Threatened

Chapter 4: The Morning After

Lee's apartment is about a hundred times the size of mine. It is cleaner too, nothing looks out of place. And it smells like lemon and mint.

"Where is the guest room?" I ask, dragging my bag behind me.

"It's right through here," Lee says, opening a side door in the kitchen. As we walk down a short hall, I notice that there are very few pictures here. Sure, there's artwork of scenery, but no personal memoirs of childhood adventures.

"Here we are, home sweet home," Lee announces, opening the door to a pigsty. Tom Hiddleston is asleep in the bed, sprawled across almost every inch.

"Damn it, Tom! I thought I said that you had to go patch things up with your ex," Lee yells, waking the sleeping actor.

"What?" Tom slurs, obviously drunk.

"Lee, really, I can sleep on the couch. It isn't a big deal. Let him sleep it off tonight and deal with it in the morning," I whisper harshly. He grumbles something unintelligible, then leads me back to the main room.

"I'm so sorry about Tom. I told him to-"

"Lee, please. I have done much worse than a couch in a beautiful apartment. Your couch is probably nicer than my mattress."

"That couch is probably nicer than my mattress," Lee laughs. "Maybe I'll join you." He lets that sink in for a moment. "Oh, wow that just made everything really weird. God, sorry. Uh, the bathroom is on the other side of the kitchen. I, um, I will... see you in the morning," he stammers, running his hand through his hair.

"Thank you. I will see you in the morning, Mr. Pace."

"Lee," he corrects.

"Right, sorry. I'll see you in the morning, Lee," I fix. He smiles and backs into a wall.

"Ow, uh... I mean, I meant to do that. Yea, I'm just gonna... Uh, goodnight," he stammers, turning the knob to his door still facing me and slipping into his bedroom.

I lay out a sheet on the couch and pull out my pillow. Then I step into the bathroom to get ready for bed. I strip this stupid dress off, wash my face and brush my teeth, put on pajamas and braid my hair.

I step out of the bathroom and over to the rain-streaked window. Lighting flashes and thunder booms. Music to my ears. I love to watch the rain and lightning; it's calming to know there are more turbulent things in the world than my thoughts. I move anything that looks like water could ruin it and crack open the window, letting the sweet scent of the rain on pavement filter into the room. Then I lie down on the couch and fall asleep in a matter of minutes.

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Bacon! I throw the sheets, thinking I was back home with my aunt in Indiana. Then I remember that I'm not at home. I settle back onto the couch and rub my eyes.

"Good morning!" Lee shouts from the kitchen. I stand up slowly and trudge over to the open-faced bar top.

"This is not going to work if you wake me up at 6:00 every morning," I grumble.

"Anna, it's 9:00. I thought breakfast was in order. I made bacon, hash browns, and scrambled eggs with toast," Lee laughs.

How is it already 9:00? The window is pitch black. He notices me staring at it.

"I always keep that blackout curtain down during the day. We may be on the tenth floor, but the paparazzi is relentless."

"Did you get any other notes under the door today?" I ask, effectively changing the subject.

Lee frowns. "No, but my door was covered in black ink. I had it cleaned immediately, but still," he sighs.

"Why didn't you wake me up?!" I shout.

"You looked so peaceful. There wasn't anybody in the hall and you couldn't have cleaned it. I wanted to let you sleep."

"That is very kind of you, but I am supposed to be in charge of keeping you safe. I need to know everything that happens, exactly when it happens. Please wake me next time," I beg.

"Alright, next time something happens, I will tell you immediately," he surrenders, holding out a plate full of food to me. The bacon is exactly how my aunt used to make it, not crispy, but not raw either. Perfectly tender. I spread a thin layer of butter across my toast and start piling the eggs on top. Lee gives me another look.

"What? I like the mixing of textures," I defend. He smiles and mirrors me.

"Alright, I'll try it your way." Then he takes a huge bite. "Wow, that is better. Have you ever tried it with the bacon too?"

"Actually, I don't think I have," I admit, sticking the bacon under the eggs. It tastes amazing. Lee starts laughing again when he tries it. Amid our laughter, a shirtless Tom Hiddleston shuffles into the kitchen and pours a mug of coffee.

"Morning," Lee grumbles as Tom plops onto a chair.

"Morning," Tom mumbles, sipping his coffee. "Who's this one? I thought you swore of the prostitutes, Pace."

I feel the heat rush to my face. The glare is starting to form when Lee loses it.

"Tom! This is Detective Anna Davis. She's here to help with the threats. Show some freaking respect. Why did you get drunk last night? I told you to go home," Lee growls.

"Whatever. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck-"

"Get out!" Lee screams. "I will feed you to the wolves if you aren't out in twenty minutes." Tom picks up his coffee and shuffles back into the guest room.

"The nerve of that guy when he's drunk. He is really much better when he's sober. Nicest guy you can meet."

"He is so not the worst drunk I've met. I dealt with guys who would throw punches as soon as they stepped out their cars for a sobriety test. Besides, a prostitute is about the best name I've been called other than my own name."

"Still, he should know better than to act like that. Maybe we can go out later to forget about it?"

"I still think you need to stay in as much as possible. I can't watch everything when we're outside."

"We won't be outside, we'll be in a store. Spontaneous trips are bound to throw the gang off," Lee grins.

"If you get killed before the trial, I'll lose my job and any chance to have a life. Oh I can see the headlines now: naïve cop gets Hollywood superstar killed! I'd like to avoid that, plus you're kind of cute," I laugh nervously. Lee beams like a kid who earned class president.

"Then it's settled, we're going shopping later. My treat."

"Did you hear any of what I just said?"

"I heard you say I'm cute, so yes, I heard you. We are going shopping later."