The news of the drug raid spread like wildfire and the whole school was flipped inside out. Since the police kept a tight lock on any information, the rumor mill exploded. Overall, it was one big mess.
It was Thursday night, and Jules and I were still holed up inside the library.
By nine, I'd reached the cap of my mental capacity. We had sort of rushed this report, but it was our last lab. After this, we'd have some free time.
With one last click the mail was out and we both slumped back in our seats. I gave Jules a tired look. "Gaming tonight?"
He pushed up his glasses to rub his eyes. "Not tonight. After this, I'm going to crash. We can play tomorrow though."
"All right. I'll let Sam know."
We packed up and trudged toward the parking lot. The fresh air helped me chase the fatigue away. When I put the car in reverse, my phone lit up with an incoming call. My heart skipped a beat when I saw who it was.
Killian.
The last time I'd seen him was on Saturday. Jules and I had spent the whole week locked away in the lab and I'd barely talked to anyone. I was about to accept when the phone slipped out of my grasp and landed on the floorboard. Shit. I would call him back when I was home.
I arrived in front of my apartment, gathered my stuff, and made my way toward the slightly hidden staircase. My foot hit the first step when somewhere above me the sound of a door being shut rang out. I paused. Was Sofia back? A quick look towards the parking lot showed that her car wasn't there.
Maybe I was too tired.
Halfway up the staircase, I froze again. The lights flickered between a weak dim and the usual brightness just to completely die a second later.
Well, that was just great.
I put my hand on the left wall to keep my bearing and turned on the flashlight app. I was about to reach my door when the lights sprung back to life.
I came to an abrupt halt.
The lock was broken. Splintered wood ran along the right side of the door that was slightly caved in.
An icy feeling slid down my spine. I forced myself to be very still. Our apartments, tucked away in a secluded annex, stood apart from the main complex. With Sofia absent, nobody would notice if anyone attacked me here.
My fingers fumbled over my screen. Last caller Sherlock Holmes. Without thinking I pressed call back.
"She lives." Killian's soft voice sounded through the phone.
What if they were still here? What if they heard me?
Sheets rustled in the background. "Tay? Are you there?"
"I think somebody broke into my apartment," I whispered so quietly I wondered if he'd heard me at all.
There was a sharp intake of breath. "I'm on my way. Stay put. And don't hang up. I'll notify the police."
Hyperaware of any sound, any movement, I waited, my muscles locked in place. The only thing I could hear was my own rapid heartbeat.
I heard Killian moving on his end and a car door was being shut. No more than ten minutes later, the clang of footsteps rang out from the bottom of the stairs. He arrived at my side shortly after, his eyes wild.
He scanned me up and down. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I-I heard something when I came up," I said in a hushed voice.
He pulled me behind him and edged to the door.
I grasped his sleeves. "What if they're still there?"
"Then they're going to regret the day they were born very soon," Killian threatened.
But what if it was some psycho? My grip tightened. "Let's wait for the police."
The flickering lights went out. "Kel?"
He turned and hugged me to him, his strong arms warm and comforting.
I pressed my nose into his chest and inhaled. Immediately I felt better, steadier. His fingers combed through my hair in slow, calming motions as if he was trying to soothe me. I could tell from the way he angled his body that he was still watching the entrance to my apartment.
His lips grazed the crown of my head. "It'll be fine," he mumbled in my hair.
The distant sound of sirens grew louder and louder until they abruptly stopped. I tapped his arms. Killian held me for another moment before he released me somewhat reluctantly. He stayed close. So close, his warmth seeped into my back.
Flashlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the staircase as two police officers appeared. One of them recognized me immediately.
"Miss West, I had hoped not to see you again this quickly," Officer Williams greeted me.
"You know her?" The male officer asked.
"The stalker case, remember?"
Killian practically turned to stone. There was no movement. No sound from him, even his breathing was barely noticeable. Like the quiet before the storm.
Oh shit.
The lights came on again. The male officer inspected my door and then pushed it open and disappeared inside. Officer Williams checked the second staircase leading into the yard behind the complex.
I didn't dare to turn around. The worst part was that I knew he was mad, yet Killian sounded almost casual when he spoke up. "So, you lied to me."
"Didn't you say I was a bad liar?"
"You promised to call me if anything happened," he added conversationally as if we were just having a nice chat.
My back tensed. I still couldn't bring myself to look at him. He sounded a bit too unbothered—which told me he was the opposite.
I fidgeted. "I did call you though, didn't I?"
"Taylor..."
Shit, full name. Yep, he was definitely pissed.
At that moment the male officer came back. "It's clear. Somebody forced their way in, but nothing seems amiss from what I can tell. I found this though." He held up a small letter.
A sudden feeling of nausea welled up. No. This couldn't be happening. I thought this was over. Reeling, I took a step away from the letter as if the added distance helped soften the shock. Right into Killian. He wrapped his arm around the front of my shoulders, anchoring me to him.
"It's clear here as well," Officer Williams said, reappearing. "I suggest you pack up. Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
The muscles in Killian's arm tensed. "She will stay with me."
Officer Williams looked at him and back at me. "Alright. But you have to come to the station with us first. We need a statement."
I nodded.
Half an hour later, I was sitting in the same uncomfortable plastic chair as last time. Killian hovered next to me, tension sharpening his face. He hadn't said much, neither when I packed my things nor on the way here. His silence was unnerving.
Officer Williams waved us over. "Come with me please."
Killian and I followed her to the same interrogation room as last time.
Her kind eyes locked on me. "Do you need anything?"
That reminded me... "Actually, I'd been meaning to ask. What was in the package the last time?"
The corners of her mouth puckered down.
"What package?" Killian asked.
She looked between us. "Do you want him to stay?"
I took a deep breath. Did I want Killian to be involved in this mess? No. But he was already here. I owed it to him to be honest at least. He could always back out if he wanted to. "If he wants to stay, he can."
I waited, bracing myself. Killian parked himself at the wall opposite the door and folded his arms, his eyes narrowed. Alright then.
"It was a good thing you called us," Officer Williams said gently. "They sent you a pig's heart."
My knees buckled.
"Somebody sent you a pig's heart?" Killian's voice dripped with barely suppressed fury. "And you didn't think to mention this to me?"
"I didn't know what was inside..."
"But you didn't think to mention that you got some weird package?"
I grimaced.
He watched my expression and swore. "God, Tay... Fuck! Seriously, you can be so—" He raked his hand through his hair.
"Now, son, you better calm down. I think she has enough problems on her hands without you adding yourself on top of that." Killian lifted his head and his gaze fixed onto Detective Johnson who had entered the room. The detective nodded to Officer Williams. "I'll take it from here."
Now that they were both in the same room their resemblance was striking. Same dark hair, same nose, same skin tone, albeit Detective Johnson's was slightly darker.
They stared at each other, unflinching until Killian sighed. "Dad."
My jaw went slack. What?
Detective Johnson, or Killian's dad, swung his gaze at me. "So, Taylor, I heard something happened."
"You're Killian's dad?" I asked just to make sure I heard correctly.
Detective Johnson nodded. "I hope he isn't giving you too much trouble."
Oh, God. He knew I'd been talking about his son the whole time. He knew I had been wearing Killian's sweatshirt. That was why he asked about the letter. Where was the closest hole I could jump into?
He interpreted my expression the wrong way, because those familiar hazel eyes filled with accusation, and immediately cut to his son.
"But Dad," Killian huffed. "You don't know her. If there's a weirdo within a five-mile radius, she'll definitely walk into him. She's a magnet for trouble."
"That's enough. You better not put that on the poor girl."
Killian let out a groan. "That's not what I meant."
"It better not be," Detective Johnson replied in a snide tone. "Now go get her something to drink. Show some manners."
Killian muttered something under his breath.
"What was that?" his dad demanded.
"Nothing." With one last look at me, Killian exited the room.
I gulped.
"So, I heard somebody broke into your apartment?" the detective asked, going back to business as if nothing had happened.
"Yeah." I quickly told him what little I knew.
"We've examined the letters you've gathered. Initially, the messages appeared to be designed to frighten you, to demonstrate that the stalker is observing you. However, almost all of the letters were found at your apartment. Then there was the incident with the doorbell, and now the break-in. Do you have any idea if there's someone who might want to force you out of your apartment?"
I shook my head.
"Based on the letters we've reviewed," he continued, "it seems like this person is focused on scaring you or even compelling you to relocate. The phrase 'disappear' is frequently repeated. Does that strike a chord with you?"
That confused me even more. "No. I mean why would they? I'm not hiding any valuables in there, and it's not exactly a prime location.
"Like I said I talked to your landlord. They will install a better security system, but it will take at least a month because they need to install the wiring first. Is there anyone you can stay with?"
"She's coming home with me," Killian announced, his tone breaking no argument. He strode into the room, two bottles of water in his hand, and placed them on the table. Then he positioned himself behind me, his hands gripping the back of my chair.
"With you?" his dad inquired.
"Yep," Killian quipped. "She's friends with Cody as well."
Detective Johnson turned to me. "You have my number. If there are any more strange men call me. And also, if that one over there gives you a hard time..." he trailed off with a pointed look in Killian's direction.
"Dad! Wait... What do you mean more strange men?"
I held my breath.
Killian's Dad looked between us. "Don't you know? You told me about the asylum, didn't you?"
I exhaled.
"Yeah..." Killian replied, still sounding suspicious. "Did something else happen? Aside from the break-in? Am I missing something?"
I cursed silently. He was so goddamn perceptive.
"I'm gonna go to the toilet," I announced, and stood. "It's down the hall, right?"
Detective Johnson watched me with a thoughtful look on his face and nodded. I could feel Killian's gaze boring into my back as I fled the room.
I was so screwed.