“Yes, he left a photograph in her bedroom. He was here.” She confirmed.
“Well, it’s not the first time. I’ve seen little signs that I thought was nothing but now I am not so sure. Awhile ago, when she first got out of the hospital or a week after, she was asleep here and I got up because I thought I heard something. There was a cigarette, still burning, on her fire escape. What if that was him looking in the windows?” Derrick said.
“It’s possible but it could also have been someone smoking on the roof and tossing their cigarette over the edge.” She said to him, taking note of his observation but also trying to reassure him. She could see the worry on his face and she knew that she needed someone to be strong for Kate.
“I know, that’s why I didn’t say anything. I brushed it off, but it’s been happening more. And not just here, at my apartment. The other day, there was a Styrofoam cup filled with cigarette butts on the balcony right across from mine. It was as if someone had been there all night, looking across into my apartment. That place has been empty for a while, so there is no way it was a resident or something like that. I’m telling you, he is close by. I don’t know when or where, but I think he is always close by.” Derrick finished his explanation and a chill shot up and down Detective Snow’s spine.
~~~~
“Detective Snow just sent me a message that we should meet her at the police station in the morning so that everyone can get on the same page. I can take the day off work tomorrow, do you want to go in late or call out?” Derrick asked her as he pulled on some boxers and turned the lamps off around the room.
Kate was already warm and cozy under the thick blankets, curled on her side hugging a pillow. She was just enjoying watching him walking around the room, getting ready for bed. She felt safe as she saw him check the locks on the windows and doors, carefully protecting her in his home. He smiled at her as he pulled up the blankets and climbed in underneath them next to her.
“I will probably just go in late unless it takes a long time. I don’t know what there is to get on the same page about. She dodged my questions about the brother and maybe the forensic people will find something tonight. I don’t know what is going on anymore.” Kate sighed and her voice trailed off. Derrick reached over and pulled her towards him, her chest pressed against his and her head tucked into his neck.
“Things really seemed like they were looking up for a bit there, huh.” Derrick mused, thinking about the events of the last twenty-four hours. He squeezed Kate a bit closer for a moment of comfort that they both needed.
Kate pulled away slightly to look up at his face in the dark. His dark chocolate skin glistened in the moonlight and his eyes were as piercing as ever. He brushed some hair off her face with a gentle caress of his fingers.
“What are you thinking about, beautiful?” Derrick said softly. Kate smiled at him, blushing hesitantly.
“Just that I love you.” She stated, simple and elegant. She hadn’t told him that she loved him in a while. They both knew how the other felt, but she hadn’t said it out loud much since the attack, maybe not at all. There was something powerful about saying it out loud that meant more than the knowing looks and smiles they had been exchanging. Something about saying those little words that strengthened the tether that had been almost worn in two between them for the last few weeks.
Derrick looked at her intently, his lips weren’t smiling but his eyes clearly were. He leaned his face towards her, pushed her chin up with his finger, and kissed her delicate lips. She kissed him back eagerly and wrapped her leg over his legs, pulling herself tighter against him.
“I love you, Kate.” He responded to her after a moment of passionate kisses and then quickly returned to devouring her lips. Her leg was wrapped around him and his arms were around her so with one swift motion he pulled her underneath him and was laying on top of her. He bore his weight on his arms so as not to crush her but he allowed his hips to press against hers firmly so she could feel every bit of how much he loved her.
Kate slid her hands down his sides, feeling the ripples of his abs through his shirt but then grabbed the bottom of his shirt and tugged it upwards, urging him to take it off. He stopped her for a moment and paused, looking at her with concern.
“Kate, are you sure?” He asked, remembering the other day when she had started screaming. He knew that after a month she was medically cleared but she certainly hadn’t seemed emotionally ready recently.