the past would have the cheek to threaten you. You' re too big for anyone to take on, anyway!'

Peter pulled her close, his muscles honed from hours in the gym rippling beneath his T-shirt.

It' s probably someone who' s jealous of how happy we are,' he said.

But the next day, another note appeared.

Stay away from Linda. Or something bad is going to happen to you. I mean it.

I don' t like this,' Linda said, frowning. It sounds like some weirdo. I think we should show the cops.'

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Sergeant Wilkins was sitting at the front desk, a thick book on psychology open in front of him.

How can I help you?' he smiled, bookmarking his page. Look at these.'

Linda pushed the notes across the counter and his expression changed as he read them.

This man definitely seems to be threatening violence,' he said. There are a lot of angry people out there. But chances are it' s a jealous ex-boyfriend.'

I honestly don' t think so,' objected Linda.

Just to be certain, I think you' d better make a list of men you' ve dated recently and where I' m likely to find them. I' ll start with those names and make a few discreet enquiries.'

Linda thought a moment, then unwillingly wrote down a few names.

But they were all good guys and none of them seemed violent,' she said.

Just to be sure,' said the sergeant.

Andy Harris,' he muttered. Cardio Wrestling Studio?'

He' s usually there.'

She must go for well-built guys, he thought, as he set off to the wrestling gym.

None of the guys IÕ ve been out with in the past would have the cheek to threaten youÕ

He found Andy in the ring, where he had his foot on the back of a man he' d just wrestled to the floor.

Linda? We broke up

months ago,' Andy said, then released his opponent, who scrambled away. Her mother and I didn' t get on too well. Anyway, Linda' s history. I have another girlfriend now.'

But he could be the jealous type, and he certainly looks capable of violence, the policeman thought.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Adam, the second exboyfriend, was still sore about their break-up.

I thought Linda was the girl for me, but it didn' t work out,' he said abruptly.

He put down the chainsaw and sighed.

I hate to think of her with any other guy but I knew I wasn' t good enough for her, even though I have my own tree-felling business and do OK,' he went on. She' s got a degree in history, and the fact I left school when I was 16 didn' t worry her at all. But her mother never failed to point out that I don' t read or write too well.'

The policeman noticed Adam had lost two fingers from his right hand, probably an accident with the chainsaw.

But he could still tap the computer keys and leave the notes, couldn' t he?

Tree-feller Adam was definitely on his list of possibles.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Desmond, the third name on the list, came out from behind the counter of the security firm he ran, and scowled when asked about the notes left on Peter Hornby' s windscreen.

So Linda has a new boyfriend,' he growled.

She' s an attractive girl,' observed the sergeant. If you two broke up, she was bound to find a new man.'

Linda and I were really close,' he said. We planned to marry, actually. But then her mother became unwell, and seemed to suffer ill health forever. Linda ended up by telling me she couldn' t leave her. So she left me instead.'

Could Desmond be bitter about the new man in Linda' s life to the point where he' d became dangerous?

Owning a security firm, he probably knew how to handle himself.

And yet, Sergeant Wilkins wasn' t convinced that any of the three men was the anonymous writer.

Sergeant Wilkins ran into Linda in the street that afternoon.

I have my suspicions, but at this stage, no real proof,' he admitted. By the way, how does your mother feel about your present boyfriend?'

She' s barely met him, but isn' t keen,' Linda replied. Mum always seems to find something wrong with every guy I bring home. So for now, we' re keeping contact to a minimum. I don' t want to put too much strain on the relationship before it' s had a chance to blossom.'

Very wise,' the sergeant smiled. That afternoon, the sergeant decided to visit Linda's mum at her big old house.

As he arrived, Linda was just driving away with Peter in his truck, her mum in the doorway glaring after them.

I' ve seen how that man drives, he' s a menace on the roads,' she muttered. I' ve told Linda time and time again. Sorry, Sergeant, what can I do for you?'

Actually, I' m just making some routine enquiries about your daughter' s friend,

Peter Hornby. Seems as though you don' t care for his way of driving?'

No, he' s a speed fiend and I' m sure he drinks too much,' she said curtly. My daughter has very bad judgment when it comes to men.'

Have you seen him driving under the influence?º

No, but he probably does, she sniffed. He has a dreadful tattoo and roars around town in that beaten-up old red truck. I' ve told Linda he' s no good, but does she listen?' Right.'

So who wants to make enquiries about him?'

I' m not at liberty to say, ma' am, but I can tell you I' ve had very good reports about that young man,' the officer said. He' s a member of his neighbourhood watch, and volunteers at the animal shelter. I' ve seen him down there myself. So he can' t be all bad, hey?' If he' s a dog lover, I suppose not,' she agreed reluctantly. Do you have a dog yourself, ma' am?' he went on. As a watch dog for this big property of yours?' Not at the moment,' she said, wistfully. I had a lovely old Labrador called Sally, but sadly she passed last year.' The sergeant was sympathetic. Ah, life can be lonely without a dog,' he said.

Luckily I still have my daughter to keep me company,' she replied. That is, when she' s at home and not gadding about.'

Well, thank you for your time, Mrs Griffin.'

He phoned Linda that evening. I' m thinking two birds with one stone here,' he said. Your mum' s lonely and she has too much time on her hands, yes?'

That' s true.'

Well, if you' d like her to get to know Peter and see what a good guy he is, ask him to invite her down to the animal shelter, and help her choose a dog.'

But what' s a dog for my mum got to do with those anonymous notes?' Linda asked, puzzled.

I' m pretty sure they' ll stop,' he replied knowingly. Lonely people have too much time on their hands and sometimes say and write things they don' t mean. And a puppy can take a lot of time and energy.'

I knew that psychology course would come in handy, thought Sergeant Wilkins.

He has a dreadful tattoo and roars around town in that beaten-up old red truckÕ