“Thank you, Leo.” Felix gave him a very weak smile. “You’re the best friend a guy could ask for.”
“I’m only giving back what I’ve been given by you.”
Felix shifted on the couch. “Can we try and head to my apartment fairly soon? If we can do it before most people get out of work, that would be great.”
The comment confused Leo for a moment; then he realized what Felix was getting at. “Oh, you’re hoping that if Axe is at work, there’s less chance of running into him or him seeing us.”
“Exactly.”
Leo got out of the chair. “If you’re ready, we can go now. I’m not in the middle of anything, and we’ve both seen A New Hope so many times we can recite it line by line.”
“Thanks.” Felix looked shaky as he rose and followed Leo out the front door.
THE RIDE to Felix’s apartment was short and quiet. Every time Leo glanced over at him, his eyes were wide and dancing around. He visibly jerked when Leo parked in his regular place just outside the steps to the apartment complex.
Leo turned off the car and sat there for a second. “Do you want me to go up and get things?”
Felix shook his head quickly. “No. Just give me a second. It’ll be faster if we both go up. I know where everything is.”
“Okay.” Leo slid his car keys into his jeans pocket. “Take your time. Have you been back here since it happened?”
“Just once, to grab a few things before heading to the hotel.” Felix turned in his seat and looked around the mostly empty parking lot. “Let’s get this done. Before folks start coming home.” He shoved the door open and hurried out of the car.
Leo scrambled to keep up.
By the time they reached the top of the flight of stairs that led to the landing Felix’s apartment shared with his next-door neighbor, his steps slowed. He ignored the small folded slip of paper in the clip on the doorframe. His hands shook enough to jingle his keys as he unlocked the door. “Okay,” he muttered. “I’ll go retrieve some stuff out of the bathroom, if you could get my two duffel bags from the closet in the bedroom. I’ll just throw some more clothes in them.”
“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.
20
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.