They sat across from each other at a local coffee shop. Detective Williams had asked him to grab a cup of coffee with him. More like insisted else it would have been another station visit. The place was about ten minutes from his apartment but he'd never bothered to try it. He could see why, twelve dollars for a small cup of coffee, two dollars for a bottle of water. He settled for a cup of iced water, it was half the price. Around them, people talked and laughed with each other on their lunch breaks. The air smelled heavily of freshly brewed roasted coffee beans. A smell he was impartial to.

Though the air conditioner was right above them, he was still sweating.

"Who orders water at a coffee shop?" the waitress had the nerve to ask when they gave their order. Someone who was in deep shit, he thought to say but decided to mind his manners.

As they waited for the orders to arrive, Detective Williams didn't seem to be in a hurry to give any more information about what he'd said earlier. It made no sense whatsoever. It was a trick. Henry knew it. These detectives thought they were so smart. Tell them a lie so they can admit the truth. Not that Henry knew what the truth was.

Well, he did see his name on the paper when he read through it himself. But that could have been fake. He was pretty sure it was illegal to falsify reports like that. Right?

Then like Detective Williams was reading his mind he answered. "It's true. I had them test it twice."

"Well, third time's a charm right?"

Their orders arrived. Detective Williams smiled and thanked the waitress. Henry didn't bother acknowledging her. He was glad for the cold water. "You know there isn't a heat wave going on."

"Sure as hell feels like it."

"Like you're in hell right?"

"Yeah, and it won't let up. Like I'm going through menopause or something."

"Oh, you're...."

"No. I mean hot flashes."

Detective Williams nodded and sipped his coffee, a mocha latte. Henry thought he'd order something black. The detective scratched at a tiny scar above his eyebrow Henry just noticed. He was even more scruffy than last week. Like he'd aged ten years in a week.

"Let's say it is my blood, how is that even possible?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

"I mean I didn't have any cuts. Just a nasty headache. And who hit me with my car?" He just realized it. That's why he's not being arrested. If he was hit, someone else was driving. But who? Ophelia?

"We need to find the driver."

"Why though? If I'm fine, then there's no crime." Henry laughed. "There's no crime." To think he was worried about going to jail for a whole week. "Turns out, I'm the victim and I'm completely fine. Whoooo!" A few customers turned their attention to them.

He held up a hand. "Sorry." Though he wasn't.

Henry gulped down the rest of his water. "Well, detective, it was nice knowing ya. Here's a dollar for the water." He got up and patted Detective Williams' shoulder. Detective Williams grabbed onto his wrist with an iron-like grip and twisted it slightly. He winced and would have made a sound but he didn't want to sound like a bitch.

"I don't think you should leave just yet."

"Why not? There's nothing to investigate. I'm not pressing any charges on whoever hit me."

"Really? What if it happens again?"

"I don't think I'm going out for a drink anytime soon after this."

"Have a seat. Don't want to have to arrest you for all those unpaid traffic tickets."

Henry's features darkened. He shuffled back to his chair. He picked up the dollar and stuffed it back in his pocket.

"Have you heard about the disappearances lately?"

Henry stared out the window and shook his head. "Nope, not really. I've been kind of preoccupied lately."

Detective Williams pulled out yet another envelope from inside his jacket pocket. Henry wondered how he could hide so many documents on him and how many more he had tucked away in there.

"Aren't you hot in that?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine."

"You might have to buy me another glass of water."

Detective Williams opened the envelope ignoring his request. "These are the people who've gone missing over the past six weeks. All of them are adult male in their mid-twenties."

He showed Henry some files of missing persons with their pictures attached. Am I supposed to even see this?

"Well, I'm fine. And I don't know these people-"

"Of the six that have gone missing, four have turned up dead."

"Okay okay. You really know how to just drop bombs huh? First, you question me and then boom, the blood is yours. Now boom, they're dead."

"Is this a joke to you?" He raised one eyebrow at him.

The look wiped any smirk he had clean off his face. "No, but I don't know what this has to do with me."

Detective Williams flipped through the papers and pulled out one particular file.

"This guy, George Milton, is similar to you."

Henry rolled his eyes, "How so? And why are we talking about this out in the open?"

"He survived the attack. He didn't remember anything either and suffered from extreme feverish conditions. Then his family reported him missing. We found him dead in his apartment. Stab wounds to the chest."

"Wait, so you're saying I was attacked?"

"Yes."

"Like someone wants to kill me?"

"Possibly."

"But I survived?"

"For now."

"Wait so if people are trying to kill me, why did it take you so long to come tell me?"

"Paperwork."

Henry's laugh filled the restaurant. "Good one."

"We're going to need your help."

"Help? For what?"

"Why else would I come to you? To catch the killer."

Henry's phone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and checked. He'd gotten a text from Ophelia.

Don't trust him.

~~~~

Ophelia screamed and banged the steering wheel of her Toyota Passo. This one was more frustrating than the rest of them. Most men would have been fawning at her feet but Henry was a special one. "I mean how could he throw my shoes out the window after all I did for him?"

On top of that, she almost got made when the police spotted her both times. She could have been more careful. She should have at least ditched the car or cleaned off the blood. Her phone rang. She knocked it against her forehead when she saw the caller ID.

She inhaled deeply before answering. "Yes."

"Did you make contact?"

"Yes, but-"

"But what? Bring him in."

"The detective got to him first."

"How could you let that happen? You had one order."

"I know but this one."

"Bring him in before the others get involved."

He hung up. Seriously? First, he told me to leave him be all week and now I have to bring him in.

Ophelia ducked when she saw them leaving the apartment complex. "Where were they going now?" When they were a little distance away, she got out. She walked a little away from them. Henry looked as put together as a ma man waking up from a hangover and the Detective walked with confidence and hands in his pockets.

She tried to remain calm as they kept walking further away. She couldn't lose this one. Not again. She was already in hot water at the base. No one was speaking to her. She was failing at her one job.

They entered a coffee shop, the same one she ate the morning Henry kicked her out a week ago. She was ashamed to write that in the report. Damn, those freaking cops ruined everything. Not wanting to stay in the open, she entered a clothes store across from the coffee shop. Thankfully, they sat right at the window, in full clear view.

"May I help you?" A sales lady asked her.

"Uh, no I'm just looking thanks."

She skimmed through racks of clothes, not wanting to look suspicious. She smiled sweetly at the sales attendants who stood next to her as she looked. She pulled out a white top that was a few sizes too big.

"That would look good on you."

"I know but I can't find my size. Could you see if there's another one my size in the back?"

"Are you sure? There's-"

"Just check please?" Ophelia's fake smile was waning.

She reluctantly took the blouse. "Sure no problem."

When she turned her gaze back at the two men across the street. They seemed to be having a good conversation or at least Henry was. He was laughing but the detective wasn't. He looked out the window straight across the street. She turned her head away and kept searching the racks.

"Here, I found a smaller one." The sales lady returned with a smaller size.

Ophelia glanced at it once. 'I don't like it again." She filed through some jeans folded on a shelf."

"Find my size in these please?"

"All our sizes are on-"

"Do I need to call someone else or?"

"No, I'll have a look."

Ophelia took the opportunity. She piled on four more pairs of jeans and two sneakers and asked for a size 6. That would keep her busy for a while.

When she turned her attention back to the two men, the detective had him by the wrist. What is going on?

Going by Henry's body language, he didn't want to stay. This was taking too long. The young lady came back faster than expected. She couldn't stall any longer. She paid for a few of the items and exited the store. She stood behind a column, peaking ever so slightly at them. The lady from inside looked her up and down. She could only imagine how weird she would appear. She couldn't stay here any longer. She had to get Henry away. She needed to talk to him. Get him to come with her. But how could she get him to follow her? He seemed like he didn't have much going on upstairs but he was a lot more quick than she expected.

Pure sexual charm wasn't enough to lure him in. She had to try something else. She pulled out her phone and texted him quickly.

That would be enough to get his attention right? She waited. He didn't budge. Did he get the message? It showed a double tick. He read it.

"Bastard!"

What to do, she couldn't go back empty-handed. But she didn't want to reveal herself too soon either.

"Come on Ophelia, think think think," she forced herself.

They were still talking. Telepathic powers would come in handy right now. That's right She could just call him. Hopefully, he's not as stupid as he looks and answers.

She rang his number. It rang once, then twice. She watched him look at the phone. He hung up. "Fuck!"

She rang him again. This time he answered. "Hi babe."

She was taken aback by the unexpected greeting.

"Hi. Did you get my message?"

"Yes, but I'm a bit caught up at the moment."

"I see."

"You do, where are you?"

She stiffened behind the column. "That's not important. I need to see you."

"But I saw you earlier today already."

She glanced back over at them. The detective had his eyes pinned on Henry.

"You're in danger, okay, it's not safe for you."

"So I've been hearing." The sarcasm was palpable.

"So you need to get away from him. Trust me."

"Oh, that's very unlikely right now."

"Meet me at the library in fifteen minutes, by the history section."

"I don't think-"

"Just listen to me okay." She hung up and walked off back towards her car. She decided to change into what she bought, just in case the detective recognized her clothes. Shit. What if the detective follows him to the library?

She texted him quickly.

Make sure you aren't followed.