Take a Breath(63)

Later on in the afternoon, the forensics report came back from the scene of the crime. It concluded that the victim had been stabbed twenty-seven times with a kitchen knife. The knife found at the scene unfortunately had been wiped clean, and so had the room. This meant no fingerprint evidence again. The upside to all this was that in his frenzied attack, a hair had come loose onto the victim, which did not belong to her. This will hopefully give them some direction now, as before we had nothing to go on. The bad news though, was that Marcos is ordering that everyone in the station be tested. People at the party had to go first to eliminate them all from their enquiries. I felt terrible for that, but there was some hope that we may be a step closer.

When five o’clock came, Jake quickly peeked out of his office door to see if I was still at my desk. I looked at him as if I was not amused and he quickly retired back to his office. I rapidly gathered my things and turned to Jessie.

“Right, Jessie, are you ready because I certainly am?”

She shuts her computer down and gathers her things. “Sure thing, Missy. Let’s go.”

I grab her arm and practically drag poor Jessie out of the station and into Sam’s bar.

“Wow, I guess you really need that drink.”

I exhaled loudly and we both started laughing. We kept on giggling as we make our way to the bar.

“Nice to see such beautiful happy, smiling ladies enter my bar for a change. I’m guessing gin and tonics for both?”

“Yes please,” Jessie says.

“I’ll have a double brandy on the rocks please, Sam.”

Jessie looks at me baffled, but Sam just smiles. “I love a girl that likes her hard liquor,” he says. He gestures with his thumb up, and winks at me.

After placing the drinks on the table, I quickly swig it back and order another.

“Jesus, Ana. What’s gotten into you?”

Sam grabs my glass to pour another shot, seemingly impressed that a girl can handle the hard stuff.

“Just letting off some steam a bit, Jessie. My minds going crazy what with this killer out there somewhere. It’s just a moment's release from it, that’s all. Let me be, please.”

Jessie squeezes my arm and turns to Sam. “I’ll have the same as Ana then, please.”

I turn to Jessie and we both smile at one another.

Once the drinks are on the table Jessie raises her glass to me. “Are you ready?”

I nod.

“Fuck ‘em,” Jessie says and we clink glasses.

“Fuck ‘em,” I repeat back, as we both down the glass again and order another.

I’m starting to feel the slight tipsy effect of the drink now, so I know the next one must be slower.

“Jesus, that’s strong stuff. We’ll be off our heads within a few minutes, if we’re not careful.”

Just then I feel a presence behind me and I look round.

“Hi Ana, long time no see.”

I stare into the eyes of my last and only one night stand. “Hi John, how are you doing? John this is Jessie, Jessie, John.”

Jessie gets up and shakes his hand. “Oh, you’re the John,” she says, smiling.

John smiles and I elbow her to shut up.

“I hope whatever Ana has told you, it has all been good?”

Jessie spits her drink back in the glass and coughs. I quickly try and change the subject. “Not working today then, John?”

He shakes his head. “I was actually hoping to bump into you. I’m just here with a couple of friends, Trevor and Jackson.”

He points to a couple of men sitting at a table and we give them a wave. They take that as their cue to make their way over to us.

“So this is the famous Ana you won’t stop talking about. I see your reputation precedes you, Ana. You’re a stunner.”

I shake hands with Jackson, who is not shy in making his feelings clear, as he pours his eyes all over me.

John thumps him in the arm. “Knock it off, Jackson.”

I then shake hands with Trevor—who seems very shy—and Jackson then quickly turns his attention to Jessie.

“So, how have you been, Ana?” John asks.

I nod and sip my drink. “I’m fine thank you, same old, same old. What about you?”

Same old couldn’t be further from the truth, but I didn’t want to get into details with John about this.

“Well, but I have this problem. I really like this girl and I’m not sure what to do about that.”

I sag my shoulders. “John, is it about me because I can’t—”

“Yes Ana, it’s you,” he interrupts. “I can’t stop thinking about you since that night. I kind of feel bad because I did take advantage of the situation. It was only because I wanted you so much, not because I’m an asshole or anything. I felt even worse when Mr Bennett showed up at my apartment and started shouting at me. Boy is he intimidating.”