girldetective

High drama story here. Worrisome. Bizarre. Dont know what to make of it.

Coco is a friend of 25 yrs who I have been out of touch with for 10 yrs. She has recently moved back to town, and in fact she lives across from where I work. We know each other very well, and know the others' families (including extended) and histories, the good and the bad. She comes from good stock and was married long-term to a very powerful man, the envy of many. She divorced and had a very rich settlement (which she most likely deserved).

1) A wk or 2 ago Coco met a man at a parade and went to coffee with him and then on a date or two. This last Thursday she loaned him her Prius and her bank card, and he stole her car. She reported it stolen when he didnt show up by morning. The policeman told her that this man had a record (I dont know crimes). Prior to this the man had called her and told her to report her car stolen, that someone had stolen it from him. She said he was very upset and told her that he had gone with his two adult sons to a strip joint and that a woman there had given him some drug that put him to sleep and had stolen her car! What?! I thought. When I spoke with her after this she had secured her rental and contacted her insurance co, and she was feeling sheepish about her poor judgement.

2) Last night as i was leaving work she was at the door and wondered if I might like to have a drink. Over a Dark and Stormy she told me that she got her car back with damage (the car is generally a mess and the roof is caved in, things are missing from the trunk). She got the car back with the man who stole it, who showed up at her door at 3a to take her to find it. It is so involved its ludicrous, just realize it was nuts. I mean really nuts, and the police were involved in passive way. I mention this because this policeman ran the boyfriend too and told her "he is a bad man". Somewhere in these dangerous shenanigans this boyfriend took $200 from her purse (in which she seemed to take some delight in calling him on it?) What?!

3) Continuing with last night's conversation : After they retrieved her car, they went for coffee and back to her house. Then they went shopping for new clothes for him, including new Gucci sunglasses. This is a man who she knows is on probation and who has been out of jail for only a short time for some domestic thing (Im unclear what). She told me that she felt afraid of him and had told him that. She likes that he calls her "baby". What?!

4) When I came back to our table after using the restroom, Coco is beaming with excitement because this boyfriend is coming over for a drink with us. He was at home (her home) ironing his new clothes as they were going out dancing later. He showed up 15-20 minutes later maybe. Until this moment i was stubbornly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because Coco was so smitten. However, as soon as met him I knew he was trouble, and not even good-looking trouble at that. Interestingly, I knew right away that he knew that I had his number. I felt a cold shiver. What?!

5) BUT WAIT, thats not all. He is moving in with her. Let me repeat that - he is moving in with her!!! Actually, i think he already has. Whaaaat?!

Coco is a mature woman who has lost her mind apparently, or she is playing a very dangerous game. I wonder if she is really nuts or if she is looking for fun in all the wrong places. She is giddy, manic. She is a pillar of the community who I am watching right before my very eyes go straight down. I am afraid for her. I have always known her to be a shrewd woman who purports herself well. She is a somewhat well known person in the community at large, with some her private life having been privy to the public.

I am not sure how to help her. This is not something I would want her family to know about, and I do not intend to tell them at this time. As far as I know I am only one of two people she has told about this, and I dont know the other person so cannot powwow with them. What would you do if you were in my situation? What are my options and their likely outcomes? Or is it even any of my business?

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As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons...be cheerful; strive for happiness - Desiderata