Obsessions and Hitmen

Chapter Two: Playing Detective

Chapter Two: Playing Detective

***

POV: *Reign*

***

The Atlantis Star was the local newspaper of choice. The big blue star logo could be seen from half a block away. It was weird to see them now that I had an internship with the company.

That same weird feeling hits when a childhood memory decodes, and we catch all those messages we heard as children but never understood. The off-putting emotion that repaints the past in different hues.

That big blue star pulled my attention away from Jude as he walked out this morning. He walked past one of those metal newspaper bins, and it distracted me just like they designed it to do.

I typed a quick message to him, praying he would listen and get more caffeine in his system. I was just about to hit send when a hand reached out and grabbed my arm at the elbow.

“Hey, beautiful!" Beau greeted warmly, and the tension from his jump scare melted a little.

“Oh, Beau, you scared me," I let out an embarrassed laugh, but he didn't seem to find it funny.

Judging by how he rolled his eyes as if I was being dramatic, he didn't find it amusing so much for melted tension. I could already see this was the theme of the day.

“I'm sorry. It's been a morning already. How has yours been, baby?" I asked when he fell silent at my side.

He rattled off the exact details he did every morning about he could have slept more, and I hit send on that message I had typed out a moment earlier.

“Did something happen over coffee?" Beau stopped to ask just before we walked passed the double doors to the cubicles.

“Huh?" I asked as I put my phone back into my pocket and looked at him.

I expected to see concern on his face after hearing the tone of his voice, but it wasn't there. The only thing written all over his face was impatience.

“That's the second time I saw your phone glued to your face this morning. I figured something happened with Jude," he clarified, and I bit back the words I wanted to say.

I didn't like his tone or how he automatically assumed my mood had anything to do with Jude. Don't get me wrong. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little distracted by how Jude handled the pervy stranger, but I was more distracted by how scared I had felt then.

I don't think I would have felt so unsettled if my internship didn't have me combing through the recent murders in and around town. It wasn't like this morning had been the first time Beau popped up, and I cringed. Trust me; we long discussed why when it first happened.

“Apparently, it's let's grab Reign while she tries to function day. That happened today," I answered as I charged ahead to my desk.

“Reign, wait!" he called from behind me, but I kept my eyes down and continued to my desk.

He caught up and grabbed my arm in the same spot but harder. I stumbled back a little and leaned in.

“Are you saying Jude grabbed you today?" he questioned, and I jerked my arm out of his grasp.

“Did you have a shot of whiskey with that coffee this morning? Jeez, no! Some jerk in the cafe got handsy. You should be thanking my bestie instead of accusing him and me for the cause of this morning's jump scares," I answered.

I wanted to leave. I wanted to take the three steps into my cubical and sit with my back facing Beau so he would leave me alone. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I was too worried he would make a more significant scene.

I glanced around the area to see if anyone was watching. No one looked our way. So everyone had heard, that's great.

“I'm s…" he started to say, but it would only be another empty apology.

“I'll be home late. I have a couple of cases to dig up tonight," I said, interrupting Beau's p*ss poor attempt to take his foot out of his mouth.

“We need to talk about this," Beau tried again as he reached for me.

I moved my arm out of his reach and stepped into my safe place. I looked around the room again. No one had moved from their spots. Which was stupid because there was no reason Garrett should have been sharpening his pencil this whole time.

“Look at you love birds, in the middle of the office having a little private conversation. Surely you wouldn't want a boss man to think she cares for you more than her internship, right?" My best friend Nellie asked as she came to my rescue.

She raised her brow at him and waited for him to respond. Beau used his short supply of common sense and left without another word, but only because I steeled myself as he kissed my forehead. I would have put money on him fighting a bit harder if I had moved out of his way like I wanted to.

“Garrett, if you sharpen that d*mn pencil any more, you will get a brand new manicure to match. Jeez, Louise people. If you are going to eavesdrop, at least do it like GOOD reporters," she announced before winking at me and walking back to her desk.

That girl just earned herself a paid lunch. The dull hum of the office grew between the click of her heels until the office returned to life.

I took my seat behind the blue burlap-lined walls. I had only been sitting for a few minutes when a soft knock sounded on the doorway behind me.

“Ms. Royal, there is a meeting scheduled in ten minutes with all the interns. Mr. Barnhouse has asked me to invite you personally." Mercy, Mr. Barnhouse's assistant, said in a voice that reminded me of Betty Boop.

“Count me in!" I said with a forced smile. She nodded slightly before she continued down the rows.

The meeting hadn't been on the schedule when I had left here at eight last night. The office was almost a ghost town, and my shift started only thirty minutes after the front doors opened. The fact my boss asked for me specifically left me feeling a little anxious.

I waited five more minutes before I stood up and headed to the conference room I had spent most of the day in yesterday. I was the second to last person to enter the room. The final was my boss, Bilson Barnhouse.

He made his way to the head of the giant conference table and handed a folder to my boyfriend.

“Thank you for joining us today," Mr. Barnhouse announced as the room fell quiet and people relaxed in their chairs.

I watched the room, avoiding Beau, who had been staring directly at me. I wondered if he knew about this meeting this morning. I asked if he would have told me if we didn't have that fight.

“ A couple of you stayed last night to comb through case files to try and find any similarity between more than one of the cases. I am happy to report that as of last night, one of you earned your whole group the next couple of nights free from overtime. Everyone, please give a hand to Reign Royal for finding a new piece of evidence that may link twelve of our twenty-three unsolved murder cases," Mr. Barnhouse smirked his thick caterpillar mustache as he gestured to where I sat.

The room erupted in applause, and I tried not to implode in my chair. I had never been a fan of this kind of attention. I hated to feel all eyes on me, making moments like this and birthdays a nightmare. I would feel the pride from this later when I felt I deserved it.

I felt my cheeks heat bright red as I focused on my breathing. Fear overwhelmed my stubborn tendencies, and I broke, glancing toward Beau.

He cleared his throat, and the room died down, their focus now on him.

“Don't leave us in the dark, Bill. What did she find that everyone else missed?" Pride glimmered in his eyes as Beau asked. It might have put me at ease if I hadn't been so angry with him.

I swallowed my guilt for being angry and listened, trying to remember what puzzle piece I had uncovered. I remembered nothing that stood out last night.

“Thank you! Mercy, will you load the images to the projector?" Mr. Barnhouse asked his assistant.

Faster than he had asked for them, they were behind his head. It was a crime scene photo I had taken the week before of a John Doe who had been murdered in the alleyway. His death had been odd because the medical examiner had initially speculated it was an accidental overdose.

The actual cause of death was discovered after the autopsy when the labs returned. It wasn't a regular overdose. There were levels of snake venom in his system. He had aspirated on his vomit.

“Does anything stand out to anyone?" My boss asked, and whispers spread amongst the crowd.

That was when my eyes found it, like the big blue star. A little bird silhouette was painted on the corner of a dumpster in black paint.

My boss had Mercy flip through five more crime scene photos. No one had a guess. I focused on my breathing as more and more coworkers looked in my direction. He instructed her to flip to the first photo again. She did, and he stood just outside of the illuminated picture.

He pointed at the bird with his pen, and the room held its breath. He got to the next photo and found the bird painted underneath one of the pavilion tables where an elderly gentleman lay. He went through each image, pointing out every bird, and then he had Mercy turn off the machine.

We have been in touch with the local police department. We have officially handed them their next lead, and that guarantees a favor later on as we need it. Small details like these often feel insignificant, but it is why we have more than one person on the same investigative cases. We work long hours and spy on friends and family, and our judgment and mental focus can strain our mental wellness. Be sure to thank Ms. Royal on your way out for your much-needed break," and with that; he ended the meeting.

I survived the parade of hugs and gratitude because I waited for Beau to stop by. I wanted to thank him earlier and make plans for dinner since I didn't have to stay late, but he never circled.

When I made it back to my desk, I checked my phone. I had one message from Beau.

***

Beau: I am going to be home late tonight.

***

The time stamp said he sent it not even a minute after Barnhouse had left the room and started the parade of praise. I tried not to let it bother me. He said nothing about my accomplishment.

Getting this internship wasn't easy. I wasn't even in the top ten of my graduating class and was the only one of five that didn't make the top three. It was a miracle I was even here. That was why I had the late nights and researched cases that destroyed my hope in humanity.

The part that stung about all that was that he knew how hard I was fighting to belong here. Maybe it was for the best I didn't make dinner plans with him and gave us a night to lay it to bed. I closed out of his message, unsure what to say, when I noticed Jude hadn't messaged me back.

I sent a quick message requesting signs of life, and he messaged back almost immediately.

***

Peach: You say this like I'm not saved under your phone as some stupid fruit. Real scary.

***

I smiled at my phone and leaned back behind my high walls. Distant sounds of keyboards clicking played in the background like a sensory machine. A heated breath escaped me when Jude didn't message back before I turned my chair around and faced my laptop.

I needed to focus on anything other than the fight with Beau. I didn't like the old feelings that surfaced at the mention of Jude's pet name. Thinking about him was out of the question, but no one told my heart that as the memories played through my head.

I opened my phone and typed out one last message to Jude.

***

Me: I have the night off. I will celebrate at Ethel's if you want to join me.

***

I spent the rest of the day waiting for Beau to message me. When he still hadn't, my hurt had grown into irritation and self-pity by the time I clocked out. Two things that didn't put me in the best color.

On my way out, I stopped at the bathroom and took off the blouse I had over a solid black tank top, leaving me in a cherry red skirt, a tucked-in tank, and sandals that laced up my calves. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail and was off to blow some steam before I went home and did something I would regret.

***