Greg was relieved to find Edward home, safe and sound, albeit a little shaken. He immediately grabbed him and kissed him. “Thank fuck you're safe,” he said, kissing Edward again. “After that call... I was so worried.”

Edward nodded. “I know. And I'm still a bit scared, to be honest. But I need to ask you...”

“Ask me what?” Greg responded.

“Greg... who's Chad?” Edward asked.

“Who?” Greg asked right back. Chad? He wasn't sure he had ever, in his entire life, met a Chad. “I'm pretty sure I don't know anyone by that name.”

“You don't know any Chads?” Edward continued.

“Literally none,” Greg replied.

“I'm not sure I can believe you,” Edward replied. “Chad's been here. He tried to... never mind.”

“He tried to what?” Greg asked, moving closer to Edward. “Please, tell me.”

“He tried to convince me to sleep with him. He said I should get back at you for cheating on me. I don't know, though... after his behavior I'm pretty sure this was all just him. Everything that has happened came from him. He wanted to ruin this for us,” Edward explained.

Greg hugged Edward tightly again. “Sounds like it. I mean, if you want reassurance we can get the CCTV from work.”

Edward shook his head. “I'm going to believe you over that jerk, trust me.”

Greg squeezed Edward. “I'm just glad you're safe... But we need to find out who exactly this Chad is, and why he showed up in the first place. This is weird.”

Edward shook his head again. “I... I don't want to invite more stuff to happen. Maybe he'll stop now I confronted him and sent him away?”

Greg could feel the anger welling up inside him. “No, some stranger has been harassing you, planting ideas in your head, and has even been in my house, and tried to sexually assault you. No, I... We have to get to the bottom of this.” He pulled away and made eye contact with Edward. “This man could be dangerous. He could be trying to do something to hurt us. Our kids could be at risk. Our lives. Anything. We need to work it out.”

Edward glanced away before looking back into Greg's eyes and nodding. “I understand. But where can we find him? All we have is a car that belongs to some Edna, and an email address.”

“I might know where to start,” a voice said quietly.

They looked up to see Jill standing in the doorway. She looked a little sheepish, but still stood with her head held up.

“How long have you been here?” Greg asked.

“Just got back, we had a half day, remember?” Jill replied.

“Oh fu-dge,” Edward replied, looking from the clock to Jill. “With that weirdo showing up I completely forgot. I haven't got lunch ready or anything...”

“It's fine,” Jill replied. “You can make us sandwiches while Dad and I try and track this guy.”

Edward nodded. “Sure thing, tech whiz.”

Greg wasn't so convinced. “I'm not sure I want you involved in this,” he said to Jill as they walked downstairs to the kitchen.”

“Well, one of us has to work things out,” Jill replied. “And you and Daddy don't even know where to start. So I'm helping.”

“Maybe we ought to leave it to the police?” Edward asked.

Greg pondered it. They could. But the police were often slow with matters like these, and if Chad was dangerous, then that would mean putting themselves at greater risk. “No... I'd rather ask Jill to help find the guy. It'll probably be faster. But if you try and follow us when we go and see him you will have your moped taken away and be grounded for a year, okay, kid?”

Jill nodded. “I don't fancy meeting a serial killer either.”

“He's not a serial killer, Jillian,” Edward replied, shaking his head. “Well, probably not.”

Greg shook his head. “Let's just find him. So, we know the car is registered to. Edna Berkowitz. And we have the town she lives in, or the nearest one if she's rural. Does that work?”

Jill nodded. “Sure, let me find her...”

After a few searches and a bit of time on social media, Jill had dug up a full portfolio of Edna Berkowitz and her closest friends and relatives. “There are loads of people it could be, and we don't know who's insured to drive the car. But if we're looking for a young guy... Here it says that Edna Berkowitz has a son... Julian Berkowitz. He is a small-time actor,” Jill explained.

“Let me see,” Edward replied, walking over and handing them each a plate with ham and cheese sandwiches on it. “Okay, that's the guy. I mean, his hair wasn't dyed bright blue today, but that's him.”

“Well, if he's an actor and he isn't well known... then he probably isn't the guy behind it all,” Greg said with a sigh of relief. “That makes things a little easier.”

“So, Chad was an actor?” Edward asked. He also sounded somewhat relieved. “At least he isn't, you know, a serial killer.”

“But the guy who hired him could be,” Jill insisted.

“Jillian, stop it,” Edward replied. “I am sure there is another reason for it.”

“I don't know... someone had to have hired him. Someone who didn't want us to be happy together,” Greg began. “Do you think it's someone who knows us?”

Edward nodded. “Almost certainly. I think we ought to email him and ask him who hired him.”

“But the email you have is probably from the guy who hired him, not Julian.” Greg ran his fingers through his hair. This was going to be difficult...

“Found his personal email,” Jill chirped. “He has this profile on a really tacky talent finding website and his email is on it.”

Greg stared a moment, then nodded. “Well done, Jill.”

“It's not hard. When you're not old.” Jill smiled.

“Watch it, kid,” Greg laughed. “I'm old, but you're still a little kid and I will still ground you.”

Jill grumbled and began eating her sandwich as Greg took out his phone and began composing an email to Julian Berkowitz. At first Julian insisted on keeping his client's name a secret, and swore it was just for a prank, or at least he thought it was. After a few emails back and forth, where Greg threatened to take Julian to court for intimidation and sexual assault, Julian eventually went back on his “complete confidentiality clause” and confessed the name of the guy who had hired him.

“Mark Trent?” Greg said. “No... it must be a mistake. Or a different Mark Trent.”

“Or,” Edward said, “maybe the disturbingly unprofessional actor is telling the truth, and maybe Mr. Trent is out to get us.”

“What?” Greg laughed. The very idea was ridiculous. Mark Trent was just his supervisor at work. Sure, he was a little pushy at times, but why would he ever try something like that? “He's got nothing to gain from splitting us up.”

“Nothing at all... except you'll be free to keep on doing everyone's work forever. I bet he's pissed off that you're spending more time with me,” Edward said.

“Then... why were you suspicious I was cheating before the resort? Before things got better?” Greg asked.

Edward sighed and looked away.

“Eddie, you need to tell me,” Greg insisted.

“I... I've been getting weird emails and messages for months. Telling me I wasn't good enough, that you were out seeing other guys behind my back. I wondered about confronting you, but I suppose I didn't want to know the truth.” Edward blushed. “You probably think I'm an idiot.”

“So... that's what it's been all along?” Greg asked. “These... these messages? The harassment?”

Edward nodded. Greg felt an emotion he had never felt before. Some strange combination of relief, distress, and rage. Like a fire, it began burning up inside him. Someone had been taking advantage of Edward's insecurities and solitude and used that to worm their way into his mind and his life. They had been working to destroy this marriage from the inside out.

He was distressed that someone had managed to hurt his husband so badly without him knowing. He was full of rage that this person had betrayed him so coldly. But he was relieved to know that his husband loved him, that Edward was not going mad, or trying to hurt him, or doubting him for any real infraction.

And he knew there was one way to address everything that was happening, one way to help his family.

“Jill, stay here. Ed, get your coat. We're going to talk to my supervisor.”

Jill scowled a little. “But we know he isn't a serial killer!” she complained.

“We discussed this literally at the very start,” Greg said, rubbing his temples. “You are going to stay out of the grown ups' business, got it? Besides, Daddy and I have things to discuss in the car.”

Jill shrugged. “I'm eating your sandwich, then.”

“Be my guest,” Greg replied. “Let's go,” he said, turning to face Edward.

Edward looked a little nervous but followed him anyway. They took their coats, put on their shoes, and got into the car before Edward said anything. “You know I don't like conflict...” he said.

“I know, and I can handle most of the talking,” Greg replied. “I just... I want you to be there. To back me up. And to see it all come to a close.”

Edward nodded and smiled the sweetest smile Greg had ever seen on anyone. “Thank you.”

“For what? If Chad, I mean Julian, isn't lying then this jerk has been fucking with our marriage for nearly half a year, maybe longer. It's time for some payback.”

“Just... don't do anything crazy,” Edward asked.

“I won't, we just need answers, okay?” Greg smiled and held Edward's hand briefly before letting go and starting the car.