Darkness Follows (15 page)

"Wait,
is he making a demand?" Blake asked reading over her shoulder. “Was this
sent directly to Jones?”

"Can
I see it?" Ryanne asked. Aurina slid the paper toward her.

Jones
knew he had been right about one thing. There came a point when David didn’t
want to participate in Jeremy's fantasies any longer. The element of drugging
the victims, or even the victims themselves, was not as much a factor as Jones
had first believed.

This
was a special piece to the puzzle that Jones had only shared with Burrows.

That
morning when he arrived at his office, he found a letter lying on his desk. It
was addressed to the police department, but read
attn: Inspector Jones
at the bottom.

He
opened it, and after reading the contents twice, he grabbed the envelope it
came in, along with the letter, and rushed down several long hallways to the
front entrance.

"Who
put this on my desk?" The letter was shaking in his hand, as he held it up
to the front security

The
older man, Sunny, squinted. "I received that along with our other mail.
There was no department name on it. I didn’t deliver it to your desk though. I
set it aside. Was gunna
call
you about it." Sunny
then looked to the younger man beside him, who shrugged his shoulders and shook
his head.

"How
could this happen?' Jones noticed he had the attention of everyone near the
reception area, and Sunny's face turned red.

Jones
looked at the envelope once more and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Someone
must have thought they were doing me a favor by bringing it to my office. I'm
sorry Sunny."

"No,
I'm sorry Inspector." Sunny looked up at Jones, as he shook his head, and
put his hand up, before heading back to his office.

Jones
sat down to his desk and called Daniels into his office. He then dialed Burrows’
number.

"Burrows."

"Jones.
Everything okay?"

"I
got a letter from Jeremy. I'm going to fax it over."

"What
do you mean? Are you sure it was from him?"

Jones
held the letter in his hand, scanning over the words. "We'll find out. I'm
sending it in for testing. I'm pretty sure though."

"It
was addressed to the department?"

"And to me."
Jones said, as
Daniels strolled into the office. "Give Crawley a heads up alright? I
gotta go."

"What's
going on?" Daniels asked as Jones hung up the phone.

"Don't
touch it, alright?" He turned the letter and envelope towards Daniels, and
made the phone call to the forensics unit.

"Holy shit."
Daniels
whispered looking sharply up at Jones.

Jones’
lips peeled back from clenched teeth. "I
knew
it."

After
Aurina began to read, Ryanne noticed Max looking at her. He would avoid eye contact,
but he was waiting for something. When Aurina finally passed her the paper, she
was shocked.

"Me?"
was all she could ask.

"From
what Jones has put together, David and Jeremy picked girls from your campus
before you even went there." Crawley said. "Jones believes that after
you attended the school and David got close with Aurina, Jeremy found out about
you."

"What
do you mean?" Aurina asked.

"Ryanne
fits the vague profile of the victims.” Max offered.

“But
it was a coincidence right? David and I met after two girls had already been
killed.” Aurina noticed Max and Ryanne make eye contact for the first time.

“It’s
a coincidence that Ryanne just happened to catch Jeremy’s eye for those very
reasons when he found out about you and then her.” Burrows said quietly.

"Jones
believed that as David got close to Aurina, Jeremy was learning more about
Ryanne." Crawley said.

“Jones’
theory is basically that Jeremy has become infatuated with Ryanne.” Burrows
told them.

"Jones
and Burrows believe the reason no harm has come from this infatuation was
because David looked out for you.” Max told Ryanne. “David wouldn't let Jeremy
near you. For one, if he was being practical, it was a victim too close to
home, too easy to have it traced back to him. Also they believe he truly cared
about Aurina, and didn't want to hurt her, or you." Max said.

"David
protected her?" Aurina asked Burrows. Her mind was spinning. She couldn’t
understand how David could have cared about her so much, and yet adorned her
and her mom with his victim’s jewelry.

"In a way, yes.
However, we
usually want what we can't have. What tempts
us.
Jones
believes Jeremy’s fixation with Ryanne grew from the forbidden. Jeremy seems to
have been the dominant partner, as far as we know. He is stronger physically,
and seems to be the one who actually killed the girls if we believe what David
said. David seemed to be more submissive, but the one who kept the order and
focus. Jeremy needed David, so in order to keep the peace within their
collaboration; he respected David’s wishes to keep you both out of it."
Burrows said.

"For
what it’s worth,” Max said, looking directly at Aurina, “the note suggests
Jeremy doesn't know where you are, and that you are being kept from him."
He looked back to the note.

"Okay,
well that's a good thing." Blake looked for the police to affirm his
statement.

"There's
still a lot to sort out, so we will be in the office most of the day."
Crawley said. “Detective Burrows, we were hoping you could come with us for an
hour or so, just to look over our file on Anne Marie for yourself. See if you
could give us your take on the possible connection to your case.”

“I
should really stay here.”

“I’ll
stay with the girls.” Blake told them.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
Burrows smiled.
Aurina rolled her eyes at Ryanne.

“Good.”
Crawley and Max rose from the table and went to the front door.

"This
is crazy." Aurina whispered to Ryanne.

"Jones
was going to come after hearing about Anne Marie, but we can't risk it. He could
lead Jeremy right to you. Max I'll meet you and Burrows at the office. I need
to stop in at home first quickly.
It's
gunna be a long
night." Crawley tipped his hat to the room, and left as Ryanne walked to
the door with Max and Burrows.

"I'll
be back tonight for my watch duty." Max told them. "I'll come in to
check on you guys, alright?" Max looked at Ryanne.

"Thank
you Max that would be great." Aurina said. She noticed there was tension between
Max and Ryanne, and wondered if she had pissed him off indefinitely by the
stunt she pulled the other night. "We really appreciate you staying up all
hours of the night to watch out for us."

Max
shook his head, smiling.

“I’ll
be back shortly as well.” Burrows told them, “Hopefully I can rule out the
chance that Jeremy is here in Dersten.”

"Yeah,
you gotta let us know if you figure anything else out." Blake called to
them.

"See
you soon." Max said as he closed the door after him.

When
they left, Aurina tried to talk to Ryanne, but she said she needed to lie down
for a while. She asked Aurina to wake her up for dinner.

Aurina
and Blake were alone in the kitchen. Blake stood from his seat and leaned on
the counter that separated them.

“I
had no idea Ryanne was so involved in all of this.” Blake said.

“Me
either, but Jones did. I don’t even think Ryanne was surprised. I feel so
betrayed that David told Jeremy about us, about Ryanne. If he wanted to protect
us like everyone is saying he did, including him, why would he have given
Jeremy information about us? How could he have ever been friends with a guy
like Jeremy?”

“Maybe
he didn’t. Maybe Jeremy found out a lot on his own. Listen Rina, they keep
finding out more about Jeremy. Maybe they’ll catch him soon.” It was the first
time Blake had called her by her nickname, and it sounded sweet coming from
him.

Aurina
doubted the police had made much progress, and the thought that Jeremy could be
looking for Ryanne at the same time the police were looking for him made her
stomach turn.

“I
think I need to lie down too.” Aurina told him.

Blake
nodded and pushed himself off the counter.

"There's
this quote, something about worrying is like sitting in a chair-- no a rocking
chair. You're moving but you're not getting anywhere. It's something like that.
Just keep it in mind alright?"

A
muted giggle escaped Aurina's lips, and she let out a loud sigh. Blake pulled
her toward him and hugged her tightly.

“I’ll
be just out here if you need me alright?”

Aurina
smelled his cologne, and her head felt light.

She
pushed herself away gently, and Blake took a step back.

"You
know that now, right? That I'm here for you, whenever or when you..."
Blake fumbled with his words, and Aurina nodded, starting toward her bedroom,
but turned around after a few steps.

“I
just...” She bit her lip, unable to look him in the eyes. “Ever since we met,
you've been great with me.
Great with Ryanne.
Sometimes," their eyes finally met, "sometimes things are too good to
be true."

“You’re
safe here with me Rina.” Blake took a step toward her.

Aurina
nodded slowly, and her next breath felt like it was the first in a long time
that hadn't left her unfulfilled. She reached her hand out for his.

He
took it quickly, but gently, and pulled her in once more. He leaned down to her
slowly, and she closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his. The kiss
began softly, as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and she pressed her
hands against his chest. Suddenly she pushed him back.

When
he opened his eyes, he studied her closely, and she slowly slid her palms over
his chest up to his shoulders. His eyes lit up and she pushed down on his
shoulders, jumping on him. He caught her, held her closer, as she stared into
his eyes.

Blake
opened his mouth, but Aurina pressed her lips to his before he could speak and
gently bit his lower lip. He kissed her back fiercely as he carried her down
the hall.

Before
Max turned down Maple Lane, he put his Red Sox baseball cap on, and pulled it down
to eye level. The road was dark, and he turned his high beams on to find his
way down the road. That afternoon Pearce had printed off the rest of the files
that Jones had sent them late in the morning, and gave
Burrows
the copies to compare with their own file on Anne Marie.

Burrows
told them she didn’t see any similarities between the two cases. The three
victims from Toronto had been strangled to death, while Anne Marie had been
stabbed almost ten times.

She
had however noted the difference in the crimes could be explained by Jeremy
being out on his own, committing a murder by himself. That would easily allow
them to connect the two deaths based on gender, age, and the fact that Anne
Marie was really a natural red head who dyed her hair blonde. They all agreed
they were looking for a man. The wounds inflicted on Anne Marie took a lot of
effort and strength. It also insinuated that the killer was angry, and the
killing was personal. Max thought Pearce had his mind made up that the killings
in Dersten were unrelated to Jeremy. Burrows told them she couldn’t give them a
definitive answer on a possible connection, especially with no DNA found at the
scene, and left immediately back to the house.

Max
planned on sharing Burrows’ insights with Ryanne when he went over. He wanted
to hear her perspective. Ryanne was a critical thinker who challenged
authority, and while that’s what seemed to get her into trouble, it was also
something Max admired about her. Something he aspired to be more like. He
thought if he got her insight, he might be able to aid the Toronto P.D in
finding Jeremy.

Ryanne
seemed to be Jeremy’s target, unless he was playing with Jones, in which case
they were being thrown completely off track. Ryanne was restless and
unpredictable, Max thought, but her sensitive side that she had always tried so
hard to protect was beginning to show. He saw the shock on her face when
reality hit that this whole case might come right down to her.

He
felt almost silly for getting so upset with her, but he was reminded without
being reprimanded that he needed to keep his interactions with Ryanne less
personal, and focus on what was most important.
Keeping the
Patrick sisters safe.

Through
the darkness, Max saw a car without its lights on pass him going south on Main
Street. As it passed he couldn’t say he’d ever seen it before. He wondered who
would have been coming from the lake this late at night. As he turned right
onto Maple Lane he saw another car parked across from the house that Ryanne and
Aurina were staying in.
Jake O’Leary’s.

Jake
was under suspicion for Anne Marie’s
murder,
and
suspicions arose in the station as to whether the Chief was giving Jake special
treatment because of his friendship with Bill O'Leary. Max knew they would
bring Jake in for
questioning,
it was only a question
of when. Many witnesses at the pub, including Ryanne, knew he was the last
person seen with Anne Marie, and Max knew it didn't look good on him. He
definitely shouldn't be near Ryanne’s house, Max thought as he parked the car,
and got out quickly in time to see Jake approaching Ryanne’s bedroom window.

Jake
had seemingly not noticed the police car roll up, but when he heard the engine,
he tried to hide behind the porch before Max reached him but it was too late.
Max grabbed him by his collar and pulled him away from the window, putting
himself between it and Jake.

"What
the hell do you think you're doing here?" Max yelled at him.

"What
does it look like? I was coming to see Ryanne. What are you doing here, Officer
Max?" Jake pulled out of Max's grip and stumbled back a bit catching his
footing.

"Ryanne
is a friend of mine, so I don’t take kindly to guys trying to sneak in her
window, and I don't think Blake would either." Max took a step towards him
and Jake backed up a foot, and then stopped, seeming to realize Max's
intention.

"Oh yeah, a friend of yours?
Seems like you're pretty protective of your
friend
."
Max knew he didn't have to justify himself to Jake, which was good, because he had
no real reason to be stopping Jake from seeing Ryanne.

"Protect
her from creeps like you?
Yeah."
Max crossed his
arms.

"I
think you got a little crush on Blake’s cousin." Jake said puffing out his
chest. “Sorry to say, but I think she’s interested in someone else.” He
laughed.

"Were
you invited here?" Max asked.

"No."

"Well
then you're trespassing."

"Why
don't we let Ryanne decide that for herself?" Jake smirked.

"How
about you go back to daddy’s bar, and make yourself useful?" Max walked
toward him.

"I'm
not leaving until I see Ryanne."

Just
before he grabbed Jake, Max heard the front door open, and Blake walked out on
the porch.

"What's
he doing here?" Blake asked crossing the yard.

"He
was just leaving." Max said.

Jake
looked between the two. “I was coming to see Ryanne. She was with me the night
of Anne
Maries
murder, and she knows I didn’t do
anything.”

“She
doesn’t think you did.” Blake said, and Jake nodded. “But nobody knows the
truth, so until it’s straightened out, I don’t want to see you near my cousin.
Got it?”

“I’m
innocent.” Jake mumbled, and without another word, headed for his car. Max
thought about going after him, but decided against it. He didn’t have to explain
himself to Jake, but he didn’t have a real reason to force Jake to leave
either, and it was better he left like this.

"Was
he trying to sneak in?" Blake asked and Max nodded. "Good thing you
were here." Blake patted Max on the back. "I'm not sure if Jake is
attracted to trouble, or if trouble attracts Jake.”

"Yeah
well, Ryanne needs to stay away from him."

"Oh
I agree. She's inside sleeping right now.
Slept right through
dinner."

Max
looked at her bedroom window where Jake had been moments before, but his
attention was drawn to the front door just as Burrows stepped out.

"It's
all right Burrows." Blake called as she walked toward them.

"So
it was just Max?"

"Well,
Jake O'Leary was here too, trying to sneak into Ryanne's window. He's gone now
though." Max said.

"Why?
Does he have a
thing
for her?" Burrows asked.

"Seems
he thinks she can help him clear his name of Anne Marie's murder." Blake
glanced at the door.

"Yeah
well, if he tries to break in again, he'll get help alright. Back to the station
and behind bars."

"Any news?"
Blake asked
turning back to Max.

There
were some things that Max needed to keep confidential, such as the fact that
Jones seemed to be entertaining the idea of using Ryanne to draw Jeremy out.
Nothing solid had been confirmed and nothing more was figured out. Max planned
on stopping that notion before it ever came to fruition, if they ever decided
to put the idea into play.

There
was another thing Max was told to keep to himself. He eagerly anticipated the
results from the forensic unit on the piece of paper found by Anne Marie’s
body.

"Not
really man." Max said.
"Just got a bit more
security for around here.
Jared Pearce is going to take the day shift
now, so there will be police here round the clock.
Can't be
too careful."
He looked down the road, as if he expected to see
another car again. “Did either of you see a black car outside here, over on the
other side of the street or down by Main Street?”

“You
mean Jake’s?”

“No,
there was another car coming from up here that passed me on my way. I didn’t
recognize it.”

“Think
it was a friend of his?” Burrows asked.

“Shit,
probably, but I don’t like the fact that an unknown car was up here."

"Well,
might not have been on this street. I'm heading back in.
Night
guys."
Burrows jogged back across the yard.

"I
was hoping you saw it
cause
you know just about every
vehicle in Dersten, and it’s owner.”

“Sorry
man,” Blake shrugged and looked back toward the house as Burrows shut the door
behind her. "Okay, so what do you think is really going on?"

"I
think Ryanne is in a tough spot no matter how you look at things." Max
shook his head. “Jeremy is after her, and who knows where he’s hiding.”

"I've
gotten to know these girls," Blake told him, "Ryanne's a stubborn
girl, but her
heart’s
in the right place. And Aurina…”
Blake smiled, “She’s a worrier for sure, but well, she’s just the whole
package: smart, kind, hot." Max laughed a bit. "Probably pretty
obvious I'm interested, right?" Max nodded.

"You
better watch yourself." Max straightened his hat. "So how are the
girls getting along?”

“Oh,
about as well as can be expected cooped up in a house twenty-four seven."
Blake smiled and waved as he headed back into the house. Max went back to his
car and got inside. He tipped his rear view mirror toward the intersection of
Maple Lane and Main Street. He was
ready,
though
he was sure the black car wouldn’t be back. He decided to call it in to
Crawley.

He
wondered if Ryanne would be waking up, or taking a long sleep. He wanted to
know where her head was at, and although he knew Aurina and Blake were there to
support her, and Burrows was there to protect her, he wanted to make sure she
knew he was there for her too.