Ray stayed until Elise returned from work. They talked for a while, Elise grilled him on whether or not we were safe. Around the time she asked Ray if she should get a gun permit, I realized she was beyond terrified, and I was the reason for her fear. Elise and I may have only been work buddies for a long time, but the second she let me into her home to keep me safe, she became more.

With Chad’s murder and it being so close to where she lived, it was obviously weighing on her that the killer would find me and she’d be a casualty. I understood that paranoia; I was living it daily.

“Ray?” I called after him as he walked down the corridor of Elise’s building. He stopped and a raised eyebrow, the only invitation I got to speak. “It’s not safe for Elise if I’m here.”

He surveyed the hall before answering. “If the killer is after you, and that’s a possibility, anyone in your path will be in danger. I won’t sugar coat it up for you, Andy.”

I feared that. “I don’t want to lose anyone else, I can’t,” I whispered almost to myself, but Ray heard. He stood a few inches in front of me, his hand gently touched my arm, and there was sympathy in his gaze.

“Give me a few days, I’ll see about securing you a safe place, one close to work even.” Ray’s eyes flitted over my face. “This isn’t your fault and I’ll do everything I can to catch this son of a bitch and keep you safe.”

I don’t know why I did it or what came over me, but without overthinking it I crashed my lips against Ray’s. For a moment I thought he’d push me away and tell me I was gross and stupid. But he didn’t.

His hand that rested on my arm slid over my shoulder and stopped when he cupped my cheek. His lips were warm, rough, and when he returned my kiss it felt like I was breathing for the first time in days.

It only lasted a moment and when I pulled away there wasn’t a look of disgust on Ray’s face like I thought there’d be, there was hunger in those eyes. Hunger for me and in that moment, I wished we were behind closed doors so I could see how far I could push the detective.

“I have to go,” Ray said roughly. “I’ll call tomorrow, hopefully with a place that will be safe.” He cleared his throat and I watched as he walked quickly down the hallway.

When he was out of sight I felt the loss, and in an instant, the fear was suffocating.

Sleep didn’t come easy for me, but when it did I dreamt of Ray and all the things I wanted to do to him.

One hour. I was gone for one hour after Elise left for work. All I needed was more deodorant, so I walked down to the department store I was at the day before. When I returned there were three police cars, and they wouldn’t let me enter the building.

“What’s going on?” I asked a cop standing by the front.

“Please step back.” He went to touch me, but I jumped back.

“I’m staying here, I think I’m allowed to know why I can’t get inside.” The fact that Elise wasn’t there dampened my worry, but I was nervous nonetheless. I had a suspicion.

“There was a break-in at one of the apartments, someone called it in, and that’s all I can tell you.”

That was strange. Why would they close off the whole building for a break-in?

I stood by the curb with a few of Elise’s neighbors. Every one of them confused as to why they were all asked to exit the building or not be allowed to enter. I took the time to text Ray and let him know the little information I had.

“Andy?” I heard Elise’s voice and turned. She was in her server uniform, eyes frantically searching. “Andy, where are you?”

“Elise,” I shouted just as a man exited the building. I recognized him from the three question interview he gave me the night of Francis’ murder. The Chief, I thought. Green. He was a typical looking chief. White, thinning hair, pale skin that was in serious need of a facial or something. His suit, while clearly expensive, didn’t fit the cheap man wearing it, it was very unflattering, or maybe it was the rather round beer belly he was sporting that made it all wrong. There was nothing welcoming about him. He left me with an uneasy feeling that turning away from him in favor of my friend was a welcome thing.

“Oh, Andy, thank god. I got a call from the police saying someone broke into my apartment. I thought…” She burst into tears and with every ounce of courage I had, I wrapped her in my arms and whispered lies in her ear. I did this to her.

“It’s okay, I’m fine, Elise. I wasn’t here, I needed pit stick.”

Her chuckle was watery, but she stopped crying.

“Ms. Summers, Elise Summers?” Green asked, now standing a foot from us.

“Yes.” She faced him and held her hand out as he introduced himself.

“I’m afraid you’re not going to be able to enter your apartment. Is there some place you can stay for the evening? I’m sure we will get it all wrapped up by morning.”

I could tell she was thinking, and when her eyes locked with mine I knew she was worrying about what I’d do.

“Don’t worry about me, El. I’ll call Ray, ask if he can help for a night.” She shook her head.

“Yeah, I can stay with my sister. She’s an hour away, but it’ll be fine.”

Green wasn’t paying any attention to Elise anymore, his main focus was on me.

“Ray?” he asked, his pale face getting redder by the second. “Ray Clancy by any chance?”

I nodded, unsure why that was making the large man look like he was about to go off like a tea kettle.

“I know you, Allen something, you were a witness I spoke with briefly the other day.” He folded his arms over his chest and glared at me.

“It’s Andy, Andrew Shay. I was staying with Elise.”

His light blue eyes flickered to Elise and back to me. “You family?”

“A friend. As a matter of fact, remember my roommate Francis was killed a few nights ago. The police told me to leave my place, so I was staying with Elise. Now you’re saying I can’t stay there anymore.” I could feel my own blood start to boil. “You all didn’t give a shit about my safety then, and I’m guessing this break-in has something to do with what happened to Francis. Are you all going to care about me now or am I still on my own?”

At this point Elise had her arms wrapped around my waist, but she seemed just as furious as I was.

“Mr. Shay. We have no proof that this is connected to—”

“Bullshit.” The sound of Ray’s voice was like an entire army appearing to defend me. “Don’t treat him like he’s an idiot. You and I both know it’s connected. Keeping information from him will get him killed.”

“I told you to stay off my case,” Green shouted, pointing a finger dangerously close to Ray’s face.

“Maybe if you actually did your fucking job I wouldn’t have to be here right now.” Ray didn’t back down an inch from the larger man.

“Please,” Elise’s voice was soft, pleading, “can you tell us something about the break-in?”

Green narrowed his eyes once more at Ray, lowered his hand, and looked down at Elise.

“Like I was saying, there’s no way of knowing if this is connected. I don’t go around assuming things.” He eyed Ray. “But I can tell you whoever did that was sending a message. Maybe to Ms. Summers, maybe to you, Mr. Shay.”

“What message?” Ray asked.

Green ignored Ray’s existence and spoke to Elise and me. “They vandalized the apartment and wrote on your wall. It said ‘He’s Mine.’ We have no idea what it means. Do you have a disgruntled ex, Ms. Summers?”

‘He’s Mine’? Who?

“No. I haven’t dated in over a year and we parted on good terms.” She seemed confused, but I wasn’t and one look at Ray’s face told me he wasn’t either.

“If you could follow me to the station, Ms. Summers, I’d like to get the ex’s information. Just to rule him out.” They started to walk away when she stopped and was about to speak to me.

“I’m fine, El. I’m going to grab some stuff and I’ll be with Ray.” She nodded and went with Green.

“With me?” Ray asked.

Yeah, I had a feeling that was going to get his attention.

“We both know that message was for me. I don’t know what it means, but I know I can’t endanger my friends and I don’t want to die. That means you’re going to have to keep me safe.”

Ray smirked, and it was beyond sexy. I wanted to lick it away and plunder his mouth.

“I’ll see about grabbing your stuff.” He tossed me his keys. “Wait for me in my car.”

I was glad he didn’t fight me on it. I was tired of bouncing around, but I was more tired of being terrified all the time. Ray made me feel safe, and the fact he was a walking wet dream helped a lot, too.