Finding the serial killer

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Jake’s POV,

“Hey!!” she welcomed herself in.

“Please come it.” I followed her inside. She’s never been in my apartment before and she is making complete use of this opportunity to look around. though unlike her, I'm not a messy person, so I don’t have to think about that. “What’s going on?” I asked. she responded with a sigh turning to look at my face.

“I knew you will forget.”

“Forget what?”

“We made a bet. You and I are going to go out and look for ways to solve the case, and fast before he finds someone else to add in the investigation. We talked about it last night Jake.” She sounds so disappointed but she is the one always telling me how important Sundays are.

“I know, I didn’t forget Emily. But I have plans for the weekend. My brother is visiting with his fiancée and I already promised him my time. and I thought you want a day off.”

She rounds a 360 degree around the house only ending up at a wall I've decorated with my family’s pictures. Walking to it, she touches it barely with her fingers. “Your brother?” she pointed at the picture which has me, mom, dad and Jerry.

I nodded. “And my mom and dad.”

“You're more handsome.” It was an old one, before Jerry went to Stanford and I gave up my normal life of a f*boy, before he fixed his eyes and got rid of the glasses, before he was a total stunner hiding behind those thick glasses. So yeah, I don’t believe her. “At least you have a nicer body.” I realized it too late, she’s seen me already, shirtless. I didn’t even remember I wasn’t wearing any shirt. Not that I'm ashamed of showing her my body, but it was more awkward with someone who’s only seen you in pantsuits and ironed collared shirts.

“It’s nice to have a family to share meals with.” Her eyes scroll along all the pictures I've kept on the wall.

I'm speechless at this point, only trying to cover myself with something, anything. A cushion, curtain, magazine, my book. All useless until I run to the closet to grab one t-shirt.

“Emily…” I came out of the dresser and she was already gone. “Emily.” I heard the refrigerator being opened from the kitchen. “Emily…” I walk in.

“How’d you get it?” she says looking at the casserole I just prepared. Getting it out from the oven I left opened.

“Get what?” I look around to the counter.

“That scar on your waist.” She says.

“The scar? Oh!” it’s been a while since I ever even noticed the scar on my waist. It’s been a part of me for as long as I can remember, enough for me to forget not everyone has things like this. Well… literally it’s not really a scar. “It’s a birthmark.” I tell her. I tell her what I've heard from John and Marie, my parents who think scars this big are okay.

“As big as a f*****g fist? Hard to believe.”

“Well, that’s what I was told. It must've stretched.” She rolled her eyes at me walking back to the living room. Something bothers her, I can tell. Something she’s trying to hide. “Emily, why are you here?” I'm curious. My voice was more upfront than I imagined it will be. I saw hesitation for a second with my question, before she got back to her old self.

“I thought we can go out, ask about for the case, try to find some clues.”

I sensed a but coming. “But…”

“I owe you a dinner, I don’t like to owe anything. Or it can be a—” she behaves oddly strange today. “It could be a dat—” before she can really say, the bell rang again.

“Jerry must be here.” Saying, I walked to open the door. It was Jerry and Stella and a number of files and flowers and white wine. Jerry still buys Blue Orchids for her every day. Right on time as they promised, sharp at eleven, wearing blue themed dress and suit and I have no idea why they are so formal for a family brunch. I'm not as formal as mom and dad hosting their brunch. I hugged them and welcomed them in. “Welcome.” It’s the most formal greeting I've even greeted them with.

“I should go then.” Emily said trying to sneak through the open door when I held her back.

“Let’s eat first. I bet you haven’t had anything yet.” She smiled with awkward smile, she feels uncomfortable for some reason. “Jerry, Stella, this is my partner Emily and Emily, Jerry, my brother, and Stella his fiancée and my really good friend.” I say.

“s***h ex-best friend.” Stella added. “He doesn’t have time anymore to have friends.” Emily is stunned to see I was friends with Stella. Maybe she presumed me as such a big loser, she never knew I could have beautiful girl in my perimeter.

We all sat at the dining table with maximum capacity being the number of us and as much as I like to eat with many people around, I've realised only now that I might actually like to cook too. At least that’s what I felt with the reactions of them tasting the food came out. I'm weirdly ecstatic seeing their satisfied faces.

What I made wasn’t so hard either. I threw in a pound of pasta, a brick of cheese, milk, salt, pepper, cherry tomatoes, herbs all in the casserole and baked it stirring occasionally. Then in another dish, I added cubed bread and beaten eggs, sugar and cinnamon and yet again baked them. I bought some bread and fruits and salads as sides, a touch of white wine they got and the brunch was pretty much done.

“Have you decided on some places?” I ask.

“We’re still confused between one of the two.” Stella replied.

“So, I must start preparing my speech.” I laughed at all the things I've decided to add on to the speech I'm adamant to make hilarious.

“Speech?” Stella and Jerry both looked my way.

“Your wedding speech. I've been adding and editing things ever since you two started seeing each other. I know you'll get married.” I lie, I'm good at lying. Better than him. the only thing I'm better at is this shamefully unethical thing.

Jerry shoots me a look. “Really Jake.” His eyebrow dances. I nod a yes, he still doesn’t seem convinced.

“I'm down to two places for the restaurant that we are still so baffles about. We already know where we are going to get married, venue will be our restaurant, so if we don’t have a restaurant, we won't be married.” Stella added.

“We will just get our marriage licence and host a small gathering her and a reception later for friends and relatives in New York.” Jerry follows her.

“Mom will go ballistic. She loves to arrange these kinds of things, and make it as big as possible. You remember what she did at dad’s fiftieth birthday? Hope and pray your wedding won't go down like that.”

“I'll convince her.” he doesn’t have any idea what it’s gonna take from her. “Don’t worry.”

I shoot a glance at Emily, she is usually hard to shut up, now she is completely mute and awkward. And I don’t know the reason why she is like this.

Just as we got down with the brunch and cleaned the table, Emily again started to find her way to quickly sneak out the door. “Jerry, let’s go to the sites and then Emily and I have to go on an investigation.”

“I can come later.” She persisted.

“You're already here and I know there is no work you have to do immediately. So, relax for a day. Okay.”