Deven took an absent sip from the bottled water Kennedy had declined, the sweat from the plastic wetting her fingers as she drank. She had missed her medicine dosage and she knew she would be paying for it very soon. The other police officer, the one who had picked her up and brought her back to Kennedy’s apartment, re-entered the living room, his thumbs tucked into the belt at his waist. His gait reminded Deven of a country western show where the cop brandishes a Colt and tips his hat saying, “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.” He even had a little Texas drawl that did put her in the mind of Yosemite Sam. Deven had to stifle her chuckle with another sip of water, scolding herself to behave. That cop—what did he say his name was, again?—he was nice on the drive over. And honestly between the two of them, Officer “Wild West” was the one who seemed to care about what happened to Kennedy, more so than the other one. It was his idea to search the place, just in case. So Deven was appreciative of his efforts.

“Did you get a good look at him?” the scowling officer interviewing Kennedy asked. His eyes panned the room as if he would see someone there other than the four occupants.

“No.” Kennedy’s shoulders slumped with the admission. “Can you just have a patrol car or someone sit outside to watch my place?”

“No Ma’am, I’m sorry we can’t.” Officer Scowl’s tone was dismissive. He flipped his blank notepad closed and shoved it in his back pocket. “But if you hear or see anything else, you be sure to call us back.”

Officer Wild West tossed Deven, then Kennedy, an apologetic look. “Everything looks clear, ladies,” he reassured. “No signs of a break-in or anything like that. Do you feel comfortable staying here tonight or is there somewhere else you can go?”

“I’ll stay here with her,” Deven piped up, catching Kennedy’s pointed glance in her direction. She looked like she wanted to object, but she didn’t speak. “Or I’ll take her back to my place,” Deven added trying to read her sister’s expression. “Either way. I got her.” That must’ve been enough for Officer Scowl because he was nearly out of the door without so much as a farewell.

The other officer, clearly the “good cop” of their little partnership, hung back for a few extra minutes. “Are you going to be okay?”

Kennedy nodded.

Satisfied, he pulled a business card from his pocket. “You call me if you need anything,” he said passing the card to her. “I know this can be a little scary, but this was probably just some neighborhood kid trying to terrorize you for shits and giggles. We get a lot of those around here.”

Kennedy wasn’t appeased, but she nodded again anyway and followed him to the door.

As soon as they were gone, she snapped her locks into place and took one last peek out of the window.