When a madman wielding a gun gives Melanie a good scare during a visit to her dentist, she manages to slip outside and out of harm’s way. In doing so, she runs into Dr. Patton, who had stepped out momentarily on an errand. Quickly filling the dentist in on the events unfolding inside, they call the police and are taken to the station to give a formal report.

Cory Ennis was after the dentist’s assistant, Shannon, hoping to win her heart back by force since words hadn’t worked in the past. Realizing he couldn’t take Shannon hostage before the police caught up to him, Ennis goes on the run.

Melanie, Teresa, Shannon, and the rest of the dentist’s staff are placed in a hotel under constant police watch until Ennis is apprehended.

Despite the dentist’s long hours at work, Melanie gets to know her during their evening chats—beyond anything she had known of her in the three years she had been treated by her.

The police advise Melanie against returning to her apartment since Ennis had stolen her smartphone, along with her contacts and other personal information. When Teresa offers her a room in her home, Melanie is initially grateful to trade in her small, dumpy apartment for the dentist’s posh and peaceful home.

But then strange things begin to happen online. Even though Ennis is now behind bars, Melanie begins to suspect he has put somebody up to stalking her in cyberspace. Little does she know that her stalker is actually much closer than she could ever imagine.

A lot closer.

Written in 2015.