Obsessed

Chapter 12

Ronnie glanced at the wall clock inside the precinct and blinked. Her brows pulled together. “Shit.”

Mark, sitting beside her looked over. “What?”

She turned, hastily pulling her phone from her pocket. “I promised Theo I’d take him to the park today.”

Mark nodded without hesitation. “Let’s go.”

Ronnie paused, clutching her phone. “You really don’t have to come after everything that’s happened.”

Mark shook his head, his jaw tight with resolve. “You’re not going anywhere alone, Ronnie. Not now.”

She opened her mouth like she might protest, but then simply nodded and led the way outside.

The air was crisp, the sun beginning to dip just slightly, casting a golden hue over the precinct parking lot. Mark slid into the passenger seat of Ronnie’s SUV while she got behind the wheel.

The drive to her uncles’ place was relatively quiet. Ronnie seemed distracted, her fingers lightly drumming against the steering wheel as she took a familiar turn into a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood.

Mark watched the world roll past, his thoughts still hovering somewhere between Elise’s twisted laughter and the explosion that cost five officers their lives.

They pulled up in front of a large, elegant three-story home with soft blue paneling and white trim. Ronnie turned off the ignition and looked at Mark. “Be right back.”

She jogged up the front steps, where the door opened before she could knock. A tall man in his fifties greeted her with a warm smile and a tight hug—her Uncle Marvin, most likely. There was a brief exchange before Ronnie disappeared inside for a moment and returned with Theodore, bundled in a navy hoodie and jeans, a stuffed dinosaur clutched in one hand.

The moment the little boy saw Mark sitting in the passenger seat, his face lit up. He waved enthusiastically, and Mark couldn’t help the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he waved back.

Ronnie helped Theo into the back seat, buckling him in with a practiced hand before sliding back behind the wheel.

The park was only a few minutes away—a quiet, well-kept corner of the city with a wide green lawn, climbing structures, and a few scattered benches. As soon as they arrived, Theo bolted for the jungle gym, laughing as he scrambled up the steps and shouted something about being a dinosaur on a mission.

Ronnie sat on one of the benches, her eyes never leaving her brother.

Mark sat beside her, watching Theo too, before his gaze slid to her. “So… all the victims have Autism Spectrum Disorder?”

Ronnie didn’t answer right away. She let out a slow breath, folding her arms across her lap. “Yeah.”

Mark tilted his head slightly, studying her. “Do you?”

She glanced at him, then gave a small, tired smile and nodded. “Yes. But it’s not as severe as Theo’s. I went undiagnosed for years—my mom thought I was just… quirky. Quiet. Sensitive.”

He furrowed his brow, absorbing that. “You don’t look like you have autism.”

Ronnie let out a soft giggle, turning to face him. “What does someone with autism look like, Detective?”

He smiled sheepishly, holding up his hands. “Fair point.”

She nodded, relaxing a bit. “There are so many types. Different severities. Some of us mask, some don’t. Some are non-verbal. Others are verbal but struggle with social interactions, eye contact, sensory issues, executive function, like Theo —there’s a huge range. It’s called a spectrum for a reason.”

Mark nodded slowly, taking that in.

Ronnie continued, her tone quieter now. “I fidget. I hyper-fixate. I hate loud noises, and I don’t like being touched unless I initiate it. I count backwards from ten in different languages when I’m overwhelmed. That’s just how I cope.”

Mark looked at her with a softness that felt different than before—like something shifted between them.

“And I always notice patterns,” she added, her voice even softer. “Which is why I’m starting to believe this case is bigger than we thought. If he’s targeting women on the spectrum… it’s personal. It’s intentional.”

Theo ran by in front of them, laughing loudly as he chased a squirrel. Ronnie smiled gently, her hands tightening on the edge of the bench.

Mark leaned back slightly, his arm resting along the back of the bench, close enough that Ronnie could feel his warmth but not quite touching her.

“I’m glad you told me,” he said after a moment.

Ronnie looked at him. “Why?”

He shrugged, his eyes still on Theo. “Because it helps me understand you better. And I think it makes you a hell of a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for.”

Her cheeks flushed faintly. She tucked her hair behind her ear, trying not to smile like an i***t. “You’re not so bad yourself, Marshalls.”

He smirked. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me all week.”

She rolled her eyes, but the smile lingered on her lips.

Theo skidded to a stop in front of them, breathing heavily, a leaf stuck in his hair. He grinned up at Ronnie, then turned his attention to Mark.

“Hey!” he shouted, pointing a finger dramatically. “Are you coming trick-or-treating with us tomorrow?!”

Mark blinked. “Trick-or-treating?”

Ronnie stifled a laugh. “Halloween is tomorrow. He’s been planning his costume for a month.”

Theo nodded enthusiastically. “I’m gonna be a dinosaur. A scary one.” He stomped his feet and roared, though it came out more like a high-pitched squeal.

Mark raised an eyebrow and looked at Ronnie, amused. “And what are you going as?”

Ronnie shrugged, playing with the cuff of her sleeve. “I wasn’t planning on dressing up.”

Theo gasped in horror. “You have to dress up! It’s the rules!”

Ronnie tried not to smile. “Oh yeah? Who made those rules?”

“Me,” Theo said proudly.

Mark leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And what would I go as if I came?”

Theo squinted at him, considering the question deeply. “A dragon.”

Ronnie snorted. “A dragon?”

Theo nodded again. “A scary dragon. So you can match me. And chase the other kids away from the good candy.”

Mark chuckled. “That sounds like a pretty important job.”

Theo looked at Ronnie, practically bouncing. “Can he come, Ronnie? Please?”

She hesitated, eyes flicking toward Mark, uncertain if he’d even want to be a part of something so personal. But to her surprise, he didn’t look annoyed or uncomfortable.

Instead, he looked… honored.

“If he wants to,” Ronnie said gently.

Theo turned his full attention to Mark, giving him the same big blue eyes that Ronnie had, only a little darker and even more unfiltered. “Please? I want you to come.”

Mark glanced at Ronnie, then back to Theo. “Alright, kid. I’ll come.”

Theo let out a happy squeal and ran back toward the play structure, stomping like a dinosaur and yelling about how he was going to get all the candy.

Ronnie watched him, then slowly looked at Mark. “You really don’t have to. You’ve done more than enough already.”

Mark gave her a side glance. “I told you—you’re not doing anything alone. That includes parading around with a tiny T. rex in the dark.”

She laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “He really likes you, you know.”

Mark raised a brow. “Yeah?”

She nodded. “He doesn’t normally like strangers. Especially not men. But with you? It’s like he… just decided you were okay.”

Mark’s expression softened. “Well, I like him too. The kid’s got a good roar.”

Ronnie smiled and looked down at her lap. “Thanks for coming today.”

He nudged her gently with his elbow. “Thanks for letting me.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, watching Theo race up and down the slides. The light around them grew softer as the sun dipped further behind the clouds. A few more families arrived, some children already in costume for an early Halloween photo op.

Ronnie glanced over at Mark. “You don’t seem like the Halloween type.”

“I’m not,” he admitted. “But I make exceptions.”

She tilted her head. “You made an exception for Theo.”

“I made it for both of you.”

Her breath caught just slightly, and she looked away before he could see the way her cheeks flushed again.

After a while, Theo ran up once more, now winded and dusty, his cheeks red from the wind. “Can we go home now? I’m hungry.”

Ronnie stood. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Mark stood too, offering Theo a high-five, which the boy slapped with enthusiasm.

As they walked back toward the SUV, Mark looked at Ronnie. “Do I really have to wear a dragon costume?”

She laughed. “Only if you want to impress the dinosaur.”

Mark smirked. “Then I guess I better find some wings.”