The police want to know everything. I tell them as much as I can, starting with the flight from New York.
"Did he show any signs confrontation then?"
I shake my head no, "I just thought he was annoying. It seemed like he was just trying to hit on me." I hang my head down, I feel so stupid, like I should have seen this coming.
"Did he give you a reason why he was coming to Minneapolis?"
I have to think before answering, "I don't think so…" The more I think about it the more jumbled my memories get.
"I recognized him when I saw him tonight… I guess he was friends with Finn or something. Finn said that he had mentioned meeting me on the plane. I didn't remember giving him my name but he swore that I did." I should've walked away then. I repeat what he told me about my Uncle, I felt my throat tighten when I got to the part about me not be any luckier than my Uncle.
"Is he- will he be locked up…The Detective in New York said that my Uncle was probably killed by a hit man… Is he going to send someone after me?" My voice is squeaky now.
"It's not likely that he's put a hit on you, we'll know more after we search the house he was staying in. We're just waiting for a warrant."
"But his Dad…" I start.
"Mr. Marvel Quaid Sr. is already in holding in New York, since yesterday. It seems he is the primary suspect."
"What do I do now?" I ask.
"Well, when you finish your statement and sign it, we'll take pictures of your injuries and then you can go home."
Go home… "But what if he did already hire a hit on me." They only said it wasn't likely that he hired a hit already.
"If you feel safer you can stay at a hotel." Gee thanks.
"How long will his sentence be?" Pete asked.
"Depends, we'll be charging him with death threat and attempted abduction."
My eyes narrow, I hadn't heard anything about that yet.
"When they looked through his car, they found rope, duct table and a knife. On his person we found Chloroform."
I can barely even form the question, "What?". Pete's hand tightens around mine.
My mind wants to shut down, he was going to drug me and kidnap me… That seriously almost happened to me. Pictures were taken of my arm and I read through my statement I had given and signed it.
Marv was (or had been) staying with his cousin, Cato. I can vaguely remember going to a party at his house once. Cato had shown as little interest in me as he had with the rest of his guests, I would be surprised if he even remembered me. Apparently Cato denied any involvement, said that he thought he cousin was just coming in for a visit, mentioning that it was planned last minute. Cato claimed that Marv sometimes did take little vacations to get away from his parents, sometimes leaving suddenly. Based off the search of the house, the police thought it unlikely that he had planned on taking me there, had he been successful. They did find photos of me, most were taken in New York City. A list of my classes and my address.
The NYPD shared that Marvel Quaid Sr. invested a few million in deal that Uncle put together. For almost everyone involved, the deal was a complete flop, Uncle was one of the group that not only didn't lose his money, but actually managed to make money. Essentially profiting from his co-investors loss. Naturally, Marv's New York lawyer was already in transit to try to work a deal. The officer tried to reassure me that the evidence against him was pretty good, add that to the fact that he verbally threatened me in front of two police officers and they have a good case. I would be called to testify in the hearing. The police talked to Finn also, who said that he had met Marv through his friend Cato. Since Finn met Marv on Wednesday, and that my name was brought up.
Finn told me later, after apologizing profusely, that Marv asked Finn and two other guys that were hanging out at Cato's if they knew me. "He just said that he had met a cute girl on his flight in that went to school here… I swear, I thought he just had a crush on you. I told him you had a boyfriend. He didn't ask anything else about you and I didn't think anything of it." After that Marv kept calling and asking to hang out. "I swear your name was never mentioned again."
I paid for a lawyer for Gale, who was able to get the assault charges dropped, owing to the fact that Gale had helped thwart Marv's plan. Turns out that Marv had a horrible temper and was unable to harness it. When they brought him into the interrogation room, he proceeded to throw chairs at the two-way mirror and he tried to punch a cop. His lawyer was going to be going to try to play Marv off as a mentally unstable youth, he apparently already had a few assault and battery charges going back from when he turned 18. He actually had gotten kicked out of NYU last year for fighting with a fellow student, the report said that the guy Marv had fought with was knocked unconscious but Marv kept punching him until he was finally pulled off him. The other guy was in the hospital for weeks getting his face put back together.
Pete drove me back to my place, but I insisted on staying somewhere else.
"We can go to my place. Mark and Kate will both be there and I can even turn on the security system. That was a major flaw in my apartment, the dead bolt on the front door was the only security offered. I never had reason to worry about it before, I would often leave my balcony door unlocked, I was on the third floor so it's not like someone could get in easily - but…
I threw some things into an over night bag and Pete texted Mark, giving him the heads up.
As we drove to his house I made him turn around and double back, and then go the long way through the neighborhood.
"It's OK, Katniss," Pete squeezed his hand with mine. When we were in the garage I got out and had a sudden thought, Uncle had put a tracker on Pete's car, we had found it and removed it as soon as we had found out. The Detective had mentioned that it was easy to do. I bent down and looked under the rim of the car.
"Can you get a flashlight?" I asked.
I could tell Pete thought that I was overreacting, but I'd rather him think I was crazy then not check and have someone tracking us.
He handed me a flashlight and I looked all along the bottom, not seeing anything that resembled the tracker we had found earlier. I breath a sigh of relief and hand the flashlight back to Pete.
He pulled me in for a strong hug, "I'm here, Katniss. I won't let anyone hurt you," He spoke into my ear, his breath warm on my neck.
The house was dark and quiet. Pete showed me the security system and switched it on. He made sure the backdoor, front door and the garage door was locked.
"I'll make you some tea," He said and motioned for me to sit on the sofa.
I turned on the TV and was numbly watching the Food Network when Mark came out of his room.
"Oh, hey Katniss," He said looking surprised. Pete came out of the kitchen, "Hey we'll be staying here tonight. I turned the alarm on."
"OK," He said slowly, I could tell he was wondering what the hell was going on. Pete and I rarely (meaning never) spent the night here.
"I sent you a text earlier that we were coming."
"I think my phone's in the car. Kate's here, she heard someone out here and made me get up and check."
"We'll be tucking in here soon too," Pete said and went back to the kitchen. Mark followed him, I knew Pete was telling him what happened tonight. I felt horrible for causing all this drama. Seriously, who has these types of problems! No normal person. His family isn't going to want Pete to be with me, I'd just cause more problems for everyone. Mark steps out a few moments later, "Good night, Katniss. We'll see you in the morning."
Now he was surely telling Kate all about my drama.
Pete stepped out with some tea and sat with me while I sipped the warm chamomile tea. I changed into the sweatpants and top I had brought. Pete's bed had the un-used feel to it, he last slept in it the night we had fought, which was also the night that my Uncle was murdered. I feel restless.
"Shhh," Pete says soothingly, he pulled me closer so my back was flat against his chest, he brought a hand up and started stroking my hair around my face. I closed my eyes and felt my body calming down as I focused on the rhythmic strokes.
My eyes flew open, I was in a dark room that I knew wasn't my bedroom. My body sprang up and I felt like I needed to run, I had to get away. Someone stirs beside me, I push myself away. I recognize Pete's silhouette as he sits up.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
My heart is pounding, had I been dreaming about running from something?
"I don't know," I say pathetically, "I was scared."
He pulls me close to him and comforts me until I fall asleep again.
I wake up again, but this time it's because of a combination of Pete waking up and the sun coming in through the window's blinds.
He kisses my cheek then gets up to get ready for the day.
Kate is already up, fully dressed and reading the newspaper. She looked so put together, nice dark jeans and a simple light blue button up top. Her hair was piled into a clean bun. Just looking at her made me feel more like a mess. This was the type of girl that belonged in a nice family like the Mellarks.
Her head turned when she heard us, "Good morning! I was thinking that maybe we could go out for breakfast this morning."
When I don't respond, Pete agrees that it'd be nice.
"I'll have to drag Mark out of bed, he's still dead to the world."
"Am not," A sleepy voice came from Mark's room.
Pete pours me a cup of coffee and I return to the room to get dressed. I don't really want to go have social hour this morning. It's not that I don't like Kate, she's nice, but I don't feel like being chipper, talkative or bubbly after last night.
Pete comes in as I pull on my sweatshirt.
"Can't I just stay here?" I asked in a hushed voice.
"You don't want to come?" He asks surprised.
I shrug. What I want to do is to disappear from the living world for a few days to wrap my head around everything that's happened.
"It'll be good to sit down and have a nice breakfast. This will get your mind off things. You'd just sit around and dwell and over think everything if you stayed here. "
Part of me knows he's right, but I'd still rather stay in my sweatpants and hide under a blanket. I give him a scowl and braid my hair back.
I put my boots on, I feel like a total frump, with my loose fitted jeans, gray Minnesota sweatshirt (that I pulled over my nightshirt) and my clunky boots. I hadn't been thinking about appearances when I packed yesterday.
I was still scowling when I stood up, I made an over exaggerated show of my arm, "lead the way."
He looked at me for a moment. I wonder for a moment if he's going to scold me, I know I'm acting childish, but I think that I've earned the right after what I've gone through. Instead of scolding me he pulls me in and kisses me. Really kisses me, one of his knee weakening kisses that makes me forget about everything except him. He pulls away, and gives me a self satisfied smirk. If my head wasn't still swimming from his kiss, I'd be totally pissed, he knows exactly the effect he has on me.
"Let's go."
"Mm-K."
The breakfast actually is enjoyable. Everyone orders the calorie and fat laden food that is associated with little diners, such as the one we're in. Double stacks of pancakes, syrup covered waffles with whipped cream and strawberries, eggs in a multitude of ways, and don't forget the bacon. We get a large dish of fruit for the middle of the table, after everyone stuffs themselves, we sit drinking the last of our coffee and picking at the fruit.
Kate's conversation slips into "wedding mode".
The wedding is set for mid-June.
"The church that I grew up with is available, we were going to go with an outdoor ceremony, but I think this will be better. There's a large park just two blocks down the road that I was able to book for the reception. The only thing is that the park was very clear that the reception has to be over with by midnight... Mark wanted to have an evening ceremony and have a late reception-"
"No, Mark was wanting to elope and go to a sports bar for an after party," Mark interrupts.
She rolls her eyes, "I'll let you pass that idea by my Mom. Or better yet, your Grandma." Kate looks over at me, "Grandma Mellark wanted to come with me when I was trying on my dresses, but unfortunately I picked a weekend that didn't work for her. I wasn't looking forward to her scolding me on my posture."
"Your posture?" I asked.
"When we announced our engagement last year, she said that at least our long engagement would give me time to work on not slouching. She suggested not hunching over a microscope as much."
"She thinks I'm perfect," Mark said with a grin.
Pete lets out a snort of laughter, "Please. Charlie's her favorite. She thinks you still have some growing up to do. The only thing she says about Charlie is that he needs to find a nice girl."
"News on that score," Mark says with an air of a gossipy hen, "Mom mentioned that he's flying in weekend after next and bringing a girl with him."
"I'm sure Grandma Mellark has her old engagement ring ready to hand over," Kate says with a roll of her eyes, "You know what she said to me when she first met me?" The question is directed to me. "She said that she wouldn't have let her daughter study science. Most men wouldn't find that appealing. But I was so lucky that Mark was able to look past that."
I tried to remember the conversation I had with her. She asked me what I planned on doing after school, but I don't remember any comments like her comments to Kate. She actually didn't seem too interested in me... Was that good or bad?
Pete and I hung out at his house for a little while, before deciding to go back to my apartment. Pete said he'd put a chain lock on the front door, which gave me a little piece of mind, but I wanted the full security system that Pete had.
I changed into my sweats and made a vague attempt at studying before switching a movie on. I had tried to make a drink around noon, but Pete stopped me, "I won't let you sit around and get wasted."
"It's just a drink," I mumble, but turn around and sulk back to my spot on the sofa. He sits next to me and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Drinking won't help, Katniss. You're stronger than that." He starts kissing along my jaw line.
"You can't just kiss me and make everything all better, you know?" I say and cross my arms firmly over my chest.
He stops and looks at me. My skin along my jaw and neck is still tingling from his kisses, "I didn't say stop."
He smiles and starts kissing with more passion.
Jo showed up unannounced later than evening, punching me in the shoulder, "Way to cause the drama, brainless." She plops down next to my spot on the sofa, "I was at Gale's, he wants to know how you're doing?"
"Tell him to come up," I say quickly.
After Jo texts him she looks at Pete, who is on the other side of me, "I think you have competition to be Kat's knight in shining armor."
"Pete doesn't have competition anywhere," I say firmly.
When Gale knocks I let him in. I saw him briefly at the police station last night, but I didn't get a chance to talk to him. After he steps in, I give him a hug. His body stalls, obviously surprised. I know I was never exactly friendly towards him and have certainly never had any physical contact with him (other than our hands brushing together as we passed a joint). Shortly after he puts his arms around me I pull away and look at him, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it… Thank you for the lawyer, it won't even be on my record thanks to him."
Pete gives Gale a firm handshake and thanks him also.
There is a slight awkwardness in the air, the movie I had been watching earlier, Pirates of the Caribbean still playing on the TV.
Pete invites them to stay for dinner. When he asks what sounds good I don't give an opinion, I'd be fine not eating, but when Pete makes the suggestion of Indian take-out, I am quick to say which dish I'd like. A mass amount of food is ordered and Pete stands to leave shortly after to go pick it up. I start to feel panicky, Pete had been by my side (or not more that a few yards away) since last night. My sense of panic seems ridiculous, he'll be right back and I won't even be alone. Pete picks up on my anxiety and pulls me into the bedroom.
His hand rests on my cheek, "You'll be fine, Katniss. Gale and Jo will be here with you, and I'll be right back. It won't even take me 15 minutes."
I know I'll survive, but the comfort that I feel when he's around is incomparable. I am completely dependent on him.
I sit back down in my spot on the sofa and wrap myself up in a blanket. I'm sure I look an absolute mess. Gale and Jo keep the conversation mostly between them. Unfortunately they were mostly talking about last night.
"Your glimmering girlfriend didn't seem to pleased," Jo teased.
Gale scoffed, "She was just pissed that I left her in the middle of the dance floor alone… Thought it made her look stupid."
"Yeah, that's what made her look stupid."
Gale sends a glance my way before saying, "When Finn said that you two were going to be joining us, Marv started ordering shots for us and pounding them back, he asked Finn twice if your boyfriend was going to be with you… I thought he was going to try to hit on you or something."
"Yeah, definitely add "or something" onto that one," Jo snorted.
"When I met him on the plane, I thought he was just flirting with me…" I trail off, I feel stupid for not seeing it. I don't add any more to their conversations and sit quietly staring at the coffee table. The credits of the movie start rolling and Jo jumps up and puts in a new movie. She picks The Simpson's Movie. A comedy is a good choice, if she had chosen a horror flick or even an action one I would've left the room. When Pete returns we set up the food on the coffee table and everyone digs in. Sitting around in our group of four was actually calming. They stayed until the movie was over and I almost thought about asking them to stay for another, but didn't want them to feel like they had to.
The next day was Monday… school. Marv was locked up and according to the police he'd probably be in there for a while. I still felt jumpy. Choosing to sit in the back of all my classes so I could have my back to a wall. My last class was close to my apartment and I ran the whole six blocks through the gray slush that was covering the ground. My jeans were soaked and disgusting. I peeled them off and then climbed into a hot bath and planned on staying there till Pete came. His usual arrival time came and went and I got out of the bath and threw my sweats on again. I checked my phone for the tenth time, still no calls. I tried calling him, it went straight to voice mail. I tried again 5 minutes later with the same result, his phone must be turned off. I was practically in tears thinking of all the horrible things that could have happened. His last class was across the river on the East Bank, so usually drove - what if he had a car accident. What if someone attacked him. I jumped when I heard the front door lock click… What if someone else has a key. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see him, before shouting, "Where were you?" Yeah, OK, I'm overreacting, I know. I can't help but be on edge.
"I had to stop by my place to get some things," He looks alarmed by my reaction.
"Oh," I say meekly. The fall onto the sofa, "I was worried."
He sits next to me and kisses my forehead.
I lean into him, "You should move in with me… You practically live here any way."
He's quiet for a moment, "I'll let you know next time I'll be later than usual, but-" My face flushes red as I realize that I just asked my boyfriend of a few months to live with me "I think it's better to have separate official living areas… My parents don't believe that two people should live together until they're married."
Oh.
"Mark and I have a deal, he won't tell how much time I spend over here, and I won't tell how Kate has practically moved in."
"But they're engaged."
"But not married yet… They're looking for houses now, together… I think it's a nice idea."
I'm startled, he had always seemed completely for the idea of spending every night here.
"Not living together, officially, until being married… I know it's kind of old fashion, but there's something romantic about carrying a bride across the threshold of the first home you'll share together."
An image of Pete carrying me into our first home together flashes through my mind. My heart clenches, I could lie and say that it was because I was scared of the thought, but really it's because what Pete said, it does sound nice.
"That does sound more romantic," I said quietly, suddenly feeling shy.