Chapter 1
I took a sip of coffee, and the richness of the strong flavor coated my mouth. I really, needed This...
" Edward Stone, How long are you gonna stare at the cup huh?”
That voice shit Emily! When did she arrive here? I raised my head from the desk and saw her smiling face.
" until I fully wake up” I smiled and she went for her desk beside me.
" Captain Brandon told me you were here last night, why did you come here all of sudden? Don’t tell me you got a sudden sense of duty?”
" Nothing like that...” I tilted my head and supported with my hand to observe her, her ocean-like blue deep eyes, her fair and smooth skin, her black long hair that resembles night sky, her curved frame, and her thin lips.
" Is there something on my face?”
" n-No...Just..."
" Just what? Eddi” She put aside the file she was about to read and play against with my gaze. I had no answer, so I kept my mouth shut. ” By the way, I am sorry for yesterday”
" Yesterday? Oh, you mean for your boyfriend... Just forget it, it’s not a big deal”
" No big deal! it was your birthday and that jerk how dare he misbehaves with you,” She said slamming her fist on the desk slightly, I can tell from that she mean it.
" Hey! Keep it down, will you?” I put aside my coffee cup.
" No way-”
" Emily, Chief Colten is calling you” someone called from the inner office. We gazed at each other and she clicked her tongue in her teeth.
I rolled my eyes ” Now what did you do?” Without answering she ran inside the office. This girl, never let a normal day slip past.
I splashed water on my face, rubbing my eyes hard, and Set my short black hair backward. I bent on the washbasin trying to figure out how the heck did I end up with two recent scars on the chest area.
" Well, it’s not looking worse like others”
Thankfully, my good-looking face wasn’t hurt or I would have to explain what happened to me even if I had no clue about it to Emily. Speaking of Emily, she seemed pretty upset about that incident. I have to do something about it or she will get more mad at that guy, wait why should I care, it will be wonderful for me, isn’t it?
Now it’s not the time to think about that, I have to find out what she had done this time... Rubbing my forehead slightly, I left the washroom, along the way thanking the lord that I wasn’t with her this time or Chief Colten would’ve put me on a burning stove.
" Hey! Edward” Lieutenant Denial greeted me as we passed by. She was an American- African woman. Despite her increasing weight and age, she was more lively and alive, at least more than me.
" good day Lieutenant...” I scratched my throat looking around inside the inner office, towards the Chief’s cabin. She was still there, standing straight lowering her head.
" Don’t worry she will be fine, it’s not new for her” lieutenant Dani chuckled putting her files on the desk.
" Did she, hit someone’s car or argued with shopkeepers down the street, for a low price? ”
" Nah! She just solved fight outside with her usual style,”
" Oh God did she punch someone?”
" Mr. Lawrence, I laughed hard when I saw a dark circle around his eye, that was hilarious”
" I bet she took that temper from her seniors”
" Yeah... Wait why are you giving me that look? I didn’t even hit anyone in my entire career”
" Neither you told her not to, madam”
" Oh come one someone has to keep that guy in check you know, for him fist work better than words, Boom” She demonstrated punch for me” There she is”
I turn my head. Emily walked toward us biting her lower lip.
" Wanna come with us, lieutenant?”
" Atta girl, can’t you see these bunch of files here, you two go-ahead I’ll pass” Her white teeth glinted.
" Wait who’s going with who? I am not going-”
" I don’t recall asking your opinion?” She tugged me by uniform and dragged me with her outside.
She pulled up the jeep and joined the road and I began watching the sideline. Why the heck do I have to go patrol with her? I need damn sleep, Sheriff Brandon went home early then why not me?
" Where are we going?”
" To, moonlight, My treat”
Ah, that’s great I could use some food to fill my stomach. I am tired of eating burgers and pizzas.” Hey! Don’t use your phone, you are driving”
" jeez ok, just seeing time”
" Time? You typed something and I saw it you did. Don’t lie to me ” she rolled her eyes and took the smooth left turn towards our destination, The Fablands famous cafe.
My home town has many, different aspects, from the notable peoples to notorious peoples, beautiful scenery to bleak woodlands, exposing history too, unsolved cases, colorful Animal arts on houses to plain centers, lonely places too crowded cafes like this one... Moonlight.
I step out of the vehicle. The Bloody burning sun glimpsed out of the mountain range far out in the distance. a breeze drifted past me as I followed Emily inside the Cafe leaving my palms inside the pockets.
The cafe was less packed than usual but one face, grabbed my attention just as I stepped inside the cafe, and soon my feet stopped. Jeremy Harrington, Emily’s so-called boyfriend, and general surgeon - I can’t believe this guy is a surgeon, I mean last night he was surfing on the counter after taking four shots, I hope he is at least decent at what he does... Hold on, why he is here? Did Emily force him to be here in the early morning? If so why?
" don’t just stand there” Emily squeezed my hand and led me towards The same table as Jeremy.
" Eddi, nice to meet you man” He stretched out his hand
" Edward, call me Detective Edward Stone Dr. Harrington” I kept my hand inside my pockets. He awkwardly smiled at us and pulled back his hand taking his seat.
" Yes, yes Detective... how about taking a seat”
I glanced at Emily, she was looking at me with orifices that I would never dare to defy.
" After you, my lady” I dragged a wooden chair back, and when she made herself comfortable I sat across the round table. "So what’s all this about?”
" Jeremy wants to say something?” We both tilted our heads towards the blonde fellow, who refused to look at us.
" How bout we first order something... Fried chicken or Hamburger ?”
" chicken...” We both blurted out at the same time. Jeremy ordered and again our table went to silent mode.
" Jeremy!”
" Oh, Yeah... hey man I am sorry for yesterday, I ruined your birthday. I shouldn’t have acted like that... I was super drunk”
" don’t feel bad bout it. I usually don't celebrate my birthday, I was their coz of her” I said poking Emily’s cheek. I don’t want Emily to feel bad about everything and besides knowing her she won’t let this matter rest until I forgive him.
Our Orders arrived and I dig in without waiting for those two, I am kinda hungry. And the next moment Our radio chimed and Chiefs Colten’s voice ringed. "We found a dead body of a woman inside a forest, three miles north from crown center woodland, I repeat three miles north from crown Center woodland, All units gather near that area, Over”
I nearly choked while stuffing my mouth and Emily’s eyes left open wide. The dead body of women... It cant be... Him... Probably wild animal, not a human, yeh it has to be a wild animal
" We have to go”
" Right behind you"
Both of us entered that specific area, wearing masks, mostly walking through the ragged portions of the woodlands due to inapproachable paths for the vehicles. the area came off quiet, deathly quiet as if aliveness evacuated from this area... all the birds had left, squirrels and other wild creatures, except this horrible nose-burning smell and the occasional click of cameras.
empty backpack, shoes, three-season tent, sleeping bag, cell phone, chunks of bread were scattered around the marked area as Two white-coated medics loaded corpses on a stretcher, zipped into a dark plastic body bag, and stepped towards the ambulance.
I and Emily made our way to the old man wearing a cowboy hat, heavy boots, his hands resting on his waist.
" Did we find anything Chief?” Emily said and Chief Colten sharply turned at us.
" e-Edward... I heard you were on night duty last night, why don’t you head home... ” He approached me.
" I appreciate it Chief but if I can’t handle this much then how could I call-”
" No son, let this old man, handle this-”
" Dad ... I mean Chief What’s this?” Emily pointed her finger at a tree trunk near the marked location. "Rabbit... What does that mean?”
The moment she said these words, I felt like someone had slapped me across the face, hard. Cold sweat trickled down from my forehead and my hands began trembling. My heartbeat was loud enough to penetrate my ears from inside, I could see the furious face of the chief, turned at Emily...
I tilted my head to see that carved word, ‘RABBIT’, my hearing senses became dull and the word itself began taking over my vision... Rabbit, rabbit, rabbit
