Love Lies Bleeding by Remmy Duchene (carter reed txt) 📕

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 right Byung.

"Anderson isn't there, is he?"

"No. Why would he be here? He said he was staying with you."

Leo wanted to cry. "We had an argument and he left. I have no idea where he went and I've spent the last few hours calling every place I can possibly think of."

"So, in other words, you lost him."

He could hear Byung's irritation. "Do you know where he could have gone?"

"No," Byung replied tersely. "But I'll call around and let you know."

Without another word, Leo heard click then the dial tone. He did lose his temper and slam his fist into his desk then. It was either that or the phone. Daniel walked back with two cups and handed him one. Thankfully, he took it and sipped from the dark liquid. It tasted horrible but was still welcomed.

"Thanks."

"Did you find him?"

"No…"

"What did you two argue about anyway?"

"It's not important. It was stupid. It was about his father and so not important. What are you doing here this late?"

"Couldn't sleep. Kept having nightmares about Mary sitting on my chest and holding my nose."

Leo shook his head. "You two shouldn't be together."

Daniel grunted and Leo let it go. He had bigger problems.

Chapter Nine

Anderson spent the night in the Carter Hotel under his middle name and his mother's maiden name. He figured if Leo cared enough to look for him, it wouldn't dawn on him he would be using an alias. The room was small but clean, and after a long time sitting at the window watching the cars go by on Forty-Second Street, he climbed beneath the covers. He didn't really slept and by the time six in the morning rolled around, he was in his car heading out of town. It took him twenty-seven minutes but he made it to Bayonne, New Jersey, before his stomach was growling like mad. Nothing was open so he found a quiet place to park. He grabbed a blanket, a bottle of water, and some granola bars from the trunk before climbing into the backseat. He had a quick snack then tried settling in for some shut-eye. It wasn't easy to get comfortable back there, especially with his size, but soon he'd drifted off, but sleep didn't last long. Soon the nightmares swam through his head, causing him to wake up shouting for his father. A woman walking by the car stopped briefly to stare at him before hurrying off down the sidewalk.

Anderson muttered a profanity under his breath and after packing up his things, he went on the hunt for food.

On Broadway, close to West Twenty-Ninth Street, he came across Vinnie's Breakfast Hut and Pizzeria. He pulled into a parking space out front, fed the meter, and hurried inside.

It took a moment for his eyes to get accustomed to the change in light but afterward, he read the menu. He settled for two slices of pepperoni, a bottle of water, and a cookie and sat by the window while he waited for them to warm up the pizza. His phone vibrated again. He took a deep breath and pulled it from his pocket. Anderson's eyes widened. There were eighteen new text messages—all of them from Byung.

Deleting them all, Anderson dialed his number instead.

"Hello?"

"Byung? It's Andy."

"Andy? Where are you? Are you all right?" Byung's Cantonese spilled from his lips, one word after another, one question after another until Anderson's head started throbbing slightly.

"Byung! Dude!"

"Sorry. Leo is freaking out. He's worried. I'm