"...every story has an antagonist and a protagonist

but the two roles depend on

who the narrator is..."

Another busy day.

Another closed case.

I'm looking forward to a well deserved vacation. My wife is already talking about Hawaii. I was thinking somewhere local. It's not like the job pays enough for vacations in five star hotels. I'm neck deep in loans and they take priority over vacations in Hawaii. But they say, a happy wife, a happy life.

This man in tbe photograph looks like he just got hit by a bus. I leaned into my chair, flipping through the pictures depicting the badly assaulted man. "Hey Fitz?"

My partner swayed in his chair to look my way. "Yeah?"

"Who put these here? I'm going on vacation. I'm not taking a new case." I pushed the photographs aside and barely glanced at the report."

"I think you should look at it. Do you know those cases that make us respectable detectives? This is one of them."

"Assault?"

"The victim is Jason Burke."

He golfs with the chief." I noted in a lower tone.

Fitz got closer to me. "This is where shit gets interesting. You know Nickolas Bale?"

"Who doesn't know Bale?" I chuckled.

"He rearranged this guy's face." He pointed at the photograph. "And kidnapped his wife."

"What?"

"He filed a missing person's report on a..." He took the report from my table. "...a Keira Burke? Yeah. This is her."

I took the photograph of the woman with an innocent face. "I can see why they are fighting over her." I shrugged. "So Bale assaulted Burke and then he kidnapped Burke's wife?"

"She's missing. Take the case. This is the kind of sheet that sends you up the ladder."

He went back to his station. I continued looking through the report. Judging from when the report was filed, Mrs Burke has been missing for twenty nine days. Based on my experience, the first 48 hours are crucial. But perhaps she willingly left. Perhaps Mr Bale wouldn't take no for an answer and he abducted her.

There are many uncertainties when opening a new case but there are three certainties in this. Mr Burke was assaulted. Mrs Burke is missing and Mr Bale is not going to make this go away. This is not like the night he was caught with a trunk full of guns and he wiggled his way out of it. This time, he hangs.

He is clearly the villain.

"I lost him." The man I hired to follow Nick around reported.

"Again? How?"

"I swear I had him but I lost him."

"Listen to me Levi. You owe me! You owe me big time! Find out where he goes!" I hanged up.

It's unlike Nick to sleep away from home when Maddie is here. Several nights in the last thirty days, he hasn't come home. I am documenting all this for the judge when I sue for full custody of my daughter. His absence is my victory but I must also know where he goes.

The sound of Lupe speaking to someone drew my attention to the front door. I pulled it wide open to meet the blue eyes of a man I don't know.

"Who are you?" I questioned.

"Good afternoon. My name is Detective Tim Rowland." He showed me a badge. "I'm looking for Nickolas Bale."

"Scurry off! Go find a plate to clean." I waved Lupe off. She glared at me as she walked away. I can't wait to be rid of her. "I'm Margaux Bale, Mrs Bale. My husband isn't home. What is this about?"

He opened his envelop. He showed me Keira's photograph. That damn woman survived the fall in Greece. That damn Sinclair happened to be swimming around in the frozen water and he saved her! He then called me to tell me that my damn husband us having an affair. I know that! It's like red neon lights in the sky!

I looked over my shoulder. Lupe is lurking. "Let's take a walk."

We out some distance between us and the house. "Yes I know her. Nickolas is uh..." An opportunity! An opportunity to be the victim. I covered my face. "Nickolas is having an affair with her."

"I'm sorry Mrs Bale. I hate to add to your frustrations but the young woman has been reported missing and I have to speak to your husband. Where can I find him?"

Now it makes sense! He must have her stashed away somewhere. Is she the one who is keeping him from coming home?

I dabbed my eyes dry. "I don't know! Honestly, he doesn't come home anymore. I can stand the neglect but not our daughter."

He took out a notebook and started taking notes.

"And when did you find out he was having an affair?"

"About... I dint even remember. These things keep crashing into each other. It's frustrating. I know he's not hiding it. I know they occasionally fight."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I heard from a reliable source that they fight and he gets physical."

"That is a serious accusation."

"I have experienced it and I'm certain he is no different with her. Let me show you."

I showed him pictures on my phone. I paid Kevin to beat me up. I told him to make it good. I want to share this with the judge too. "This was six months ago."

"Can you share the pictures?" He asked me.

"I don't want trouble. You don't know him. He blows up like a bomb. I'm scared. I won't share them."

He nodded. "Thank you for your time Mrs Bale. When you see your husband, let him know I'm looking for him and he should talk to me ASAP. Otherwise the next time we cross paths, he will be in handcuffs."

I smiled after he left.

The universe is in my favor.

Down the rabbit hole we go!

Keira and I have been spending a lot of silent moments together. She doesn't say much and it strangely comfortable at the same time as it is maddening. I get the occasional small smile, the fond look in her eyes but not enough about what she's been going through. Freya I'd tight-lipped. Cole says she's often in her own world.

"You cleared your plate. That is progress." I picked it up and took it to the sink. "I was starting to worry that my cooking wasn't good enough."

"It's great." She likes to pull her knees to her chest, her eyes suffering from avoidance.

"How is therapy?"

"It's okay."

"Is it helping?" I dried my hands on a towel.

I pay Freya extra to put her at the tip of her list. I want her fixed. I want her the way she was or possibly even better. I can't stand this version of her that is closed up and breaking my heart!

"Freya says I should be patient with myself."

Freya's middle name should not be Nora but patience. I dint have patience. I have rage, a lot of it. Lorraine lost Jason. He is nowhere to be found. His mother is back in Texas. I keep thinking about going there and taking her hostage until Jason shows up so that I can beat him black and blue until my knuckles crack! There is no patience in me. Nonetheless, I forced a smile.

"Yeah."

"I appreciate what you're doing. Coming here four nights a week must be tough especially because you have a daughter at home. I appreciate it."

"I want to make love to you." I may as well out the thought out there. What she's going through must be separate from lovemaking, right? I need it. Maybe she needs it too. "I'll be gentle."

She is looking at me like I'm speaking a foreign language she doesn't understand. She blinked and looked away. "Uh... I... Okay."

I bent to kiss her lips. I did it gently, very gently. I'm not fond of gentle love but she needs gentle. She needs me to be tender, not the brutal beast I usually am.

I scooped her into my arms. I took her to the bedroom. There is only one bedroom. I lay her on the bed, descending down with her in continuity of gentle kisses. I moved my lips over her neck, with my hands feeling her breasts.

The first few days were hard for Kei. I used to bathe her and it broke my heart to see her beautiful body so bruised. I'm going to see it again and I don't want to be angry. I'll be gentle. I helped her out of her clothes, kissing every bruise on her. I kissed each bruise. "You are beautiful and I still love you. This changes nothing." I assured her.

She started crying. She curled up and lay on her side. Jason has to die. He has to die a slow painful death for breaking this beautiful woman. She deserves better than this.

My need to make love can wait. She's not ready. I picked out a set of pajamas for her. I dressed her up and pulled the blankets over her.

"I'm sorry." She apologized after a while of silence. "I just can't."

"There's nothing to apologize for mia amore. Let's be patient. I'll be... patient."

"Thank you Nick."

I sighed deeply. She likes to face the window. She probably stares at the moon. I drew her closer to my body. "I'll do anything for you Kei. Absolutely anything."

I'll kill for her. That is what I'll do. I'll kill for her. I will eliminate this thing that has hurt her. I'll get rid of him.