Black Rose Revenge

Chapter 8

SIERRA POV

I was watching my beautiful daughter finally being able to sleep, peacefully. Chancey was so terrified that she wouldn’t be able to see her daddy again. She was so would up and terrified that she couldn’t close her eyes without having nightmares. To my surprise Chancey already knew that her father was safe when Mack and I came up earlier to inform her that her daddy had escaped but she was still so scared. I could understand her fear, I had my own fears as well. I asked Chancey how she knew that about her father, she just shrugged like what we were talking about was of no importance. She just said, “In time mommy, in time.” I knew that we were in uncharted territory with Chancey and her abilities, if she gets them. I decided that I would ask Xavier after we got him back safe and sound and he has had a shower and nap to restore his energy and healing abilities.

“How’s she doing?” Mack said right beside me.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I had not heard Mack come up the stairs and stand right next to me. “f**k!” I placed one hand over my rapidly beating heard and the other over my mouth for swearing. “MACK! You scared the s**t out of me!” I closed my eyes as my heart rate slowed down to normal I answered his question, once I remembered what he had asked me. “Chancey seems to be doing okay but I can’t tell if there will be any permanent trauma.” I quietly shut the door and headed back downstairs. “Oh, did we get an update about the bodies that were found?”

Mack headed to the kitchen for something to drink before answering. “Well, the doctor hasn’t called and the last time I talked to him it wasn’t pleasant so I was waiting for you to talk to him.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Mack, don’t be a p***y! Why should I have to do everything having to deal with the doctor?” I demanded, arms crossed. Before he could answer me I continued. “Why do you fly into temper tantrums so quickly?” I study him, taking in every facial tick, every emotion. He was really tense and slightly closed off. Most people wouldn’t notice that but I do thanks to my newly mastered abilities. I narrowed my eyes at him before coming to a realization. “Let me guess, you haven’t spoken to either Cheryl or Madison?”

I knew I hit the nail on the head when he tensed in aggression. “Sierra, you of all people should know that I don’t play well with the Doc!” He gritted through his teeth. “Why are you asking about my communication with my wife and daughter?” He said as he glared at me.

Yes I did know better than anyone about his wife and daughter. He has been this hot tempered since Cheryl took Madison to Arizona, where Cheryl’s mother lives, 2 months ago. Cheryl never gave Mack a reason to explain why she left, she just left no note, no text or phone call, nothing! I sighed. “Are you worried that she is going to file for divorce?” I knew that my partner and friend were hurting and feeling helpless.

He looked away from my gaze, crossed his arms over his chest, body in defensive mode. He let out a snort after a few minutes of awkward silence. “I honestly have no idea what Cheryl plans to do and I didn’t tell her to leave so why should I be the one to reach out first?” He then looked me dead in my eye. “My ego won’t allow me to bend first!”

I just stood there, staring at my f*****g dumb ass partner in utter disbelief! I blinked a couple of times. “You can NOT be serious?! Your EGO won’t ALLOW IT! Look, Mack, you are my best friend and like a brother to me so I am going to give you my advice, whether you want it or not!” I paused, waiting for his reaction before continuing. “I will take your silence as permission for me to continue, even though I don’t need your permission. You need to listen exceptionally well with what I am about to say. Cheryl, that beautiful soul, has been your wife for almost 25 years! She has been there for you whenever you needed her. She was there for you when I was in danger to remind you that I am tougher than I look to survive. She was also there for you when you were being a baby when you were put on mandatory sick leave. When she needed you the most, guess what you did?”

He hung his head in shame. “I let her walk away without stopping her.” I could hear the pain in his voice with the realization of the consequences for his actions.

I nodded in agreement. “So, what you need to do now is grow a pair, put your ego in the back seat and call your wife and daughter!” I snapped at him then handed him his phone. “We can talk to the doctor after you talk to your wife.”

Within minutes of Mack dialing Cheryl’s number my phone rang. I recognized the number as the main line of my headquarters so, I stood up and walked to a quiet area. “Ryans.”

“Detective, I have an identity on at least one of the victims, the other victims will take longer to identify.” Officer Rayez reported.

I sighed. “Okay, so who is the victim that you can identify right now? We both know that you do the best that you can so I have no doubt that we will get as many identified as we can.” I reassured him.

I heard the relief in his sigh. “Thank you Detective, I appreciate what you said. The identity of the body that was on top of the pile was a…Vivian Helmsley.”

“Thank you Officer Rayez. Mack and I will be to the station shortly.”

“Wait, before you hang up, I found something else that you might be interested in.” Officer Rayez quickly added.

I groaned inwardly. “I’m not going to like this am I?”

“No, Detective, you won’t; there was a black-dyed rose near the body. There was no silt or ash or any kind or residue so it must have been placed there after the fires were doused by the heavy rains.”

“That means the Garrison O’Grady is back!” I said with an edge to my voice.