Page 9 of A Storm of Nightmares

“Please, Kat, let me in. It’s important.”

Holy shit, he knows my name. I guess whoever took Betty would have learned my name at some point. But for some reason, I don’t feel like I’m in danger right now. I had the eerie feeling of being watched all day, but I don’t have that chill creeping up my neck right now.

Opening the door, I grab his hand and yank him inside with a force I didn’t know I had until this very moment. I was hoping to catch him off guard and maybe have the upper hand if things go south. Again, I scold myself for not having a solid weapon. Twice in one day, I find myself in need of one. I really need to get a gun. Without overthinking my next steps, I close the door behind us, and we’re both bathed in instant darkness.

“Would you turn the lights on? I can’t see a thing.” The voice beckons from somewhere in the black abyss of my motel room. I take note of the obvious irritation laced in every word.

I roll my eyes at his request and then feel stupid because he can’t see me. I flip the light switch up and squint at the sudden brightness now surrounding me. And then I take in the appearance of the stranger in front of me. Brown hair, blue eyes, a 5 o’clock shadow over his sharp jaw that I so badly want to reach out and touch. His smile immediately warms my insides and lowers my defenses. This man is no friend. Nor is he a stranger.

“Officer Johnson?” I blink my eyes several times in confusion, thinking this must just be a bizarre dream.

He laughs, and the sound gives me butterflies. It’s the best thing I think I’ve ever heard. I’m transported back four years prior, to the night I had lost my sister and met this Adonis. Guilt stirs in my gut as I remember my body’s reaction to him when I should have been focused solely on Betty. After he left my house that night, I didn’t let myself think about him again.

I didn’t think it possible, but he’s every bit the handsome man he was all those years ago, and so much more. This man has aged very nicely. Time has done every female on Earth a favor. “It’s nice to see you, Kat. Please, call me Keith. I’m not a cop anymore.” He steps toward me and reaches out a hand, offering a shake.

“What the hell are you doing in my motel room at four-thirty in the morning, Keith?” I reply, completely ignoring his outstretched hand and not even hiding my irritation at having been woken up. To say that I’m not a morning person would be a tragic understatement.

“I’m here to help you. I know you’re looking into another missing girl. Jess Davis? I think I can piece together some missing information for you.”

My eyes widen, and I instinctively take a step toward the door. I’m scanning the room for anything I can use to fend him off. Is this some kind of sick confession? He can piece together the information for me because he’s the kidnapper? I take another step back from him, and my thighs hit the edge of the mattress behind me. I suddenly feel trapped, and my breathing quickens as panic courses through me. Keith takes a step toward me, fake concern etched on his stupid, gorgeous face. “Stay away from me. Or I’ll... I’ll scream!”

Keith holds his hands out in front of him to show he isn’t going to hurt me. His good looks aren’t going to fool me, though. I turn to run towards the door, but Keith’s hand grabs my arm and stops me in my tracks. His touch sends a shock through me, just like it had four years ago. Maybe my body is trying to warn me. But it doesn’t feel like danger when our skin meets. It’s exciting and breathtaking.

“You’re not safe, Kat! Why do you think I came in the middle of the night? I’m trying to help you. To protect you.” He still has his hand wrapped around my arm, but his grip loosens slightly. I look into his eyes, and again, I don’t sense danger. Maybe I misread the situation. Against my better judgment, I decide to trust Keith. I know I’m taking a risk that could very well cost me my life.

Pulling my arm from his grip and immediately wanting his hands on me again, I sit on the bed and wait. Keith sits down too but keeps a safe distance from me. Smart move, buddy.

“So? Speak, or I’ll run right through that door and turn you in for kidnapping.” My arched eyebrow says I’m not fucking around here, but I don’t really mean it. My panic was gone the second he touched me. I know Keith couldn’t have anything to do with Betty vanishing. I’m just running on hardly any sleep, and my mind is still racing from finding my apartment trashed.

“Are you getting notes yet?” He asks, tone deathly serious.

“I found one today... Actually, I technically found two.” My body shudders at the memory of my trashed studio and the notes that sent my life into a downward spiral. Now I’m stuck at this crap motel that will eat away at my savings and leave me broke.

“What do you mean technically you found two? Both notes were from today?”

“Yes. One was on my front door, and one was written on the mirror in my bathroom. And my apartment was completely ruined.”

Keith runs his hand through his hair and blows out a long breath. “So that’s why you’re here. Someone has been inside your apartment, and instead of going to the cops, you ran to a sketchy motel in a bad part of town by yourself? Jesus Kat, do you have a death wish?” Well, when you put it like that, coming here certainly was not smart on my part, but I had limited resources. I don’t let Keith see my confidence in this motel waver, though.

“Why the hell would I go to the police for help? What are they going to do for me? They never did anything for Betty!” I stand up, suddenly overheating from the anger rising in my body.

Keith follows my lead and stands as well, taking a step towards me. “I’m sorry that we couldn’t find Betty. I’m sorry that another innocent girl has just been taken. But I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to you, too. Fuck Kat, you’re right to be angry with the cops, but I’m not one of them anymore. Let me help you. Please.” His voice falters a bit with his final plead, and all I want to do now is comfort him.

Maybe he blames himself for not finding Betty. He seems to have the weight of guilt hanging over his head. I hate police in general, but I never held Keith responsible. It was his partner, Officer Sanders, AKA Officer Doughnut Gut, Officer Beer Belly, Officer Shit-for-Brains. Take your pick.

Whatever you call him, he’s who I’m really pissed off at. He thought he had Betty all figured out. Popular cheerleader, spoiled rotten all her life, decides to show her parents who’s boss when she skips town with her boyfriend.

He never dropped his theory about her running away. Keith was a new cop when he got thrown onto Betty’s case. He never stood a chance against Officer Sanders.

“Ok,” I shrug.

“Ok?” Keith narrows his eyes as he waits for me to elaborate.

“Ok, you can help me. You can start by telling me what you know.”

Keith doesn’t waste any time filling me in. He tells me about following every lead he could when Betty went missing all those years ago. It seems like everything turned out to be a dead end. He looks so defeated recalling the past. His eyes don’t meet mine the whole time he’s speaking.

Keith got taken off Betty’s case because Officer Sanders didn’t think he was ready for the stress of fieldwork. He spent the next six months on desk duty. I can practically see the steam coming out of Keith’s ears while he tells me this. It sounds like my least favorite cop in the world was a dick to everyone. No surprise there.

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