Leo shook his head. “Don’t think like that. We can get you through this. In a few years, you might find the guy for you.”
“I doubt I’ll ever be able to trust another man enough to give him the opportunity to hurt me the way Axe did.” A single tear trickled down his stubbly cheek. “I know I didn’t have as much sex as a lot of the guys out there, but I enjoyed the sex I did have. Never again. It’s not worth the risk.”
Leo pulled his feet up in the recliner and wrapped his arms around his knees. He shook with his need to go hug Felix but didn’t want to risk a forceful rejection, so he changed the subject. “So do you want to find a movie to watch?”
Felix shook his head. “Not really. A comedy wouldn’t fit my mood. Anything violent just doesn’t sound good to me. Even Star Wars isn’t appealing. Just talk to me. Help me remember the good times in life. Maybe if I recall those, everything will work out in my head.”
“Okay.” Felix rested his chin on his knees as he struggled to think of good times to help Felix recall. “Do you remember that one teacher we had in college, the swim coach?”
“Who always wore that tight blue Speedo showing the world he had a tiny cock and balls?”
“Yeah.” Leo forced a smile. “That’s him. Remember the time we arrived early to class and caught him shaving his body in the gym shower?”
They settled into an uneasy conversation with Leo trying to make sure that he brought up only safe memories, ones that would help Felix feel better about things, and not worse. It was nearly sunrise by the time Felix drifted off on the couch, Sofi still curled up at his side. Leo got up and checked the blinds to make sure everything was closed tight. It was something he’d caught himself doing since his last evening with Aud. He didn’t want to think someone might come by and look in on him. He couldn’t imagine what that would do to Felix’s fragile state.
When he carefully draped a blanket over Felix, he smiled but didn’t open his eyes. Leo grabbed his own blanket and returned to his recliner. He wanted to be there if Felix needed him.
18
AUD WRAPPED up a small painting for an elegant older woman. “Here you go, ma’am. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No, that will be all today. You have a lovely shop here. I’ll have to stop back by the next time I’m in town.” She took the package.
“Where are you from?”
“Albuquerque. My granddaughter just had a baby, so I had to come and meet my great-grandson.”
“Congratulations.” He walked from behind the counter to open the door for the woman. “I hope you have a pleasant rest of your trip.”
“I’m sure I will.” She gave him a wide smile as he held the door for her. “You have a good day.”
Standing in the cool breeze that rolled in off the street, Aud watched her go to her car. There weren’t many cars on the street, but it was the middle of the day on a Friday. It would be a lot busier the next day as locals and tourists alike flocked to the area.
“Mr. Sorenson?” a man in a well-tailored suit asked, stopping just shy of coming into the gallery.
“That’s me.” Aud turned his attention from the older woman to the man. He was tall, with just a bit of a middle-aged paunch starting. There was something about the way he carried himself and the briefcase that said “official.”
“I’m Detective Benet.” He handed Aud a business card with his name, contact information, and the logo of the Colorado Springs Police Department on it. “I’ve been assigned to your stalking case. Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“We’re slow today. Come on in. We can talk in the back room.”
“Thank you.” Benet followed him into the gallery.
“Heather,” Aud called, hoping she would hear him from where she was doing a bit of cleaning in the room to the east of the main floor. “Could you watch the front for a few?”
She appeared with a rag in one hand and a bottle of duster spray in the other. “Sure. What’s up?”
“This is Detective Benet. He’s following up on the stalking case.”
“Good. Someone needs to shut that man down.” She stashed the cleaning supplies behind the counter. “I’ve got it covered here. Take all the time you need.”
“Thanks.” Aud gestured to Benet. “This way.”
Once in the back room, Benet set his briefcase on the table. “Thanks for forwarding the video to us. Now that we have actual evidence that you have a stalker, we can begin an investigation.”
His tone irritated Aud. “So, Leo saying he’d seen a face in the window the last time wasn’t enough?”
“Since there were no fingerprints or other physical evidence until now, no, it wasn’t.” He pulled out a tablet and a pen. “Now, if I could get you to recount both of the incidents that led you to call in.”
Repressing his irritation at having to go over things again, Aud explained what had happened. He made sure to include seeing Randal going into the T-shirt store across the street and his disruption at the opening.