True Love
Chapter Fourteen
Paranoid
Having learned the bad news about her best friend Marlene's death, Kate had spent the rest of the morning in her room. She didn't know the specifics of Marlene's death but knew she was sad about it. She also suspected that Royce had something to do with it. She hadn't heard about his escape but that didn't stop her from worrying. Marlene's death is too much of a coincidence. Alice had been in her room comforting her. She decided that she wanted to be alone. Since then, Kate had spent her alone time reminiscing about her friendship with Marlene. She had been looking at pictures of her friend while sobbing to herself. She replayed Mr. Winter's words to her in her head. "She was killed." That could've met that Marlene may have been in an accident of some sort. Mr. Winters did tell her that he didn't know the details so maybe Marlene was the victim of an accident. Kate thought to herself. Or maybe Royce had killed her, had escaped prison, knows where she is and is on his way to kill her. Kate didn't know and this was what was driving her crazy. She shut her photo album and turned over on her bed. She really didn't want to be bothered.
Garrett had gotten to class hoping to see his lovely girlfriend Kate. After their love making last night, he was on cloud 9. It was the first time he hoped of many romps to come. He looked around the classroom but there was no sign of Kate. She usually came to class early or she'd come with him. He was confused. Maybe she took a nap and overslept. He didn't know but he'd check in with his girlfriend after class. As the class went on, the professor went on with his lecture. Garrett kept looking around to see Kate had come to class but she hadn't shown up. This wasn't like her. Once class was over, the professor asked Garrett where Kate was. He didn't know and that he'd find out. Garrett leaves the building and begins heading towards the dormitory. He sees Alice walking with her phone in her hand playing with it. He goes over to her hoping she tell him where Kate is.
"Alice, Alice." He called to her she looked up to see him walking towards her. She stops to let him catch up to her.
"Hey Garrett." Alice said smiling.
"Hey, have you seen my girl. She wasn't in class." Garrett asked concerned.
"She skipped the rest of her classes today." Alice told him.
"Why is she not feeling well?" Garrett asked.
"After that romp last night I'm surprised she could walk." Alice smirked teasingly. Garrett smirked to.
"I guess you heard us last night." Garrett said to her.
"You'd guess right. It turned Jasper on and we ended up having a romp of our own." Alice said to him. "Kate's ok but she's been crying."
"Why what happened?" Garrett asked wanting to protect his girlfriend.
"A friend of hers from Miami was killed and Kate found out and is grieving." Alice told him.
"I'm gonna check on her. Thanks Alice." Garrett said taking off. Alice waved to him before continuing on in the direction she was originally going.
Det. Maine's plane arrived at the Seattle airport. He got off the plane and with his duffle bag. Waiting on him were Captain Matthews and Detective Michaels. Det. Maine wanted to head straight to the campus to make certain Kate was ok. He would need to brief them on the situation.
"Detective Maine I presume?" Capt. Matthews asked.
"Yes." Det. Maine said carrying his duffle bag.
"Captain Lou Matthews. This is Detective Michaels." Capt. Matthews said introducing themselves to Det. Maine.
"Nice to meet you guys. Sorry we have to meet under these circumstances but it's dire that Kate Denali be protected. Det. Maine said as they headed out of the airport and to Det. Michael's car.
"Ok what happened with the case?" Det. Michaels asked.
"Kate Denali and Royce King were dating a little under two years. Kate said that he was abusive towards her. Royce had a drug problem as well as a drinking problem. Last summer, Royce came to Kate's room and assaulted her. He beat her up so bad that she was hospitalized. Kate's friend Marlene was there as well and witnessed the assault and Royce had hit her as well. Officers later spotted Royce's car with him in it. He had been drinking and drugs were found on him. He was arrested, tried and convicted of his crimes. He threatened to kill Kate Denali and her family as well as Marlene Briggs. He's already made good on his promise to get Marlene. She was murdered last night in her dorm room." Det. Maine said to them as they listened. "Kate's records were sealed and she was relocated to Seattle University. Royce escaped prison and now knows that Kate is here in Seattle. He's planning on killing her unless we stop him."
"Ok. Now that we're caught up, where do we go?" Det. Michaels asks.
"Seattle University. That's where Kate is." Det. Maine said.
"Let's go." Capt. Matthews said as Det. Michaels sped towards the campus.
The bus from Miami to Seattle arrived this morning. Both Royce and Cameron got into a cab and headed for a cheap motel. They put their bags down then showered and changed. Cameron told Royce he needed to sleep. Royce said ok and that they had time. Royce stared at himself in the bathroom mirror and decided that he needed to change his look. His long hair would make him very recognizable to Kate. He needed a different look. Royce went a car rental place and rented a ford explorer. He then went to the local pharmacy to purchase clippers. Once the clippers were purchased, Royce then got back in the car headed back to the motel. He decided to shave his head down to a crew cut style. The kind of hair cut men in the military have. He had also shaved his beard to. Once he was done, he glanced at Cameron who was knocked on one of the twin beds. Royce smirked and headed back out.
Using the map he stole while in the car rental place, Royce drove to the Seattle campus. He figured he'd go check out the campus himself. He came upon the security gate and knew the guards would ask for ID. He turned the car around and headed away from the campus. He realized if he was going to snoop and watch Kate, he was going to have to be hidden. He parked the car two blocks away from the security gate and got out of the car. He put his sweater on and put the hoody over his head. He saw several students walking towards the campus gate. He decided to blend in. The security guard wasn't paying much attention to the students. He figured they were all students and let them in. Royce walked pass the campus gate without being seen. To really blend in, he brought a Seattle University baseball cap and sweat shirt. He began walking around the campus until he can spot Kate. Sure enough sitting on the bench is Kate. She looked fetching. Too bad he's going to kill her. He notices the somber look on her face. He figures she must've found out about Marlene. Royce smirked to himself. Just as he about to make his way over to Kate, he sees a tall guy walk up to Kate and sits down next to her. Royce backs up and stays hidden and decides to watch.
"Hey you ok?" Garrett asked Kate who is seated on the bench. Garrett sits next to her. Kate has a somber look on her face. Garrett can tell she had been crying.
"No I'm not ok." Kate said to him. Garrett moves closer to her and puts his arm around her shoulders. Kate leans into him.
"Babe what's wrong?" He asks her. "Talk to me." He asks.
"I found out that my closest friend from Miami was killed." Kate said as the tears began to pore down her face again.
"I'm so sorry baby. Come here." Garrett said pulling her into him. Kate sobs on his chest. Garrett comforts his girlfriend. Neither of them knew Royce was watching them.
Det. Michael's car pulls up to the security gate. The security guard asked why they were here. Det. Maine said that Hank Winters is expecting him. The security guard called Mr. Winter's office and was informed to let the cops in. Behind them are several squad cars. The students around campus noticed this. Det. Michaels's car pulls up to the curb of the main building. Hank Winters is there to greet him.
"Mr. Winters, it's good to put the face with the name." Det. Maine said extending his hand to Hank.
"Like wise Detective." Mr. Winters said.
"With me are Capt. Lou Matthews and Detective Dan Michaels. Seattle PD's finest. They're assisting me in this case." Det. Maine said as Mr. Winters shakes the hands of the captain and the detective.
"Nice to meet you both" Hank said as the captain and the detective nodded. "Is the extra man power necessary?"
"Yes. Royce has escaped and could be here right now as we speak. I need you to print out copies of his picture and pass it out to your guards. The officers will get a copy as well. We're going to canvas the area for him." Det. Maine said.
"Ok no problem. Follow me." Mr. Winters said as he, Detectives Maine and Michaels along with Captain Matthews all headed into the main building. Copies of Royce's mug shot was given to all of the officers as well as the security guards. Their instructions were to search the grounds for Royce King.
Royce saw the police presences and decides this is the moment to slip away. Now that he knows Kate is a student at this school, the next step is finding a way to get to her. Several students leave the campus. Royce does exactly what he did before walk out with the kids unseen by the security guard. Before slipping away though Royce takes one more glance towards the bench where Kate was sitting with Garrett. Both are standing up now. He watched as Garrett kissed Kate lovingly trying to comfort her. This enraged Royce who frowns hard. He didn't like this one bit. He turns and calmly walks back towards the car and pulls off. He knows he needs to keep his cool if he's to accomplish his goal.
Alice and Irina are coming from their classes and notice all the security guards around campus. They've never seen so many cops around campus before. This was pretty odd. Something must've happened to have the police and the security guards working together.
"What is up with the extra man power?" Tanya asks as she and Riley meet up with Tanya and Alice.
"Don't know but it must be really bad." Irina said not realizing the security were there to make sure Kate was safe.
"I wonder who's in trouble." Riley said smirking. He figured this all had to do with Laurent.
"I don't know but I'm gonna find out one way or the other." Tanya said.
"Maybe there's a conspiracy going on campus grounds and the police are here to search it." Irina said as Riley chuckled.
"If that were the case, the freaking FBI would've been here as well." Alice said.
"Oh yeah that's true." Irina said a little clueless.
"Nah whatever is going on is much more local than the FBI." Alice said. She had no idea how right she was.
"Ok. Enough speculating. Let's go find out." Riley said as all four made their way towards the main building.
Mr. Winters and his secretary help set up the conference room as a command post. The officers would be doing overtime work to ensure that Kate Denali is safe and that to capture Royce King. Det. Maine, Det. Michaels and Capt. Matthews are overseeing the command post. Mr. Winters had come into the conference room. Det. Maine pulls him aside.
"How's Kate doing?" Det. Maine asked.
"Well she was fine. She was adjusting well to the campus. Her grades are spectacular, she's a remarkable student. It also helps that she has two sisters one younger and the other older that attend this college. She also has three cousins who attend this college as well. Kate is surrounded by family and had been getting better, that is until she found out about Ms. Briggs." Mr. Winters said.
"I can imagine. She and Marlene were close." Det. Maine said to him. "You didn't tell her about Royce King did you?"
"No not at all. I didn't want to scare her. I figured I wait until you got here to talk to her." Mr. Winters said.
"Good, good." Det. Maine said.
"What happens now?" Mr. Winters asked.
"Now we wait. If Royce plans on hurting Kate, he's got to come to the campus to do so. We've got all of the guards and officers working in shifts." Det. Maine said.
"How many?" Mr. Winters asked.
"Three shifts, morning 7am-3pm, 4pm-11pm, and 12am-6am. Capt. Matthews is heading home. Detective Michaels and I will stay on campus." Det. Maine said to him.
"Ok, there's a lounge that has two huge couches. Make yourselves comfortable." Mr. Main said. Det. Maine nods. "I'll give you the keys when I'm on my way out."
"Thank you. Listen I appreciate the co-operation. I want to make sure Kate survives and her crazy ex is put back behind bars." Det. Maine said as Mr. Winters nods.
"When do we break the bad news to Kate?" Mr. Winters asks. Det. Maine looks away thinking about his question. How was he going to tell Kate that her ex has escaped jail and is looking for her? How would Kate react?