The pitching machine also threw a more consistent pitch. This allowed you to practice things like ball placement because you didn’t have to worry about where the pitch was going to be. Once you mastered the skills in the cage, you could then translate them to the more unpredictable ‘live’ pitching.
Today wasn’t supposed to be anything fancy. I just wanted to get into a rhythm and make solid contact. The coaching was a bonus. Coach Condit had a pocket full of tokens to run the machine.
When he had to put another token in, he would give me tips. There were things you simply didn’t see when you were batting that someone outside the cage could pick up.
◊◊◊
I’d honestly lost track of time when Manaia made his presence known.
“We need to get back to the house.”
He had a funny look on his face. I at first thought to question him about it, but remembered we were surrounded. I thanked Coach Condit, and he invited me back. Once we made it out the front door, I looked at Manaia.
“There’s been a security breach. A woman broke the master bedroom window and was found nude in your bed. Cassidy chased her into the master bath where she locked herself in. Instead of calling the police, Brook suggested that you come home and deal with it.”
I was confused until he showed me a picture of the woman. We had video surveillance around the perimeter of the house, and it had caught her breaking in. Manaia had a still from the video on his phone. I had to look closely because it was a little grainy.
“Shit,” I said under my breath.
It was Chloe Larkin, the British actress that Brook and I had spent Christmas day with in Palm Springs. While we’d had a good time, I never expected to see her again. We hadn’t even exchanged contact information.
What I really wanted to know was, how did she find us? On the other hand, I should probably be more concerned about why she felt the need to break into my house and get naked in my bed.
On the way home, we had to take a longer route because smoke from the wildfires had closed the road we used this morning. The wind had changed, and they were worried about some residential areas. They were diverting traffic so they could get firefighters in easier and also evacuate homeowners from threatened neighborhoods.
Brook met me at the front door.
“Cassidy has her in the master bath. I think something’s wrong with her. She’s talking shit.”
Manaia checked his phone.
“Fritz will be here in thirty minutes.”
“Let’s go see what we’re dealing with,” I said, and the three of us headed off to the master suite.
When we walked in, I saw that Cassidy had unlocked the door to the bathroom. She pointed inside.
“She’s in the shower.”
Brook followed me in. I saw Chloe huddled in the corner of the shower like a frightened animal. She looked so small and vulnerable. I grabbed a robe because she was, in fact, naked. When Chloe spotted me, she jumped up, rushed out of the shower, and wrapped me in a bear hug.
“They don’t understand. We’re in love, and nothing can keep us apart. I tried to tell that mean girl that you wanted me here, but she accused me of breaking in, and I had to hide from her in here. Tell her. Tell her that we’re soul mates, and it’s okay for me to be here. Make them all go away so I can show you how much I love you,” Chloe said, all in rapid girl-speak.
“Oh, boy,” Cassidy said. “I warned you about the crazy ones.”
“That’s her. That’s the mean girl. Tell her. Tell her that it’s okay,” Chloe said, getting agitated.
“Let’s get you in a robe. I don’t want them all to see you,” I said.
“Yes, you’re right. I’m for you only. I should never let anyone see me but you,” she said. Then she broke down in tears. “I’m so stupid. I should have thought of that. Damn! I wanted everything to be perfect. It took me a while to find you, or I would have been here sooner. I’m so tired. Maybe I could lie down.”
“Chloe, you know that I’m with Brook. What happened at Christmas was just a hookup. Nothing more,” I tried.
“That’s complete bullshit, and you know it. You and me, we’re perfect together. We’re both in the business and would be the perfect couple. You’re not like the rest, I can tell. I know that you love me. Only someone who loved me could make me feel the way you did.”
I led her to the bed, tucked her in, and then ushered everyone out. Chloe had fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
“She’s batshit crazy,” Brook said, and then had another thought. “I hate to call the police on her.”
Cassidy had a stupid grin on her face.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“Nothing. It’s just that you make my life interesting. You’re the only person I know who would ever have a crazy stalker.”
“What are we going to do about her?” I asked.
“Fritz will be here soon,” Manaia said, being of no help.
“It’s lucky for us that he can get rid of dead hookers. I’m sure crazy-town in there will be no problem at all,” Cassidy said, enjoying herself a little too much.
All my security must have heard my joke about Fritz and dead hookers because Manaia nodded in agreement.
