“I want a coffee,” I say to change the subject. He looks at me and shakes his head. He does that a lot around me; I guess I am hard to figure out.
“Coffee it is,” he says. I stand up and get dressed as he walks out.
Kai has held my hand the entire drive, like he’s afraid I will run the first chance I get. I know it’s hurting him, but it has to be done. We walk in and I spot Tyke sitting in his usual spot. He looks at me, then to Kai, and if looks could kill, I’m pretty sure Kai would be dead. I tell Kai what I want and that I’m going to sit. I walk to Tyke and sit across from him. His beautiful lips curve into a deadly smile.
“I’m leaving,” I tell him. I’m not sure why he had to know, I just know that I had to tell him.
“Where to? And why?” he asks, not moving, just looking at me.
“I’m sick, I need help,” I reply and cast my eyes down.
“So, you have met Kayla, then?” My eyes shoot up to him and I watch as he smirks. I forgot he knocked on my door that first night, asking for a girl by that name.
“Yes.”
“She’s quite a wild one, that one. I will miss her. I will miss you more, though.” He reaches across and grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. I let him and look up at Kai, who’s giving me an odd look.
“How did you know her?” I ask, wanting to know. He grins and I’m suddenly afraid of what he might say.
“You could say we did business together. She needed jobs, which I supplied.”
“You're not talking about the murders, are you?” His smile has gone cold. This handsome man is not a good one.
“She needed an outlet and I gave her one.”
“How could you do that?” I ask, pulling my hand free and sinking into a chair.
“I will miss you, Kristy, more than you realize,” he states, standing up and leaving. I watch as he retreats and wonder how Kayla got tangled up with him.
Is that the reason why he pursued me, because I was a challenge?
“Who were you talking to?” Kai stands in front of me and hands me a coffee.
“Tyke,” I say, still shaken up about what happened.
“Kristy, I need you to look at me.” My eyes reach his and he’s leaning down in front of me. “Nani, you were sitting here talking to yourself. You do realize no one was sitting there, right?” he says, pointing to the chair that was occupied by Tyke.
“You didn’t see him?” I ask with creased brows. I look outside and see Tyke as he crosses the road. He looks at me and winks before he walks off. A shiver breaks out over me and I look back to see Kai staring at me intensely.
“I was watching you, I’m always watching you. I’ve seen you a few times in here before, eating and talking to no one. I just never thought anything of it. Though today, I watched you closer. No one was sitting there, Kristy. It was just you.”
“You’re lying,” I tell him, my face hardening. How can he say that? How could he not see him?
“You need to tell Doctor Walker,” he says, standing and taking a seat opposite me.
“Tell him what? That you don’t believe me?” I snap back.
“When you first told me about him, I looked him up at work. There’s no one by that name living in this state. And there’s no one that’s in the police force anywhere with his name.”
“Why would you research him?”
“Because you’ve mentioned him before and I don’t want anyone around you I don’t trust.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“I will always worry about you.” His face softens and he sounds hurt.
We end up leaving the coffee house and driving back to his house. I start to pack my things and text Julia that I’m leaving. I told her I would call when I’m settled in and she threatens me if I don’t. I don’t know what to say to Kai. I don’t know what to make of Tyke. It’s just all too much for my mind to handle. I walk out of the bedroom as the cabbie sounds the horn and see Kai talking on his cell in a serious, but quiet voice. He raises his head when he sees me and says his goodbyes before he hangs up his cell.
“You’re going now?” he asks, stepping closer. I nod my head and look to the door.
“Can I call? Visit?” he asks.
“I will call you once I know more. I don’t even know everything myself yet.” His head drops and he takes another step closer, his arms envelop me and I let him. I hug him back, his head drops to mine and I hear his sharp intake of breath.
“I can’t let you go,” he murmurs into my hair. I don’t say anything because it’s too hard to talk. I will miss him, so much it’s already starting to hurt.