SHINE A LIGHT
CHAPTER ONE;
Tap.Tap.Tap. The sound of the pencil eraser against the wooden desk echoes through the lonesome office room with a small lamp barely giving off light. I try focusing on finishing paperwork that's due at the end of the week. My entire desk is filled with stacks of paperwork, folders filled with victim's pictures, and a laptop. For several weeks, I've been stressing over distinguishing a pattern between all 6 victims and the serial killer. Two common factors that I found were that they were all girls and their throats have been slit open when we found all of them. Autopsy also reports that the victims were raped before murdered. However, there was a seventh victim and luckily, we found her alive in her house.
Under the lamp, I stare at a picture of a possible suspect, Kevin Lancest. Just the picture itself, I can figure out his profile. Male, Caucasian, 185 pounds, five-foot-eleven, blue eyes, and dirty blond hair. Working in the system, it becomes easier and easier to identify a human being with just a glimpse of a picture.
Never in my life have I withdrawn from a case. I'm starting to suspect that this case isn't for me, but for those in a higher rank than I. I continue to look at Kevin's picture and then pull out the pictures of the dead victims. I felt a bit of sympathy towards the families of these victims. I could imagine a family asking God, "What did she do to deserve this?” I scoff at the thought.
There was a sound of vibration under all the papers piled on my desk. I figured it was probably my phone which I promptly try to find. With much success of finding it, I flip my phone open and say, "Detective Bestra"
I was receiving an anonymous tip about the whereabouts of Kevin Lancest. Thank goodness someone answered my prayers. "Thank you. If you hear anything else, please call."
Ecstatic that I finally have a legit lead, I grab a random paper from my endless pile and wrote down the address I would find Kevin at and the time he usually drops by. With my excitement no longer containable, I slip in my leather jacket and band my curly brown hair together. Whenever I'm out on a mission, I always have to look good which includes me reapplying my dark red lipstick. Since I had time to waste, I thought about visiting my partner in crime first.
* * * * *
"It's three in the morning, Jane. What the hell are you doing here?" Ryan Renel, my partner, says a little surprise that I suddenly show up to his doorstep.
"Sorry to wake you up, but guess what! We have a lead!" I respond with excitement once again.
"Really?" It seems like that woke him up, but “Jane, look, I can't just leave my family -"
The stairway halls lights abruptly flicker on. A silhouette appears against the walls and we both look to discover its Jodie, his second wife. A whisper then was heard, "Ryan, go back to bed."
I could tell she was upset and after seeing her reaction when she saw me, she immediately climb down the stairs and almost ran to Ryan's side. Boy, that girl can be a b***h sometimes. Believe it or now, she's always been jealous of me since I was Ryan's first wife. She didn't trust Ryan whenever he's with me. She stupidly have these thoughts in her head that Ryan is cheating on her or that he would leave her one day like how he left me. Regardless on our difference, I still support Ryan. I'm obligated to, he's my partner.
"So you're not going?" I say with a hint of disappointment. I glare at Jodi, my eyes telling her that this is her fault.
"Jane, I know you can do this by yourself. I believe in you."
"I don't believe this!" I almost yell. "How can you let your own partner down? This case is for the both of us!" I was too upset about the situation that I didn't even hear the cries of a baby coming from upstairs until I was about to leave. Now that really got me upset. I was upset that he didn't bother telling me that he has a new kid, but then again, he also didn't bother telling me that he was seeing another woman when we were married. "You have another child? What about Jake, you're son? Are you just going to not care about him either?"
"Jane, I think you should leave." Jodie says sternly.
Ignoring her, I say to Ryan, “Ryan, you're too much of an a*****e that I don't care anymore. You better explain to Jake how you're moving on to your new life because I'm not."
I turn on my heel, and walk out the door with no regrets. I was disturbed at the though of my son's reaction once his dad tells him the truth. One thing for sure, I'm still hurting from the unexpected blow.
Once in the car, I take out my cell phone and dial my home phone. I wait for it to ring, until I hear a voice in the other line. "Hey Shelly, its Jane. How's my boy doing?" I check the clock on my dashboard. I know it was late, but I had to check in on Jake.
"He's sleeping soundly in his room."
"Okay, thanks. I'll be home before daylight so if there's an emergency just call my cell. Bye." I flip my phone shut and drop it in one of the cup holders.
I ignite the engine which roared loudly and type in the address in my installed GPS system. Once it calculated my route, I drove away from Ryan's neighborhood.
* * * * *
I park next to a curb that is next to an abandoned thrift store and across from it is a liquor store. I sit in the darkness of the streets in my car waiting for the arrival of the suspect. The lamp light a few yards away from me flickers on and off. I sense that this neighborhood has multiple crimes that occurs everyday, but this exactly isn't the same neighborhood that victims died in. Theirs was more like the opposite of this.
Coming from the left side, man dressed in a full black outfit is barely walking in the liquor store. He appears to be the same height as our suspect and he has the same dirty blond hair. I caught a glimpse of his face and check the suspect's photo. It was a match. The feeling of determination overwhelms me and to catch this guy by myself was even more exciting.
I equip myself with a badge, a 9mm pistol, a tazer, and my handy hand cuffs. I step out of the car and hastily walk across the street. I stood in front of the liquor and waited for Kevin to come out. I hear the bells on the door ring and I knew I got him. Kevin walks out of the liquor, but instead of turning, he walks across the street. To get his attention I call out his name.
He stops in the middle of the street and turns around with a nasty grin. "Yes? Do I know you?" He walks back towards me and stops just inches away from me.
"No, but I know you." I say with a smirk and pull out my badge. "You're under arrest for the murder and rape of six innocent victims."
Just as I was ready to pull out my handcuffs, he dashes to the right. Quick on my feet, I sprint after him. He cuts left and heads for a nearby park. I force myself to run faster and faster to catch up with him until I see someone pop out behind a tree and tackle Kevin down. I squint to see who that person was and saw Ryan. I stop running and continue to walk the rest of the way there. My breathing becomes normal once I reach Ryan and Kevin who still lies on the ground and his hands handcuffed on his back.
"What are you doing here?" I first say to Ryan calmly to conceal my anger. I avoid his gaze and help Kevin stand up.
"I hate to admit this, but you're right." He says right behind me. I could feel his breathe against my neck, sending shivers all over my body. He adds, "I was selfish and you were there for me even after our divorce. I'm really sorry."
I still had my back turn to Ryan. As much as that made me happy inside, I couldn't give him a real smile. I know exactly what he was doing and I won't going to let my guard down. "Kevin, it was bad idea to run away from the police." I say and grip his arm so he won't escape again.
"What did I even do?" Kevin asks anxiously.
I ignore his question and open the back passenger door of Ryan's vehicle. He climbs in and I close the door shut. I plan to just walk away, but Ryan grabs my arm.
"Jane, I'm serious. I'm really sorry."
"We can talk about it after the interrogation." I say, retrieving my arm back.
"Fine, but let me give you a ride back to your car. I don't want you walking the streets alone."
I stare at Ryan trying to figure what he was thinking. I couldn't sense anything so I just walk around to his front passenger side and climb inside. The ride back to the police station was silent only because I had no words to say to Ryan.
