Nettie glanced outside, the sound of tires on gravel drawing her attention away from the two officers in front of her. She had to admit that for them to come from the next town over almost half an hour away they made record time. She had a sneaking suspicion her boss had something to do with that.

Nettie sat on her couch with her legs crossed. Sitting at attention in front of her was Doug. He had been on high alert all morning and almost didn't want to let the police come in even after Nettie had commanded him. Doug not listening to commands was going to have to be an issue for another day. Her hands fidgeted in her lap the cup of tea prepared by one of the officers remained untouched on the table beside her quickly going cold the whisps of heat sucked into the cool morning air.

Preparing herself for more visitors than she wanted she had quickly thrown her hair up into a rushed bun, slipped on a clean (albeit oversized) t-shirt and a pair of warm tracksuit pants. She knew that comfort was going to be the most important thing in these situations where you have strangers poking around your house. It almost felt like a secondary invasion.

The officers stopped speaking with each other for a moment also noting the new vehicle that arrived. Both officers seemed on high alert. Nettie felt a ping of guilt, the younger one Romanos had only joined a few months ago and was promised a quiet posting in a sleepy little town where he could ride out his duty before moving into the forensics unit. The older gentleman Clarke looked as if he was nearing retirement, the bushy white moustache bristling on his tomato red face. Nettie thought for a moment the pair looked like quite the opposite pairing. Romanos on the taller side with tanned olive skin and dark features. Clarke on the shorter stout side looking as if he were going to have a heart attack if he had to run more than 10 meters.

It made her think of her and Samantha. Samantha was taller than Nettie, athletic and had the most beautiful dark complexion whereas Nettie was covered in pale freckles, had a mess of red hair and was far less athletic although, could keep her end up in a foot chase.

Hannah almost broke down the front door on her way in, 'Nettie!' Her bright voice boomed. Cautiously Nettie placed a hand on the back of Doug's collar looping her fingers around the worn leather. To her surprise Doug slapped his tail happily against the floor which calmed her. Letting go of Doug Hannah bustled into the living room, 'Romanos, Clarke.' She nodded curtly.

Nettie was not surprised that Hannah was familiar, they would joke about Julie however, Nettie knew Julie had nothing on Hannahs gossiping abilities. It did warm her heart to know that Hannah still had deep ties to the whole community, how could she not? No one can hate her and her loud southern charm... her amazing baking skills also help.

Nettie smile against a hug as Hannah lent down to envelop her in her arms. 'Hon are you okay? I was so worried when you rang, I just thought the worst.' Hannah's bright blue eyes were welling with tears which to her surprised cause Nettie to also well up. Desperately she pushed back the heat behind her eyes as if willing the tears to be sucked back up into her body. Truth be told she had already cried her fair share already and didn't think she had anything left.

She then heard the heavy footsteps which followed close behind Hannah, a deep male voice spoke out, 'Hey Net.' As soon as she heard his voice, she could feel her skin betray her calm disposition by glowing red. Heat travelled up her face. Doug on the other hand lazily plodded over to the man and sniffed around his feet.

Pulling Hannah into the hug she gritted her teeth speaking into her ear, 'I didn't think he would also be here.'

Hannah put on her best "Oh I'm sorry I didn't think he would come in" face. She straightened leaving Nettie sitting on the couch as she turned on her heel to face Leo. 'I told you to wait outside.' Leo was slightly taken aback by the sudden reprimand. His cool voice suddenly cracked, 'You... you told me to come in once...' He quickly shut up when Hannah shoved an elbow into his side, a sharp painful warning.

Drawing her eyes to Leo Nettie drew in a sharp involuntary breath as their eyes met. His endless blue eyes had not changed, not a single bit. They were still hopelessly bright, and in them she saw the same young energy that she was first drawn to. His smile seemed to falter, his eyes traveling over Nettie.

'I mean this in the best way possible, but you look like absolute shit... what happened?' He closed the gap between them, Doug was quick to step in front of him nudging his hand with his wet snout. Oh, he is screwed if he thinks he is coming over here without paying Doug's tax. She couldn't help a smile cross her lips as she looked over him.

He had somehow grown so much and not at all. Her hands were still shaky, she placed them back in her lap attempting to settle her nerves. 'It's well.... I guess it's a bit, it's a bit horrible.' She managed to sputter a laugh the absurdity of it all starting to hit her. As she began to spoke Clarkes phone burst to life, he raised his hand to Nettie looking at the screen before drawing his eyes back to her. He picked up the phone and began to walk outside, 'Stirling.' He said curtly as he took his leave.

Shit so Lewis knew. Clearing her throat Nettie fiddled with her hands, her nails anxiously pulling at the skin around her nailbed. It was clear this was not a new habit as her nail beds were polka dotted with ripped skin.

Suddenly she drew in a deep breath and began to ramble, the heat in her face continuing to rise her ears burning a deeper red than her hair.

'I was asleep, then I woke up. I was startled by Doug he was going ballistic. I've never heard him snarl and bark so loud and he's been taught to sound terrifying. I went into my bedroom and grabbed my gun.' She paused shooting Hannah a look when she opened her mouth.

Nettie lifted her hand towards her stopping her from speaking, 'I am still licenced it's all legal.' Hannah looked as if she were about to explode with anger, 'that's not the problem you could have hurt...' Nettie cut her off again with her eyes which shot lethal daggers, 'could have hurt who ever was out there.' Whilst Nettie was still licensed, she was going to leave out the fact that it still had to be stored in a locked safe and not her bed side table.

Closing her eyes for a moment Nettie calmed her heaving chest and let go of her hands letting them relax in her lap. Leo closed the gap between them once Doug was happy with the tax paid in head scratches.

Nettie felt the couch sink in under his weight. He seemed so much larger now he was next to her. The pressure in the middle cause her to slide against him her side rubbing up against him. Without a word he took both her hands in his. His voice was low, controlled and calm. How can he sound so calm, and why do I feel so calm. Hannah by this point had closed her mouth, which was for the best Nettie was worried that if she kept it open much longer, she would start catching flies. 'Take all the time you need.'

God, she fucking hated it when people said that, but when it was coming from Leo it felt right, it felt real. It didn't feel like it was just a placeholder. Clearing her throat Nettie brought her mind back. She felt his hands envelop hers and she felt the warmth spread up her arms, cross her neck, down her chest and to her stomach. Those familiar butterflies tumbled inside her.

'I went outside,' She shot Hannah a look who audibly gasped. She was really not going to like this next bit. 'And I told Doug to search, and he went straight to the back fence and that's when I saw.' She paused swallowing a lump in her throat the mental image flashing back in her mind followed by the smell. The familiar smell of maggots, death, and decay.

Leo squeezed her hands again. He was watching her deep green eyes. He watched her carefully keeping his voice measured although inside his mind he was livid and angry rage slowly bubbling to the surface. He wanted to find who had scared her so bad and skin them alive, he wanted to slit their throat and hang them up to bleed dry. Leo sucked in a breath, which he hoped Nettie did not hear. He knew he shouldn't think like that, the anger simmered down inside him nestling itself deep in the pit of his stomach.

No this is not the time to be a psychopath.

Oblivious to Leo's internal battle Nettie continued in one quick breath almost spitting the words out as if they tasted bad in her mouth, 'there were... animals nailed to the slats of the fence. About three of them, cats, I think. I am not too sure, one was missing a head, the other two were missing limbs of some sort. It was hard to tell in the darkness they just looked like mangled matted fluff.'

In unison Hannah and Leo stifled their gasps but failed horribly. Nettie slipped her hand free from Leo. She didn't want him associating her touch with something so foul.

On the side table next to her now ice-cold coffee Nettie's phone buzzed to life Sir PooHead scrolling along the screen followed by two poo emojis. Nettie cringed remembering when she changed his name, she was far from sober and being spurred on by James who shocking no one was also less than sober. Nettie had ignored the two earlier calls, and the call from James and surprisingly even Cole had tried to reach out.

Leo lent overreaching across Nettie to grab her phone, his eyes glancing at the screen before handing it back to Nettie. She sucked in her breath as his chest brushed up against her. Hannah was busy on her own call, presumably with Rob and the kids to let them know what had happened or one of her other 8 million friends who will quickly spread the gossip like wildfire.

Leo stifled a laugh, 'It's PooHead, I think you should pick up that sounds like someone you really respect... maybe even revere.' If his smile didn't make the butterflies in her stomach summersault, she would slap it right off his pretty little face. Snatching the phone from him she gritted her teeth sucking in air.

'Lewis?' She tried to keep her voice light and surprised.

'Please tell me Lachman why I had to find out that someone left decapitated animals nailed to your fence via James. James!'

There was venom in his voice when he spoke the name. God fucking damn it, James I am going to kill you, this time I really am I'm going to... 'Honestly Sir I have no idea how James even knew in the first place. I am still sitting here with the Police, my friends only just got here so I...' And that's when the dam broke there was no hope the well of emotions was overflowing.

Hot tears streaked down her cheeks. God damn it why did I have to sob now. The other end of the line went quiet, 'Jesus Net fuck I'm sorry I...' Nettie could not control herself, her sobs came overwhelming, heaving, ugly.

Leo swiftly moved to pull her into his chest. Her shoulders shaking with sobs as she cried into his shirt. The pain in her skull pierced deeper due to her dehydration. Nettie remained there for a few moments letting the emotion flood over her. Almost as soon as it had happened it was over.

Nettie pushed back rubbing her nose with her hand gross, oh so gross Net well done. Leo excused himself disappearing into the kitchen. Nettie pulled her phone back to her face, 'I'm okay it's okay I'm sorry.'

'No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have... I know with everything you must be.'

'Stop it's okay, I'm fine.'

'You're not fine Net.' Lewis's voice was foreboding. 'You've been threatened. Who ever did that knows where you live, and we were worried something would happen.'

Nettie's heart sank. She knew Lewis was right. She pulled the phone away from her ear and placed it against her forehead heaving in another sob. Leo returned holding out a glass of water, with no words she took it taking in a long drink. Tissues were then pressed into her hand as Leo sat himself back down. This time he sat a little further away allowing his body to turn towards her. His eyes watched her with deep concern. Why did that hurt more that he was concerned.

Clearing her throat again Nettie sighed into the phone now trying to get to grips with the reality of her situation. 'Have I... have I endangered everyone here?' She asked her voice failing to remain strong once again her sobs came loud and fast her body rocking with the emotion as every worst-case scenario raced in her mind.