17 SAM
Connor wasn’t there when I woke up. I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, combed my hair, and made our coffee. He still hadn’t appeared.
I tried to distract myself with books, with the internet. Even with my pile of unpaid bills for the month, checking the window every few minutes—but still no sign of Connor.
It was impossible not to imagine a million unlikely scenarios where Mohani had broken into my place and dragged him off to some filthy alley to beat him senseless.
When a knock at the door interrupted my failed attempt at making us lunch, I was sure it was him—that he’d lost his keys.
“Wow, I was about to call the pol—”
When I opened the door, I came face to face with Ahmed waiting in casual workout clothes—nothing like his usual work attire. I’d forgotten how muscular Ahmed was, something the fitted tech t-shirts he wore to train made obvious.
“I think I caught you off guard,” he said, surprised.
The relieved smile on my face faded to frustration at seeing him instead of Connor.
“I thought it was…”
“The gray-haired American.”
“What are you doing here?” I stepped aside so he could come in.
“I was at the gym up the block. Came to see how you’re doing.” His eyes narrowed at my bruised lip. “What happened here?”
“Nothing much. I bit my lip harder than I should have.”
Ahmed’s suspicious expression irritated me a little, but I chose to ignore it.
“Are you okay?” he pressed.
“I am.” I turned my attention back to the pots.
“I want you to know you’re safe… I’ve got some officers keeping an eye out. They said you left and didn’t see you come back.”
“So that’s why you stopped by? To check if I was here or had slept somewhere else? All because you don’t like Connor?”
“You can’t blame me for not trusting foreigners.” Ahmed stepped closer. “Besides, I can’t ignore the fact that that girl looks like you.”
“She was brunette. More than half of America is too.” I shrugged.
Ahmed, already close, backed me up against the counter.
“It haunts me—the idea that one day it could be you in that alley.” His eyes met mine. “You know I care.”
“I know.”
“I want you to always remember that.”
“Okay, Ahmed. I’m fine.”
“You know what I hate about my job? I’m sure you’re not telling me everything.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what I do for a living. And I’m good at it.” He smiled, coaxing a smile out of me too.
“Everything’s fine.” I put my hand on his chest to push him back, but he held it there.
“Do you trust me, Sam?” he whispered. I was about to answer when the door opened and Connor walked in carrying some bags.
“Hope you’re still hungry, girl… I had to go all over town to fi—”
Connor stopped mid-sentence when he saw Ahmed holding my hand.
“I assume this isn’t an official visit,” he said, his face hard. His brow was bruised and swollen, and there was blood on the bandage I’d wrapped around his fingers.
“I came to check on her.” Ahmed tensed when he noticed Connor’s injuries. “What’s been going on here? What did you do?”
“I already told you it was nothing,” I replied.
“What are you insinuating, Ahmed?” Connor dropped the bags and stepped forward.
“I’m not insinuating anything.” Ahmed moved closer too. “Just curious how that bruise ended up on Sam’s mouth.”
“I’m sure she already answered that.”
“I said I bit my lip.”
“You don’t need to protect the big guy over there,” Ahmed shot back.
“I’d watch my words if I were you, detective,” Connor growled. “Make sure you can back them up.”
“Or what?” Ahmed moved closer.
“You really want to find out?”
“Enough, you two!” I stepped between them. “Stop acting like a couple of bullies.”
“Control your little boyfriend. And teach him to stay out of my way.” Connor huffed and headed for the bathroom.
I rolled my eyes.
“If you want, I can get him out of here.”
“Right now, I’m the one who wants to leave,” I grumbled. “Ahmed, you already know I’m fine. I think you should go.”
“I don’t trust that guy.”
“But I do…” I emphasized. “I know how to take care of myself.”
“I know, but I can’t control this urge to…”
“Ahmed. Enough.”
“All right.” His shoulders sagged. “I promise I’ll trust your intuition.”
“I’ll be fine… thank you,” I said, and he left.
“Is the jerk gone?” Connor emerged from the bathroom a while later. “If I’d known you had a date, I would’ve stayed out longer.”
He brushed past me irritably and headed for the bed.
“Don’t be childish,” I complained. “He was nearby.”
I walked through the kitchen toward the bed.
“He was worried.” Connor, who’d been pretending to read a paper, paused to listen. “He’s been paranoid since the girl in the alley.”
“Or he was just looking for an excuse to see you.”
“Hey… I thought you were the older one here,” I scolded. “You’re acting like a bratty kid.”
He looked at me, surprised and maybe a little embarrassed.
“You’re right,” he said, surprising me in return.
“I wasn’t expecting such a quick admission.”
“Sometimes the outlaw gets tired of pretending. To himself and to others,” he replied, and I wasn’t sure exactly what he was talking about.
“Where were you?” I looked at the bags on the floor.
“Thought I’d cook something,” he shrugged.
“Cooking? You?” I laughed in disbelief.
“I’m an excellent cook,” he said impatiently as I laughed even harder. “I can’t believe you’re doubting me.”
“All you’ve made here so far is coffee that tastes like grease and boiled water to help with the dry air,” I teased.
“You know what? Forget it! You don’t deserve to eat the best homemade burger in the world,” he shot back.
“Is that it, or have you lost your confidence?!”
“Don’t be silly, child.” He got up with energy and took the bags to the kitchen.
While he cooked, we came up with theories about Bob’s murder.
“Did you sleep well?”
“You could say that.” Connor shaped the burgers with his hands while I looked over our notes scattered around the room.
“Speaking of last night…”
“I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“Don’t apologize…” I teased. “There’s no shame in not knowing how to dance, detective.”
He rolled his eyes before giving me half a smile.
“Don’t be a smartass.”
“Can’t help it.” I got up and walked over to the counter. “Are those burgers coming out today?”
“Don’t rush me.” He placed the patties in the skillet, and the sound of sizzling meat filled the room.