Mort Rainy was not too excited for this day. He was not too excited for Katie's boyfriend, or meeting him. Not too excited at all. You could even say he was negative about this. Could you blame him? Someone who he liked quite alot, loved some other man. Wasn't that a line in Secret Window? 'A woman that would steal your love when it was all you had was not much of a woman at all'. Something such as that anyways. Details weren't important to Mort at the moment.

He pushed the curtain away from the window and peered outside to were Katie was. Along with her boyfriend who had just pulled up on a motorcycle. Mort cracked his jaw and narrowed his eyes as he carefully watched this young man. His face had a slight tan, his eyes were bright blue, his hair a short black. There was something suspicious about him.

"Your only trying to convince yourself that he shouldn't be trusted. In reality, you know that everyone problem loves him and thinks nothing but good thoughts of him. He's a good one for Katie."

"Shut-up." Mort growled to the voice.

Katie and the boy were walking up to the porch, and Mort quickly left the window, sitting down on the couch infront of the fireplace. Hastily, he picked up a book, pretending to be lost in it's words. The door opened and he heard Katie's silky, cheery voice"Mort" she asked, looking at him.

"Oh" He shut the book and dropped it onto the coffee table. He looked over his shoulder then stood up, walking to them. Mort hated the boy even more, being up close to him. He'd like to wring that neck of his, watching his face turn blue-

"This is Mort Rainy. Mort this is Derek." She said, motioning to her boyfriend.

Derek gave Mort a big white smile and stuck out his hand"Nice to meet you, sir."

"Yes...Likewise." He said, reluctantly shaking his hand. "Why don't you two come sit down" Mort sat in an armchair and nodded for the two of them to sit on the couch, to which they did. "I see you have a motorcycle...Good-looking... Is that the only thing you have"

Derek grinned and looked at Katie then back to Mort"Thanks. No it's not the only thing I have. I've got a car... The bike was a gift."

"Gift for what"

"For finishing the boot-camp type of training for being in the Marines."

Mort almost scowled at this boy's answer. The Marines? For crying out loud... Would Mort, being a writer, be able to compare Derek, who was a Marine"Oh." He nodded as he folded his hands together.

"I've really liked your stories. Very interestring. My favorite was Secret Window... The way that you described the man's thoughts in words. You almost pulled me away from the fact that he was planning on murdering his wife. That man was crazy."

Crazy? Crazy? "I'm glad you liked it, Derek." Mort's voice echoed with a smile and nod. Yes, yes, yes... Putting his hands around Derek's neck was beginning to sound like a very good idea. Very tempting.

"Derek helps to pass out gifts around Christmas to children who's parents can't afford much as well." Katie added.

"Really" Mort nodded again to Derek in a respected way... Though thoughts ran through his mind, 'Shit... He's a fucking saint. Fucking saint.' What was Mort going to do now?

Derek shrugged to himself"Well it was a type of school project... Get food donations, and go around to shelters and, being a teen, I thought my life was awful but seeing others that didn't have a house, money, and stuff like I did just woke something up in me."

Mort nodded again, but swore to himself in his thoughts. "I'm going to use the bathroom." Katie's voice broke in to the conversation. Both of them said 'okay's and watched her as she stood up, walking up the stairs to the bathroom.

"This is a nice place you've got here, Mr. Rainey."

"Thank-you Derek, I do try... Where do you live"

Derek grinned"Just in a small apartment. Above a bar... It's about forty-five minutes west from here. I figured that I'd only be here for a bit before I go back to training... Didn't want to spend all my money."

"I see..." Mort looked up as Katie walked down the steps and he softly smiled, and she returned it.

"I need to be going... Back to work, you know." He said with a grin. Derek stood and looked at Katie. He kissed her cheek"See ya tomorrow night, Kate." Derek shook Mort's hand again"Nice meet you again, sir." Mort nodded. Derek smiled to the both of them"Bye." He said, turning away, walking out of the door. Moments later his motorcycle could be heard starting up and pulling away.

"Want anything, Mort" Katie asked, walking infront of him.

"Umm..." Mort looked around himself then shook his head"No. No I'm fine."

"Alright... I'll just tidy up a bit. If you need anything just call."

"I'm going to be outside... Need some fresh air." Without waiting for her reply, he stood up and walked out of his home. Mort stood infront of his porch then looked around himself. In a few swift strides he was at the edge of his lake. He gazed into his own reflection. Maybe Mort was over reacting to Derek...

"Yes. You were over-reacting. You were going to tell Shooter to take care of him. Murder. You were over reacting, unbelieveably. Well... It isn't unbelieveable for you. Look at what happen to Amy, Ted, Tom, and"

He kicked a stone into the water, shattering his reflection. Mort didn't need his reflection mouthing off to him, that son of a bitch. He didn't need to listen to it. It was possible though that Derek was as horrible as Mort tried to convince himself that he was.

(... now this is like a week after...)

There was knocking on his door. Knocking, knocking, more knocking. Mort slowly came out of his dreams as he rolled over in his bed, feeling his nightstand for his glasses. He put them on lazily and gazed at the digital clock. 3:47 a.m. Mort stared at the clock. Who was that at his door? Why wouldn't they go away? What was so damned important to wake him?

Shooter.

The thought crossed his mind an instant later. It could only be him. But what did he want? Why was he here now? Mort got up and slowly crossed his room and reached for the golf club that was lying on the floor. He carefully opened his bedroom door and stood at the top of the stairs.

More knocks. Tightening his grip on the golf club, Mort walked down the steps and stood about a yard away, ready to throw open the door and spring into action at any moment.

"Mort" Katie's voice came despertly.

"Hold on" He called and Mort glanced around himself before pushing the golf club under a cough. Mort then rubbed his face, trying to wipe the sleep out of his eyes. He looked to the table next to the door and pulled the black hat onto his head, so his hair wouldn't look so messy.

Mort pulled open the door and looked at Katie. "What's wrong" He asked. Her pretty face was all blotchy pink and red, her eyes were filled with tears, and fresh tears were rolling down her face. She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him, crying into his shoulder. Mort's eyes shifted from side to side, awkwardly. Slowly, he put his arms around her waist, resting his cheek against her soft hair. "What's wrong" He repeated.

"I-I-I didn't know w-who else to g-g-go to." Her shaking voice told him inbetween sobs.

"Katie." Mort kept his arms around her but pulled his head back slightly, so he could see her face. "What is it?"

"D-Derek! They found h-him in his c-c-closet! H-h-he k-killed himself"