'Some sort of slouch hat.'
'Ever approach the shadow?'
'No. Frankly, I've been afraid to.'
'Don't blame you,' I said.
'Person threaten you in any way?'
Christopholous shook his head.
'Approach you?' I said.
'No.'
'Any harassment? Letters? Phone calls? Dirty tricks?'
'No.'
'Any reason you can think of why someone would follow you?
Disgruntled actor? Embittered dramaturge?'
Susan glanced at me. The 'dramaturge' was showing off, and she knew it.
'The Artistic Director of a theater company has to make decisions that some people strongly feel are wrong,' Christopholous said.
'It is the nature of the work. But I can't imagine that anyone is acting out an artistic disagreement with me. Even if he were, why would he do this?'
'A lot of stalkers get a feeling of power,' I said.
Christopholous raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
'Is that all they usually want? That feeling of power? Or do you think I'm in danger?'
'I can't say you're not. I can say that there has been no threat so far, which is good. But there's no way to say what will come.
Have you talked to the cops?'
'No.'
'Maybe you should.'
'What can they do?'
'Depends on their manpower and their efficiency. They should have a stalker file, for instance. You might recognize a name. They probably could offer you some protection. They might be able to apprehend the guy.'
'I'd… I'd rather this were a private matter.'
'Why?'
'I… well, I'd like to protect the theater.'
'Un huh.'
We all were silent. I waited.
'And, ah, I, well I don't have much confidence in our police force.'
'DeSpain still Chief?' I said.
'You know him?'
'I ran into him a couple times before,' I said.
'Once when he was a state cop, and once about five years ago when I was up here working.'
'Yes, he's still the Chief.'
It clearly made Christopholous uncomfortable to talk about DeSpain. I let it go.
'Any unresolved romantic complexity in your life?' I said.
Christopholous was glad to talk about something else. He smiled.
'No, most of that, for better or worse, is pretty well behind me.'
'No ex-lovers that might want to follow you around?'
Christopholous smiled more broadly.
'No.'
'Jealous spouses?'
Christopholous chuckled and looked at Susan.
'He's quite delicate for a man in his profession,' Christopholous said.
'He has phrased his questions without prejudging my sexual inclinations.'
'Tough but sensitive,' Susan said.
