Chapter 7

The smell of fried bacon and fresh coffee hung heavy in the air, filling the kitchen a glorious aroma. Hudson filled a mug with the steamy beverage and brought the rim to her lips. She let the scent linger before allowing a small amount of liquid to slide down her throat.

Breakfast had always been her favorite meal of the day. Everything about it made her smile. The familiar sounds, the enticing smells, the satisfying tastes. Nothing said ‘good morning’ like birds chirping outside an open window and a home-cooked meal, and having a house guest was the perfect excuse to do it up right. She set the table for two, confident Annie would wake soon.

Just as expected, her neighbor padded into the kitchen with bare feet, her hot pink-painted toenails matching the overnight shirt she’d borrowed. Her raven hair was a mass of long tangles around her face and her eyes were still heavy with sleep. She let out a groan and sunk into a kitchen chair. « What time is it ? »

Hudson busied herself at the stove, filling two plates with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. « Just after 8 :30. » She moved to the table and set a plate in front of her friend. « I can’t thank you enough for staying over last night. Would you like some coffee ? »

« Please. » Annie moved her fork around her plate. « Did you even get any sleep ? » she asked through a mouthful of eggs. « I could hear you tossing and turning all the way from the spare room. »

« Not really. » Hudson set a cup of coffee in front of her and sat down. « I dozed off a few times but not for very long. I kept picturing him standing in my room. The sound of his voice. The smell of his breath. » She cringed. « It was terrifying. »

« I can’t even imagine. At least there’s a police report now. Maybe the cops will finally do something about it. » Annie shook her head. « Why does it always take something bad to happen before they take anyone seriously ? »

Hudson bit down on a piece of greasy bacon and shrugged.

« That young cop was cute, though. » Annie wiggled her eyebrows up and down. « He seemed pretty attentive, too. Your very own knight in shining armor. »

« Hardly. » Hudson smiled. « He was just doing his job. »

« Well, last night his job was checking you out. I think he wants to fuck you. »

« Annie ! » She pursed her lips in disapproval. « Why do you have to be so crude ? It’s not like that at all. He’s just a nice guy who’s good at what he does, that’s all. Nothing more, nothing less. »

« If you say so. » Annie shifted in her chair. « So, what are you gonna do ? You can stay with me for awhile if you want. »

« There’s no point in that. You’re always at work. »

What was she going to do ? She’d been asking herself that very question all night. She supposed she would live in her apartment and paint her pictures and take them to the art show and do everything she normally did. Only now she didn’t even have the gun to protect her. But she wasn’t about to let the attack ruin her life. She couldn’t. Her artwork, the exhibit ; they meant too much. And this was the very first time her paintings would be on display. In front of a real live audience, all there to see her. Nothing was going to keep her from the opportunity she’d worked so hard to gain.

Hudson fingered the tender cut above her eye. The edges were already hardening, pulling at her skin. Hopefully it would heal before the gallery showcased her pieces. « I guess I’m just going to live my life. What choice do I have ? »

« Maybe I should stay here when I can ? » Annie took a gulp of coffee. « But I won’t be able to get another gun. And if Big D finds out the cops took the one he gave me, he’s gonna fuckin’ freak. Whatever you do, do not tell them I gave it to you. Stick with the story you told them last night. The intruder came with the gun and it went off in the struggle. »

Hudson clenched her jaw. « I would never rat you out, you should know that. » The last thing she wanted was to get Annie in trouble, not after everything she’d done for her. She was the closest thing Hudson had to family. And family looked out for one another. « Besides, I don’t need another gun. I’ll be fine on mine own. The cops wrote everything I said down. They’ll catch him. »

« Hopefully sooner than later. I swear, if I ever get my hands on that psycho, I’ll fuckin’ kill him myself ! » Her eyes moved over Hudson’s darkening bruises, arousing a sting of self-consciousness. « I mean, look at what he did to your face. You need to put ice on that eye so it doesn’t get any worse. » She jabbed her fork into the eggs and stuffed another bite into her mouth. « I have some running around I need to do. That is, after I call the superintendent to fix your door. You’d think the asshole would have fixed it by now. It’s hanging off it’s fuckin’ hinges ! You gonna be okay if I leave for a bit ? »

Hudson nodded. « I’ll be fine. » So why’s your heart racing ? « Do you have to work tonight ? »

« Nope. I’m gonna stay here with you. Is that okay ? »

A smile of relief spread over her face. « That’d be great. Thank you. »

« You don’t have to thank me, » Annie said, seriously. « I’d do anything for you. »

« I know you would, and I love you for it. » Hudson’s gaze fluttered to the eggs growing cold on her plate. She ran her hands over her arms and cleared her throat.

« Anything at all, » Annie said again. « All you have to do is say the word. »

Hudson straightened in her chair and nodded, her back stiff like a drill sergeant. A wave of unease swept through her. Annie could be so intense sometimes. Unpredictable, too. Like a loose cannon. And the desperate look on her face right now did nothing to ease the worry swelling inside of her chest. There’d always been something mysterious about her friend. Like the way she held onto things, never letting down her guard. To be honest, Hudson wasn’t sure what Annie was capable of, or what lengths she might go to to get what she wanted.

But there was one thing Hudson did know : she was glad Annie was on her side.

Myles laid in bed, his legs tangled in the sheets, allowing the fragments of morning sun to sink into his tanned skin. His thoughts spiraled over the night before. The dispatcher asking them to respond to gunfire. Breaking into an apartment that didn’t appear to have been tampered with. Finding a beautiful woman passed out on the bathroom floor. A gun had fired, a gaping hole in the bedroom wall proved that, but how did the intruder get in ? The apartment door had been locked. The only way left would have been through the open window. But they’d been four floors up. And unless the attacker was Spider Man, that didn’t add up.

Could the perpetrator have a key ? Was it possible he’d let himself in, then locked up on his way out ? That wasn’t out of the question, but highly unlikely. Had he somehow scaled the first floor and onto the fire escape ? Myles needed answers and he needed them fast. He could hardly stand the thought of Hudson all alone in that apartment. Sure, she said her neighbor could stay with her, but that was just for last night. Who would keep her safe if the attacker decided to come back ?

Myles rolled over and pulled the covers to his chin. 9 :15 am. He’d only gotten two hours of sleep since his shift ended. And now, with all the thoughts racing through his head, he was certain he wouldn’t be getting anymore. Something about Hudson Caldwell had struck a nerve. Yes, she was beautiful, but it was more than that. She was soft-spoken and vulnerable, not the kind of girl who should be alone. Frank might not agree, but there was no way he could just walk away. She needed him. And no matter what, he would be there for her.

Should he call her now ? Make sure she was all right ? He’d copied her phone number from the police report and programmed it into his phone. He told Hudson he would check in on her. Would she think him nuts if he called so soon ?

Myles sighed and closed his yes. What the hell was the matter with him ? It wasn’t like this was the first phone call after meeting an attractive woman ! Hudson was a victim of violence. When he’d taken his oath upon graduating from the academy, he swore to serve and protect the public. This was nothing more than him doing his job.

He reached for his cell phone on the bedside table and scrolled down to her number. Hudson. Such a unique name, just like the girl herself.

Fuck it. He was calling, no matter what kind of shit his partner might give him. He pressed ‘call’ and waited for her to pick up. The phone rang and rang. His breath hitched in his chest. What if she wasn’t okay ? What if the attacker had come back and she was unable to answer ? What if he was there right now ? What if —

« Hello ? » a demure female voice came from the other end of his cell. It was soft, silvery ; almost musical to his ear. For a split second, he didn’t respond. When it repeated, the sound jarred him from his trance.

« Uh, hello … Hudson ? This is Myles. Myles Young from last night. I was one of the cops on the scene. »

There was a brief pause. « Good morning, Myles, » she finally said, the surprise evident in her voice. « I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. »

Shit. Maybe it was too soon to call ? He needed to think of an excuse. And fast.

« I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I’d be calling this soon either. But uh … »

Shit. Shit. Shit.

« I’ve, uh, been thinking about how the perpetrator gained access to your apartment. I was wondering if I could, I don’t know, stop by sometime to check out the fire escape again ? »

Another pause. She was going to say no. Of course, she was going to say no ! She probably thought he was just as crazy as the guy who’d broken in. Fuck. Maybe he was ? What had he been thinking calling her so soon ?

« No, that’d be great. My neighbor left to run errands. She said she’d be back as soon as possible, but I’ve been trying to think of ways to occupy my time. If I don’t keep busy I’m afraid I’ll freak myself out, being here all alone. »

Hudson let out a nervous giggle, but he could see right through it. This girl was afraid. Terrified, even. Maybe he’d made the right decision to call after all.

« I appreciate you taking this so seriously. It’s refreshing after how the officer treated me the other day. » She paused, then murmured, « He laughed at me. »

Myles’ stomach dipped. Who in the world would not take this girl seriously ? He made a mental note to find out. And whoever it was would have hell to pay. « If it’s not too early, I can be there in about an hour. »

« Perfect. » There was a sigh of relief. « And Myles ? »

« Yes ? »

« I can’t wait to see you again. »