She'd seen that look in his eyes before, and each time, something bad happens. It was how he showed hatred and imparted fear. It was how you knew he was going to do something bad.357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY539xl2ph
Pure terror surged through her veins as he neared her a bit taller than she was. One look at him and the verdict was told. She knew what was next. She knew what it was to cross a line with him.
When he'd had a few drinks he lost all ability to reason. He'd lash out first and think later. When any other guy would have shrugged and walked away, he will rather-
The slap was as loud as a clap and stung her face. It had been an open-handed smack and it had left a red welt behind. Just below her eye was a small cut where the ring he wore had cut her.
He took another glare at her as he twisted the old realistic death's head ring on his finger. A skull, to him, wasn't a symbol of death as it is believed across cultures since time began. He thought of the skull as much more complicated and meaningful than it might appear. He believed the skull was a reminder of the Latin phrase Carpe diem which meant "seize the day."
It reminded him that his time was limited, so, therefore, he should make the most of it - he should seize every day he had and live life to the fullest. And perhaps this moment was a moment that needed to be seized.
She staggered backwards, clutching her face and her eyes watered. "Lo siento Ramón...I didn't mean to do it. It was a mistake..."
"Mistake huh? Muy bien!" he said, mimicking a clap as he walked steadily towards her, his grating voice echoing through the empty garage. "How can you be so stupid in the open like that? You put the entire deal in jeopardy and you call it a mistake?
Then you had the guts to run away. You thought you could get away from me that easily huh?" He squatted beside her and pointed a gun at her head. "Get this through that thick skull of yours de una vez por todas, if all these years haven't given you a hint yet, you are stuck here with me. You can not get away from me. You are mine!"
•••
The loud knock on the door snapped him out of sleep. He jumped out of the bed like the door was hardwired to his brain and strode off to the door.
He opened the door and his gaze met that of Sid Hackman- a 37-year-old homicide detective who after losing his wife and daughter in a mysterious fire got traumatized for months and left his job. He didn't know he had returned.
He stood at the doorway looking exactly as he remembered him to be -an epitome of a man who doesn't rest until he had found what he is after. No wonder the tragic death of his family, which was rumoured to be payback from someone he took down, couldn't keep him down forever.
"Hey, newsman. Mind if I come in?" Sid asked, taking off his hat and peering over the glasses he wore.
"Errm...not at all detective. Come in."357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4ysuX0zLT
He opened the door, worry overtaking his face as he ushered him in.
It was never good news when a police detective showed up at your door at 6 am in the morning. And even worse when they remove their hat and request politely to come inside.
Lennon knew that much and knew Sid wasn't there for a get together considering their history. He had worked on several crime cases with him back when he was just a reporter for the news hub. They had their rough times and good times.
He remembered the number of times he had stopped reporting a case because they were threatened but Sid disagreed with him and still pursued the case. In short, he knew who Sid was and what he could do.
At that moment, all he could do was trail his mind to the possible reasons that could bring Sid to his apartment that morning and when he found none, he offered him a seat.
"Don't worry Mr Keegan...I won't take that much time. No need for a seat." He waved off his kind gesture and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Alright if you say so. So-" Just as he was about to ask why he was there as if Sid read his mind, he waved a photograph of a light-to-medium dark-skinned girl with semi-slanted black eyes and dark brown hair, in fatigues at him. The girl seemed to be running away from something. The next question Sid asked left his head spinning.
"Do you know her?"
"W-wha...who?"
He stood there for a while and stared at the photograph as if he had been trapped in a different realm.
"Mr Keegan, do you or do you not know her?"
"I am afraid not. I don't recall coming into contact with her or anyone who looks like her." he took the picture from Sid's hands.
"Alright I think this is where I take that seat you offered." he unbuttoned the coat he wore and sat down. "You see this lady right here," he pointed at the photograph Lennon held. "is a criminal and she is wanted by the military and police so I hope you will make a better decision and save us all the trouble by telling me what exactly you know about her," he added.
"Errr...what exactly did you say she did?"
"I thought between the two of us, I am the detective here which means I ask the questions and you fucking answer them!" he said and stood up from the chair he sat on.
He walked over to where Lennon stood as a vortex of anger swirled inside him. "Now let me make this easier for you. Our camera captured you a week ago picking her up."
He pulled a brown envelope from his coat, opened it and drew out a photograph of Lennon and Mari walking towards his car and handed it to him. "So let's try this again Mr Keegan. Hopefully, the picture has made you remember something."
"Of course I picked her up but only to help her out. It was raining like crazy out there and she was drenched. I dropped her off at the bus terminal. I didn't get to ask her who she was or whether she had committed any crime, detective," he replied.
"Then you might want to explain this." He brought out another photograph. "This photograph from the street camera shows both of you entering this very apartment together that night. So unless you want to be charged with aiding and abetting a veteran who is on the ran for committing manslaughter, you might want to start talking."
"Ok...ok...this is the truth." He took a seat and positioned himself as if to remember clearly what happened.357Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PORn17yF7
"As I said, I saw her in the rain, I wanted to help her out so I gave her a lift but found out she wasn't from around here, at least that's what she told me. I asked her to come here with me, get dry clothes and spend the night here so that she will leave in the morning but other things happened that night and I fell asleep right after.
I woke up in the morning and she was gone. I saw no trace of her anywhere in here. And that is the truth."
"Alright, Mr Keegan if that is what you are saying I will take my leave but I will come back later if I have further questions and if she ever makes contact, you know where to find me." The detective said and walked out.
After the detective left, Lennon prepared for work but he couldn't get his mind off what the detective had said. He drummed his fingers on the kitchen table in an unmetered pattern his mouth pursed but slightly open and loose.
His eyes were fixed on the cup of coffee in front of him. It was as if he was zapped into oblivion.
"Who are you?" he found himself asking then he heard a thump in his bedroom.
He walked stealthily towards the room. He slowly pushed the door when he neared it to reveal what was in the room.
"What the-!" he bellowed his expression closing up at the sight of what was in the room.
•••
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