Authors: Nancy Hopper
"Not really. Here and there, maybe, but nobody serious. He just hasn't worried about it, I think. He's been so busy in ministry that he hasn't had much time for it. He's never given women any place in his life.”
"Right out of college, he got an invitation to spend a year in South Africa, teaching at a Christian school. When he was done with that obligation, he stayed there, and traveled. He went all over the continent. He came home really changed. He was on fire, and it's never cooled a single degree. If anything, it's increased. Honestly, I kind of thought Tim would never settle down and marry."
"What happened when he got saved that Cathy couldn't handle?" Tasha asked hesitantly.
Dana snorted. "She wanted
no
part of Jesus. She wanted Tim to worship her, and her alone. All he had to do was tell her he’d been saved, and that was that."
Tasha's eyes went wide. "Wow. Do you know whatever happened to her? Is she still in the area?"
"Uh, huh." Dana admitted. "She sure is. Last I heard, she made it all the way to centerfold of the year once, and Miss Wyoming. She got a few bit parts on Broadway, but she couldn't seem to quite sleep her way to the top. So, she came back here, and married a drug dealer. They got busted, and she's still in court every time you pick up the paper."
"Whew." Tasha sighed. "Sounds like a roller coaster life."
"Yeah. It's too bad, 'cause she was an eyeful of drop-dead, gorgeous girl. Tim was pretty intense about her for a few years. Took him awhile to realize Jesus had done him a big favor by sending her on her way."
"She broke his heart, huh?"
"Pretty much. But it was a sick thing, not real love."
“
Why do you say that?"
"She wasn't …
nice
. She wanted Tim because she wanted status. All he was to her, was a great looking guy, a rock guitarist and a big name in high school – because he was Captain of the Debate Team, and a Football, Basketball and Baseball star. All the girls drooled over him, and everybody thought he was cool. So, of course,
she
had to have him."
"She doesn't sound like Tim's type." Tasha ventured.
"Naw. But she made him her type, for awhile." Dana rolled her eyes. "All she had to do was get him in bed, and she had him hooked. She knew her p's and q's, apparently. There were some stormy times in our house, let me tell you. She teased him -- and used him – and worked him over
good
. Mom and Dad were fit to be tied, but they couldn't do anything with him."
Tasha was shocked. "Timothy?"
"Uh, huh. He wasn't half as smart or as street wise as he is now, let me tell you. But she knew her way around the block, and I don't mean maybe. I'll never forget when Tim came home from college for the weekend, to tell her he'd been saved. He found her shacking up with a guy – and he'd only been gone a month. He was
not
a happy camper. Still, he was willing to forgive her, and he tried to tell her how great it was to be saved. He had this little dream that she'd just come in line, and kneel with him at the altar. She snapped his head off, and hit the pavement running."
"Sounds like it was a little rough."
“
Yep. But Mom and Dad were dancing a jig, let me tell you. They were mad enough at the thought of her seducing him; but they really were more scared to death that he'd actually
marry
her. None of us could imagine putting up with her for as long as it lasted!
"He confided to me that he had a strong suspicion she wasn't going to be faithful. Tim was pretty naive when he came to her; but he wasn't stupid. Still, it hurt him. For a long time."
Tasha smiled thoughtfully. "Well. I'm glad to know about her. Thanks, Dana. If she ever comes out of the woodwork now, I'll know how to deal with her."
Dana snorted. "She's no competition for you, honey. You can count on it. Tim wouldn't give her the time of day."
Tasha grinned, knowing it was high praise.
It soon became obvious that the two of them were hitting it off very well, evidenced by the conspiratorial laughter that floated through the house as they went inside, struggling with their many purchases.
The business of Rick was long forgotten – until the phone rang. Tasha answered it, and promptly sat down, hard, in a chair.
Dana turned her eyes in time to see Tasha grow very pale. Deeply concerned, she moved to her side, and put a hand on Tasha's arm. She could feel Tasha trembling. She was deeply upset, and no doubt about it.
"What do you want?" Tasha asked coldly. "I can't believe you're doing this! Don't you understand anything? You have got to stop calling me! You have got to stop! I don't want to hear from you, I
won't
see you. Please, can't you understand? If you ever call again, I am going to have to call the police. Leave Salt Lake, and don’t come back!"
Dana paled. She could hear enough of the man's voice to know it was Rick. She stared into Tasha's eyes with horror. Tasha's eyes were frantic; pleading.
Dana went to the table, and got a pad and pen. She wrote Tasha a note. “Tell him to come here." she urged.
Tasha read it, and looked at her as if she'd gone mad. Dana urged her strongly. "I have a plan." she wrote.
Tasha sighed deeply, and closed her eyes. "Okay. Okay, Rick. Listen to me. Come up to my place. We need to talk about this. I have to help you understand. I was just about to take a shower, so give me an hour. All right?"
Dana could hear Rick's enthusiastic reply, before Tasha hung up the phone. Tasha covered her face with her hands. Dana could see her shoulders shaking.
"How long has this been going on, Tasha?" Dana demanded.
Tasha shook her head miserably, and sobbed into her hands. "I swear to you, Dana! I
swear
, I don't know why he is doing this! I never did anything to give him the slightest inkling that I'd be interested in him. He just won't stop!"
"He calls you often?" Dana asked slowly.
Tasha moaned. "Daily. He's driving me insane! Sometimes he follows me. He'll call me and tell me where I've been – and then he asks if I had a good time. Dana, he's sick!"
Dana sat down, hard. "Do you mean to tell me he's stalking you?"
Tasha looked panicked. "I ... I don't know. I guess he is! I just never really thought of it that way before. Oh, God, what is the matter with him?"
Cold fury settled in Dana's stomach. "You listen to me, Tasha. This has got to stop! Have you told Tim?"
Tasha blanched. "Oh, no. He'd
kill
him, Dana. Tim got so angry! You wouldn't have known him. He was totally calm, but the look in his eyes was deadly. He told Rick if he ever bothered me again, he'd kill him. I think he meant it."
"Well, I don't think the police would tolerate
that
." Dana teased dryly. "You go take your shower, while I make some calls."
"I don't need a shower. I was just stalling for time." Tasha admitted.
"Good girl. Then you just relax, and leave this to me. I know how to deal with Mr. Snyder." Dana assured.
Tasha looked up at Dana with hesitant eyes. "What are you going to do?"
"Get Tim and the police here, what else? And I will certainly enjoy listening to the truth from him, for once."
Tears filled Tasha's eyes. "Dana, I am so sorry."
Dana could see from looking at Tasha that she was, indeed.
"Don't worry about it, Tasha. My stupidity. It's very easy to see that you aren't encouraging him. Don't be afraid of him, though. We won't let him hurt you, darling."
Tasha was amazed. At the endearment, and at the incredible, efficient way that Dana swung into action. She paged Tim on her mobile phone, and briefed him. Tim elected to call the police, himself. It wasn't long before people began showing up, one at a time.
Tasha grew exceedingly nervous. What would Tim think? She felt enormous guilt for not telling him. When he arrived, he was looking very strained. He just gave Tasha a haggard look, and gathered her into his arms.
"I'm so sorry, Tim. I should have told you, I know. I just thought he'd stop. I thought I could avoid any more problems for you."
Tim kissed the top of her head, and squeezed her tight. "It's all right. Come on, now, you've got to pull yourself together a little bit, and get ready for him to show up."
A plain clothes policeman joined them, and began asking questions. He turned to Tasha.
"Miss, I have to ask you a couple of questions. First, is this attention from this man completely unwanted? And have you told him so?" Tasha assured him on both counts. "And how often has he been calling you?"
"Every day." Tasha admitted. "Since it started. He just won't leave me alone."
Tim sucked in his breath sharply at the news, causing Tasha to tense up even more.
"You say he has followed you, as well?" the policeman pressed.
"Yes; he seems to have. He will call and ask me how my date with Tim was, or whether I had fun at the mall."
“
And have you ever had a relationship with this man? Ever dated? Ever had a sexual relationship?”
“
No.” Tasha denied evenly. “He was sent to do PR and be a bodyguard for me, by my fiance. I discharged him the first night because he began making overtures toward me. But, he left without any problem. Then, he showed up later in Los Angeles, and asked me to marry him. He got physical with me, and I fought him off. I threatened to call the police, and he finally left. Since then, he has been calling consistently.”
Tim sighed harshly, and rubbed a hand over his eyes at this news. He turned away, so that hopefully Tasha wouldn't see how upset he was.
"All right. We need to have you to wear this miniature microphone, and put this tape recorder in your pocket. Ask as many questions and make as many statements as you can about him calling you, giving you unwanted attention, refusing to leave you alone. Things like that. All right?”
Tasha nodded.
"Now, then. Tim, Dana and I are going to leave, together. We will come through the back door after he arrives, and wait in the next room. We'll be listening to every word. If you feel in danger, just yell, and we'll be with you again before you close your mouth.
"Otherwise, keep him talking as long as you can, and get as much out of him as possible. We have to put a stop to this nonsense. If he puts a hand on you, or gets too close, make sure you tell him to stop -- and describe the behavior verbally. You know, 'take your hand off my arm'. That kind of thing. Okay?"
Tasha nodded nervously, and the officer smiled at her. "All right. Now, when either you've had enough, or he's going to leave, I want you to say, 'Goodbye, Rick.' That will be our clue to come out and make the arrest. I will have men in the hallway; and outside, too. Don't worry about a thing, miss. He won't hurt you, and he won't escape us."
Tasha nodded, and forced herself to look at Tim. He was staring at her with a probing, very disturbed expression. She just looked at him, begging him to understand. What, she wasn't sure. She didn't really understand it, herself.
"You gonna be all right?" he asked quietly. He looked so grim.
"Yes. I'll be fine." she assured him. "Tim; I'm sorry."
He looked down at her sharply, gave her a hesitant smile, and nodded. Then he turned, and went out the front door with Dana and the plain clothes policeman.
Tasha didn't have long to wait. After five minutes more, there was a tap on the door. Tasha answered it herself, and shivered as she looked up into Rick's eager eyes. He reached for Tasha, but she backed up, and allowed him to come in.