We head to the stairs on the side of the building, and I follow her up, fighting to not check out her ass as we climb the stairs.It's her gasp that catches my attention."What?"
She nods toward what I'm assuming is her door."I didn't leave that door ajar.I always make sure it's closed and locked before I leave."
Immediately I'm on edge.Reaching to the waistband of my jeans, I pull the gun I carry, even when I'm off-duty."Get behind me, stay out here while I go check it out."
She's already talking as I start to clear the area.It takes me a few minutes, but I clear the apartment, and come back out, putting my gun back in my holster."I'm really sorry about what it looks like in there, Mace."
Her face falls."What's wrong?"
"Someone ransacked it, and they tore up some of your clothing."
"Do you think it's Gerald?"She's firming up her bottom lip, and it fucking breaks my heart.
"We won't know until Laurel Springs completes their investigation.But, if I were a betting man, I'd say it was him."
Her arms wrap around herself, and I hate seeing her like this.Since she came to my house after her run-in with Gerald, I’ve seen her vulnerable and scared more than I should.But this right now?It’s worse than anything else.She’s standing outside the place that's supposed to feel safe to her, and instead it feels like the opposite.
"Let's get the cops out here.You're not going back in there until they process the scene."I’m going to make sure they process it the way they should, too.
"But my clothes?—"
"Will still be there in an hour."I pull out my phone, and dial dispatch instead of 911, since I'm already on scene."This is Officer Kepler of Laurel Springs Fish & Wildlife.I need a unit and evidence tech to 214 Magnolia Court, apartment 6.We've got a break-in and possible vandalism related to an active case."
The dispatcher rattles off a unit number and tells me they're ten minutes out.I hang up, and Macie's still standing there, arms crossed, staring at her own front door like it might bite her.In all honesty it might feel that way when she sees what her apartment looks like.
"Hey."I step closer, and put my hand on her shoulder, then open up my arms for her.She falls into them, and I hug her tightly, rubbing her back."You're okay.I'm right here."
"I know."Her voice cracks on the words, and it guts me every time she tries to be strong when she doesn't have to be, not with me."It's just, this is my home.It’s always been my safe place."
"And it still is.He doesn't get to take that from you."I mean it, even if I'm not entirely sure it's true.Gerald's already taken plenty from her, and if it is him behind this, I don't know what else he's capable of.
We wait by my truck instead of going back up those stairs, and I keep my eyes moving across the parking lot, watching the tree line at the edge of the property, the cars parked along the street.Nothing looks out of place, but that feeling in my gut hasn't let up since we pulled in.
Headlights turn into the lot a few minutes later, and I recognize the cruiser before I recognize the man getting out of it.
Madden.He and I have worked out together, and we’ve been friends for a little bit.
"Hey, Darren."He nods at me as he grabs crime scene tape from the back seat."Dispatch said you called this one in yourself."
"Yeah, we were dropping by to grab some of Macie's stuff."I gesture toward her."Macie, this is Officer Madden, he’s usually a school resource officer, but he moonlights,” I joke, hoping it breaks some of the tension.“We hang out sometimes, and he’s one of Nic’s favorite people."
"Ma'am."Madden tips his head toward her, completely professional, but I catch the way his eyes flick to me for half a second, asking me with his gaze what in the fuck is going on between her and me."Mind walking me through what you found?"
She tells him, voice steadier and stronger than I expect, about locking the door before she left for her shift, mentions her attack in the hospital parking lot, ending with us finding the door ajar tonight.I add in what I found once I cleared the place.The drawers pulled out and dumped.Her clothes shredded and thrown across the bed like whoever did it wanted her to know exactly how personal this was.
Madden takes notes, his jaw tight the whole time."This connected to the same guy from the hospital you think?"
"Gerald?Yeah, I think so.They’ve been looking for him, but obviously they haven’t found him yet."
"No shit."Madden clicks his pen and looks at Macie again."We're gonna process everything up there, dust for prints, take photos before anything gets moved.I know that's not what you want to hear right now."
"I just want my clothes," she says quietly.
"I get it.We'll be quick as we can."
Two more units show up over the next twenty minutes, along with an evidence tech I don't recognize, a woman with a bag slung over her shoulder who heads straight up the stairs without a word to anybody.Macie leans into my side while we wait, and I put my arm around her, tucking her against my chest like I can shield her from all of it just by standing close enough.
"You cold?"I ask, feeling her shiver.
