Take a Breath (Take 1)

by Jaimie Roberts

  “Ana, come and sit down.”

  He moves me over to the kitchen island and sets me down. I snap out of it enough to ask Jake what in the hell was going on. He puts his hands through his hair and rubs his eyes. He looks suddenly exhausted as he begins to tell me the story of what’s been happening.

  “A couple of weeks back at the last murder scene we attended, the Blonde Killer left a note.”

  I start shaking as it suddenly dawns on me what he was about to say.

  “It said, ‘She is not my English Rose.’ At the time we didn’t know what to think and thought it a strange coincidence that in this area we had someone hunting blonde, blue eyed girls, who seemed to have an obsession with a blonde, blue eyed English woman. It was then we began shutting you out and searching for how many English, blonde women there are in this area. I would have given the case to Jessie to take over, but I felt she would never be able to keep this from you, seeing how you both seem so close and I wanted to be sure first before I approached you with the information. Now it seems certain that you are his obsession.”

  Jake grabs my shaking hand as I try and wrap my head around this information. Who is this Psycho and what does he want with me?

  “Ana, look at me, please.”

  I look up at his eyes as tears are threatening to sting my own.

  “After the scene at the bar I asked Michael to check that asshole out that grabbed you. Turns out he is an Investment Broker a couple of blocks from the station and married with a kid would you believe. We tailed him for a while but realised it wasn’t him when we traced his whereabouts on the dates of the murders and found that he had been on business trips in Florida and New York, on three separate occasions when three of the murders took place.”

  He sighed and trailed his hand down my face.

  “Ana, I’m so sorry that I kept this from you, but can you think of anyone who has been acting suspicious around you lately or noticed anyone acting strange?”

  A tear runs down my face as I try to think over the past few weeks. I shake my head.

  “I will not let anything happen to you Ana, do you hear me? I promise I will protect you. We will catch this son of a bitch and when we do, he will be sorry he ever looked your way, let alone manage to get in this house and leave a note.” He thinks for a minute, “I can’t understand that. There is no sign of a break-in and the alarms have always been switched on when we are out which means...”

  His eyes widen at the sudden realisation. He was in the house when we were.

  After a few minutes of Jake cursing and me still in shock, the doorbell rings and I jump out of my skin.

  “It’s ok Ana, that will be Michael.”

  He answers the door and Michael walks in with Tom and another man. They all acknowledge me briefly but their main focus is to see this note.

  Michael walks up to me and smiles, “Ana, you ok? You do know he won’t get to you don’t you? We won’t ever let the asshole get that far.”

  I manage to muster a smile and nod at him. I have every faith that they will protect me, but I can’t be watched over 24/7 and this is what frightens me. “Ana?”

  I look up to find the strange man in a suit looking down at me. He looks like he’s in his early 40’s about average height, with brown hair swept back and a mole on his right cheek. He’s not bad looking and certainly has a presence about him.

  “I’m Agent Andrew Marcos from the FBI, I’m investigating the Blonde Killer and I would like to ask you some questions, if I may? Can we go somewhere quiet?”

  I look to Jake and he nods his head and I nod back. I gather myself together and head toward the living room.

  I sit down on the monstrous sofa with Marcos sitting across from me on the other end.

  “Ana, are you ok to talk to me?”

  My mind swimming with all the information Jake has made me process in the last few minutes running through my head, I’m unsure, but I must get this over with. “Yes, I’m ok to talk.” He nods and smiles and it’s a nice smile. Not as nice as my Jake’s but still nice.

  “I understand you’re an Analyst at Fairfax and have been involved somewhat in this case?” I nod. “Can you tell me what level of involvement you have had?”

  I clear my throat and begin, “I was involved in investigating each case, where they happened, where he could possibly strike next. I also looked into previous cases from years ago of a similar nature to see if there was any connection from past cases to this and if anyone was caught, what time they served and who was eliminated from previous crimes. I came up with a few possibilities but this guy is smart, it is almost as if he is watching our investigation.” His eyebrow rose as he jots something down in his notebook.

  “I’m sorry I’m going to get a bit more personal now, but could you tell me now if there is anything I need to know, have you been involved in any relationship where you spurned someone in the last few months?”

  I have to laugh at his question. Jake is the only person in my world, I’ve never let anyone else get that close. The only person I remotely let in was John and surely he would have nothing to do with this? I shake my head.

  “Is there anyone now or in the past that has pursued you in anyway, anyone who has acted suspicious around you, made you feel uncomfortable or has attacked you?”

  I immediately tense up at his words as the memory of Alan came swimming back to me. I feel suddenly nauseous and Agent Marcos being the detective that he is notices straight away.

  “Ana, you have to tell me as this could help in nailing this asshole.”

  I wince and he places a hand on mine, with a soothing voice tells me that they will do their utmost to catch him, but I must help them with whatever information I can provide. Feeling deflated I begin my story, “Almost ten years ago I was attacked by my stepfather. He abused me for a while and shortly after my thirteenth birthday he decided to take things further. I screamed and he knocked me out. A neighbour luckily heard my screams and pulled him off me before he could take it too far. I was in hospital for a couple of days and they never caught him. My mother and I moved after that and she changed my name, and hers from Jacobs to Sinclair, which she told me was my grandmother’s maiden name. She said we needed it changed to protect me and the Police helped out as far as that was concerned. He is the only person I can think of.” I find him scribbling away in his notebook for a minute before looking up to me.

  “I’m sorry I made you bring up old memories Ana, but you can understand this is an avenue we are going to need to explore?”

  I nod my head and realise things are never going to be the same now. Everyone will know my horrible past. It’s nobody’s business but mine and mine alone, damn that asshole for always being inside my head, even now, ten years on.

  “Ana, can you remember Alan’s full name?”

  I nod, “It was Alan Martin, he was born in Pennsylvania I believe and at the time he was 34 years old. We were living in New Jersey at the time.” He is pencilling all this information when he smiles and tells me he has enough to go on. He gets up and with that, I quickly grab his arm. He swings round to look at me and I have tears in my eyes, “Please don’t tell them what I told you, I have to work with them and I don’t think I can look them in the eye everyday if they knew. The last thing I want is their pity, please.” He stands staring for a brief moment and then softens his features. He places a hand on my shoulder.

  “This is not something we would normally hide but it’s not like we haven’t withheld information before. I will try my best to keep this secret for you Ana, but you have to understand that there may be a time when it becomes a necessity for them to know. Can you understand that?”

  I nodded knowing full well that if Alan was doing all this, then my past will soon be brought to the forefront.

  Just then I notice a presence in the room and there stands Jake. He looks at me and then at Agent Marcos. He notices his hand on my shoulder and I see his fists clenching. My caveman has not disappeared on me y
et. Under his glare, Agent Marcos releases his hand and turns to face him.

  “Is everything ok here?”

  Marcos nods, “I think I got what I need, thanks Mr Bennett. Are Forensics on their way?”

  “I got off the phone with them around five minutes ago. They should be here any minute.”

  Michael and Tom soon follow Jake out and they plant themselves on the sofa staring at me.

  “Right, well I’m going to wait outside for them if I may and get them up to speed.”

  He walks out of the room and Jake comes over and sits next to me. He puts his arms around me, which Michael and Tom notice, but they wisely keep their mouths tightly closed.

  “So, what did old ball grabber want?”

  I look to Tom smiling at me. “Ball grabber?”

  Tom laughs, “He likes to grab balls, the guys an asshole.”

  I grin at him, “This has nothing to do with the fact he’s an FBI Agent is it Tom? I thought he was nice.” I feel Jake stiffen his arms. Is he jealous?

  “Can you let me know what he asked?”

  I look up at Jake, “He just wanted to know the same things you asked before he came, if I could think of anyone it could be, if there has been anyone acting suspiciously around me, etcetera etcetera. I told him no and he just wanted to know my involvement in the case if any.” I hated the fact I had lied to them, but I don’t want to be pitied and it’s none of anyone’s business. I don’t want Jake to feel any different towards me for it. He already thinks I’m a magnet for trouble. This will just send him over the edge and he may think I’m more trouble than I’m worth.

  The door swings open ending our dreamlike states and in walks Forensics. They head straight for the note where they’re all discussing something in the kitchen. After a while Agent Marcos comes out.

  “We will need to take prints from all the doors and obviously take this note back to be examined. Ana, we will have to go into your room if that’s ok, we will need to take prints in there as he may have left more clues for us? One important thing I need to ask. You found this note just before you rang yes?” I nodded. “So I’m assuming whoever did this must have gotten in whilst you had been out with Mr Bennett.”

  I immediately stiffened in Jake’s arms and he sensed what I was feeling. I haven’t been in my room properly since Friday afternoon before the barbeque. “I think this note could have been there anytime from yesterday afternoon.” Agent Marcos looked at me expectantly. “I wasn’t in my bed last night,” I blasted out. Both Michael and Tom straightened their posture suddenly, nearing the edge of their seats, eager to hear the rest. Tom looked like he was about to burst if he didn’t get the gossip soon.

  “So were you staying round someone else’s house, a friend perhaps? We will need their name.”

  I’m unsure of what to say but then Jake beats me to it.

  “Jake Bennett, that’s whose bed she was in ok?”

  Marcos blushed and Michael and Tom nearly fall off the seat at Jake’s surprise statement. If we were worried about the gossip going round, our fears would certainly be realised now. Michael and Tom will be itching to go back later and tell everyone about what happened last night in the Bennett household. Wide grins spread across their faces. “Are we ok Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee?” I said with mock expression. They both looked at me and Michael was about to say something when Marcos beat him to it.

  “Mr Bennett, you told me you had a party last night at your house.”

  He nods, “That’s right, yes.”

  “So if Ana was last in her room before the party and just discovered the note now, then it is safe to say that someone could have left this note last night whilst your guests were here? Someone who was at the party themselves, or managed to gain entry to the house at some point whilst the party was going on?”

  All smiles were gone and I thought hard about what Marcos said, “I did go into my room briefly this morning to get my phone.” Marcos quickly got his notebook out and started scribbling again.

  “And I take it the note wasn’t there then?”

  I was racking my brains trying to figure out whether it was there or not. This information is vital, as it determines whether the person got in during the barbeque, or whilst Jake and I were out today. If it was while Jake and I were out, then it would be someone who knows the alarm code, as there has been no sign of forced entry. My head hurts like hell all of a sudden and the nausea is coming back. I can’t think straight. “To be honest with you, I cannot say for certain. My phone was on my dresser, opposite the bed. I never looked. I was literally in my room seconds before I came out. I had three text messages, so I was caught up in reading those. I’m really sorry. I know how important this is but I don’t recall seeing anything as I wasn’t paying attention.”

  Marcos jotted all this down and turned his attention back to me, “It’s ok, don’t worry. It is important, but you were never to know how much so until now. Can you let me know who the messages were from?”

  Shit, I didn’t want to answer this. One was from Tony and I didn’t want to anger Jake and embarrass Tony with everyone knowing the gory details. “They were from my friend Jessie. She was at a wedding last night and wanted to know how the party went.”

  “Ok, this is Jessie?”

  “Lindsay,” both Michael and Tom said in unison.

  “So Jessie Lindsay sent you three messages to ask how a party went?”

  I blushed, “Yes, well, when I didn’t answer her straight away last night, she became impatient wanting to know why I wasn’t getting back to her.” Tom laughed and quickly stopped to compose himself. I looked up at Jake and he was glaring at him.

  Marcos finished off writing and looked at Jake, “Can you please run a list of the names of all the people who were at the party last night?”

  Jake sighed, “Yes sure I will get it to you ASAP.”

  Marcos nodded and excused himself again to see what was happening upstairs. Jake sat himself up and released his grip from me.

  “Now I’m going to say this once to the two of you and I don’t want to ever have to repeat this, or I will have your badges. You are not to breathe a word of this to anyone whilst this investigation is ongoing. Some sick fuck seems to have more than a little crush here on Ana and I don’t want anyone, and I mean anyone to know about us, as it may piss whoever’s doing this off. Do I make myself clear?”

  They both nod their heads like they’ve been told off by the headmaster. “If I even hear a whiff of gossip going around the station, then I won’t be responsible for my actions. This has to stay quiet, for Ana’s sake.”

  Jake grips my hand, looks round to me and smiles, “Are you ok Ana?”

  I return the smile, “I’m fine thank you. It is a shock, and still is, but I have you guys to take care of me so I’m fine.” Jake squeezes my hand and gets up. “I’m going to speak with Marcos about getting someone to watch over the house at night, from now on. I also need to get that list going for him. Will you be ok for a minute?”

  I nod and he leaves.

  I can see that both Michael and Tom are itching for information, but I can tell they are afraid to ask. “Well, go on then. I know you’re just dying to ask me.” Tom positions himself at the end of the sofa, looking like the cat that got the cream.

  “How long Ana? You weren’t doing it with your mom in the house were you?”

  My face scowls, “Eww, that’s gross Tom, shut up. It only really happened last night.” I knew at some point it was going to turn sick but I didn’t think he would just put it out there like that. This is exactly what I didn’t want, people judging us. Jake is a lot more to me than just a crush or passing whim. He is my life.

  “You and the boss ha? I was starting to think you may have been gay Ana.”

  Complete shock overtook me, is that what everyone thinks of me just because I never gave anyone there the time of day? Michael nudged at Tom and then looked sheepishly towards me.

  “Sorry Ana, I didn’t mean to
offend you, it’s just you’re a very popular girl and certainly had a choice of a few people but you never seemed to be interested.”

  I glare at Tom, “So because I never looked in their direction, people naturally assumed I was gay? Typical male, chauvinistic prick thinking.”

  Michael coward, “Tom, you shouldn’t have gone there buddy.”

  I was fuming inside. I thought keeping my head down and getting on with things curtailed any gossip going around. It would seem that me being the ‘fridge,’ Tom was making me out to be was what spurred the gossip about me in the first place. I can’t win, if I were shagging everyone in the station, I would be earning the reputation of a slut, but because I wasn’t sleeping around, I must now be gay. “So does everyone think I’m gay now just because I wouldn’t sleep with a few people?” Tom winces; I think he is beginning to really regret what he said now.

  “No, of course not, I just thought that maybe, look just forget what I said, I’m sorry Ana. Please don’t be upset with me.”

  I take a deep breath and try and calm down a bit. “Okay Tom whatever, I think I have more important things to be worrying about at the moment anyway, and just so you know I’m not gay and this thing with Jake and I is in its infancy at the moment. All you need to know is that it’s happened and I’m happy and once this jerk is caught, then everyone can get on with their lives and I won’t have to constantly look over my shoulder.” They both slouch further into the sofa as the tension eases a bit.

  “I must say you do look radiant. I’m happy for you both.”

  I smile at them, “Nicely saved there Tom. Still doesn’t mean you’re not a prick.” They both start laughing as Jake enters the room again. He has a very serious expression on his face and I can see he is gauging my reaction, as I am smiling up at him. He must be wondering why I’m suddenly so composed. I really don’t want this asshole to get to me. I’m tired of being the victim and I don’t want to be any part of this sick fuck’s game anymore.