Take a Breath(3)

My mind racing with what she says takes in every word.

“Jessie, you can’t be serious? He’s my mum’s Fiancée,” I answer, in shock.

“Ana, that doesn’t mean you can’t think about it. Personally, if I were you I would be driving myself crazy in a room next to Mr God himself. Oh, the fantasies.”

I’m mortified, but mostly at the thought that maybe she can read my mind.

“Jessie, I’m going to get on with my work now and pretend you never uttered those words.”

She looks up at me and her eyes narrow. She swings her chair back around and mutters, “Miss Prissy.”

I know Jessie is joking, but I feel a knot in my stomach at her comment. I haven’t been with a man for a very long time because I can’t get Jake out of my head. I have tried to go on dates and forget about him, but it’s impossible.

Six months ago when I heard that Jake asked mum to marry him, I went out on a bender and ended up the next morning with a raging hangover. I was also next to a man I had never met before. I was mortified and have been celibate ever since. I’m not a one-night stand kind of girl and never have been. I just wanted to forget that night and I did.

Turns out the man I slept with is a very nice guy. He’s a Police Officer from Leesburg, called John, and a handsome one at that. He wanted to see me again, saying that he had admired me from afar for a while now. He also said he couldn’t believe his luck when I agreed to go home with him. I told him I was sorry, but I couldn’t. I was getting over someone and I wasn’t ready for a relationship. He didn’t seem happy with that, but we have remained friends. Things were a little bit strange after, but he calls me now and then and still asks if I’m ready. Trouble is, I don’t know if I’ll ever be. Jake is like my drug and I keep hanging around like a silly addict waiting to see if I can get my fix. I know full well I can never have it, but I still can’t help myself.

I pull myself from my slumber and look at the case files on my desk. At the moment there is a serial killer on the loose, killing women around my age with blonde hair and blue eyes. They are always strangled, but never sexually interfered with. It’s been going on for six months now, and we are still no closer to catching him. He’s killed seven girls that we know of so far, and yet the scene is always clean. It’s just making mine and everyone else’s jobs that much harder.

“This asshole needs to be caught already. He did it again last night and not only that, he exposed her.”

My head snaps up to look at Michael and Tom, the lead Detectives on the case. Their eyes lock on mine and they both look uncomfortable when they see me.

“He’s done something different this time. Did he rape her?” I ask.

Michael pulls at his collar like its ninety degrees outside. It’s a beautiful day in May but it’s not that hot yet. The air conditioning is on so it’s lovely and cool.

He looks troubled.

“No, but you’re right. It is different this time, so this particular murder we need to pay close attention as to why.”

Tom elbows him and I frown. What’s wrong with those two?

“Where did it happen, Michael?”

He looks pained and I’m getting a little annoyed now.

“Reston—”

His mouth shuts immediately at the sound of Jakes voice booming across the room.

“Michael, in my office now please.”

I look across at Jake and he’s staring at me, eyes wide and intense. Is he mad at me?

“Coming, sir.”

Michael trots off with his tail between his legs and Tom looks at me.

“Tom, back to work,” Jake shouts.

I look and have a thousand eyes staring. What’s wrong with everyone today?

“Someone must have their period.”

I look across at Jessie and she winks at me.

“He obviously didn’t get any from your mother last night.”

I cringe at her words. “Shut up Jessie,” I shout, as I throw a paper-clip at her. “I don’t want to hear about my mum getting it on with anyone.” Least of all Jake.

I get back to work and get through a lot of mind numbing data. I don’t want to think about Jake anymore, so I push on searching through burglary arrests from six months going back. I get to around two years, when I decide I need to get something to eat.

I nip out to get myself a salad for lunch and get back to working on one of my disturbing cases. It involves two men in ski masks, picking on the elderly. They tie them up while they go through anything they can find that’s worth any money. Thankfully they do not harm them in anyway. They probably think that because of their age they must have valuable items. I also look at where they have hit, the areas, dates and times, trying to see if there is a pattern. I also look into where they might strike next. I’m so engrossed in my work that before I know it, it’s after five.