Gone After the Wind

Chapter 5 - Permission

BY THE TIME Cara entered the affluent neighborhood of Houstown, the night had reached its peak, and each street she passed was already engulfed by somber silence. Not a single person was present on its vast grounds. All seemed to be busy on how to spend their nights brightly. Only the faint street lamps illuminated her way. And although it wasn't the first time she entered this exceptional neighborhood, she still found herself confused and unsure if she was in the right street or not.

The overly ostentatious features of the houses were the reason why she felt blind. She couldn't determine which one was the house of her sister-in-law or what street it was located. It looked all disturbingly similar. What she could see beyond her car's window gave her an impression of how sybarite and materialistic the people were in here. A bit irritated, Cara sped up, not wanting to prod her eyes more.

Hadn't for emergency purposes, she wouldn't entertain the idea of visiting here. Marco's family had made it clear before. She would never be welcome here again, whatever the consequences may be. It wasn't as if Cara had already forgotten about that. She's taking the risk for the sake of her future and what direction she should choose after knowing that the killer she hunted for weeks is back.

She only hoped that her sister-in-law would be present tonight. Not her parents or other relatives. Cara wanted nothing tonight but peace and a simple conversation that would help her in the dire situation she was currently in. Her name was Eloisa Loftgant—the only sibling of Marco she ever had the chance to experience a healthy rapport. Their friendship was at its finest before the tragedy happened. Cara found it easy to connect with Eloisa. Not just because she's the closest sibling of Marco, but mainly, she's a woman who can understand Cara's personal battle more than anyone.

Growing up in a household surrounded by men, Cara had this particular fear of interacting with women. It wasn't because she didn't know how to socialize, it was the fact that all of the women she ever encountered before had bullied her. They often find her know-it-all attitude as insulting and irritating. And ever since then, she never dare befriend anyone lining up in her gender.

On top of that, she also hated the general truth about them being weak and easily subjected to harm, the very main reason why at a young age, she opted to enter the police academy instead of pursuing the dream of an average teenage girl.

Despite the chauvinism she received during the years she spent inside the academy, she successfully debunked the myths about her gender. She outpowered the men in her batch, establishing an immaculate reputation as a sharp and bold student. The higher-ups immediately recognized her name, and even labeled her as their golden girl.

She was magnificent in all aspects. Be it physical or mental prowess. She never left a case go cold; she would always find a way to solve it.

At the peak of her career, she met Marco, and the bond between them got easily tied by the knot. He came from an upper-class family, but his relationship with Cara had never been discussed negatively. His family was excellent, and they accepted her, despite the fact that Cara has a unique history from her former household.

It was an ideal life. Cara never thought she could participate in a complete and lively family. She had strived for it badly, and she received it at an early stage. But life always has its way to balance the aspects, no matter what the consequences could be, it will step in between. And Cara knew about that very well.

Just as how far her success went, her downfall was ten times greater. She lost Marco. Eloisa and her whole family resented her. And Alex, her poor son, had to endure some trauma and cope with his father's death. All because she was neglectful and selfish. She aimed too high and dreamt too much, the payment was more than she wished.

Cara felt a pang on her chest as she continued reminiscing those old and ideal days she had. She shook her head, forcing those memories away from her mind, and tried her best to focus on the street. Her palms were getting sweaty as she drove down deeper, scanning each house varying in sizes, trying her best to search Eloisa's house. Just when she turned a corner, she caught a glimpse of the simple and elegant townhouse with consummate exterior designs nestled far from the street.

Her heart started to beat faster as she prolonged her stare at the magnificent abode. Some house attributes may have changed, Cara would never mistake it for another one. She knew it too well. The trimmed lawn, wide front porch and overall white tone of the outer walls are all pulling back the last memories she had in that place. Including Marco's agonizing funeral and the day Eloisa and the rest of her family closed their door to her.

She hadn't felt any anger at all when they cut the ties. In fact, she never made any complaint. She had long accepted the consequences. To even put up a fight after her negligence wasn't the best choice to make at that moment. She walked away humbly and promised to herself that she would respect their decision to keep her off from this place.

And yet, here she is, waiting for the best opportunity to walk on their well-constructed porch and knock on the wooden door. The lights were still glowing on the first floor of the house, and there was only one car in the driveway. Cara squinted her eyes to the still darkness, looking if Marco's parents owned the car or not. She felt relieved when she recognized that it was Eloisa's.

Inhaling a mouthful amount of air, Cara wasted no time and hoisted herself out from the car. Before crossing the small distance between her car and the house, she studied the whole surroundings first and started walking. When she pressed the doorbell, her anticipation grew large, and it was pushing her to back down at her plan. But her determination to be attended remained stoic.

It did not take long before someone took the liberty to open the door. Cara froze when the angelic face of Eloisa showed up at the doorway.

"Cara? What on earth..." Eloisa muttered under her breath, eyes squinting at the unexpected visitor. Her droopy eyes and dismantled robe were evidences that she was getting ready to sleep when Cara buzzed in. "Do you know what time is it?"

"I know it's late," Cara answered and swallowed. "I'm just wondering if I could..." she trailed off, unsure what she would say because to herself, as well, she couldn't determine the real reason why she was here.

To try your luck and see if they would permit you to go back, she thought.

Eloisa heaved a deep sigh, her arms crossing over her chest, sneering at Cara slightly. "You're lucky Mom wasn't here, otherwise, you'll be escorted out of here by your own kind. Come in," she drawled lazily before pushing the door wide. Albeit reluctant and stunned to either say anything or move, Cara forced herself to follow her.

As Eloisa led her to the kitchen, she observed that nothing was overly changed to this part of the house. Still shiny and spacious as it was before. Already mystified by the fact that Eloisa let her in, Cara stopped near the top, her mind battling if she would even bother to sit or accept the bit of hospitality.

"Well?" Eloisa raised an eyebrow when she finished pouring a glass of wine, she spotted Cara still standing away from the chair. "Should I have to force you on that freaking stool before you sit? I'm not as disrespectful like my parents, Cara. Even just a glimpse of your face is making me puke, I wouldn't stoop down to that level."

Cara bit her lower lip, feeling her muscles tensed as ever. She swallowed the forming lump in her throat. Wthout a word, she sat on the stool across where Eloisa was standing.

"So... what pushed you to come here? Alex didn't fly away again, did he?" Eloisa let out a chuckle. "That boy... must've hated you that much he couldn't stand being with you anymore. I understand him, though."

Cara shook her head with gritted teeth. Irritation spilled within her at the mention of her son. "He's at home, completely safe and sound. You've forgotten that we're done with that phase, Eloisa."

Sniggering, Eloisa put down the wineglass and crossed her arms over her silky robes, her eyes drilling into Cara with a different degree of insult. "Once a child saw you incapable of doing your duties as a parent, trust me, he would do everything to remind that to you. And Alex isn't done yet with that."

Cara was left speechless. She wanted to nullify Eloisa's confident claims. Alex would never do anything that would upset her. He may have been impassive for the past weeks, but Cara knew deep inside that his compassion for her was still alive. She won't give up on him. She knew, someday, he wouldn't see her as the woman responsible for the death of his father, but as the person who gave him the life he has and recognized her as his mother.

"Alex is out of this. I came here to know how you've been—"

"The audacity of you to even come here and ask that," Eloisa cut her off, her voice filled with hatred. "I don't see a point why you want to know about that. We just lost Marco brutally. And it's all your freaking fault. Do you expect us to rejoice and celebrate?" Her voice raised, and Cara saw that alarming sign that Eloisa took it the wrong way. She panicked a bit. Not because she got intimidated, but she didn't know what to do if Eloisa happened to lash out right now.

"That's not what I want to say—" Cara held up her both hand, defensive.

"What is, then, Cara?" Eloisa hurled, advancing a step towards her sister-in-law. "What's your freaking point of coming here? To show which one of us had moved on and forgotten about what happened? Do you have any idea how much pride I swallowed to just let you in here? I somehow expected that you're here to apologize, one thing that you never did in the past. Had I known that you'd be asking that ridiculous question without any remorse, I should've called the police instead!"

"Eloisa, calm down..." Cara said softly, trying her best to pacify Eloisa's growing anger. She had seen that expression before. Talking to the mourning family was the hardest thing she had ever done in her career of all the cases she had handled. Not because she's incapable of showing sympathy, but she just couldn't handle them well. Especially when things started to escalate.

Eloisa is now showing those mourning signs. Contradicting her would only make their situation worse.

"It's been two months, and you're still that f*****g entitled?" Eloisa hissed. "Wake up, Cara! We're not on the time where everything is still okay! Marco is dead and you were kicked out of your job! Don't be such an ass and show some respect!"

"I'm sorry..." Cara whispered. "I just thought I could..."

Eloisa shook her head, defiant at accepting what she had just heard. Cara couldn't make a move. She wanted to say more, not just those two words but all of the regrets she had. She wanted to admit that Eloisa's wrong. That, no, she's not that person anymore. She had changed. Marco's death knocked up her senses. And she won't be in that lane again.

"Is that the only reason you came here, huh? To insult us?"

Cara shook her head fervently. "No, I... I want your permission."

Eloisa stared at her blankly, baffled at Cara's weird admission.

"A serial killer is on the loose, and a new victim was found today. His work is familiar to anyone, and the way he murdered them is similar to—"

Cara couldn't finish her own sentence when Eloisa started to laugh. Her heart sank, the slightest hope she clung on to come here without having fear consume her completely vanished. She had come to the realization that maybe, it's too late. Her pending choice to go back to the force may not be the best way to reconcile with the past.

The damaged had been done. She was too stupid to think that she could erase or even heal it.

"You really have no human decency at all, huh?" Eloisa smirked, her eyes watering in tears by the withheld anger. "You came here unannounced, insulted us with your oh-I'm-great attitude. All because you what? You wanted our permission so you could go back to being the pretentious sleuth who doesn't give a f**k about anything even if someone dies under your sleeve."

Cara pushed herself to stand up, not wanting to indulge anymore in the conversation. The discussion is over. Eloisa couldn't understand what she wanted to indicate. Even her intention was to assure them that she would find the son-of-a-b***h who killed Marco, Eloisa wouldn't be able to see and appreciate that. Because in her eyes and the rest of her family, the murderer is not someone living out there unnamed and unrecognized by the crime he committed.

To them, the person who truly pushed Marco to his deathbed is Cara. No one else other than her.

"You want my permission? Alright, then, I'm giving you the blessing to chase and arrest yourself," Eloisa said, her gray eyes piercing into Cara like sharp daggers. "Because you're the one who killed Marco. Not the serial killer out there or some sicko craving for attention. It's you, Cara Black. It's always you, and you must pay for it."