CW: This chapter contains a sex scene. Does it work? Looking for opinions on whether I should keep it in.

'Here you are, dulcito. Look what we got for you.' Rita and Alfonso tipped the huge sack of food pellets from the agricultural supermarket, too heavy for one person on their own, into the metal trough standing in the living room.

'What's happening about your friend?' Alfonso absent-mindedly arranged carrots and courgettes on top of the pellet pile in an octagonal pattern. 

Rita wished she could laugh but her anxiety was rising. 'He's not in a good place. That hostel is dangerous...he was late into work today because one of the other guests recognised and threatened him with a knife. The guy's been charged, but still. I'm his best friend...'

'Look, he's always got my back. We've saved each other's lives. I think he will be OK with...all this,' she added, gesturing to Pepelito. Inwardly, she wasn't sure at all. Two million Euros was a lot of money, and Dominguez was in a tight spot –

No. He wouldn't. She hated herself for even thinking that way.

'Shit. Poor guy. I won't say I'm not worried but if you're absolutely sure.'

'Honestly, I'm not, but I'm not having my best mate stay in that shithole any longer.' She tried to ignore her anxiety as they watched Pepelito eating.

'That'll take him a good half an hour. Enough time for sex.' As soon as the words were out Rita mentally kicked herself. Really? The following pause seemed to last a million years. He was still grieving. They'd agreed to take things slow. No way would he –

'Yeah. I'd like that.' Alfonso hugged her. She gasped in shock.

'You sure?'

'I think so. Are you?'

'Yeah.'

Walking with Alfonso into her bedroom and shutting the door, Rita felt anxious, but desperate and hungry for him; a feeling she'd almost forgotten. She suddenly felt young and adventurous again. 'I'll barricade the door with the dresser so he can't come in.'

'Honestly, let's not bother, let's just do it now,' Alfonso said, unbuckling his trousers and reaching under Rita's top to get off her bra. He pulled her onto the bed. It creaked loudly as he kissed her. They explored each other's mouths. Rita's nipples grew firm as Alfonso took them in his fingers. He relaxed onto the bed and she sat on him. Her face flushed as she grew wet with desire. Their breathing got louder and more rhythmic; she leaned forward, kissing him again, pushing down his trousers. He felt hard underneath her touch.

'Where did you get this bed?' he whispered. 'It's so sturdy. Amazing he didn't completely break it.'

Rita burst out laughing. She grabbed his hand, kissed it so hard she almost bit him.

'Well, I'm worried about my other furniture.'

Alfonso laughed, holding her tight around the hips. 'I'd better stay the night, then.' 

****

Pepelito lay in the living room the following day, trying to mentally place himself in a field full of grass. From the street outside, he heard a man saying, 'Guess you're off the case now, Rita?'

'Yeah. Guess I am.'

'I forgot what an arrogant arsehole that guy is, his big shot lawyer too, saying every question is 'unacceptable'. Though, my gut is he didn't do it. Doubt he could kill her, bring her back and clean up that well in between giving TV interviews and yelling at us on the phone.' The man's voice drew closer. Pepelito had heard it once before.

'He could have hired someone, Jesus.' Pepelito heard Rita turning the key much more slowly than usual, without opening the door. She sounded anxious, although he was glad she was back. Being alone made him so sad and scared. When they weren't there, he worried something terrible had happened to Rita and Alfonso. Humans seemed to live in a world of aggression.

'Nah. Hiring a hitman because an animal rights activist insulted him? That geezer would have a full-time job.' They were laughing. Pepelito heard the click of a lighter and smelt Dominguez's cigarette. It irritated his nose and reminded him of the men who had mistreated him.

'The higher ups already questioned me when the Aguilar stuff came out. Made no difference that Maria cut me off, or that she died to me the day she married him. Hope I'm not about to go through all that again.' Rita sounded tired. Pepelito was tired too. He'd drunk most of the bath water as it was so hot. Rita had bought him some exercise balls to play with. He had chased one of the biggest ones around the living room and caught it on his horn; after a loud bang, it suddenly wasn't there.

'Nah, not this time. Sanchez knows where you stand where Castella's concerned. Oi. You'll love one thing.'

'Oh? What's that?'

'We questioned him for 5 and a half hours, so he missed his corrida!' Pepelito's muscles tensed as Dominguez laughed outside.

'Hopefully the first of many for that hijo de puta,' Rita said under her breath, but loud enough for Pepelito to hear.

'Tell me about it. He was more vexed about that, and that bloody bull disappearing than the fact four of the victim's friends all reckon he did it! Anyway. Look. Thanks for putting me up. You're a good friend. Beats having to sleep in my car.'

'Any time, Jesus. You know that. Right, well...I suppose, we'd best get inside; it's getting dark.' Pepelito listened from the living room as the two police officers walked inside.

'What's all this plastic everywhere? Has this rabbit had babies? The floor needs a clean,' Dominguez chuckled. Rita was silent. Pepelito wondered if he'd done something bad. Dominguez was dragging something heavy behind him and it sounded scary. His feet rustled on the straw and plastic covering the ground. What was this guy up to?

'Why's...your armchair blocking the kitchen door?'

'I'll get us both a drink. There's something I need to tell you, Jesus.' The chair's wheels squeaked loudly and rumpled the plastic sheeting as she moved it away from the kitchen door. Pepelito had little space in the living room. He found the kitchen interesting, although the floor was too slippery and he skidded around too much, like being in that truck with the others. Feeling left out, he got up and ambled down the newly tidied corridor. He stood at the door to the kitchen, pressing down the handle to open it with his horn.

'...so, he's never been aggressive to me but keep your boots and your bullet proof vest on just in case.'

'Shit. OK. That's...' Dominguez's voice trailed off. He stared at Pepelito and moved his chair backwards. The man's eyes were wide and he was shaking with fear. Why was he here, Pepelito wondered. What was he going to do to him?

'Hey, hey, dulcito,' Rita said in a quiet, kind tone, holding out a carrot and encouraging him. 'Aw, he won't hurt you. He's so nice and gentle.'

'What – what the fuck is this shit, Rita? Nice and gentle?' Dominguez remained sitting on his chair and edged it backwards, as far away from Pepelito as he could, his limbs rigid and trembling.

'He wouldn't hurt a soul, would you,' Rita said, putting her hand out.

'What about that picador's horse? Presumably he hurt that?' Dominguez spluttered. Pepelito couldn't work this guy out. It worried him.

'So would you, if you'd been kidnapped, then kept in the dark and tortured. He was only defending himself. Weren't you, hey?' Rita made an encouraging noise. Dominguez's jaw dropped and he paled. He looked into Pepelito's eyes briefly and recoiled.

Frightened humans were dangerous.

Dominguez took a breath. 'Holy shit, woman. You're insane.'

'Well, what would you have done?' Rita snapped.

'I'd have just taken my gun and put him out of his misery. Luis would have hated me, but we're not together any more.' Dominguez scrambled onto the central kitchen table, which was nailed to the floor with two barstools on either side. He sat in the middle, watching Pepelito with a horrified expression. His gun bulged out of his pocket.

'Give it a rest, Mr Tough Guy. You wouldn't have done that. Pepelito's not hard to look after. He's adorable. Look at him.'

Dominguez stared at her, then burst out in fits of laughter. 'Adorable? Listen to yourself, woman. There's mounds of straw everywhere. There's a broken chair in the corner. I don't even wanna think of all the shit he must produce...'

'There's no cow shit or mounds of straw in this room. He's not allowed in here any more when I'm at work.'

'There's a lump of straw stuck to the chair! And why – why is there that huge metal padlock on the fridge?'

'He ate the cake I'd bought for Flavia's retirement do.'

Dominguez snorted. He put his head in his hands, crying laughing. Maybe this guy wouldn't try anything. He hadn't tried to hurt him so far, but Pepelito would have to keep an eye on him.

‘Where am I going to sleep? I guess the living room is out of bounds. The bath?’ Dominguez carefully descended from the table. His feet touched the tiles in a way that irritated Pepelito’s ears. Pepelito backed away as they approached the door. The corridor still made him nervous; he couldn’t turn around until he got to the bathroom.

‘The bath? I wouldn’t do that to you. Besides, given this weather, I’ve been filling it up for him.’ Rita laughed. Dominguez looked dumbfounded.

'You'll sleep in my office, he never goes in here since he kicked the cabinet over when he first arrived,' Rita said, gesturing to the weird room Pepelito hated going into. That room frightened him and he didn't know why. His painkillers were wearing off. Once in the bathroom, he stretched his head towards the bath water; it helped cool him down and distract him from the pain. The bath was now less than half full; the water hard to reach. He put his front feet onto the top of the bath, then into the water, and scrabbled to angle himself so he could get his head down to drink. It was difficult but he managed it – yes!

'You not been tempted to claim the reward, Rita?' Pepelito heard Dominguez yell.

'Never. Didn't your namesake say the love of money is the root of all evil?'

'He never said, 'If a cow is in danger, thou shalt let it trash your home'! What are you going to do with him? You can't keep him here. He needs to be outside in a nice big paddock.' Dominguez said from the box room. Pepelito couldn't work out whether he was an enemy or not. He missed going outdoors. The fresh air and grass outdoors reminded him of happier times. But he had hurt his back under the bandage when he'd scratched himself. He could rarely itch his back, lie on his side or do so many things he'd once done without thinking without causing himself more pain.

'Another week or so while he recovers a bit more, Alfonso said. He should be able to take the bandage off today, he's round in half an hour. Problem is, Castella is looking for him.' Rita lowered her voice and spoke nervously. This was a sign of fear in humans. What was she scared of? Pepelito lay down on the tiles and ate from the bale of straw Alfonso had placed in the corner.

'How long till he recovers totally?'

'Well, how long is a piece of string? Alfonso said about six weeks for the back injuries if nothing goes wrong. But apparently they've filed down the tips of his horns and replaced them with some substance. He can't judge distance and bumps into stuff. Apparently he might be a bit clumsy for the rest of his life.' Despite Rita's disgusted tone Pepelito felt safe with her; for some reason she and Alfonso cared about him, maybe they thought he was human.

'What? That's horrible! Not exactly very brave of the great man, is it?' Dominguez's voice dripped with contempt.

'Yeah, and he still made fools out of them.'

'Rita, look. You've met my uncle. Silvio the ex-farmer. He's a total hermit, out in the sticks with all that nature, he's got two ancient cows so he'd have some buddies too, could have a nice happy life. I can ask – he'd love it, better than here anyway!' Dominguez said. Pepelito stood up and stretched. It was getting easier every day.

At that moment, someone knocked loudly on the door.

'Ooff. It's a bit early for Alfonso to be here,' Rita muttered. 'My phone app isn't working so I can't see who it is.'

'That your boyfriend? I'm telling you, we gotta try and only date cops.' Dominguez said gruffly as Rita approached the front door. I should go and check him out properly, Pepelito thought, although the strange guy's presence was made less alarming by his friendship with Rita.

From the bathroom doorway, Pepelito watched Rita lift up the blind and recoil, staggering backwards.

'Malditos.'

Her voice was thick with fear and anger. She patted Pepelito on the neck and kissed the top of his head. She was tense; something was very wrong. 'Hey. Hey, toro. Stay there, in the bathroom. Please.'

Pepelito backed into the bathroom as Rita shut the door. The bathroom was small and he couldn't easily fit in here with the door closed, couldn't turn round without bumping into something. His foot crushed a bar of soap he had knocked from the bath earlier. He didn't like it.

'Come on, open up!' A man was banging on the door. Pepelito recognised the voice. Fear gripped his whole body as he remembered the beating the man had given him.

'Open up. He's in here, isn't he!'