The Samantha Rain Mysteries

Chapter 13

13

A gruelling two hours later, Samantha closed the last report. She leaned back with a groan, the chair shrieking as she stretched her arms. Her joints cracked with a satisfying pop and relieved some of the pressure.

She brushed her hand over the top of the stack, a pensive look flitting through her eyes. She’d never understand how people could disappear without a single trace and leave this vacuum for their loved ones behind, often with nothing more than a couple of pictures and some memories to keep on to. Most of these faces… They’d never return to their families, whether by choice or not.

With a heavy heart, she cleared her throat and returned the stack of files to Rick.

“All done?” he asked.

“Yes, all done.”

“Found anything useful?”

“No, unfortunately not.” Samantha shook her head and rotated her shoulders. “Oof.”

“Stiff?”

“Yes. I forgot how bad the chairs were.”

Rick chuckled darkly. “Tell me about it. Sorry I couldn’t help.”

“That’s alright, thanks for letting me check the reports anyway.”

“Anytime.” He studied her thoughtfully. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about?”

Samantha smiled. “No.”

“Alright then.”

“I’ll let you get to it. You’ve got surveillance to watch,” she joked.

“Exactly. Yippee.”

“Thanks, Rick.”

He gave her a bored wave. “Anytime.”

Disappointed that she hadn’t found any information about the two dead bodies or the child at Catalina’s, Sam made her way to the exit. She passed a couple more whispering ex-colleagues and managed to leave the station before she ran into the chief.

That would have really ruined her day.

With a heavy heart, she shot a last look at the precinct. She never expected to feel so detached from her second home but there was no denying reality. This hadn’t been a safe space for a long time.

With a sigh, she tightened her jacket and turned away. She passed the familiar newspaper stand and the hamburger cart that always smelled like fat and onions. She lingered at the stall, watching the vendor liberally dress a burger with ketchup and hand it to the customer in a fat-stained paper pouch. She’d definitely had one too many of those when she was still working here.

Oh, the memories.

A rush of emotions welled up in Samantha and she blinked some tears away. She’d been back to the station multiple times after her retirement, but this was the first time she fully understood there wasn’t a future for her anymore. Now she was aware of the Nox, she’d never be able to serve the police like she used to, knowing that left and right things were being taken care of behind magical closed doors.

Maybe a month or even a couple of weeks ago she would’ve been saddened by the knowledge that things could never return to normal. But she was also grateful for it. This new world that opened up to her needed people like her and as long as she could make a difference, that was all that mattered.

The image of the two glittering bodies passed through her mind and she nodded. Yes, there were still plenty of ways she could help and she didn’t have to be a police officer to do it.

Relief welled up in her as she passed the corner and left the precinct behind. Her phone sounded and she picked up without looking. “Hello?”

“Hey!” a voice chimed.

“Who is this?”

“Who do you think?”

She chuckled. “Ah. Hello, Lilith.”

“Do you not have me saved in your phone?”

“Of course, I do. I just didn’t look.”

“That’s not like you.”

“I… I guess not,” Sam said.

“What are you doing?”

“Right now?”

“No, in ten years. Yes, right now.”

“I’m just leaving the police station,” Samantha replied. She walked past some more familiar sights, but barely noticed them. Lilith did that to her, although she would never admit that out loud. Her hand tightened around the phone. “Can we meet up? Drunken Turnip in… fifteen?”

“Why were you at the police station? No, doesn’t matter, we have a code five.”

“What’s code five?”

“I’ll explain when you’re there. I’ll text you the address.”

“Wait, can I at least—”

“It’s urgent. Just get to the park as soon as possible.”

Sam groaned. “Aye, aye. Anything else, drill sergeant?”

“No.” Lilith was silent for a moment. “But I like my new title.”

“You’re not supposed to.”

“Too bad!”

The line clicked and with a slight smile, Samantha shook her head. With Lilith around, she barely had any time to miss her old life or indulge in self-pity. Maybe her newest companion was a bit bossy and marched to the beat of her own drum, but still… things were never dull when she was around.