Persons of Good Repute

Here's an unexpected reason why the above description might be a good one to have applied to you.

When last we left Friend and Psycho Stalker Bitch, the stalking was ongoing, being watched by the local law enforcement, and things were pretty much stable. They had a theory that PSB wanted the life that Friend has, which to me smacks of admiration on her part. That has always seemed cock-eyed to me.

Some things have changed. While I can't claim this is the last posting on the issue, since the only way to promise that is with somebody getting a life sentence, there seems to be resolution. Of course, the law officers have warned Friend that it may be illusory, and to be especially watchful for a while. She's taking them seriously.

Shortly after the earlier posting, Friends local cops suggested an alternate way to drive home. It gets her off the highway before the spot where she usually spotted/got spotted by PSB, using back roads where she has a cell signal, and they know what route she took, just in case of trouble. She keeps her cell ready for instant use during that part of her drive. Meanwhile, they still position their car along the highway just before town at the right time to document the passing of PSB's car. Both Friend and they noted unreported front end damage to PSB's car, which seemed to alert them a bit further.

After a couple of weeks of taking the back roads home, Friend got tired of their slowness and extra miles. She rather defiantly took back her old route. PSB was usually still there, sitting alongside the road until Friend passed and then pulling out to follow. On one remarkable day, PSB's daughter (Friend had met her through work, back when) was the one doing the stalking!

How sick do you have to be for that?

When Friend had an errand in town once on her way home, PSB did her usual stalk-from-the-parking lot. As Friend exited the building, PSB ran back to her car and pulled out just ahead of Friend. Friend admitted to me she could easily have turned the other way and taken a longer route home, but by then she was really tired of it, so made her usual turn. With the light traffic, she wound up immediately behind PSB at the next stop sign. She felt a moment of glee at reversing the situation, being the stalker herself, if you will. PSB noticed, and acting like she was in a panic, pulled off into the next parking lot and ran into the building. Friend said to herself, "What the heck?" and mimed surprise at seeing PSB, pulled over and peered into the lobby from the street as if trying to verify that it was really someone she knew. PSB tried to hide behind something in the lobby, and all the while stared back at Friend, acting terrified at being recognized. It only lasted a few seconds before Friend pulled back into traffic and headed home, chuckling most of the way.

During this time, Friend also relented at her policy of not having anybody from work be aware of what was going on. Some of them still staunchly support PSB, after all, and the stalking never occurred in the vicinity. While still not mentioning it to her co-workers, she discussed the situation with a deputy who had occasion to stop by regularly, and with whom she had become friends. He had a few choice words for the lack of action from the cops up by her home, informing Friend of what he'd be doing if it happened on his turf. Then he asked if it would be OK if he asked their County Sheriff to contact her County Sheriff and vouch for Friend and fill in some background on PSB. It may be one of the best decisions Friend made when she agreed to the help.

One day recently on her way home Friend pulled over behind the waiting cop, whom she now knew by first name. They had quite a chat. It seems the information imparted across county and state lines was quite valuable. Friend and her husband, having spent many years in the old county, were vouched for as "persons of good repute." They obeyed laws, payed taxes promptly, held jobs long-term, helped out in the community. They weren't cranks, pranksters, or troublemakers. They were to be taken seriously. They were definitely to be protected.

On the other hand, PSB did not hold that reputation. Information was imparted about thefts and theft attempts where not enough proof was established for an arrest, but things pointed her way, and with a pattern on multiple jobs. (When a trail goes to a computer to which 4 people had access, for example, it's not good enough for court.) By far the most telling piece of information, however, was that PSB had a history of stalking, years earlier when she lived in California and before laws were tightened up when stalking started being taken seriously. They also changed their theory of what was going on in PSB's mind: she hated, really really hated Friend. (About time, guys!)

Suddenly Friend's local cops decided that this needed to be stopped. They pulled PSB over one day and read the riot act to her for an hour. When asked why she was even in this county, she claimed she was buying property here. When asked for the name of her realtor, she had no answer. At the end of the "chat" PSB was informed that she had no legitimate business in this county, if they spotted her again there would be a hefty ticket/fine, and any repeat would result in her arrest and imprisonment. Furthermore, if anything, ANYTHING happened to Friend, her husband, her dog, her house, her property, the first place they were going to look for a cause was PSB and her family!

It's been over a week now, and Friend has not spotted PSB. She has been extra vigilant, however, and won't be letting her guard down for a while. We didn't discuss whether the guns are still posted by the doors at home.