Bloody Riddle

VIII : The Romance or Just Teasing

"Let me go!"

James struggled as Karin dragged him from the library to the car. The woman opened the door, threw James like a sack. James stopped moving, felt the eerie aura of his partner while she wearing a seat belt. Karin heated the engine, then stepped on the gas pedal without warning. 

Karin drove the car speeding. Even when they were at a crossroads, about to turn, Karin slowed down a little. It made James's head hit the window, making a loud noise. "Can you slow down?" James began to feel his heart beating fast. With adrenaline peaked, he gripped his seat and cold sweat start pouring from forehead. Karin sighed and slowed the car.

They both arrived at the office after fifteen minutes of struggling on the busy street. James's legs shook as he descended the car. His head was still throbbing hard from hitting the window several times. Karin herself still annoyed, but not as brutal as before. She closed the car door.

"James, before we go inside there's something I want to ask you."

"Shoot."

"It's about the evidence we found." James nodded.

"Actually we found a bit of an oddity, at first, but I'm sure of what I saw and it's gone through a lot of processes."

"Can you get straight to the point." James groaned. Karin looked at James with her brown eyes. 

"Julia Floyd, is she really dead?"

"What do you mean?" Karin raised her hands, trying not to blame or accuse him. "You said I was wrong?"

"That is not what I mean." She argued. Trying to stay polite. James walked over to her. The woman backed away until her body hit the car. James traps her with his body and stared at Karin.

"Then what about your question?" he said, making Karin afraid. "Listen, when the Columbia police investigated where Isabelle had last disappeared, in hotel, they found something."

"They found two hairs from two different people, first from Isabelle Murphy and the second from Julia Floyd."

James to back away and make space from Karin. His expression changed unpalatable. His mouth open but no word came out.

"I... I don't understand." he turned around. both hands squeezing his hair. "No, it's impossible, I saw the autopsy." He said, turning his back to face Karin, still unmoved in her place.

"Did they find it?" Karin took James's hand, shook her head. The woman stared at the man in front of her.

"We'd better go inside, there's something you have to check." Karin led James toward the office. They walked to the lab room. When Karin opens the door, Louis is already waiting inside.

"There you are." Louis saw them both coming. James looks chaotic, predictable from his tangled face.

"Tell me everything."

Louis looked at Karin for a moment, then looked back at James. Shortly thereafter, Katherine came carrying a folder in her hand. Face is also no less tangled. She stopped at the door when she saw James and Karin.

"Oh, you guys here." she said, then walked in behind Louis. She placed the folder and leaned on the table with a sigh. James picked up the folder and opened it. three of them waited. Waiting for James's reaction. hope or be on alert if something happens. James closed the folder. They get nervous.

James suddenly threw down his folder. paper scattering out. Katherine stood up in surprise. Louis approached James, trying to calm him down.

"Don't touch me!" James shouted. "You know, this is shit." James then went out, leaving the three of them in a state of shock. Louis reached for Karin's shoulder. "Follow him, Karin, please." Louis said it with concern. Karin just nodded then ran after James.

"James please, listen." Karin said, using her hand to hold the elevator door.

"Forget it." James put Karin's hand away from the elevator door and pressed the button. "Leave me alone." Then the elevator door closed.

**

"Oh, welcome back." The bartender smiled at James as he sat down at the counter. James leaned slightly, not answering. The bartender was a little worried.

"You okay, buddy?"

"A lot of things happen." James answer. The bartender just nodded. "Then I'll get you something special." he said, then disappeared behind the door. Soon he was carrying a bottle in his hand. James stared at the bottle.

"Vodka?"

"That's true my friend."

James was smiling this time. "Give it to me." The bartender pours the contents of the bottle into a glass. James drank it in one gulp. A hot sensation radiating down his throat. He could feel the tremendous heat. James shook his head because it was very dizzy but also so fresh after drinking the vodka.

"Incredible."

"Right?" The bartender smiled. He poured back into the glass. he puts the bottle close to James, if he wants to add. Then he leaves James alone and serves other customers. A few moments later the Bartender came back and saw James sitting still in his chair. This guy is great. The bartender brought himself closer to James. Look directly at his face.

"You can tell me, it's not good to keep it alone, it's not healthy." James chuckled. "You also gave me an unhealthy drink."

"Well, this is business." He said. He took the glass and began to wipe. They are silent for a moment. James justify his position. His eyes seemed to see something far away. Maybe it’s not bad to talk about it.

"It's about my sister. She died, killed seven years ago." The bartender was a little stunned, gave a long face. "I'm sorry."

"No need. Anyway, it's been a long time ago."

The bartender looked at James. His eyes seemed to give peace. He also put his hands on the table. Stood behind counter in a relaxed position. "I don't know any of your problems, man, maybe I can give you some advice." James stared at the bartender. He nodded.

"Learn to forget what has happened and don't let it haunt you. You have to open yourself to people, maybe they can help." James twirled his glass while looking at a box of ice inside. He seems to think something.

"Maybe you're right. Thank you."

James stood up from his chair and reached into his pocket, grabbed his wallet and took out a few dollars. He smiles to bartender then walks out the bar. Tonight became a strange night. Ever.

After an incredible night and a prolonged hangover. James made it home safely. when he arrived, he half ran to the bathroom, vomiting everything in his stomach in the toilet. He had to stop drinking, considering his is not young anymore. Then he was lying on the sofa staring at the ceiling of his room. And after that he fell asleep without changing clothes.

When he woke up he really felt dizzy. Even for walking he can't afford. The world as it spinning. fortunately he saving medicine, for something like this. He drink it and walk to the bathroom, stagger.

James came out almost noon from his apartment with casual clothes. Black pants, white shirts and hooded jackets and don't forget to wear glasses. He walked to the nearest restaurant. For breakfast or more precisely lunch. Since he has no food to cook and there is no food left and he is too lazy to cook, of course.

James walks into a restaurant, sitting at the far end table by the window. Waiting for someone to write his order, because he was really starving. After the waiter brought his order, a plate of bacon, eggs and french fries and didn't forget a glass of orange juice, he ate accompanied by mellow music.

James finished with eating and out of the restaurant. Open the door firmly. Suddenly came the sound of a thud. James was shocked and went straight out, seeing the results of his actions. He accidentally got someone to bump into the door because he opened the door quickly. The man fell down, holding his nose. James heard a groaning voice. He approached the man and held out his hand.

"Sorry, I didn't see you coming." says James.

"It's okay, I was a little distracted." the man took James's hand. Then he tidied his clothes and patted his pants. No injuries whatsoever. Except for a slightly sore nose when he hit the door. James looked at the man's face carefully.

"Don't worry." he said.

"Are you sure?" James pointed at his nose. The man immediately grabbed his nose and there was blood flowing. James paused as he watched the man pull out a handkerchief from his pocket.

"Positive."

James nodded and walked away from the man. The man just stared at James's back and smiled.

"Finally."

Karin stared at Louis sitting at the table. They had a chance to argue about James who left them in the lab yesterday. Indeed the autopsy result yesterday made James pissed, but they still feel guilty for telling him in an unfriendly way. Louis put the folder in his hand on the table. He looked at Karin who still stood in front of him.

"Will he come back?" Asked Karin to his superiors. Louis sighed.

"I don't know. James looked so upset yesterday, I'm not sure he'll be back any time soon." Karin just nodded.

"And what about the case?" Louis looks thoughtful, put his hand on his chin, wipe it gently.

"We stay on top priority, looking for The Painter." There was a knock on the door. Louis and Karin glanced toward the door.

"Come in."

Philip went into the room and looked at them both. "There's a new report, they found another piece of body."

"Karin, you and Philip go there."

"Yes, Sir." they saluted and then came out of Louis's office.

**

"Yep, this is not surprising anymore." Philip mumbled to himself. With the camera in his hand he began to photograph the body part. This time they are in a museum. And pieces of the body that became one of the new displays there. They were not impressed.

"You think the killer did it on purpose?"

"Of course. You can see for yourself Karin. He wants to boast." Karin glared.

"That's not what I meant. If he can kill, it's natural, but why does he do it, and what is his motive, that's the real question here." 

"Oh, I see." Philip went back to his work. He tried to avoid Karin.

Karin rolled her eyes, walked away from the evidence and met a man who was none other than James. He looked different in his casual clothes. Karin little fascinated by James's big glasses. He looks stunning.

"What are you doing here?"

"Is it wrong for me to be here?"

"Ah, not really."

James snorted and approached the evidence. Philip didn't see James coming. He just focus with his camera, looking back at the photos he took. When he raised his head, he was shocked to see someone who had his back to him. Philip took a few steps back.

"Who is he? I seem to know him."

"That's James."

"What? I Don't believe it. He looks different." Karin just nodded. Her eyes stole a glance at James for a few minutes. See how handsome he is. Karin smiles like a fool.

"Isn't he fight with you guys?" Philip asked. Snap. Karin turned her face quickly and glared. "Where did you hear that?"

"There are some people who say, yesterday James came out of the lab with a wrathful face." Karin closed her face and groaned.

"I don't want to know your problem okay, after all we still have a lot of work to be done." Philip tried to convince Karin, and he was right. feelings shouldn't affect their work.

Karin and Philip look at James again and this time he looks more relaxed. His face didn't look so angry, like yesterday. He looked back because he felt watched by both people behind him. Karin and Philip smiled stiffly.

"I borrow gloves."

Karin hurriedly gave her gloves to James and he immediately put them on. James looked through his glasses.

"Karin come here." Philip and Karin stared at each other. then Karin approached James, who was half-bent, staring at the evidence. James quickly grabbed Karin's hand, causing her to almost fall. fortunately James managed to hug Karin and slipped his hand around her waist. Karin tried to took off his hands but James's grip is so strong. Karin blushed.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

James looked at both of Karin's brown eyes. Karin blushed more, embarrassed. "I'm just asking for your opinion Karin, not seducing you."

"Like this?" Karin stared at James's large, circular hand firmly around her waist. Karin glared and shifted uncomfortably.  James's hands are getting stronger. "I just wanted to make sure you didn't get away." James giggled and Karin groaned.

"So. what do you want to show me?"

James looked carefully at the evidence. "You see that ." James slightly dragged Karin's body. He pointed at the piece of hand, more precisely at the finger. Karin saw the finger with her big eyes. Wait a minute! Karin let go of James's hand and fortunately easily released. Karin reached into the small bag she was carrying, took her gloves and a pair of tweezers. with the tweezers, Karin rubbing them on the finger and put it into a plastic that has been provided. 

"Blood?"

"Right, you know what this means?" Karin looked at James's eyes. "The victim took the fight and managed to hurt the killer."

"And... we can perform tests on the dried blood. Perfect." Karin said with enthusiasm. James smiled. He had never felt this way before. he can be like this because of Karin, and he appreciates it.  So, James hugged Karin. Making her touch his broad chest. Warm and comfortable, that's what comes to Karin mind now. Spontaneously, Karin replied to his embrace.

"Can you both stop making out, this is a crime scene." Philip went up the waist. he kept staring at them. Karin, conscious of her excitement, immediately forced James's hand off.

"Don't talk to anyone or take the picture, please." Karin begged Philip.

"Too late, I've taken the picture." He grinned.