In the light of day, I’m feeling better and more optimistic than I was last night. At least I know the cops probably brought Darius back in for questioning and it’s gonna be revealed that he’s our guy. Then we can lock him up for good and this whole mess will be over. Normally I enjoy a strong caseload, but when it’s regarding someone I care about, it’s just too much. I need to keep Elena safe at all costs. I need to be her hero. God knows she could use one right now.

What we had last night was awesome. And now that we’ve revealed our true feelings for each other, there is no going back. Not that I would want to. Elena is the perfect girl, and I worship the ground she walks on. I will do everything to keep her safe, and that’s why I’m so glad to be on my way to the station right now. The sooner I get there the better. I’m starting to think my staff  is incompetent. They couldn’t even catch the guy, and they let him out on bail. Unbelievable! I hate to leave Elena right now, but I’ve gotta resolve this mess. I will use all my resources to get this thing under control for good. Last night was just too close of a call. I need my baby safe forever.

I’m driving fast, swerving in and out of cars. She’s definitely mine now, I think. After last night we’ve got that confirmed. Now I feel possessive and the thought of that perpetrator even touching her gets my blood boiling. I’m getting angry again thinking about it. That asshole’s hands were all over my girl, hurting her, and the thought of Elena being in danger just makes me wanna take out everything I have on this guy.

Finally, I arrive and pull off into my usual spot. I think about how I’ll approach the situation. I’ve gotta get all the pieces in order. I’ll need to arrange the Special Forces unit to surround Elena’s house and to track her every move until we’ve got the culprit securely in our grasp. I’m going to make sure she has so much security that she’ll feel like a celebrity with bodyguards tracking their every move.

I walk into the precinct with purpose and people move aside. They know I’m a man with a mission, and they’ve probably all heard about what happened.

Bobbi’s waiting for me outside my office. “What’s up? Tell me something good.”

“No, Leo, it’s not good.”

“What? What is it? Did you guys pick Darius up again like I asked?”

“No, he’s been released officially. We can no longer hold him.”

“What the fuck, Bobbi? What the hell is going on? After last night you just let him walk?”

“Leo, listen to me, it’s not him. He’s not our guy. His prints didn’t match and at the time of Elena’s attack last night, he was just leaving the station on bail. We have that on record. It’s not him.”

“Okay, then what?” I ask her, wondering what’s happening.

“We’re charging Darius for harassment, and he’s not going to get away with making those intimidating phone calls to her.”

“Okay, Bobbi, that’s nice, but we’ve still got to catch this guy. He can’t get away with...”

She cuts me off right there. “There’s more, but you need to prepare yourself, alright?”

“What? What more, Bobbi?” I yell. “You better tell me in the next five seconds or else.”

“It’s Barry okay, your brother. Barry’s the guy we need to catch. He’s the one who attacked her. His alibi didn’t check out, and we’ve got a match on his prints. Okay? I don’t know how we missed it, but it’s okay because you’re here now and we’re gonna go pick him up. He’s gonna go to jail and this will all be over. Alright, Leo?”

I’m weak in the knees. I have nothing to say. It feels as though someone punched me in the stomach. Barry? Barry’s the criminal?  I left her just now, and Barry’s on his way to her house. I’ve left her alone. Oh God! What have I done?

Bobbi looks at me strangely. She doesn’t know why I’m upset. She doesn’t know that I’m frozen in time, just understanding the ramifications of what I did. Bobbi doesn’t know that Barry’s headed to Elena’s right now and that he’s probably actually there.

The words finally come to me. I know I have to act fast. “It’s Barry! God, Bobbi, what have I done? I just left her alone, and he’s on his way to her. He said he wanted to apologize about the divorce and she, I mean, we never expected it was him. He’s going to meet with her right now. I’ve got to get over there!”

And without another word I’m running out of the office, my weapon in hand. I’m gonna have to race to get there. What if I’m too late?