Obsessed

Chapter 7

The energy in the precinct was oddly calm considering the day’s earlier discovery. There had been a strange feeling of progress, like maybe—for once—they were ahead of the killer.

Mark leaned against the edge of Ronnie’s desk, flipping through one of the new files from the warehouse scene. Ronnie sat behind the desk, typing notes from the forensic reports into her computer. A silence fell between them that wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, it felt almost personal.

Mark spoke first. "Feels like a win, huh?"

Ronnie nodded slightly but didn’t look up. "Forensics said the blood found on the floor wasn’t fully degraded. That means it was recent. Days, maybe even hours ago."

"But no victims, no cells, no chains. Just a clean-up room."

Ronnie’s fingers hovered over her keyboard, pausing. Then she looked at him. "Which means he keeps them somewhere else before he kills them. This was just the... post-processing."

Mark’s jaw tightened. "We need that other warrant."

Before she could answer, the door creaked open. Commissioner Reynolds stood in the hallway, arms crossed, brows furrowed. "Another girl’s gone. Blonde. Blue eyes. Twenty-two. College student. Vanished walking home from her evening class. No signs of struggle."

Ronnie cursed under her breath.

Mark stood up straight, already grabbing his badge. "We searched the entire warehouse. If he’s still active, and the kill room was recently used, he’s working from somewhere else. We need that second location. Now."

Reynolds nodded. "Judge Carter said she needs the request in person. Get down there before she leaves for the day. I’ll text her office."

Ronnie was already collecting her bag. "I’ll drive."

Ronnie’s SUV was halfway through downtown when her phone rang. Her ringtone for the school was distinct—Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata."

She answered, already bracing. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Miss Summers? This is Principal Lane from Theodore’s school."

Ronnie’s posture stiffened. Mark watched her closely.

"Yes, this is she."

"There was a bit of a... situation today. Theodore was involved in a fight."

Ronnie pinched the bridge of her nose. "Is he okay?"

"Yes, he’s fine. A black eye, but nothing serious. We’re just asking for you to come pick him up and speak to the guidance counselor."

Ronnie exhaled. "I’ll be there in a few minutes."

She hung up and tried to recompose herself. Mark raised an eyebrow. "You have a kid?"

Ronnie chuckled nervously. "Not exactly. Theodore’s my little brother. I have full guardianship. Been raising him since the day he was born."

Mark was quiet for a moment. "What about your parents?"

Ronnie’s fingers tightened around the wheel. "My dad left when I was six. Mom met Theodore’s dad not long after. He bailed the second he found out she was pregnant. We haven’t seen him since. Mom... she’s in prison."

Mark nodded slowly, reading her tone. Touchy subject.

They pulled into the school parking lot. Ronnie jumped out and walked quickly toward the front entrance, leaving Mark in the passenger seat.

Minutes passed. Then, the door opened again.

Ronnie walked out holding the hand of a small boy with chestnut brown hair and deep blue eyes. His expression was serious, and a noticeable black eye bloomed under his left eye.

She opened the backseat door and helped him into the car seat. Theodore looked over at Mark.

"Who’s that?"

"That’s Mark. I work with him."

Theodore eyed him suspiciously. Mark gave him a small wave and a smile.

Ronnie stood frozen for a second, clearly waiting. Theodore pulled out his fidget cube and began twisting it.

Ronnie exhaled in relief and slipped back into the driver’s seat.

"He never takes to strangers this quickly," she said quietly, more to herself.

The courthouse was mostly quiet by the time they arrived. Ronnie parked out front, glancing at the clock.

Mark opened the door. "I’ll be right back. Shouldn’t take long."

She watched him walk up the steps. His gait, the calm confidence in his movements... Ronnie found herself staring.

Then a small voice from the backseat shattered her focus.

"You have a crush on him."

Ronnie snapped her gaze forward. "What? No! I barely know him."

Theodore spun one of the fidget cube knobs. "You were staring at his butt. And blushing."

"I was not!"

"You were too."

"Was not."

"Were."

"Not!"

"Were!"

The passenger door opened, and Mark slid back inside.

"We can’t get the warrant until tomorrow after eight. The judge says she needs to process it officially through the circuit."

Ronnie nodded.

From the backseat, Theodore opened his mouth. "Ronnie was staring at your—"

"How about McDonald’s?" Ronnie shouted. "Doesn’t that sound great, Teddy?"

Theodore grinned. "Can I get a milkshake? And eat there this time?"

Ronnie sighed through clenched teeth. "Fine."

Mark watched them both with amusement. "Sounds like I should tag along."

Ronnie hesitated. "You don’t have to..."

"I want to."

"Good," Theodore chirped. "Then Ronnie can keep staring at your butt."

Ronnie’s face turned scarlet as she slammed her forehead against the steering wheel, accidentally honking the horn.

Mark bit his lip to hide a laugh.

McDonald’s was bustling, but they managed to find a small booth in the corner. Theodore sat beside Ronnie, gleefully devouring fries and dipping nuggets in ketchup with focused precision.

Mark sat across from them, sipping his drink. His gaze occasionally drifted to Ronnie, who was purposefully avoiding eye contact.

"So," Mark said eventually, "he’s got a sense of humor."

Ronnie groaned. "He’s six going on sixty. And has absolutely no filter."

Theodore looked up. "I heard that."

"You were supposed to," Ronnie muttered.

Mark chuckled. "He's a good kid."

She smiled, her defenses softening. "Yeah. He really is. He just... has a hard time adjusting."

"Autism, right?"

Ronnie nodded. "He’s brilliant. But change is hard. Loud noises. Unpredictable things. People who don’t get him."

Mark leaned forward slightly. "You do."

She looked up at him. "I have to. He’s my whole world."

There was a moment of silence between them—unspoken understanding, respect.

Then Theodore cleared his throat dramatically. "You guys gonna kiss now or what?"

Ronnie dropped her fry. "Teddy!"

Mark barked a laugh. "Kid’s got timing."

Ronnie shook her head, face red. "I’m never bringing you around adults again."

Theodore shrugged, unfazed. "I call it like I see it."

Later that night, after she dropped Mark off back at the station, the house was quiet. Ronnie sat alone in her home office.

The lamp by the couch bathed the space in warm light. She sipped from a cup of chamomile tea, eyes on the case board she had set up in her desk.

String connected photos. Maps. Evidence.

But her mind kept drifting. Not to the killer. Not to the evidence.

To Mark.

His voice. His presence. The way he made her feel seen.

Safe.

And that terrified her more than any serial killer ever could.