just mentioning this now?”
“I didn’t think about it before.”
Levi jumped up and barreled out the door, glancing one way then another before taking off. I sat, numb and shaking. I didn’t know who the guy was, except that he’d been at my building a few times. He’d harassed Skylar on another occasion too.
Before I could get my thoughts in order, Levi reappeared with Officer Mund. The inquisition that followed made me feel like I was the one under investigation. I couldn’t answer any of the questions about the stranger at my building. I gave the best description possible, but it was of little help.
Officer Mund took notes, but he kept returning to the fight Skylar and I had had as though it bore some significance. He came at me from different angles, asking if I had become violent, asking the exact words we’d used. It was invasive, and I got defensive.
“I’d never hurt him,” I said through tears. “Why are you asking me this?”
Officer Mund examined his notepad. “Do you have any other acquaintances or friends who knew about your relationship with Skylar? Colleagues, family, anyone?”
“Just his roommates and Levi. We didn’t want people to know about our relationship. It’s against school policy. I could have gotten in a lot of trouble.”
“So, no one else?”
“I don’t know. I told you.”
“Who are your friends outside of this man?” Officer Mund tossed a thumb at Levi.
“I don’t have… Well, I have a semi-odd friendship with a professor in the creative arts department. Other than that, I don’t know anyone here. Not personally.”
“All right. Who’s this professor friend?”
“Reggie McGuire.”
“And does he know about your relationship?”
“No.”
The officer left again, and Levi and I were alone once more. Officer Mund said he was sending officers to my building to go door to door and inquire about the stranger with the stringy black hair who seemed obsessed with Morgan. He’d also informed us that Skylar’s parents had been notified and were coming into the station as well.
I’d never met Skylar’s parents. This wasn’t how I’d pictured our first meeting either.
After what felt like ages, Officer Mund returned and told us we could go home. Just like that. Like it was over. Like my boyfriend wasn’t missing and in possible danger. The statement was hollow, and when understanding hit, I felt adrift in the ocean.
“Home? But what about Sky?”
“We’re doing all we can.”
“And what? I’m supposed to go home and wait?”
“Get some sleep, Mr. Atkinson. We’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
Sleep was a joke. I tossed and turned and twisted myself up in the blankets to the point of frustration. I missed Skylar kicking me in the ribs and elbowing me in the face. Every facet of our relationship bloomed in front of my eyes in the wee hours of the morning. Every time Skylar had laughed. The off-key singing while he showered or made breakfast. His energetic dancing like he just couldn’t stop moving. The way he looked when he came undone underneath me in a fit of passion.
When I closed my eyes, he stared back at me with that mischievous glimmer radiating from his core, his eyes endless sparkling pools of seafoam green.
If sleep threatened to drag me under, nightmares clawed at that happiness, and I was launched awake again with my skin blistering and heart pounding. The horrors of my dreams had become a reality. Skylar was out there somewhere. Alone.
If he was still alive.
By morning, I felt like a bag of shit. Levi ran out for coffee and breakfast since I had no food in the house, but I couldn’t eat or drink. By half past nine, I used Levi’s phone to call the station for an update.
I was told by someone at reception that Officer Mund was unavailable and that he would contact me later.
In the meantime, Levi dragged me out of the house and to the phone store so I could replace my broken device. It took over an hour, and I was less than pleasant to the poor guy working the counter.
After, I insisted Levi take me to the station. The officer working the desk up front told me the same thing. Officer Mund wasn’t available. I was ten seconds from raging when Levi took me by the arm and steered me to the exit.
As we left, a familiar guy with stringy black hair and a young woman were heading toward us, a police officer I didn’t recognize walking beside them.
Fury like I’d never felt roared up inside