Dedicated to: Hello_Cupid

Status: Edited

A small part of him regretted what he had written in that letter he gave her. He wanted it to be far more romantic than it had turned out. He wanted her to make her swoon. To bring out a blush in her flush cheeks. He wanted to make her smile.

She hadn't smiled in the last five days. She only wore those fake ones to fool her friend and her daughter when they were around. Her eyes are constantly trained on the windows, looking out for him, and as flattering as he found that, it was all for the wrong reason.

He didn't want her to be afraid. She shouldn't be afraid of him.

He decided that next time he would be more romantic with the gesture. Until then he would get something to make her feel better. A gift, because after all what woman doesn't love a gift?

* * * *

The warm summer night air wrapped around Milinda like a blanket. Her eyes racked across the room and outside the window searching for any sign of danger.

Ever since she got that creepy letter she had been on edge. Whoever sent that letter was in her house. They were standing right next to her. That person could have harmed her or worse they could have hurt Kylie, and Milinda was not going to let that person get that close to them again.

The more and more she read the letter the more and more things were coming together. Sort of. At least now she knew she wasn't crazy for thinking that she was being followed every time she drove at night.

She sat herself up on her bed and stared intensely out of the window. If this secret admirer was out there right now – and he or she probably was – then they didn't know who they were messing with because Milinda wasn't the kind of girl who backed down easily. She had been through tough situations before and this one wasn't going to defeat her. She wasn't sure how she was going to deal with this but she would find a way.

She had to.

* * * *

Milinda lethargically shuffled around the bedroom as she got ready for work. She didn't sleep a wink last night, the fear of her stalker breaking into her home again wouldn't allow her to rest. But even though all she wanted was some beauty sleep, she needed to go to work.

At the sight of the scorching hot sun outside Milinda decided to wear light blue jeans and a beautiful loose white buttoned shirt with little white daisies on it. She tied her usually loose hair back into a bun but like always some strands of her long, curly hair managed to break free and stand out in a messy yet cute way. She released a long yawn as she slipped on her brown ankle boots which completed her look.

She closed her eyes and tried to muster the strength to get off the soft covers of her cozy bed that was calling to her, telling her to lay down and sleep.

Luckily for her, the loud bang of her front door being slammed shut made her jump up, and suddenly all the exhaustion disappeared.

For now anyway.

As she walked to the door she couldn't help but think the person who just walked in could be her stalker. They must have had a key or something to allow them to get in the other night.

"Morning!" Akhona's cheery voice resonated throughout the apartment. Milinda sighed with relief at the sound of her friend's voice.

"Good morning," Milinda greeted getting a mug from the cupboard and started making the one thing that could help get her through the day—a steamy cup of coffee.

"Well, don't you sound cheerful this fine morning?" Akhona joked as she sent a lopsided grin at Milinda who just shrugged at her friend's joke.

Akhona looked at her friend in confusion and concern. This wasn't the Milinda she knew, something was wrong.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Milinda desperately wanted to confide in her friend, to tell her that she hadn't slept for a few nights because someone sent her a creepy letter. But, there was also the possibility that if she told Akhona then the man – or woman – could target her as well. Or, Akhona could be the stalker.

She frowned as that thought came to mind. There was no way she was a stalker. She was more of a speak-her-feelings face-to-face kind of girl, not someone who wrote creepy letters.

"I'm alright just couldn't sleep well last night."

She knew it wasn't logical to keep this from her friend, but until she had a foolproof plan she was going to keep her new starting realization to herself.

"Really why?" Akhona asked, bringing her cup of tea to her lips.

"No particular reason just couldn't sleep."

"Well if you need to take the day off I'm sure Bella and Andy will understand."

"No, it's alright I just need a cup of coffee," Milinda mumbled hoping that Akhona wouldn't continue on the subject.

"Okay."

Milinda mentally sighed with relief.

You really should tell her.

Oh shut it subconscious!

After a glorious cup of coffee, Milinda regained just enough energy to drive to work. As she drove down the semi-traffic-riddled streets she couldn't help but think of her stalker—whoever they might be.

Are they watching me right now?

How long have they been watching me?

What does this person want from me?

Those were the main questions that were running through her head. Along with the very important question of what should she do. The obvious answer would be to go to the police. But what if this person is a cop? What would she do then? The questions that were burning in her mind would just have to wait until tonight. During the day when she was around people, she needed to act like everything was okay.

As she pulled up at Bella's, Fred the delivery man pulled up beside her.

Fred waved at her through the window a big smile playing on his thin lips. Fred was one of Bella's oldest employees. He was one of those guys who was always willing to help. That was great when Milinda started working at the cafe. However, Fred did get a bit too close for her liking. At the end of her first week, he asked her out on a date. When Milinda refused by telling him she was still grieving over the loss of her boyfriend, he went ballistic. He yelled at her saying she was a lying whore who was only saying that she didn't want to go out with him because he was fat and short.

Ever since that incident, Milinda had tried to keep away from him. So far, it haf worked and Milinda was praying that today was going to be the same.

"Good morning Milinda, you look beautiful today, not that you are never beautiful," Fred complimented her.

"Thank you, Fred, and good morning to you too." She smiled at him, just to be polite. She had seen his temper first hand and didn't want to face it again.

As she reached for the door handle Fred's giant hand grabbed her small one. His fingers gently brushed over hers in that supposed-to-be sensual-but-creepy way. Milinda desperately tried to pull her hand away but Fred's grip was strong.

"So, I was wondering if you would like to go to a movie with me tonight?" Fred asked.

"Well, um Fred it's really sweet for asking but. . ." Suddenly, she was cut off by Fred who had shoved her into the alley adjacent to the cafe.

She groaned in pain as her back hit the chipped bricks. Fred pressed his hands against the wall on each side of her trapping her.

"Fred w. . . what a. . . are you doing?" she stuttered in fear. Her breaths had become erratic, her heart was thudding in her chest.

She needed to get out of this situation.

She had to.

Just had to.

Fred maniacally leaned closer, his lips disgustingly close to her ear.

"I gave you time to grieve over your boyfriend's death—"

"Fred please stop."

He huffed in annoyance. "Milinda I've wanted you ever since I laid eyes on you. I've waited and waited and waited for you to show the slightest bit of interest but now I'm done waiting. I'm done with this game."

"Get away from me!" Milinda cried and  tried to duck under Fred's arm, but he grabbed her and pushed his body against hers.

As his lips were about to touch hers a hand wrapped around Fred's shoulder and pulled him off her.

"When a lady says no it means no," Detective Conan drawled. "Now, Milinda would you like to press charges?"

"Yes," she replied in a shaky voice.

"Alright let's go there is a beautiful cell down at the district just for you," Shawn said and dragged Fred to his car. After he cuffed Fred and shoved him into the backseat he turned back to Milinda a smug grin on his face. "You know I believe I deserve a free beer tonight. I mean this is the second time this week I've saved your life."

Under normal circumstances Milinda would give him a sly comment but after saving her from being. . . well she didn't even want to think about it, he did deserve some sort of reward.

"You know what detective I think you do deserve a free beer. But not tonight I've got the day off."

"Tomorrow then?"

"That will work, and Shawn, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Milinda stood on the sidewalk and watched as Shawn drove into the distance. When he was out of sight she went inside. As soon as her foot was inside the cafe, Bella pulled her close.

"Are you alright? I saw Fred being taken away. Milinda I am so sorry I should have fired him months ago, I am so sorry!" Poor Bella was racked with tears as she apologized to Milinda.

"Bella calm down I'm alright," Milinda consoled her.

Bella pulled away, her dark brown eyes stained with tears. She crossed her arms over her chest as more loud sobs escaped her dry lips.

"I should have," she sobbed.

"Bella, I am alright, besides you couldn't have known he was going to do that. It is not your fault," Milinda said.

"You're right I need to pull myself together," Bella mumbled as she wiped her tears away. "At least that police officer arrived when he did."

"Yeah."

"Anyway, the show must go on. Let's get to work."

Bella spun around and headed back to the kitchen, probably to make more muffins as they were on special today. Milinda grabbed her apron from her hook and made her way to the counter.

Bing! 

She opened her bag and took her phone out. She gasped as she read the message. Once again it was a picture of her. This one was when Fred was holding her against the wall. Under the picture in all capital letters were the words:

NOBODY TOUCHES WHAT IS MINE!

Frantically, she ran to the window and looked outside, desperately trying to see if she could catch a glimpse of anyone watching her. But there was nobody there.

* * * *

He didn't mean to give in to his anger when he sent that message. But, after watching that sick man put his hands on her, he just couldn't help himself.

He wanted to run out and save her. It would certainly transform him from the monster lurking in the shadows that she currently saw him as into a handsome saviour. The one who she wouldn't be able to get out of her mind. The person she would be more than happy to bring into her and her child's life. Someone Milinda would want to spend the rest of her life with.

He was seriously about to do it but that fucking detective beat him to it. He'd seen that detective around Milinda a few times and it made his blood boil.

He hated the fact that this. . . this. . . sex-crazed imbecile was allowed to be near her and he wasn't. How could this man be allowed to speak to her and he wasn't?

For now anyway.

He wasn't planning on being the man in the shadows forever.

* * * *

As usual, Jeanette's was slammed. As Milinda looked around the crowded bar she wondered if her stalker was sitting at one of the tables.

Nobody was sitting alone so maybe the stalker wasn't there. Or maybe they were not in the bar. They could be outside peeping out from behind a bush or wherever stalkers lurk these days.

As much as she would love to go look around for her watcher she had a tedious job to do.

She was about to go back to stacking empty glasses on the shelves when someone tapped her shoulder. She jumped back at the touch and dropped the glass that was in her hand. The echo of the glass hitting the floor and shattering made some people stop what they were doing and turn to look at her.

"Damn, someone seems jumpy," Shawn laughed, his storm blue eyes shining and his broad shoulders jerked up and down as the laugh rippled out of his throat.

If looks could kill then Milinda's glare – her death stare as her mother used to call it– would have set him ablaze by now.

Still glaring at him she put the last glass on the shelf and then started walking away to fetch a broom. But, before she could get away Shawn grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have laughed at you."

His apology took her completely by surprise. This was hardly the first time he had laughed at her in such a way and with all the sometimes perverted things he had said to her in an attempt to sleep with her he had never apologized.

Maybe her sny comments had finally gone through that thick skull of his and sunk into the small thing he called his brain.

"Apology accepted."

"All right, now how about you slide me that free beer I was promised," he said as he grinned.

Or maybe they didn't.

"I knew there was a reason you were apologizing," Milinda chuckled as she slid a beer to him.

When she popped the cap off he immediately brought it to his lips. A moan rumbled in his throat as he gulped the cold liquid.

"So what happened to Fred?" Milinda asked getting herself a beer because God knew she needed a drink.

Shawn sighed as he wiped a few droplets of beer away from his stubble. "He made bail."

Under normal circumstances Milinda would be afraid of the possibility of Fred returning and hurting her, but when you discover that someone was actively stalking you the things that used to bother you become somewhat insignificant.

"Oh well, what can you do." Milinda shrugged and brought her beer to her lips.

Shawn raised his eyebrows.

"You know normally when I have to tell someone that the person who attacked them made bail they get upset. Nobody had ever been so calm about it."

"I just have more important things to worry about than Fred."

Shawn hummed. "Like what?"

As much as she wanted to confide in Shawn because he was a detective and would be able to help she just couldn't find it in her to say the words that needed to be said: I need help.

"Life detective Conan. I have life to deal with. Besides that wasn't the first time Fred had made unwanted advances, but that was the furthest he had taken them," she sadly admitted.

"Then why the hell do you still work there?" Shawn asked, his voice laced with anger.

She shrugged. "I need the money." 

Shawn smirked. "Oh, here I thought you secretly loved dishing out baked goods."

Milinda couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Oh yes, I just love dealing with. . . with. . . oh man, what do you call them?"

"Snobby classroom moms that are pretending they are on a diet."

"Exactly."

A moment of silence settled between them, only it didn't last long. Vera approached her carrying a box of mixed chocolates with a note attached.

A pit formed in Milinda's stomach as Vera got closer and closer to her.

"This was just delivered for you," Vera said in her usual bored tone.

"Did you see who delivered it?" Milinda frantically asked.

"Nope," Vera said, popping the p sound and then walked away.

"What does the note say?" Shawn asked in a tone that made it sound like he was interested and maybe even worried.

But Milinda doubted that that is what she heard.

She quickly tore open the envelope and unfolded the note.

I once heard you tell your coworker that you love these. You said it's like a game discovering what flavour the chocolate is. In a way, it is kinda like what I'm about to do with you. Find out who I am. Enjoy them Milinda, you had a rough day, a little treat is what you deserve.

Love, Your Secret Admirer.

"Chocolates, look like someone has a secret admirer," Shawn chuckled.

Milinda still reealimg in from the shock of this new note looked at Shawn with wide eyes.

"Yeah, I guess I do."

Shawn's phone beeped which resulted in him releasing a long sigh.

"Well, I have to go you enjoy those chocolates Milinda. You had a rough day, a little treat is what you deserve."

As Shawn rushed out of the bar, Milinda stared at him both surprised and terrified by what he said.

It was exactly like the note. Could Shawn be the stalker?

Milinda wasn't entirely sure about that, but one thing she was sure about was that she was grateful she didn't tell Shawn about what important problem she had.

* * * *

Just like she expected, Vera made yet another excuse to leave early leaving Milinda to close up by herself.

Milinda was grateful that getting the last customers out tonight wasn't hard. As soon as she finished packing everything up she raced to her car. As she shut the door her phone started ringing and Ariana Grande's Breakup with Your Girlfriend flooded the closed car.

Unknown number.

"Hello," she said only to receive no answer, all she could hear was heavy and creepy breathing. "Hello," she tried again and once again she got no answer.

Milinda knew this wasn't right and in the back of her mind she had a pretty good idea of who was on the other end of the line.

Right before she was about to speak again, the caller hung up. A message popped up not seconds later.

Sorry love I guess I'm just not ready for you to hear my voice.

Love, Your Secret Admirer.

"Maybe I already have," Milinda whispered with trembling lips.

The entire drive home Milinda gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned snow white and her fingers were in pain.

When she got out of the car she immediately bolted inside not wanting to be out in the open for too long. When she closed the door, a tired Akhona shuffled out of the living room.

"Hey, how was she today?" Milinda asked wanting to keep her mind focused on something else.

"She was an angel, she is asleep in her room. I would love to stay and chat but I need some sleep," Akhona yawned as she walked to the door.

"Wait did you get it done?" Milinda asked.

"Yes now go get some sleep you look like shit," she said as she left.

As much as Milinda was enjoying the fact that Kylie was comfortably sleeping in her room – which had been a major struggle since she was two – there was no way Milinda was going to let her be by herself. Quietly, she slipped under the covers and pulled the still-sleeping Kylie next to her.

Milinda desperately wanted to stick with her plan and stay awake again, but as soon as her head rested upon her soft pillow she fell into a deep sleep.

* * * *

He'd never been so happy to see someone sleeping. After so many nights of resiliently staying awake, Milinda had managed to let sleep drag her under.

It wasn't part of the plan to break in again but the last time gave him such a thrill he just had to do it again. And, after that failed phone call earlier, he had to make another note for her which meant he needed another picture.

Excitement bubbled inside him as he reached the window, but it was quickly extinguished when the window wouldn't budge.

"New lock," he hissed under his breath.

He knew she must have changed all the locks he just didn't know when. She had somehow managed to get it done without him noticing.

This new obstacle wasn't going to stop him from getting a new letter to her, but for now, it would have to be electronic.

He aimed his camera to look between the curtain and managed to get a good photograph of her sleeping.

"Sweet dreams cupcake," he whispered to the cool night air.

* * * *

The sweet sound of the birds singing and the morning rays of sunshine streaming on her face was how Milinda awoke from her gentle slumber. For a whole minute she forgot about the stalker, and the creepy messages and letters. For a minute she was at peace. For a whole minute she cherished the fact that it is Saturday, the one day she didn't have any work.

It was a peace that was very rudely interrupted by her phone beeping. She unlocked her phone and gasped at the new message that was plaguing her screen.

Like the note, it was a picture of her sleeping, but this time it was taken from outside her window. Thanks to the new locks she had Akhona put on the windows her stalker couldn't get inside.

Morning beautiful, so glad you finally got some rest.

Love, Your Secret Admirer.

Her hands shook as she set her phone back on the bedside table. With her body now literally trembling in fear Milinda knew she couldn't sort this situation out by herself. She needed help.

As the thought popped into her head she heard her front door being slammed shut.

"Morning, Akhona is here and in desperate need of coffee!" Akhona called from the kitchen.

Perfect timing.

Milinda took the letter from her drawer and ran to the kitchen, where Akhona had innocently helped herself to some coffee.

"You will not believe what happened after I left so. . . " Akhona stopped talking when she saw her friend as white as a sheet. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Without uttering a word Milinda showed her friend the letter and all of the messages. She stood silent as she watched Akhona read all of the creepy messages.

"You have to go to the police," she said once she was finished reading.

"I know but this guy could be anyone, I need to go to someone I know and trust," Milinda explained.

"Well, then it's just a shame you don't know a detective." 

"No, I'm not going to him."

"Do you have a choice?"

After what he said last night Milinda was hesitant to call Shawn but Akhona was right, she didn't have a choice. He was the best, and if he did turn out to be the stalker Milinda would be able to figure it out herself by comparing their conversations with future letters and messages.

A near-perfect plan, one that hopefully won't get her killed.

She dialled the police station, and the lady at the front desk kindly put her through to Shawn.

"This is Detective Conan how may I help you?"

"Hi Shawn, it's Milinda." 

"Well, this is unexpected. I hope you're not telling me I have to pay for that beer last night because I vividly remember it being free." She could hear the smile that had appeared on his lips.

"That's not why I calling you. I am finding myself in need of your help."

"Well, this day just gets more and more interesting. What can I help you with?"

Looking over at Akhona Milinda was met with a firm stare that only meant one thing.

With a deep and shaky breath, Milinda managed to say those all-important words that she had been internalizing for days.

"Someone is stalking me and I need your help. Can you come over?"

"I'm on my way."

The End of Episode 2