Detective Phoenix along with a few other police officers arrived at the scene and began their investigation. “Miss Armstrong, I have to be certain that your gut is telling you that this is Jay’s doing,” he said while looking intricately at the pad of paper and pen he was holding

“Who else could it be?” she asked in irritation of the rather impractical question she had just been presented with. “I mean, does that threat written up there mean anything to you at all?” she retorted with brows curled in frustration as she pointed to the writing on her wall, fingers unsteady.

“I know these questions seem foolish and a waste of time to you, but this is a part of my job, Miss Armstrong. I have to have actual confessions of the victim of who they believe is the prime suspect in these events in order for us to find a starting stone to take proper actions of the matter, without having to break the law that we are to keep at all times,” Detective Phoenix explained solemnly. He understood Ro-Ena’s irritation and he didn’t blame her for losing her temper especially at a moment where her life is on the line.

“Can I uhm…can I ask a question?” Nick butted in without losing manner

“Who are you?” Phoenix eyed Nick up and down, head to foot.

“I’m uhm…I’m her…uh…” he stuttered, not knowing how to reply to the detective’s rather simple question

“Well?” the detective raised his eyebrows, as if suspicious.

“He’s my friend, detective,” Ro-Ena filled in Nick’s lack of explanation.

“Were you the one that called the police?” Phoenix asked sternly, taking away his gaze at him and directed it back to his notepad.

“Uh…yeah…yeah I uh…I called you through my cell phone,” Nick explained

Detective Phoenix jotted that bit of information down on his pad.

Nick watched the detective finish writing before beginning to talk. He hated talking to authoritative people because to him, it seemed like he was always being judged, like he had done something wrong and they were suspicious of him. “Maybe Reese was right,” he thought to himself. “Maybe I really am overtly paranoid!”

“Now, what is your question, Mr.???”

“Uh…oh, uh…Carter!”

“Okay Mr. Carter, what is your question?” he finally smiled up at him as he realized how his presence seemed to have created some sort of discomfort for his client’s friend.

“Well I was just wondering, as far as safety goes; in this case, Ro-Ena’s safety, what are you guys going to be doing about that? I mean, it’s pretty obvious that a judge’s ruling on a restraining order against Jay isn’t really stopping him from contacting Ro-Ena since he already has contacted her on several occasions, one of which, I was with her! I just don’t think a simple, ‘we’ll see into it’ really pays its dues right now!”

“That’s a very legitimate question, Mr. Carter and to be honest, I don’t blame you for worrying this much about your friend,” the detective began. “The truth of the matter is as of right now, we really are very limited of options of what we can do. There’s really not that much evidence right now to give us a 100% answer that this is in fact Jay’s doings. I mean, for all we know, this whole thing here could be a sick joke done by another person to make it seem like it was Jay’s doings: a frame-up, in short. Until we get the fingerprint results and solid proofs that we have reasons for arresting Jay, right now, safety lies in Miss Armstrong’s hands. I know that seems impractical but that’s the system Mr. Carter. Lack of evidence doesn’t give you much to go on with”

“Not enough evidence?” his fury became evident. “What kind of evidence are you looking for? Finding Ro-Ena’s body laying in a dumpster along a secluded alley?”

Nick, calm down,” Ro-Ena interrupted the confrontation between the two men. She appreciated Nick’s concern and she wanted to jump into his arms for showing that much care about her despite all the pandemonium, but she knew even he could not do much about changing the judicial system, in relation to the crime rulings.

“No, I will not calm down!” he retorted, irritation still exceedingly evident. “Everyone is always complaining about crime rates but no one has enough balls to do anything about it!”

“Mr. Carter, I understand your frustration, and if I could, I really would have this place surrounded and have Miss Armstrong under constant supervision by the police, but the fact remains that evidence are lacking. We are doing everything we could, we’re giving her our best!”

“Your best isn’t good enough!” he blurted. “Do you have a daughter Detective Phoenix? How about a wife? How would you feel if you know someone is out there, freely walking around the streets, and their incentive is to kill that woman that mean the world to you? Put yourself in this situation and how would you feel if you’re on the other side and you have someone with a badge come in acting all sympathetic while uttering out a bunch of lame excuse about some stupid system?”

“I know the system is unfair,” Detective Phoenix explained. “Right now, you have to understand that we are doing everything we can to keep Miss Armstrong safe. I know that seems like it’s not enough for you, but right now, it’s going to have to be. The system is unfair, yes, I agree with you 100% on that, but it is still the system and my job is to impose peace not break peace. I don’t agree with the system too, believe it or not”

“Then change it!” Nick screamed in sheer anger.

Ro-Ena grabbed Nick’s arms as she pulled him aside to try and retain his calmness. “Nick come on, this is no time to get mad!”

“Stay with me!”

“What?”

“You’re not safe here and obviously, there really isn’t much that these people can do in providing you the protection you need. I’m not going to leave you alone here. Stay with me at my place!”

“How would you know that Jay won’t find us there as well? I can’t be responsible for putting your life on the line, Nick! I can’t do that! I won’t be able to live with that kind of guilt of knowing that your life is in danger to, and it’s all because of me!”

“I am not leaving you in this place, Ro-Ena!” he persisted. “Now, something is telling me that it’s better for you to leave this place, even for a while! Just…walk away from it!”

“I…”

“Ro-Ena please, if you can’t do this to yourself, then…then do it for me! Give me that satisfaction of knowing that tomorrow will come and you will still be here with me!”

Ro-Ena stared at Nick. Deep down, she knew there wasn’t anything that she could do or say to convince him otherwise. “Fine,” she finally gave in.

“Thank you,” he smiled at her as the two of them engaged in a small hug to assure one another.

Detective Phoenix watched the two. Something was telling him that there was more to the situation than meets the eye. Something didn’t seem right to him. He couldn’t quite put a finger to it but somehow, he felt as though they didn’t need to leave the room to find an answer: all the answers!