chapter 4

1."How'd that happen?"

The elevator door opened in back of them and she absently brought her hand up to her cheek when she realized what he was talking about. Her eyes got wide and she nearly tripped when she stepped backwards into the elevator.

"I...I--fell," she lied and breathed a sigh of relief when the doors closed. She defiantly wasn't staying there.

Yet, somehow Lucy found herself standing in front of his door hours later muttering curses to herself.

He opened it and he narrowed his eyes at the sight of the pretty blond woman that stood in front of him.

"Don't I know you?" he asked and she saw the smirk that made it's way to his face but she kept her answer polite.

"Yes, um, I was here before." She cleared her throat. "About the apartment."

"Right," he nodded, "now I remember." He angled his head and studied her. "Don't I recall you telling me that it's not to your liking?" he asked in a smart-ass tone. She hid her scowl, he was mocking her.

"Actually, Mr...."

"Kinkirk," he filled in for her and she smiled coldly.

"Kinkirk then, I like it just fine, besides, I didn't get a good look."

"Oh, well then by all means, step inside." He moved aside and gestured for her to come in with his hands. She walked by in her own haughty way and took a brief glance around.

"Looks fine to me," Lucy told him sweetly and he forced a smile right back.

"Great."

"So...can I move in?" Lucy asked and he smirked.

"If you want, Anna...right?"

"Who?-Oh, yes Anna." She stuck out her hand again. "Anna Preston," Lucy told him using her mothers maiden name.

"Kevin Kinkirk," he accepted her hand and she noticed that he studied her cheek for the seconds that they locked hands. She immediately pulled away and turned away from him. He, of course, noticed.

"So, um, are there like...any arrangement or anything?"

"Nope, not really. The rent was on the add, we split all the bills and costs 50/50 and...that's about it."

"Sounds great." Lucy forced a smile.

"Oh, I'll show you your room," he said and she nodded and followed him back further into the apartment to a small room that had only a bed, a dresser and a lamp. "Will this work?"

"Yes, thanks."

"Okay, um, feel free to take a look at the apartment, when do u plan on moving in?"

She stood still for another moment and then spoke.

"Is tonight to soon?"

Later...

"That's it?" Kevin asked as he heaved Lucy's second suitcase onto her bed.

"Yep," Lucy replied and he studied her face.

"Your sure? You don't have anything else?"

"No," she bit out through clenched teeth.

"Alright, then you can unpack..." Kevin eyed the suit cases and then looked back at her. "Want me to order a pizza?"

Lucy smiled. "Yeah, that'd be great." Her stomach growled and she cleared her throat in embarrassment. "I'm a little hungry," she admitted and he laughed.

"Great, then I'll go do that." Kevin gave her a forced smile and walked out.

As soon as he shut the door her stomach growled again and she opened up her first suitcase.

The truth was, she hadn't eaten any real food in more then 3 days, after she left Atlanta, she drove for three days straight only stopping for gas, of course she had picked up a few snacks along the way but for the most part she hadn't eaten. She wouldn't tell Kevin that though, she couldn't tell him anything about her...what if she wasn't safe in the city? What is he found her? She couldn't risk it, as it was she had lied about her name. She wouldn't tell him any personal information about herself for her own safety reasons, and she defiantly wouldn't tell him, or anyone else about her past.

After she finished with her first suit case, she started on the second. She knew that Kevin thought it was weird, here she was, a 24 year old woman moving to New York with only two suit cases full of clothes, shoes and make up. What he didn't know, was that she didn't want to risk the time and chance that taking more would lead to danger. It was obvious that Peter knew she was gone, no one was there to clean up in the bathroom when he finished taking his shower, she was already gone, no one to make him breakfast in the morning or to turn on the coffee pot, no one picked up his dry cleaning or made sure that he had his tie straight in the morning. She sighed and zipped up the empty second suit case, no one to knock around.

She walked into the kitchen and found Kevin taking out plates and setting the table. He looked up and smiled at her.

"Need help?" she asked and he shook his head.

"I've got it, the pizza will be here in a minute why don't you have a seat."

"Okay," she said quietly and sat down at the table set for two. After Kevin was done he offered her a coke, she accepted and thanked him.

"So Anna, where are you from?" Kevin asked while putting the coke down in front of her, he placed a hand on the back of her chair and immediately felt her stiffen. He frown but removed his hand a took a step away from her. Lucy was silent for a minute and then she spoke.

"Boston."

"Oh, really, I would have never thought," he studied her face. He knew that she was lying, he knew that her name wasn't Anna and he knew that she didn't get that bruise on her face from falling. He took a seat across from her.

"Well, originally, I'm from California, but I recently lived in Boston."

"Oh, did you have work in Boston?"

She shrugged, "I did work, if that's what you mean. But I didn't move out there to work."

"Why did you move out there?"

She stalled again, for a noticeable amount of time. "I just um, needed a change, you know."

"Yeah, sure." He cleared his throat. "What do you do?"

"I was a receptionist." He nodded and she sipped her coke. "What do you do?"

"I'm a police officer," he told her anticipating the reaction, and she didn't disappoint him. Her mouth fell open before she could stop it and she quickly closed it.

"Uhh, I-interesting." A police officer? Well shit Lucy, she scolded her self and kept a smile on, way to be.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Your from New York?"

"Actually yeah, I grew up in Buffalo and I moved here."

"Wow," was all she could manage. The door bell rang and he got up to get it. She closed her eyes tightly and wished she was somewhere else but when she heard him close the front door she knew it was to good to be true.

"Alright." He placed the pizza on the table. "Help yourself."