Chapter 9
Riah
Having Rayne over reset my nerves to equilibrium.
Even if she was extra touchy-feely due to a broken heart and a little too much to drink, I finally felt like I was relaxing.
For a moment, my confusing feelings about Korie dissipated.
The anxiety of starting a new job in a few days fell to the back of my mind.
And the fear of someone watching me through my window was left in the past.
At least for a few minutes.
Glass sprayed through the air, shooting towards where Rayne and I huddled on the couch. The scream of the shattering window. The thud of something hard and heavy slamming onto the floor in front of us. It all grabbed me by the neck and ripped me back into my panic.
I could barely think through Rayne’s yelling and crying.
I tapped into the security app Korie downloaded on my phone, trying to organize my thoughts enough to remember how to sound the alarms and call for help, but it was useless.
My hands shook. Every sense was on overdrive.
It was a wonder I managed to open the dial pad and punch in 911.
Rayne and I hid ourselves in the pantry as we waited for the police to arrive. She wanted to run and it took all my strength to hold her back and remind her that whoever had sent a brick hurtling through the window could still be outside.
Minutes later, the police pounded on the door. Carefully, Rayne and I crept out and scurried to open it. I noticed a few officers circling outside with flashlights while two stood in the doorway with their badges on display.
“Good evening, are you Riah?” The orange-haired cop to the left asked in a soothing tone.
“Yes, that’s me. Please, come in.”
We settled around the kitchen island, too scared to go back to the couch where we almost got smashed by a flying brick. Rayne calmed down enough to make us all some tea while I relayed what happened to the cops, including the night I saw someone in my window.
“We saw some cameras outside, were you able to see anything on them?”
I could feel my cheeks heating, flushing over my ears and down my neck.
“Um, well, I just got them installed this morning. I haven’t really quite got the hang of working it yet. But I can call the person who installed them, if that would help?”
When they nodded, I immediately regretted it.
I knew Korie said to call her anytime, but it was well past 1 am and the thought of disturbing her for something so simple, something she had spent almost an hour teaching me how to do, was horrifying.
But all eyes were on me and I didn’t really have a choice.
Surprisingly, Korie answered on the second ring.
There was no hint of sleep or grogginess in her voice.
When I told her what happened, she said she would be over in ten to help me figure it out.
I tried to protest, but she insisted it would be easier.
There was no sense of irritation or judgment in her words, so I agreed.
She was there in no more than five minutes. I wanted to ask how or scold her for speeding over here, but that seemed to be the least of my problems at the moment. Seeing her and the softness in her eyes was enough to bring my nerves back down to Earth.
She immediately pulled me into her arms, squeezing me close to her chest. I melted into her solid form, her scent grounding me. She rubbed soft circles into my back and pulled me closer as I buried my face in her chest.
“It’s okay, Riah. I’m here. Always right here.” She pulled back, rubbing her hands down my arms. “I’m here to help, okay? Don’t worry.”
From there, Korie took complete charge. She worked with the cops, going through the footage and handing over anything they may need. From what I could hear, she worked with them a lot through her security agency.
“So the-” Korie turned my phone screen toward me, but I quickly averted my gaze.
“I don’t wanna see, just tell me.” Even though there was a pile of broken glass and brick sitting in the middle of my living room, something about seeing the perpetrator would make it all too real.
“We can’t see much but a figure dressed in all black. Completely covered up. After they throw the brick, they just run.”
“We didn’t find anyone lurking nearby,” one of the cops added. “But we will come back in the morning and interview your neighbors, see if anyone saw anything or captured anything on their cameras, if they have them. Do you girls have anywhere else to stay for the night?”
“We can stay at my parents’; I’ll call them right now.”
“Oh, um…” I knew what Rayne was about to say before she finished. “Well, I texted Abe. He’s already on his way.”
As much as I wanted to, I didn’t have the strength to argue. With the adrenaline of the night fading, my limbs and eyelids grew heavy and if Rayne wanted to spend the night with the ex-boyfriend she just spent hours complaining about, I’d let her and deal with hearing about it later.
“I’ll drive you to your parents.” Korie wrapped a protective arm around me. “I want to make sure you get there safely.”
***
The second we walked into my parents’ living room, the tidal wave of questions started: do you know who it was?
Is there anyone who would want to hurt you?
Did anything like this happen back at college?
Did you have any enemies before you left, waiting for you to come back?
Have you pissed anyone off since you’ve been here?
“I have no idea!” I immediately regretted the harshness in my words, but I was overwhelmed enough. “I’m sorry…I already answered all these questions with the police. I have absolutely no idea who it could be. It could be random…but I don’t know.”
“We’re sorry, sweetie.” My mom rested a hand on my lap as Dad wrapped a protective arm around me. “We know you must be overwhelmed and tired.”
Korie passed me a sympathetic glance from the couch across from me. I told her she didn’t need to stay, but she thought I might need help debriefing my parents. She gave them the entire rundown and still, their questions came.
“We just want to make sure you’re safe.” Dad pressed a kiss to my temple.
“What if…” He unwrapped me from his arms and leaned forward, addressing Korie.
“Do you think it would be beneficial to assign her a bodyguard for a little while, until the police figure this out? We’d be happy to pay you to get someone-”
“Daddy, that’s ridiculous. Korie has already done so much for me and I’m sure sh-”
“No, he’s right.” Korie stopped me. “Whether it was a one-time thing or a...” She hesitated. “Pattern…we can’t take any chances. I can have someone assigned to you by morning. For now, if it would help everyone feel safer, I can stay here on the couch. Keep a lookout.”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Mom said as she lifted me to my feet. “Let’s all get some sleep. Korie, you know where the extra blankets are, right?”
“Bottom left cabinet at the end of the hall?”
“You got it.” Mom winked at Korie before guiding me towards the stairs. I stopped, taking a look back.
“Goodnight, Korie and thank you for everything.”
“Goodnight, Riah. You’re welcome. I’ll always be here.”