by J. E. Mann
Without clearly knowing what was coming over me, tears welled up in my eyes. Something in my mind agreed with Jake. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure he wasn’t our killer. I turned to him, my anger gone, replaced by uneasiness. Jake and I had never been on such a personal level before.
“Yes Jake, I am here drinking. I’m here to wash away James walking out on me. I lied to him Jake. I’m…I’m a monster for making him believe I was something that I’m not.”
For the first time since Jake had walked in to the bar, I faced him. I wanted someone to tell me I wasn’t crazy, or that I was a monster. Either would suffice in my world because I truly was a monster that lied to James and I fell into a trap, a trap I would consider love.
Jake sighed, and nudged my elbow. “Aw hell Rach. So you want the pep talk? Ok, I’ll give it my best shot. Get the hell over it. You think just because your boyfriend, someone who I might add you didn’t even know until two months ago, might be a killer, yeah I said might, could turn out he isn’t even close. But you asked and he didn’t answer. That’s on him. What are you upset about Rachel? That you turned him in or that he was a killer and you didn’t see it. It doesn’t matter why. You had to be sure, that’s what makes you a great detective. That you followed through makes you a better human being. If you had let it go, gave him the benefit of the doubt or some shit, we might be standing over another dead body. And, that would have been the end of you. This choice Rach? It sucks, I won’t lie to you, it does. But it was the right choice.”
There was no thought needed to stop his rant, “What about me Jake? Do I not deserve companionship? What happens when I put everything aside, being a good human being or not, and just focus on me for once?”
“You will be able to live with yourself Rach. But only with the choice you made, not the one you didn’t make.”
As I started to come off of the alcohol my stomach rumbled. I hadn’t eaten anything since seeing James and the alcohol was winning. Nausea rolled through my body and I decided my stay at the bar was over.
“Hey Jake, do you mind giving me a ride home?”
Jake tried, he really tried to lift my spirits but it didn’t do much. He stood and offered his hand for me to take. I stood shakily and clung to his arm. “Sorry Jake, I don’t mean to be improper, but my legs are sketchy at best.”
“Just don’t start singing or falling over. I have my reputation to think of.”
Jake opened the door, which I never realized had the window tinted. The sunlight burned holes in to my head and I finally realized I had out done myself this time. His car was parked right out front in a loading zone. There was irony in the situation.
“Besides, James wasn’t good enough for you anyway. He probably would have psychoanalyzed every decision you made.” His face scrunched and I knew a famous Jake performance was coming, “You chase criminals because you are still chasing that puppy you never got when you were six…” He had thrown his head back in dramatic fashion on the verge of laughter.
“But I did get a puppy when I was six Jake, you know, the pug that dance around all the time? I think her name was Buttercup.” His fun time was over, “You named the dog Buttercup? I would have named her River.”
“Oh, yeah that’s any better Jake; just get me to the car.”
Jake started to say something when screams cut through the street somewhere in the vicinity of us. He let go of me and stood searching for the direction of the scream. Even though I was heavily intoxicated I knew the scream had come from the alley behind the bar. I took off jogging in the direction, not truly giving myself the credit I deserved for being so steady in my state.
When I approached the alleyway a figure was standing over a body. The body had a dark bag over their head and someone was about to put a bullet in to their brain. I’m too tired for this I thought in my head but my mouth tried something else. “Don’t do this!” I screeched. At least I was loud enough at the moment because the figure turned and started to run. I got closer to the body lying on the ground and found my nostrils burning.
I had never remembered being so drunk to feel such a strange sensation and I didn’t think the two went together. When I removed the bag I found a female looking back up with me and she was soaked. With the bag to my face I realized what was happening. Gasoline fumes filled my nostrils, stinging them and sobering me up quickly.
Jake came up behind me, “Where did he go Rach?” I pointed him further down the alleyway and he took off running. Luckily for me, the victim was still alive.
JAKE
The pavement was hard under my feet as I chased the figure down one alleyway to the next. I had seen the figure stand over the person on the ground and take off. Rach was tending to the victim, no the attempted murder victim. And I was about to get my hands on the killer who had been getting away with it for the past two months.
The only real question I had was, what was I going to do when I caught this mysterious person? I could kill them because no one would be around to question my version of events. These choices were not hard if you were me because I am a very direct guy. Things had never been multicolor for me, just black and white. Not like Rach, who lets morality get in her way. Rico and Marcus had been an easy choice. They knew what Marley looked like and would have gone after her if I had let them live. They also could have figured out who I was, and that would have put Rach in danger. My choices had been clear.
My lungs burned, but pure adrenaline kept my feet moving.
The killer was wearing a navy blue hoodie and navy sweats. The moved like a runner. This was the best situation. He was staying away from the streets, leaving no bystanders to get in the way. All I needed was one mistake.
Seven minutes later, I got my wish.
When the killer made a right, I sped up. This was a dead end, nowhere to go. As I turned the corner I rolled on the ground. Two bullets flew past my back. There was no way out so he had decided to make a stand. I lifted my head and saw a door start to close.
I ran to the door and flung it open, stepping to the side. No bullets came at me, but the sound of someone climbing stairs did. I ran through the door and began to climb. When the footsteps stopped, I crouch down, still climbing, but making myself a very small target. One more shot, then one of the sweetest sounds I had ever heard.
Click, click.
“No more bullets!” I yelled skyward. “Now it’s really time to play.”
I stood up and began taking the stairs two at a time. When I got to a landing with a huge window behind me, I looked up to see a huge form hurtling towards me. I ducked and heard the sound of glass breaking. I looked behind me and saw a business style chair lying on the sidewalk. I turned back to my prey.
“Sweetheart!”
The sound of footsteps answered back.
“Baby, come back!” I continued charging up the stars. After one more landing, I had reached the top. A single door was in front of me. I opened it and stepped into a large room full of chairs and file cabinets and…
The lights suddenly went out. I had caught a glimpse of the killer at the other end. The tricky bastard must have switched the lights off. I closed the door, cutting off the only light source. We were now both as blind as bats. I moved slowly, trying to disguise my footsteps. I could hear something in the darkness, but I wasn’t sure in what direction it originated from.
“Knew you were going to slip up some time,” I said, “Don’t be hard on yourself, you managed to get three. It’s pretty impressive.”
No answer. I moved slowly to the right, my feet suddenly touching a chair on the floor. I felt around until I found the back rest. With all my strength, I picked it up and threw it into the blackness. A loud crash as it connected with something in the middle of the room. And did I also hear the sound of something moving to the left?
“Common, turn the lights back on. Let’s just fight it out, no more sneaking around. You could even tell me why you did it. My partner thinks it’s because you’re looking to purify the
world. Me? I think you’re just a disappointment.”
Sounds in the darkness. I had struck a chord it seemed. I felt my smile tighten my cheeks.
“That’s it isn’t it? Mommy and Daddy were always disappointed in you. Thought they should have drowned you in the bathtub the second they…”
I was so caught up in my verbal attack that I had forgotten about my physical movement. I tripped over something large and metal. I landed hard on my right side, my phone and keys dug painfully in to my hip. I stood quickly; hopping my presence hadn’t been given totally away. Silence. Then, the sound of a phone ringing inside this very room. A small square shaped light appeared about nine steps to my left.
Should have left your phone on silent I thought
I moved toward the sound and the light. When I got about one foot from it, both stopped. No matter, I knew where they were. I reached out and grabbed…
Nothing but air.
A sound came from my right. How the hell had they gotten there? I swung my arm, my fist looking to connect with any body part I could find. More air greeted me and now the sounds were coming from behind me. I made up my mind. I took a step backwards, but flung my left hand out to my side. I felt wool and closed my hand. I started to pull towards me and reached out with my right.
Something slid across my right palm. There was no pain, but I felt hot liquid start oozing down my forearm. I had been cut and cut badly by how it felt. With a violent jerk, the killer pulled out of my grasp. I stepped forward, intending to get a better grip when something large and heavy fell against my side. I screamed as it pinned me to the floor. I could only watch as light came from the open door as the killer opened it and escaped.
I yelled again, not in pain but in anger.
“RUN! I WILL BE SEEING YOU AGAIN.”
With effort, I managed to wiggle out of what I assumed was a file cabinet. I could feel my shirt soaked with blood. I stood and walked over to the doorway. I got the first look at my hand.
It was about a four inch cut along my entire right hand. I could see muscle underneath. I pulled off my shirt and pressed it against the wound. I needed medical attention and fast. I suddenly began to hear the sound of sirens approaching. I began to slowly walk back down to the ground floor.
“I will see you again,” I whispered
I suddenly had a thought and began to laugh. Here I was, trying to stop Rach from feeling sorry for herself and disappearing into a bottle of alcohol. I had succeeded and both of us had stumbled onto another potential murderer. I had given chase and been injured.
Now, the only thing I wanted was a drink.
RACHEL
"I had him, I had him in my goddamn hands and he slipped away!"
Jake sat on the bumper of a nearby ambulance getting his hand fixed. He had received quite a cut trying to catch the escape artist that doused our female witness in gasoline. Every few moments Jake flinched in front of the EMT and screamed some oddball obscenity. I wanted to feel bad for Jake but he was always ready for a fight and this time his prey had struck back.
Laughing would have been inappropriate but it didn't change that I wanted to. The EMT questioned Jake as he tried to work and Jake rambled in anger about our killer getting away. I wasn't quite sure what had happened on his chase yet and that was exactly why I decided to butt in.
"Sir, sir.," the EMT tried to get a word in with Jake. "Smoke! He moved like smoke! Don't you understand?" Suddenly I was feeling bad for the time Jake was taking up from the man. "Sir!" he finally said. Jake sat frustrated in his spot dumbfounded and ready to verbally assault the man for interrupting his thoughts. "Do you smoke?"
"Do I smoke?! What does it matter if I smoke?!" Jake was extremely angered at that and I chuckled getting his attention. Too bad the EMT couldn't get through to him with whatever he was about to say.
Karen and Ben joined our small group huddled around the ambulance. We exchanged our small greetings, mostly. Karen didn't have much to say and I assumed she was just focused on getting information to add to her profiles. Ben remained silent as usual, especially when Jake was obnoxiously loud and ready to fight. Thankfully we were all huddled for the same reason, to question Jake.
I excused the EMT from our group, who seemed relieved to have a break where he could get something productive done elsewhere. "Ok Jake, we're all here. Tell us what happened after you left me." He smirked and rubbed his wounded hand before giving us the details. Eventually he broke his gaze and began.
"We went about three blocks away weaving in and out of alleyways and he led me to a vacant building, the typical dust and plastic wrapped ceilings kind of thing. There were cabinets in my way," he finally took a breathe, "empty cabinets."
Ben took notes frantically on his notepad, "I'll have one of the guys search the area," he mumbled as he finished. Karen remained silent staring at Jake.
I nodded before continuing my typical questioning. Not only had I questioned my own boyfriend as a murder suspect for the day but I was also questioning my partner. At least I didn't think he was a murderer which comforted me. "Well Jake, what else happened? How did it go down?" That wasn't the most official question I had ever asked but the jargon seemed appropriate. The muscles jumped up and down as Jake ground his teeth together.
"Well, once we got to the dingy piece of shit building he ran me around like a madman. Inside was dark. Every time I closed in and began to close the gap between us he vanished. I only got my hands on him once. He was right in front of me!" He panted with excitement and he continued rubbed the wound on his hand. Hopefully he would be getting to that piece of information sooner than later. Ben cut in on Jake's moment pushing the questioning, "Ok Jake, any smells? Anything familiar? Does anything at all stand out. Something we could use would be nice."
"Laying it on thick there aren't you hoss? You could at least take me out to dinner before expecting me to give up the goods." Jake hissed back at Ben. The guys had been through this scenario time and time again, but they didn't expect the questioning to be with each other, making every edgy.
"Answer the damn questions Jake, I'd like to go home sometime today," I continued to push.
"Yes boss," Jake snipped at me still looking at Ben.
"No, there were no smells that I could pick up. He tripped me over one of the filing cabinet drawers. After I thought I had him, he reached out and sliced me with...well...whatever the hell caused this," he held up his newly bandaged hand. "After he cut me there was a struggle and I was pushed to the ground. The only thing that happened before he vanished was a phone call."
Ben looked at the rest of us suddenly curious and he nodded. "Anything special about this phone call Jake?"
Jake hesitated to think about the moment. "No... no nothing was special. I would say the ringtone was a generic basic piece of shit." He shrugged it off.
"Did they answer Jake?" Karen decided to join in, not that her expertise warranted any active questioning. With a shake Jake said no. "Nope, there was no answer it just rang over and over until the sound faded. This is the first time anyone has ever gotten away from me, so get on this quickly ok?"
Ben's eyes said that he was ready to reply when I shoved my arm in front of him. There was no need to do this now, I was exhausted. Sober, but exhausted. I called the EMT over for one last question, and maybe Karen could help me with this. I was surprised she hadn't already jumped in, "Sir, hi, can you tell me anything about the cut that my partner Jake here sustained?"
The man, a mere boy really, looked at me and straightened up. "Yes ma'am," I cut him off, "I'm Rachel." He nodded quickly, "Rachel. If your partner here could assist me for a moment longer I could tell you, but he's been, well, stubborn at best."
"I'm right here," Jake chimed in as we all ignored him. I nodded at Jake to show the man his hand and the EMT proceeded to unwrap his limb one more time to show us the fresh wound. Karen perked up and took over.
We all huddle around Jake's hand as she took us through the various symbols of the w
ound he has sustained. "Here you'll see," Karen pointed along the wound as she spoke," this line is not jagged like a cut would be from a knife that has teeth. Whatever they used has a straight edge and is extremely sharp. I'd say this needs some serious stitches and Jake needs someone to look at his hand deeper. He could potentially have nerve damage." Things got serious fast.
"Jake, it looks like you need to go get your hand looked at further." He looked at me wide eyed, "What?" His voiced peaked an octave. I guessed he had never spent much time in a hospital setting before.
Karen rubbed Jake's shoulder, "You'll be fine Jake, just go get looked at and then we can continue the search later."
"Sir, I have to collect your things before we take you to the hospital for further evaluation. Would you like either of your friends to take your things?" Jake looked at the EMT with frustration and I tapped my foot impatiently unwilling to deal with his boyishness. I held out my hand waiting for him to hand me his phone and worse, his cigarettes. Jake packed surprisingly light. Some change came from his coat and his watch was all that remained.
Jake took out his phone and tilted it in the light and looked at the screen. "Well damn, my phone is dead. Hopefully I don't get any hot calls," his eyebrows bounced up and down. I reciprocated his humor with a frown. Once I had his things I parted ways with Jake and returned to our subgroup with Ben and Karen. Karen offered to go with Jake on his trip while we figured out what the next plan of action was.
We all met across the street next to Jake's car. Luckily he left me with the keys too for when I was ready to leave. At least someone else was thinking ahead.