Though I was trying to get Andrew to think of something other than my betrayal with Mark, I was positive that Mark Fitzgerald had been stalking Drew for months and could possibly be dangerous.
I was convinced the proof was in the notes, in the handwriting, and the style of the letters. I had gone to a friend's friend who was, according to my buddy-- a handwriting analyst. She seemed a bit odd, a former ballerina who now supported herself doing handwriting analysis for various Los Angeles crime units, supposedly for the FBI on occasion, as well as a routine table on the Venice Beach boardwalk.
But she wasn't so strange when I got to her Hollywood apartment.
She did have a lot of cats though, eight to be exact, and she wore an orange caftan.
But she assured me that it was the same person who had written the notes to Andrew and me. She showed me his wording, his use of grammar, and the same way he capitalized many of his vowels. It was Mark Fitzgerald. She offered me some home filtered water as I wrote her out a check.
She smiled, looking at my signed check. "You're thorough. Are you lawyer or a doctor?"
I stared at her in stunned silence. "A...doctor."
"And a successful doctor. See the way you signed your S-- you're confident. Maybe a little cocky."
Suddenly, I got the creeps. I didn't want to know anymore-- besides, I was covered in cat hair and highly allergic.
Driving back to West Hollywood, I was shaking with anticipation. Wait till I told Drew -- this would definitely convince him and we could both get rid of Mark together.
Hmmm, maybe he wouldn't believe me...
JESUS!
Of course he wouldn't! I needed someone more convincing to back me up. A lawyer (Not Mark!).... no, a cop! I should go to the police!
No!
They'd think I was nuts at this point (and they'd be right).
Who, then?
"You got some good hunches, Eric. You got some interesting theories, some strong possibilities -- but no proof," Kurt told me, sitting at a table in Mocha Daze.
"But what about the handwriting analysis?" I asked.
"Unless she's with a law agency full-time, you don't have much."
Damn.
"You have to have proof before you can bring charges, Eric. Look, you're desperate and I feel for you, guy... but the way to get Andrew back isn't by running scared -- it's by being honest, adult, and facing this whole thing with decency and respect."
I felt like I should have written Kurt the check.
"Yeah, Kurt... easier said than done."
