Act IX

"What?" Ryo demanded, his face reflecting the shock he felt. "Why? Am I on suspension?" He couldn't understand why the commissioner was telling him to go home when he had only just arrived.

"No, no, of course not," Rose hastily assured him. "But it has been brought to my attention that Sergeant Touin has been making unwelcome advances. I have no reason to dismiss him from the case I had already assigned to the two of you so the only alternative is for you to take a vacation. Paid, of course," he added, smiling at Ryo. He knew he had no chance with him anymore but that didn't mean he didn't want one. No point in alienating him on the off chance he and Dee split up.

"I can handle the sergeant," Ryo objected.

"Can you?" Rose inquired, cocking an eyebrow.

Ryo scowled, remembering how easily Rose had kissed him on a previous occasion and how close Touin had come the night before. "Fine," Ryo agreed in defeat.

"Just try not to be out and about too much," Rose advised Ryo. "We have a serial killer on our hands and you do fit the victims' profile."

"I'll be careful," Ryo promised. "Thank you," he added before leaving the office.

"Hi, Ryo," Touin greeted him seconds later. "Ready to get to work?"

"Actually, the case is all yours," Ryo informed him with an apologetic smile. "I've just been given a vacation."

"You didn't mention it yesterday," Touin said, looking at Ryo suspiciously.

"It was spur of the moment," Ryo replied. "Good luck on the insider trading case."

"Thanks," Touin said, his lips turned down at the corners. "Urm, if I need any help, can I call you at home or are you leaving town?"

"You can call my cell," Ryo answered, not divulging any information. "Bye."

Ryo left the precinct and headed home. He was almost there when he spotted Dee and JJ talking to a uniformed officer so he hurried over to them.

"What are you doing here?" JJ asked belligerently, his face a mask of distaste.

"I was on my way home and saw the commotion," Ryo explained. "This is the third victim, right?"

"Fourth," Dee said, shaking his head. "Our killer was busy last night. One two blocks over and this one. This one was killed first though."

"So the killer was moving away from town," Ryo observed.

"Looks like," Dee agreed. "Home?" he asked, changing the subject. "You're off for a bit?"

"Like you didn't know?" retorted Ryo. "You arranged it, didn't you?"

"I mentioned it," Dee acknowledged. "Look, this psycho has been operating at all hours. It isn't safe. I want you to go home and stay there."

"Dee, I can..."

"I know. I know," Dee interrupted him. "You can take care of yourself. But do this for me. Please?" he begged, taking hold of Ryo's upper arms and looking into his eyes.

"All right," Ryo gave in with a sigh. Why couldn't he ever say no?

"Thanks," Dee said, smiling and giving Ryo a light kiss on the lips. "Ken, give Ryo a ride home," he ordered the uniformed officer.

"Dee, I live less than ten minutes from here on foot," Ryo informed him haughtily.

"And by car it will be two," Dee stated, grinning. "I'll stop by after work. Be careful," he added in a stern voice.

"Gee, I might get attacked by a mouse before then," Ryo said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are you sure you have to wait that long?"

Dee ignored Ryo's tone and smiled bigger. "I might be able to make lunch."

"Grr," Ryo growled and went with Ken to the police cruiser.

"You are being more than a tad over-protective, don't you think?" JJ asked Dee after Ryo had left.

"You think so?" Dee countered. "You've seen all four victims. Don't they all remind you of Ryo? And not just the age and hair color either?"

"A bit, I guess," JJ had to admit.

"And don't you think it's more than a little coincidental that all of these rape/murder/ mutilations have taken place between Ryo's apartment and headquarters? Not one victim on the other side of either?" Dee continued.

"Hey, you're right," JJ said as realization dawned. "You think someone is after Ryo but just keeps getting the wrong guy?"

"I don't know," Dee said, shaking his head and scowling. "I just feel like I'm missing a crucial piece of a puzzle." He sighed and wearily ran a hand through his dark hair. "Can you finish up here?" he asked. "I'm going back to the station and see if there are any related crimes in other cities."

"Sure," acknowledged JJ as Dee moved away.