{"id":4938,"date":"2024-10-14T00:11:57","date_gmt":"2024-10-14T00:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/?p=4938"},"modified":"2024-10-14T00:11:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T00:11:57","slug":"i-met-a-man-at-speed-dating-when-i-showed-my-mother-his-photo-she-immediately-called-the-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runeecho.com\/i-met-a-man-at-speed-dating-when-i-showed-my-mother-his-photo-she-immediately-called-the-police\/","title":{"rendered":"I Met a Man at Speed Dating \u2013 When I Showed My Mother His Photo, She Immediately Called the Police"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
After a fun night of speed dating, I showed my mom a photo of the guy I met. She freaked out and immediately called 911. I was shaken, but what I discovered the next day when things got really wild left me gasping for air.\n\n\n\n
My palms were sweating as I smoothed down my dress for the hundredth time. The restaurant\u2019s dim lighting couldn\u2019t hide the anxiety radiating from the other speed daters around me. At 30, I never thought I\u2019d be here, but my best friend Lily\u2019s persistent nagging had finally worn me down.\n\n\n\n A woman waiting for someone in a restaurant | Source: Pexels \u201cYou\u2019ve got this, Selena,\u201d I whispered to myself, taking a deep breath. The bitter scent of wine and the soft clink of glasses filled the air, doing little to calm my nerves.\n\n\n\n The bell rang with a shrill sound that made me jump. It signaled the start of our first round.\n\n\n\n I plastered on my best smile as a tall, dark-haired man slid into the seat across from me. My breath hitched as our eyes met.\n\n\n\n A woman smiling | Source: Pexels \u201cHi, I\u2019m Robin.\u201d\n\n\n\n I felt an instant spark, like electricity coursing through my veins. \u201cSelena. Nice to meet you.\u201d\n\n\n\n I found myself leaning in as we chatted, captivated by his stories and wit. He spoke of his work as a software engineer, his love for rock climbing, and his dreams of traveling the world.\n\n\n\n With each word, I felt myself falling deeper under his spell.\n\n\n\n A couple in a restaurant | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n When the bell rang again, Robin stood up, hesitation brimming in his eyes as he gripped the back of the chair.\n\n\n\n \u201cListen, I know this is unconventional, but would you like to grab a coffee after this? I\u2019d love to continue our conversation.\u201d\n\n\n\n My cheeks flushed, and my heart raced. \u201cI\u2019d really like that. Tomorrow? I said, feeling the heat creep into my cheeks as he kissed the back of my hand.\n\n\n\n \u201cSure! Will be waiting for you in the caf\u00e9 downtown!\u201d\n\n\n\n As we left the restaurant later that night, I couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that my life was about to change forever.\n\n\n\n A man kissing a woman on her hand | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n The next afternoon, I couldn\u2019t stop smiling as I recounted my evening to my mom, Daisy.\n\n\n\n \u201cHe sounds wonderful, honey,\u201d she said, her eyes crinkling with happiness. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen you this excited about someone in years.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cI know, Mom. There\u2019s just something about Robin. It\u2019s like\u2026 like I\u2019ve known him my whole life.\u201d\n\n\n\n A delighted woman holding roses | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, don\u2019t get ahead of yourself. But I am happy for you. Do you have a picture?\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cOh! Yeah, we took a selfie.\u201d I pulled out my phone, swiping to find the photo. My heart fluttered as I looked at Robin\u2019s smiling face. \u201cHere he is!\u201d\n\n\n\n The moment I turned the screen towards her, Mom\u2019s face turned pale.\n\n\n\n A woman holding a smartphone | Source: Unsplash\n\n\n\n \u201cMom? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d I freaked out.\n\n\n\n Her eyes were wide with panic, fixed on the phone screen. \u201cSelena, oh my God\u2026 it\u2019s HIM. The man who robbed my friend Janet! CALL THE POLICE RIGHT NOW!\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat? No, that can\u2019t be right.\u201d I shook my head, confusion and disbelief warring inside me.\n\n\n\n A senior woman gaping in shock | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m telling you, it\u2019s him! He conned Janet out of her life savings. Promised to marry her, took every penny she had, and then vanished! We need to call the police right now, honey!\u201d\n\n\n\n My stomach dropped, a cold dread seeping into my bones. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d I asked, desperately hoping she was mistaken.\n\n\n\n \u201cPositive. Janet showed me his picture a hundred times when we were trying to track him down. I\u2019d never forget that face.\u201d\n\n\n\n A shocked woman | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n I stared at Robin\u2019s smiling face on my phone, feeling sick. The warm brown eyes that had seemed so kind now looked calculating. The charming smile now seemed sinister. How could I have been so blind?\n\n\n\n Mom reached for her phone, her fingers shaking as she started to dial 911. Without thinking, I grabbed her wrist, stopping her. \u201cMom, wait!\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you mean, wait? We need to turn him in!\u201d\n\n\n\n A senior woman calling 911 | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we call now, he might get spooked and disappear again,\u201d I said slowly, a plan forming in my mind. \u201cBut, what if we set a trap?\u201d\n\n\n\n Mom\u2019s eyebrows shot up. \u201cWhat are you thinking?\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cI have a date with him tomorrow night. What if I go, act normal, and you call the police to meet us there?\u201d\n\n\n\n She hesitated, worry etching lines across her forehead. \u201cI don\u2019t like the idea of you being alone with him. He\u2019s dangerous, Selena.\u201d\n\n\n\n An anxious senior woman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be in a public place, Mom,\u201d I assured her, even as my heart raced at the thought. \u201cAnd think about it. This might be our only chance to catch him. To get justice for Janet and who knows how many others.\u201d\n\n\n\n After a long moment, she nodded, fear still lingering in her eyes.\n\n\n\n As we began to plot our plan, I couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that I was balancing on a knife\u2019s edge. One wrong move and everything could come crashing down.\n\n\n\n Close-up of a worried woman\u2019s eyes | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n The next evening, I sat across from Robin at a cozy caf\u00e9, my nerves on edge. He looked as handsome as ever in a blue shirt that brought out his eyes.\n\n\n\n But now, his charming smile made my skin crawl. Every compliment and every gentle touch of his hand on mine felt like a lie.\n\n\n\n \u201cYou look beautiful!\u201d Robin said, reaching for my hand across the table.\n\n\n\n I forced myself not to flinch away, plastering on a smile that felt more like a grimace. \u201cThank you. You look nice too.\u201d\n\n\n\n A couple in a caf\u00e9 | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n As he launched into a story about his day, I discreetly texted Mom under the table, \u201cNow!\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, tell me more about your family,\u201d I said, desperate to keep the conversation going.\n\n\n\n A shadow seemed to pass over Robin\u2019s face so quickly that I almost missed it. \u201cIt\u2019s complicated,\u201d he said after a moment.\n\n\n\n Before I could probe further, I saw two uniformed officers enter the caf\u00e9.\n\n\n\n A couple talking | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n They approached our table, and Robin\u2019s easy smile faltered. \u201cIs there a problem, officers?\u201d he asked, his eyes darting between them and me.\n\n\n\n One of them stepped forward, his hand resting on his belt. \u201cSir, we need you to come with us for questioning.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cSelena, what\u2019s going on?\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Robin. But we know what you did to Janet. And probably to countless other women.\u201d\n\n\n\n I thought this was it. But what happened next left me reeling.\n\n\n\n A police officer | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n After a tense conversation with the officers, during which Robin vehemently denied knowing any Janet, they released him. And he walked back to our table.\n\n\n\n \u201cSelena, I don\u2019t understand. Who\u2019s Janet? What\u2019s this all about?\u201d\n\n\n\n I blinked, utterly lost. This wasn\u2019t how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to be led away in handcuffs, not standing here looking at me like I\u2019d betrayed him.\n\n\n\n A man in handcuffs | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n \u201cThe woman you conned. My mom\u2019s friend. You\u2026 you took everything from her.\u201d\n\n\n\n Robin shook his head, running a hand through his hair. \u201cI\u2019ve never met anyone named Janet in my life. But, wait a minute, I think I know what happened here.\u201d\n\n\n\n He pulled out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen. After a moment, he turned it towards me. I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth.\n\n\n\n A man holding a smartphone | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n The photo showed two identical men \u2014 Robin, and another who could have been his clone. Same eyes, smile, and same everything.\n\n\n\n But while Robin looked relaxed and happy in the photo, his double had an edge to him, a hardness in his eyes that sent a chill down my spine.\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s my twin brother, Adrian,\u201d Robin revealed. \u201cWe haven\u2019t spoken in over six months. He\u2019s had some trouble with the law. I\u2019ve been trying to help him, but he disappeared. I think he might be the one you\u2019re looking for.\u201d\n\n\n\n A man looking at a woman | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n I felt the blood drain from my face, shame and horror cloaking me in equal measure. \u201cOh my God. Robin, I\u2019m so sorry. I thought\u2014\u201d\n\n\n\n He held up a hand, cutting me off. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. I understand. Anyone would have done the same thing in your shoes.\u201d\n\n\n\n But I could see the hurt in his eyes. I\u2019d accused him of being a criminal and had the police come after him. Would he ever forgive me?\n\n\n\n A woman staring at a man | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n As if on cue, Mom burst into the caf\u00e9, her eyes wild as she scanned the room. When she spotted us, she rushed over, stopping short when she saw Robin still sitting there.\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on? Why isn\u2019t he in custody?\u201d\n\n\n\n I stood up, placing a hand on her arm. \u201cMom, we made a mistake. A big one.\u201d\n\n\n\n A shocked senior woman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n Robin stood as well, offering his hand to my mother. \u201cMrs\u2026?\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cDaisy,\u201d Mom said, frowning.\n\n\n\n \u201cMrs. Daisy, I understand there\u2019s been a misunderstanding. I\u2019m not the man who hurt your friend. But I think I might know who did.\u201d\n\n\n\n He showed her the photo, and I watched as the same shock I\u2019d felt played across Mom\u2019s face.\n\n\n\n A man sitting on a bench and holding a phone | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe it,\u201d she murmured, looking between Robin and his brother\u2019s picture. \u201cThey\u2019re identical.\u201d\n\n\n\n \u201cAdrian and I\u2026 we\u2019ve always been close. Or we were. But lately, he\u2019s been making some bad choices. I\u2019ve been trying to help him, but he disappeared a few months ago. I\u2019ve been worried sick.\u201d\n\n\n\n I reached out, touching his arm before I could stop myself. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry for putting you through this, Robin. I feel terrible.\u201d\n\n\n\n A woman holding a man\u2019s hand | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n He gave me a small smile, but it didn\u2019t reach his eyes. \u201cDon\u2019t. You were trying to do the right thing. To protect others from being hurt.\u201d\n\n\n\n Mom shook her head, sinking into a chair. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine how hard this must be for you, dealing with your brother\u2019s actions.\u201d\n\n\n\n Robin\u2019s smile faded completely. \u201cIt\u2019s been challenging. But I\u2019m not giving up on him. I can\u2019t.\u201d\n\n\n\n A couple smiling | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n An awkward silence fell over the table. I fidgeted with my napkin, trying to find the right words to fix this mess I\u2019d created.\n\n\n\n How do you apologize for accusing someone of being a criminal? For bringing the police down on an innocent man?\n\n\n\n Finally, I took a deep breath, steeling myself. \u201cRobin, I know this isn\u2019t how either of us imagined this evening going. And I completely understand if you never want to see me again. But, if you\u2019re willing, I\u2019d love to start over. Maybe we could try another date? One without any police involvement or mistaken identities?!\u201d\n\n\n\n A couple sitting across from each other | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n He looked at me for a long moment. My heart raced as I waited for his response. Finally, he broke into a genuine grin, the warmth returning to his eyes.\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d like that, Selena. I\u2019d like that a lot!\u201d\n\n\n\n As we left the caf\u00e9, walking into the cool night air, I couldn\u2019t help but feel that despite all the chaos and misunderstandings, this might just be the beginning of something wonderful.\n\n\n\n And terrifying. Because now, somewhere out there, was a man who looked exactly like the one beside me. A man who was everything I\u2019d feared Robin to be.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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