Although she couldn’t explain it, Karen always felt safe around Matt. He just had a kind of presence that brought her a kind of security. Even walking into the police station was no big deal next to her boss, but when she saw the burly perp at the detective’s desk she felt a chill run down her spine. It wasn’t necessarily fear, but it was something, she could tell, and when she saw him again she only knew she was right.

There he was, no ordinary perp but some kind of intimidating man in black. She felt her breath hitch in her throat as he beckoned to her. It was as if no one else could see him. For the first time in that safe space Matt provided, Karen felt a kind of fear and trepidation, but for some reason that even she couldn’t grasp, she slowly walked over to him.

Karen held her hands in front of her, careful not to show how they were trembling. She never liked for people to see when she was scared and being in front of this man, though he was a stranger, was no exception. Getting closer to him, Karen could see his eyes. They were beautiful, in a way. It was a contrast to all of the dark and almost scary parts of him. She found herself staring for a second.

“Who are you?” She asked in a low, tremulous voice. He was a mystery to her, like some kind of phantom. What was he doing here? Karen knew that he had no ordinary business in this place. He was up to something strange and she was going to find out just what it was and send him on his way before anyone got hurt.