Free Love Lies Bleeding by Remmy Duchene Page A

Leo. Don't touch me. I don't want to talk to you right now."
    In the bedroom he shoved his things into his bag and roamed the room looking for his shirt.
    "What are you doing?" Leo demanded.
    "What does it look like I'm doing?"
    "Where are you going to go now? It's late."
    "I'm a grown man. I'll figure something out." He finally found his shirt between the bed and the wall and shoved his arms into it. When he had it buttoned up, he reached his bag and slipped by Leo out the door.
    "Anderson, don't leave like this…"
    But Anderson's only reply was to slam the front door as hard as he could, signalling his exit.
     
    * * * *
     
    Ever since he was a child, people kept telling him not to speak or to talk to anyone when he was angry. But Leo's temper always got the better of him and whenever he was pissed, he didn't think before he spoke. It was a horrid habit for a cop. Pressing his back into the wall and fighting the urge to punch it, Leo took deep breaths. He knew he couldn't leave Anderson out there alone. Someone was after him and the last thing he needed was for Anderson to get killed because of a lover's spat.
    Even though he spent the next few hours driving around, including stopping by Jazmon's place—which was still cordoned off with yellow tape—and Anderson's place, he couldn't find he professor. Finally he wound up at the station. He compiled a list of hotels surrounding Anderson's house and began making phone calls.
    "Hi. This is Detective Leo Sung Kim of the NYPD. I'm wondering if you have a guest staying there by the name of Anderson Williams."
    "What's your badge number, Detective?"
    Leo made a face but offered the number anyway. "Seventy-four fifty-eight."
    "Thank you. One moment please."
    Leo tapped the pen against the side of the computer screen while the really bad rendition of "Hallelujah"drove him crazy. Finally the desk agent picked up again.
    "I'm sorry, detective, but no one's here by that name."
    "Thanks…"
    Hanging up, he crossed that hotel off his list and continued. When he finished the list, he flopped back in his chair thoughtfully for a moment. Anderson wasn't at any of the hotels around his place and there were way too many other hotels in the city to even begin calling.
    "What are you doing here this late?"
    Leo looked up at his partner. "Sit down for a second. I need to run something by you."
    Daniel pulled up a chair and fell into it.
    "Anderson is missing."
    "What do you mean missing?"
    "We had an argument over his father and he stormed off in the middle of the night. I've checked hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts—nothing."
    "Er, wait. What?" Daniel arched a brow. "He was with you? I thought you would get some uniforms to sit outside his place or something. Since when do you babysit?"
    "I'm not babysitting him. It's not like that." Leo shook his head. "We both know we can't spare the manpower for that. If I'm going to use the few uniforms can borrow, it should be something substantial."
    "Shit. I know that look. Did you sleep with him?"
    Leo said nothing.
    "Damn it, Leo. Do you know how much trouble you could get into if the boss finds out?"
    "Just let it go, all right? Trust me on this."
    "Okay… Does he have any other family or friends in New York?"
    "No family—but he does have one friend. I just don't know his last name. I ran his first name through the system but nothing so far."
    "Maybe you're over thinking it. Try Google." Daniel shrugged.
    After Daniel walked off, Leo frowned and opened his browser. He was fresh out of options. Typing Byung's name into Google, he blinked at the number of results he found—all of them coming back to a singer. Leo rubbed his eyes. How many people could there be in New York with the name Byung?
    Going back into the NYPD computer system, he found Byung's number and called.
    "Hello?" A sleepy voice called.
    "Hi I know it's late, but my name is Detective Kim from the NYPD."
    "Is something wrong? Is this about Anderson?"
    At least I know I found the