“Sounds like a plan.” Leo paused and grabbed the piece of paper from the clip as he walked into the apartment.
A stale smell he’d never associated with Felix filled the place. Leo walked across the living room to the bedroom. He flipped on the light and stared at the disarray. The bed was rumpled. Pillows and sheets lay more on the floor than the bed.
Felix is always so tidy. If I didn’t know what had happened, I wouldn’t believe this was his bedroom.
The stale smell was stronger, almost like someone had taken a crap on the floor and not cleaned it up. Two-tone brown stains ran down the white sheets. Leo swallowed and forced himself to walk past the bed to the closet. Two duffels lay on the floor there.
“What clothes do you want?” he shouted.
“If you don’t mind, just grab me some shirts, jeans,” replied Felix, loudly. “There should be some underwear and socks in the chest of drawers near the bed. I can’t be in there.” His voice trailed off.
Leo looked over his shoulder at the stained sheets and shuddered. “I’ll get it.”
“Thanks.” Felix sounded closer but weaker.
Leo didn’t really look at what he was grabbing. The jeans were in a neat pile on the shelves next to some T-shirts. He opened the black canvas bag and piled things in.
Gotta have a few things he can wear to work next week. I doubt he’s going to want to miss many days.
Then he moved to the chest of drawers with the second bag. He tried to work quickly, but his eyes kept going back to the bed and the horribly stained sheets.
Felix hasn’t said anything about the mess created by his violation. It’s terrible. How could anyone have done this to Felix? What kind of monster is Axe?
He paused, remembering the piece of paper he pulled off the clip. Leo unfolded it and caught his breath.
Had fun. Text me for another round. Axe
Heat rose in Leo’s face as he crumpled the paper.
He had fun? Fun? How on Earth could what he did to Felix be fun? He really is a monster. I’ve got to find some way to stop him from ever doing this again.
“Are you about done?” Felix’s voice coming from outside the room sounded weak. “I need to get out of here.”
Leo shoved the paper back into his pocket before he zipped up the bag in his hands. “Yeah, go on. I’m right behind you.” He jerked up the first bag and hurried out of the room, trying to still his face and actions before he reached Felix. He didn’t want to upset Felix any more than he already was.
I will find this fucker, and he will pay for what he did to Felix.
AUD SLOWLY
pulled his Jeep away from the curb near Leo’s home. With Felix’s and Julie’s cars parked there along with Leo’s, he’d had to park half a block away on the main street that ran in front of the house.
“I just can’t believe it!” Leo exclaimed as they entered traffic.
“What?” Aud asked as he accelerated to keep from getting hit by the big diesel Dodge truck that roared up behind him.
“The asshole who raped Felix left a note asking Felix to call him. Said he had fun.” Leo’s anger was tangible in the car.
“How did Felix react to that?” Aud knew he wouldn’t have responded well if it had been him.
“He doesn’t know.” Leo took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I grabbed the note and haven’t shown it to him. He doesn’t need to see anything like that right now. It might push him over the edge.”
“Wow. I guess anybody who’d rape somebody would do just about anything.” He reached over the console and took Leo’s hand. “It scares me, what the world is becoming.”
Leo squeezed his hand back. “It is scary. I guess I’ve been lucky and haven’t been touched by the ugliness of it before. I mean, I’ve been called names, but I’ve never been attacked like a lot of guys have.”
“I hear you. A few snide remarks now and again but nothing dangerous.” Aud frowned as he got on the interstate. “This stalker, and now a rapist—they’re things I never imagined touching me or people I know.”
It really disrupts my white-picket-fence mentality. Is anybody truly safe nowadays?
“Exactly.” Leo looked out the window but didn’t let go of Aud’s hand.
Holding hands with Leo helped Aud ground himself and he hoped it helped Leo feel better.
“So why are the monsters going after people like you and Felix? You two are nice guys. There’s no reason for people to want to hurt you.”
“I think rapists and stalkers operate off different mentalities, but I could be wrong. Felix’s rapist was probably being violent for the sake of violence. A stalker is normally after possession of the target of his interest.”
Leo looked at Aud. “Where did you hear that?”
“Something back in school. Don’t ask me what class it was.”
“At least it isn’t any of that legitimate rape crap these politicians keep going on about. How can any rape be legitimate? That’s just bullshit.” Leo’s hand shook as his rage rose again.
“I agree, but we’re supposed to be trying to get you to relax tonight.” Aud squeezed Leo’s hand, hoping to change his focus. “Where would you like to go eat? We rushed out of your place so fast we didn’t have time to discuss that.”
“I’d been holding my anger at the note in. I didn’t want Felix getting upset.” Leo turned and smiled at Aud. “Thank you for coming to get me and taking me out.”
“Hey, if I’m not spending a romantic weekend with you, off somewhere no stalker can find us, then I want to take some time hanging out. What kind of food would you like?”
A thoughtful crease lined Leo’s forehead. “Oriental? The atmosphere in most of the ones I’ve ever been in has been laid-back.”
“I know just the place. It’s over on the east side of town, if you don’t mind going that far.”
Leo shrugged. “You’re driving. I’m just here for the awesome company.”
Aud smiled. “Good. I find your company pretty awesome too.”
AS AUD
finished his dinner and pushed his plate toward the center of the table, his phone rang. He glanced at it and saw that it was Heather.
I’ll check the message later.
He silenced the phone, not wanting to disturb the awesome time he was having with Leo.
“If you need to take that, don’t let me stop you.” Leo grinned at him from across the table as he worked on finishing up his broccoli beef.
“It’s just Heather. I can check the message in a bit.” The phone rang again before there was time for a message to be left. Aud frowned at Heather’s number. “Okay, maybe I should talk to her.” He swiped the screen to answer the call. “Hey, Heather, what’s up?”
“Where are you?”
“At dinner with Leo. I told you we were going out.”
“Look, someone just tried to break into the gallery.”
His heart raced. “We’ll be right there. Have you called the cops yet?”
“Yeah, they’re on their way.”
“Okay. You’ve got your gun on you?” He knew she carried a small pistol in her purse and was skilled in its use.
“Yeah. That’s why they didn’t get in. But I put a hole in the loading doors.”
“The doors can be repaired. We’re over off Powers. It’s going to be a few minutes before we get there.”
“No problem.” She hung up.
“What’s going on?” Leo had set his fork down on his plate.
“Someone tried to break into the gallery.” Aud daubed his lips with the thick cloth napkin, then dropped it on his finished plate. “We need to go.”
“Sure.” Leo wiped his lips with his napkin. “I can’t believe all this stuff keeps happening.”
Aud sighed as they stood to walk to the cashier. “I know.”
AUD SLID
through a few yellow lights and sped a good part of the way on his frantic trip across Colorado Springs back to the gallery. He kept glancing over at Leo, who didn’t seem overly distressed at his sudden lack of concern for highway safety or laws. Two patrol cars were still on Colorado Avenue in front of the gallery when they arrived.
“I’ll just hang back,” Leo suggested.
“Okay, but in the gallery.” Aud got out of the car. “If there’s someone out there who was ballsy enough to try and break in, I don’t want you waiting in the car. We’ll all be safer around the cops.”
“Right.” Leo followed him down the sidewalk and into the gallery.
Three police officers stood just inside the door.
“I’m sorry, sirs, the establishment is closed.” The youngest of the three moved to intercept them.
“I’m Aud Sorenson. This is my gallery.” Aud made to go around him. “My employee, Heather Ramsey, called me. This is my boyfriend, Leo.”
“Oh. S-sorry, s-sir,” the officer stuttered slightly. “She told us you were on the way. She’s back by the door with Detective Benet.” He gestured to the back of the gallery.
“I know where it is.” Aud paused and looked at Leo. “You okay here?”
Leo nodded. “Go on. I’m fine.”
Not needing any further encouragement, Aud hurried through the dark rooms. Here and there lights from the street came through the large windows that ran along the front of the gallery. Where the lights moved, shadows danced, cast by the various statues and pieces of artwork. Aud didn’t remember it being so spooky before. The intrusions on his safe areas were starting to shake him. He didn’t like it.
Aud jumped when the loading door slammed shut, sending a loud clank that echoed in the dark room he rushed through. He rounded the last corner and the lights of the loading area blinded him slightly after the darkness he’d just traveled through.
“Aud, there you are,” Heather said. “Detective Benet was just inspecting the door. Looks like someone tried to pry it open.”
The detective and another police officer stood inside the door. Benet nodded at Aud. “Mr. Sorenson.”
“Detective Benet.” Aud closed the distance between them. “Any useful clues?”
“No fingerprints or bloodstains, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m presuming this door hasn’t been used in a while.”
“About a week ago.”
Benet pursed his thin lips and looked thoughtful. “We’ve had a couple of good rains since then. It would’ve been better if your stalker had left some evidence behind. It would’ve been fresh.”
“Did you check the security cams?” Aud asked.
“You have security cameras on your back door?” Benet sounded surprised.
“I have some very expensive artwork here, in case you hadn’t noticed on your earlier visit.” Aud tried to figure out what it was about the man that just pushed his irritation button but couldn’t put his finger on it.
Benet made a few notes on his ever-present pad. “I guess that does make sense. Where is the security feed kept?”
“There’s a copy in the office, and my alarm company has one in their system.” Aud pushed past the two officers so he could take a look for himself at his door.
Where the door latched, the bronze kickplate was scratched and the metal of the door slightly bent. It looked like someone fairly strong had taken a crowbar to it. He frowned.
I’ve spotted Randal while he was lifting weights. I know he’s strong. But why would he try and break into the gallery?
His phone rang. It was the number of his security company so he answered it. “Yes, this is Aud Sorenson.”
“Mr. Sorenson,” a cheerful woman responded. “I’m calling to check if you are home. We have an alarm going off at your residence. Would you like us to send the authorities?”
“At my home?” Aud glanced at the police and Heather standing just feet away from him. “Why is my alarm at home going off?”
“I don’t know,” the woman started to reply, but Aud cut her off before she could say more.
“It’s a rhetorical question. Yes, get the cops over there. I’ll be there as quickly as possible.” He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pants pocket as he closed the door and looked at Heather and the officers. “The alarm at my home is now going off.”
A concerned look crossed Benet’s face. “What? How is that possible?”
“If I had to guess, when my stalker tried to break in here and was stopped, he went a couple of blocks to my house and hit there. He’s had more than enough time to do that.” Aud fell silent and tried to figure out what he should do.
“I’ll get a car over there ASAP.” Benet gestured to the officer at his side. “Mr. Sorenson’s address is on the watch list with the department. Get on the radio and get someone over there. Tell them we’ll be there shortly.”
“Yes, sir.” The uniformed officer moved into the shadows of the hall.
“What more do we need here?” Aud asked. He was anxious to see what was going on at his house.
“I think we have everything.” Benet walked toward the short hallway to the main gallery. “We can come back for the security footage. Would you like to ride with me?”
“I have my car and my boyfriend with me.” Aud fell into step with him. “Heather, can you pull the security footage and burn it on a disk so that when detective Benet returns it’s ready for him?”
“Sure. Anything else?” She sounded tired, and Aud didn’t blame her. She’d stayed to help one of the artists clean out a few small pieces that hadn’t sold so he wouldn’t be late for his date with Leo. That would’ve required a bit of bookwork after the artist left. It was a safe bet she hadn’t had dinner before everything got chaotic.
“No, once you get that footage, unless Detective Benet needs something more from you, I think you can go get some dinner and head home.” He looked at Benet. “Do you need anything else?”
He shook his head. “I’ll have one of the officers stay here and take the disk from you. I’ve already gotten your statement.”
“Thanks.” Heather sounded relieved.
Aud caught her gaze as they reentered the main gallery floor. “If you need to come in late tomorrow, that’s fine. I’ll be here.”
“I’ll let you know, but I’ll probably be here.” She flashed him a weak smile.
“Okay.” Aud looked around for Leo and spied him sitting on a stool just behind the cash register. If it had been anyone other than Leo, he might’ve had a big problem with it, but somehow, seeing Leo perched there like he was guarding the place for Aud made a warm, happy feeling well up in him. “Leo, we need to get to my place. The alarm there just went off.”