6. Cage
Chapter 6
Cage
‘This flight of stairs sure seemed shorter last time,’ Cage said gruffly to the beat cop walking with him.
He was back at Katie’s apartment building.
As soon as the call came into the station, Cage was all over it.
There was no way anyone else was going to get to lead on this case.
Not a chance in hell in fact.
Part of Cage was frustrated and annoyed that he hadn’t been more insistent with Katie when it came to the offer he made.
On the other hand, Cage had respected Katie’s decision.
That was a big thing for Cage.
Everyone had the right to make their own mind up and have a say in how their life was. It was part of the reason he was so passionate about his work.
No one should have to feel ashamed or scared to live their best life.
Cage arrived at the apartment door and saw that a couple of forensic officers were there, working their way around the place.
There was no sight of Katie.
As Cage began to work over the apartment, he was frustrated that there were no obvious mistakes from the person, or people, who had broken in.
It was someone who knew what they were doing.
Whoever had done this had covered their tracks effectively.
This wasn’t ideal.
Cage decided to speak to the landlord.
Maybe he would have some answers.
‘Urgh, no? Sorry. Nothing,’ the landlord replied when Cage made his enquiry.
Cage shook his head.
‘But surely you have some kind of system to log guests in and out?’ Cage asked, struggling to hide his disgust at the landlord. ‘Come on. What kind of place is this?’
‘Nope. Nothing. We’re not exactly a five-star experience here, officer.’
‘That’s detective to you,’ Cage said, his frustration beginning to boil over. ‘How about cleaners. Were any working last night?’
‘Could have been,’ the landlord smirked. ‘But, again, it’s outsourced so I wouldn’t know. I’m the landlord not some kind of uber-janitor.’
The landlord was useless. Some people had this kind of naturally off-putting unhelpful vibe, and the landlord very much fell into that category.
Not only was the landlord a fat load of help, but he also gave off a sleazy vibe that irritated Cage.
The thought of Katie having to deal with a guy like this bothered Cage a lot.
Damn it, my Daddy Dom senses need to shut off for a second.
I need to focus on the case.
‘Okay, you can go now,’ Cage said rather abruptly to the landlord. ‘Thanks for all your help.’
The landlord laughed as he walked away, further annoying Cage. It came to something when a landlord wasn’t even concerned for the safety of one of his own tenants.
It didn’t seem right to Cage.
In fact, it actually seemed weird.
Why wouldn’t the landlord want to see his tenants happy and safe? Surely this was the best way to guarantee rent was paid regularly and on time too.
The whole situation was wrong.
‘Sir, we’re coming up with nothing but blanks here,’ the lead forensics officer said. ‘I know that’s not the answer you want to hear.’
‘No, it’s fine, thank you for your efforts,’ Cage replied. ‘We have to play the hand we’re dealt. If that means no evidence, then it means we’ll solve the case another way.’
Cage was nothing if not determined.
He had been working cases for long enough to know that there would always be a few curve balls thrown in.
No case was the same.
It never was.
Although that didn’t stop the same problems raising their heads.
A meeting with the building supervisor confirmed that there was no CCTV footage available.
This was a blow.
The lack of forensics was one thing but having not a single shred of visual evidence as to who had been coming and going was hard to stomach.
Maybe the landlord actually had a decent point?
That this was the kind of run-down, budget building that really didn’t have anything by the way of effective security. It would explain how the perpetrator got in and out without being detected.
There was something here that Cage was missing.
He could sense it.
But what?
Before Cage could dwell on it for too long, Katie walked around the corner.
‘Hey, Katie, how are you?’ Cage asked, trying to sound as sensitive as his voice would allow. ‘I understand this must be a tough moment for you.’
Katie was visible shaken by the experience.
It was totally understandable.
Katie’s eyes looked red from crying. Her perfectly clear skin looked a little blotchy from tears too. It was almost heartbreaking to see.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, Cage had walked in on Katie acting out a play with her stuffies and her friend.
Katie had looked so full of life then.
But that was before her privacy was violated for a second time.
It would take a harsh toll on anyone, but the danger wasn’t just psychological.
It was physical.
Literal.
Cage was fearful for Katie’s safety. Living alone was no place for a vulnerable Little in a situation like this.
It was a recipe for disaster.
However, Katie’s rejection of his offer was still fresh in Cage’s mind.
There had to be another way.
But before that, Cage knew that they had to set the record straight. Establish exactly what was going on between them.
‘Listen, I have an offer to make,’ Cage said. ‘But first, tell me something. Are you a Little?’
Katie blushed but then sweetly nodded her head.
It was kind of exciting for Cage.
First and foremost, he was a detective. His duty was undoubtedly to serve.
But he was attracted to Katie, there was no escaping that.
‘Okay, I did have a feeling that was the case,’ Cage continued. ‘Here’s my offer. I know you don’t want to move in with me. That’s fine. No problem. But at least let me pay for a hotel for you while I pay for some security experts to get your apartment into shape. What do you say?’
Cage stood with his hands on his hips.
He could see that Katie was thinking things over.
Come on kid, it’s a golden opportunity.
Just as Cage was beginning to feel impatient, Katie spoke…
‘Thank you so much, but no,’ Katie said, much to Cage’s shock.
‘Are you being serious?’ Cage replied, struggling to keep his frustration in check. ‘If it’s about the money you can pay me back in installments damn it.’
‘Is the other offer still on the table?’ Katie asked, shyly.
Cage was confused.
Did she mean the other offer as in the one that Katie had already rejected the previous night?
‘You make me feel safe,’ Katie said, twiddling her fingers nervously. ‘If I’m with you I don’t think anything bad could ever happen to me. I want to live with you. If you’ll still have me. I promise I’ll be good.’
Cage felt a burning desire come over him.
His Daddy energy went into full-on afterburner mode.
Cage felt his dick begin to twitch inside his pure-black Calvin Klein briefs.
But more than just a sexual charge, Cage actually felt like this was an opportunity to do some good.
To help this Little feel safe and secure.
At least until the case was solved.
‘Are you looking for a Daddy?’ Cage asked, knowing that this was the kind of thing they would have to make clear before entering into any kind of living arrangement. ‘Be honest.’
‘I… I… don’t know,’ Katie replied, her voice trembling a little.
‘Well, whether you are or not, the offer stands,’ Cage replied. ‘My duty is to look after you. And that is exactly what I will do.’
Cage could see that his words were having a reassuring effect on Katie.
This was good to see.
In fact, it made Cage glow with pride.
Sure, this was a horrible situation, but that didn’t mean that some positives couldn’t come out of it.
Even if a relationship between them didn’t develop on a Daddy-Little level, then the fact that Cage had protected someone who needed help would be more than enough.
‘Okay, but if you really want help, we’ll need to agree upon a few things,’ Cage added, a note of stern caution in his voice. ‘Deal?’
Katie smiled coyly and looked up to Cage.
The pair were now standing very close.
There was barely a sheet of paper’s worth of distance between the two of them.
Cage’s body towered above Katie’s.
There was a moment of brief, pulsating electricity between them.
Cage felt like they were seconds away from kissing.
However, a passing forensic officer put paid to any chance of that happening.
‘So?’ Cage enquired, a wry smile on his face. ‘Do we have a deal?’
This time, Katie didn’t need to pause for thought.
The answer was already on her lips.
‘Yep,’ Katie replied swiftly, her voice soft and sweet. ‘We’ve got a deal.’
Cage allowed himself a brief smile.
But only for a fraction of a second.
Katie wasn’t safe yet.
Not by a long shot.
And all of this wasn’t even factoring how Katie would react to Cage’s apartment. It certainly wasn’t filled with stuffies or colorful paint sets.
No, Cage’s place was an altogether different kettle of fish.
As Katie was about to find out.