Finding the serial killer

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Jake’s POV

I was driving home while Emily dozed off in the passenger seat. I look at her more than I want to, but I don’t seem to be able to look away for some reason and that reason is my heart. he is fool enough to look at her when my eyes should be glued to the road. I guess I really would like driving less and less if we often travel together. Sometimes I even think a cab ride would be so much better.

What happened between us tomorrow feels surreal so much so I have to pinch myself to really feel the reality. I was completely ready to move on, move away, go cold, and hard. but now when it’s a better day, I'm so mot ready to even think about those rageful emotions. They were too much, maybe I was so upset. In every relationship I had before, it was over when I wanted it over, it was usually over after even the slightest thing that would make me realize how different I was with my girlfriend at the time, how trust should be built for. With Emily it was the first anyone was able to change my mind, now it makes me think if any other girl would have tried as much as she did, would I have been with anyone of them?

I knew we had a connection when we met for the first time, I've never felt calmer when I was just a nervous mess boarding that flight. But I never for once thought we could really ever end up together, I mean together in the car or in like, or house or anywhere at all. Not because I thought she was out of my league, I know we looked perfect with each other, it’s probably because I thought I'm too much of a mess emotionally and sometimes mentally too to be with anyone ever, I've lost trust in relationships when my girlfriend went on the cheat while I was injured from a case. I'm too emotional sometimes for others to handle me, but the way she knows how to do it is just impeccable in every language.

I decided to stop by to get some pizza before we go. I'm starving and I know she will too when she wakes up. I bought one Texas style medium pizza and a double cheese peperoni pizza with diet coke and marbled cookie. I made sure for the server to be quiet so she won't wake up just yet. I had to make a detour from my apartment to get the takeout from the restaurant I knew she would love. I've only ever heard about it, plus she could sleep a bit more than a five-minute drive it usually takes.

I'm waiting for my take out, but wait doesn’t feel like wait at all when I had all the time in the world to be able to look at her rested face. she always has some kind of emotion on her face, and for the case we are working on right now, it’s rarely a happy emotion, but it feels great.

Maybe because I'm thirty-two already or probably because I really think she is great, I feel like she is the one. Mom always says we click instantly with the person we are meant to be with. She met dad when they were nobodies, when they were struggling, pinching pennies. They met in a park, on a bench, mom was eating an ice cream she bought from an ice cream truck that was five steps to the pavement. Dad was the one to approach mom first. He worked in the ice cream shop part-time doing his degree in management. He was so passionate about food, mom said. That was his first impression on mom. she said he had a million-dollar smile so was instantly drawn to. they talked just about how dad wanted to make a perfect cheese his dad hold a patent for, but never could’ve brought it to that level of perfection. And well, he still couldn’t make that perfect cheese, but it was a topic enough to impress mom. that evening they got drunk together and she said she knew she loved him the moment they decide to part ways. She felt like her heart was sinking.

I felt the same. I always thought I will have a similar love story, but what happened in the flight was stark opposite. I didn’t love her smile, I never saw it, but I was drawn to her tears. I wanted them to stop. We didn’t talk for hours, but I find comfort in that silence and this silence. And now I wonder if she could be the one.

“How long are you going to stare at me with that thirst.” I jerked almost banging my head on the glass window.

“What the f—”

I don’t know how she found that funny but she’s been laughing like a clown show.

“I was just waiting for the pizza.”

“Yeah!” she didn’t say more, but she laughed, more than I've seen her laugh in several days. I mean, probably ever, she don’t laugh like this. My heart just skipped beats.

“I've never seen you smile like that.”

“Are we going to see Jerry?” she brushed my comment. Good to know she is a little embarrassed too. “Hmm?”

“I wasn’t planning on seeing him tonight.”

“Then why are we here?”

“To get pizza.”

“Don’t you worry about your brother? I mean he could be in really bad place.” I know from where she looks I am the guilty one, but from where I stand, I'm purely just embarrassed to see him after what happened that day, I scared he hates me. “You promised your mom.”

“I know.”

“You know where he is?”

“I might.”

“Let’s go then. He won't hate our company.”

I knew going to see Jerry without really making up my mind for any emotional damage would send me in another spiral when I can't afford, but denying Emily didn’t feel right. so I turned my wheels right to where I wasn’t supposed to be, the restaurant Stella left behind unfinished.

It was exactly like Stella wanted, and now that the renovation is almost at the end her vision is shining bright into our faces. If I say I've never missed her more, I’d be so right. I miss her like I never missed her before. I can imagine how she would react if she sees the décor coming to life. she would start jumping with joy. She would run to Jerry and hug him. she would squeal like a bird. She would call everyone to tell just how pretty everything is. she would post everything on social media and would be disheartened that no one visioned the themes as she thought. Of course, different people will have different comprehensions. I would’ve loved to witness like I witnessed her dream coming to life when she started her first restaurant. She always had this vision of her dreams, and among us, she is the only one doing exactly what she dreamed as a kid.

“I hope she is watching down at us from heaven. I know she must be shedding tears. I hope she is no longer sad.”

Emily hugged me and that was something I really needed, because it feels good finally shedding a few tears. But this feeling of my heart breaking into million tiny pieces still adheres to me. I want it to always be there to remind of me how beautiful she was as a person. I still can't believe she is gone. There are so many people in the world that loses their lives to fulfil messed up fantasies of some crazy psychopaths and so many of them goes unpunished.

“Let go.” Emily pulls me physically into the elevator and mentally from the side my mind keeps drifting to.

It was the top floor the elevator opened at and straight into an apartment. An empty apartment. I can smell fresh paint, but it’s too sharp for anyone to live. We walked to the only room that emitted light to all the dark part of the floor. And Jerry was right there on the bed, the only piece of furniture there was. And no mattress. Whenever I thought of the moment I would see him again, I never thought it will be like this. He had fresh stubble the last I saw him, his stubble is now a full grown beard. His hair is a mess and face dull, like he hasn’t slept in days.

I look around to the wall that has pictures and pictures of Stella and him stuck on it, and many photos, and details in writing how they would match different themes with different genres. I started tearing up at the sight. It’s a solace at the point to imagine that Stella was never gone and she would just pop out our back, bitching about how she could make a better pizza that is both tastier, organic and healthier. Then we would argue why this pizza would be tastier that hers because unhealthy is tastier and then she would groan with disgust but still devour the pizza. She would love the cookie, I knew it was one of her favorites.

“Jerry.” I say to the man who seems almost unconscious on the bed but with his eyes open. He sits up knowing our presence. But he is careful, slow and drowsy. I wonder if it was lack of sleep or alcohol or both. He wasn’t the type to turn to drugs for rehabilitation.

He stands up looking at me like he is having trouble recognizing me. but I don’t waste any time. I'm regretting letting him get to this point already. I regret not looking after my little brother when I knew he would suffer. I take full strides, almost running, to him. I hugged him and that was one moment I would never forget. I hugged me tight, like he needed it. I know he needed it. I needed it.