The sun that rose over Malthorn City would also set eventually. And after a long hard work day which didn't get any better once he had left the crime scene, David was finally free to go home.

He had always worried about the safety of his family, especially since Angela was born. That was one of the reasons he had become a cop in the first place. There was too much evil going around in this world, and he wanted to do what he could to protect the ones he loved. But at times like this, when he would face someone who killed in such a viscious way, he was constantly wondering if that was enough. Even when he pulled up the driveway to his home and saw this big, modern two-storey family house that would have easily made it on the cover of lifestyle magazines, he couldn't help but see a dangerously ill-equipped house without any safety measures that would stop a determined intruder from getting in and having his way with everyone inside.

David tried to surpress this feeling as well as possible when he stopped the car and got out. There was nothing that hadn't already been done to the house without raising suspicion or making his family uneasy. There was the burglar alarm that was checked every two weeks and had a direct connection to the security firm that took care of the neighborhood. There were those old-fashioned, but very effective window boards that could be closed in case of a storm, but also made it harder for an intruder to gain access. David had also a safe place where he had hidden a gun for emergencies, which only he and Lauren knew of. And Angela was totally fed up with his lessons about safety by now, being told not to talk to strangers or get into unknown cars. David could hardly wait for her to grow old enough to be taught self defense. But since she was eight years old, it was a little early for that.

He strolled over the freshly mowed lawn to get to the front entrance and then opened the door. The loud outcry of joy reached him even before the door was half open. "Daddy is home!" And a small energetic bundle seemed to jump right into his arms, squeaking of joy while doing it.

"Whoa, easy!" David tried to calm down his daughter, but Angela was unstoppable at this point. In the middle of this storm of hugs and kisses that his little daughter brought down upon him, he noticed that his wife was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, smiling and watching her husband being jumped at by Angela. and another little girl stood there, looking coyly. That was not his - at least he couldn't remember. But he recognized her as Gina, Angela's best friend from the neighborhood.

"It's good that you managed to come home at a reasonable time." David would have expected Lauren to address him in such a way, but that sentence came from the little girl in his arms. He looked into Angela's face and saw the broad knowing grin on it.

"Have you been watching Lethal Weapon?" he then asked her. But judging by the puzzled face she answered him with, she had not. He let her down, and she ran with Gina towards the bathroom to wash her hands, as prompted by Lauren. Dinner was almost ready. As the little rascals were out of sight, David and Lauren finally got to share a loving kiss. "Hi, sweetheart!" David greeted her.

"Hey, handsome!" Lauren responded. "How was your day?"

She noticed at once. Of course she did - she was a psychologist. And she had known David for some time by now. Maybe she understood way better what was on David's mind than David actually did. Because he still had mixed feelings about this day. Getting put in charge of a murder investigation of such a calibre was not a small thing. On one hand, it made him very proud that he was trusted with it. On the other hand, and that feeling got stronger by the minute, it might have been that Wilks just pushed him into it to avoid that kind of responsibility himself. David had enough reason to doubt the eagerness and engagement of Lt. Wilks at certain cases that might be big enough to damage his career.

But the girls came back, running and screaming. "Not in front of the children," David then decided, and Lauren nodded understandingly. He often had some topics to discuss that Angela and her friends were way too young to hear about. So they just went into the dining room, sat down at the table and enjoyed their dinner. It was Pasta Carbonara. At the beginning of the marriage David had always felt a little guilty about Lauren having to prepare dinner after her long hard work day, but Lauren had told him that cooking did have some relaxing effect on her, and she loved doing it. She was good at it, too. Also Angela loved her cooking. More than David's, who just managed to get a can of beans open and warmed up.

Dinner time was loud and happy, thanks to the two girls at the table. But at one point Angela asked: "Dad, can I sleep over at Gina's tomorrow night? Her sister is going to watch both Incredibles movies with us in a row. Mum already said that it's OK if you agree." And she looked at him with her big, bulgy eyes, a look that she had perfected over the years when she wanted something and needed some coaxing to get it.

And usually it wouldn't have been a problem. But David thought back to that dead body in the alleyway, and to the remark that Lt. wilks had made. "Honey... I'm not so sure, you know. I would feel a lot better if you slept here at our place. It is much safer here." Besides, as far as Gina's big sister went, she watched a lot of things that had nothing to do with Disney, and David didn't want the girls to get any stupid ideas...

As he looked around at the table and saw Lauren's look of disapproval, and Angela didn't look very happy about his words, he rephrased it. "Look! I'll think about it. Just give me an hour or two!"

"Okay..." Angela' voice had the typical sound of a child disagreeing, but obeying reluctantly. She knew better than to push it right now, so she just went on to munch her pasta. Gina looked around and probably wondered whether she should intervene on Angela's part, but David gave her a quick glance that she seemed to understand perfectly. This was not the time. And Gina wisely kept quiet.

David couldn't help but feel like the bad guy here, especially when he noticed the look Lauren gave him. She couldn't understand what troubled him so much. He would have to tell her about it, as soon as the kids were out of earshot range, and then she might be able to share his view on it. But on the other hand - maybe he was overreacting? Just because Wilks said that this might be a serial killer didn't necessarily mean he was right. So far it was one dead man in an alley, and possibly a second one in another part of town. Nothing that would indicate that his family was in any danger at all.

The dinner went on quietly, and when it was finished, the kids ran upstairs to play some more until Gina had to go home. David did the dishes, while Lauren helped him. "What's the matter, hon?" she finally addressed the elephant in the room. "I mean, you seem to be a bit over-protective tonight. Has something happened at work?"

David scrubbed the plates, trying not to look too much at Lauren, in fear that his face might give away more than he wanted it to. "Ah, well..." he then started, trying to sound as calm and relaxed as possible. "Yeah, there was something at work that just made me wonder whether it is completely safe here. For us and for Angela."

"What, is someone threatening to blow up the whole city?" Lauren jokingly asked.

That made David laugh. "Yeah, you're right. Maybe I am exaggerating. I mean... I can't jump at every first sign of danger and ask you to take Angela and go to a safe place like I sometimes wish to."

He felt warm soft hands touching him, hugging him from behind, and then a soft kiss placed behind his right ear. "And it's a good thing you know that, my dear, cause the two of us would have a lot of trouble with each other if you did." The voice whispered as softly and gently as a feather in his ear, but it carried the sharp undertone of a verbal razorblade.

He finally turned around to look his wife in the eye, and she looked back at him. "Look, Dave, I know this is not easy for you to understand. But you cannot control everything. You have to leave some of it to me. And you have to trust Angela and me to do the right thing from time to time. At least to trust me... with Angela, you know, she needs some guidance after all. But you know what I mean."

"I trust you, Lauren," David answered. "I do. But... this world outside, it is dangerous. And I feel uneasy when I am not..."

"Protecting us?" She poked one finger in his chest. "You know what? You watch too many old movies. Where the man has to protect the woman, cause the woman is weak and helpless and always in need of saving. Seriously, it makes me wonder if that Netflix account of yours is doing you any good."

"I just want to know that you can take care of yourself, no matter what." David tried to defend himself, but even that fell flat. His wife glanced at him with a dangerous look.

"After ten years of marriage you should know that by now, dear." She turned around to leave the kitchen, leaving him and the dishes behind. "But thanks for the overwhelming trust you put in me."

After she had gone, David resisted the urge to bash his head against the cupboards for this stupidity he had shown during this conversation. Maybe it was really his fault. Maybe he was too old-fashioned, had too little trust in a woman who in so many ways was his equal or even better, and she had the right to be furious about his attitude. Maybe he was over-protective about his whole family. Maybe all those movies he had watched and did still watch on a regular basis - with tough cops and their families who tend to get in some sort of peril in the final act - had influenced his idea of how family life would work for him and for Lauren.

He hurried with the dishes, so he could tell Angela that she would be allowed to stay at Gina's overnight. After all, it was merely a block away. And he hoped that this was enough to keep Lauren from deleting his Netflix account.