Flutter (20 page)

Finch, “So you were at the house the whole time?”

Jennifer was crying a little. She continued to explain, “A bad storm came down. I heard thunder rolling and it began to pour. I watched out the back window to make sure he was ok coming up the boat ramp. Suddenly the boat pulled in. I didn’t notice at first, but Alan showed up with that kid. They pulled up to the dock; they were in their fishing gear. When they were tying down the boat I figured they were ok since they were off the water. I didn’t know Alan was going to have company with him and I knew he would be upset with me, but I didn’t really care.”

“So they made it to shore? I thought they drowned at sea!” Duffy said.

“That’s how the media made it seem, but no. The last time I looked out the window they were walking down the dock toward the house. A few minutes passed and I couldn’t understand why they were taking so long. I looked out and there was the boat, but they were gone,” Jennifer said as tears fell from her face.

Duffy asked, “Gone? You mean like disappeared gone?”

Jen spoke softly and said, “Yes. Just gone! I looked around and around and suddenly I saw these people running very quickly, like someone was fast forwarding a movie. They moved so quickly and quietly like they were hunting. I ducked down out of site, terrified as all hell. There were two of them moving back and forth around the area. Another man in a suit came over. I saw one guy jump straight up into the air and land on a tree branch like a… a kangaroo, straight up!”

Brown asked, “Wait. Did you say, ‘Like a kangaroo’?”

Jennifer was aggravated, “Yes I said a kangaroo. I don’t know any other animals that jump like that. I don’t know. He went up in the air about 15 feet without a running start.”

Brown responded, “You gotta be kidding me. Is this a joke?”

Duffy added, “This sounds odd. I’m not sure what this has to do with our case.”

Duffy and Brown tried to keep from laughing.

Jen removed her sunglasses. There were subtle streaks in her makeup and her mascara was beginning to run. She asked, “Are you mocking me? I didn’t come here for that.”

Duffy giggled as he asked, “Well then Jen, what did the kangaroo do in the tree?” Duffy and Brown laughed. Finch was highly frustrated with the two men.

Though she wasn’t sure if she wanted to answer the question, she answered anyway and said, “He looked around, scoping out the scene or something. So I ducked down and on all fours I crawled into the room and hid in the closet.”

Duffy joked, “On all fours like a doggy or like a kitty?”

Jen had it with them and said, “You’re a jerk! Fuck you I’m outta here. I don’t need this. Good luck with your case.” Jen grabbed her stuff and walked out. She stormed out of the door and didn’t look back.

Finch was pissed off with Brown and Duffy, “Are you two trying to solve this case or wreck it? We have nothing! Nothing at all. Brown, I ought to…” She squeezed at his head in a motion to crush it. “We are investigating a homicide. If she thinks she saw bunnies and elves on our crime scene, then we better fucking listen because it’s a lot more than
anyone
has told us thus far. You guys are such assholes. If you blow this case…”

Finch jumped up out of her seat to follow Jennifer and hopefully catch her before she got in her car. Finch caught up to her, “Wait! Please wait.”

“I don’t have time for this,” Jen shouted back as she fumbled her car keys. 

Finch got closer and said, “Jen, wait. Please wait. My partners are being idiots.”

“You guys think this is funny? I’m not an idiot. I’m a fucking full time pharmacist. I must have some brains.”

“I know. I know. Men can be jerks even when they don’t mean to be.”

Jen stopped fidgeting for a moment. Finch put her hand on Jen’s shoulder. Even though Jen didn’t want to be touched, something about that touch made her feel a certain level of calm that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Finch knew what it felt like to be ridiculed or mocked by a bunch of jocks and immature men. When Meghan had been attacked at the concert, many of the male cops told her she should not have been there. Others laughed and told her that her cheek bone broke because it was too dainty. Someone even put pink boxing gloves in her locker. She knew that Brown was being a dick because of Duffy; otherwise, his behavior was unfamiliar to her.

Finch wanted to hear the rest of Jennifer’s story. It was the only new information they had in a desperate attempt to solve a cold case. Meghan looked sincerely at Jen and said, “I believe you. Take a ride with me.”

Finch’s gray Honda was two blocks down the road, parked in the opposite direction. Finch lightly jogged across the street to her car. In the meantime, Jen added another hour to her time on the meter. Finch got into her Honda and pulled up to where Jen was standing. She unlocked the door. When Jen got into Finch’s car, Finch pulled off and turned on a little cool air. 

Jen pulled out a cigarette and asked, “Do you mind?”

Finch answered, “No. Go for it.”

Jennifer continued, “You would think as a pharmacist I would know better. I can’t seem to kick the habit. I hadn’t smoked since I was an undergrad but after Alan’s death, I’ve been smoking a pack a day. Now, I stink of Marlborough Lights and coffee.” She opened the window a little and lit the cigarette. She took a drag and exhaled with her eyes closed as if she had just felt the best feeling in the world. The small crack in the window let in a breeze that blew Jennifer’s hair back as she leaned her head against the headrest. 

Detective Finch was eager to know where the story was going before Brown and Duffy screwed things up. She waited until Jennifer looked settled and said, “Tell me about these men you saw at the dock.”

Jen continued her story, “I know it sounds crazy, but I know I saw those guys move like lightning and one of the men jumped from standing still… straight up about 15 feet. I know what I saw. I’m not crazy.”

Finch sympathized and said, “Jen, that’s not crazy at all. Every day I go home and I see visions of my fiancé. Sometimes he stands directly in front of me blocking my path. I can see him clear as day. He never says anything, but it’s very stressful to come home to that every night. I never told anyone this so consider yourself lucky. He’s been dead for two years now.”

Jen apologized, “I’m sorry.”

“Me too. He was a great man and I loved him very much.”

“What happened to him?” Jen asked before she took another drag from her cigarette.

“He died in a car accident a couple blocks away from home and I’ve seen him just about every day since the accident. So when I say I believe you, I mean it.”

“I can’t imagine having to deal with that.”

“I’m dealing with it day by day. You will, too. You just have to give it time. So now… Let’s take it from the top. What happened at the dock?”

Jennifer began to explain but Meghan decided to stop her until she could take notes. They both agreed to talk over lunch.

After Ms. Atkins shared her story with Abigail, Abigail was distraught. There was so much more to this woman, she thought to herself. And by the finagling of fate, Abigail found her way to the woman who held an important key to the mysteries of her beginnings. There was still so much she didn’t know. What she
did
know is that she was connected to a suit but wasn’t exactly sure how the tattoos, her nightmares and her supernatural experiences all tied together. She had an idea. She was tempted to ask more questions, but could barely get her head around everything she had just learned. Her memories were not piecing together the way she expected. Ms. Atkins offered to show Abigail something and brought Abigail down into the dank basement. Roger reached down to the floor and opened a trap door hidden under a place rug. There was a hidden lower level in the basement.

Roger opened the door about an inch before he said, “I have to show you something.” Roger opened the door and climbed down the steps into the room. Roger’s entire body was in the black hole in the floor before he turned on the light. Abigail tried to peek in but could not get a full view of what was hidden beneath her feet. “Elvis, Come on!”

A cool gust of air puffed out of the room and ran up Abigail’s ankles. Abigail looked at Ms. Atkins. Ms. Atkins held her hand out signaling for Abigail to go down after Roger. Abigail took the steps down into the room. Ms. Atkins slowly followed. The room was a 13 x 40 foot rectangular enclosure with white cinder block walls. On the walls were a series of military grade weapons, gadgets, sketches and project schematics made by Roger. Abigail ran her hands across some of the pieces. She was stunned.
What the hell are Ms. Atkins and Roger doing with these things?
Roger waited for her by the back of the room.

Roger said, “We’ve been working on this for years.”

Roger pulled a sheet down, revealing a replica of the experimental armor that Ms. Atkins highlighted as being the center of this entire controversy. Abigail gasped for air; she couldn’t believe what these two had done.
Roger can’t fix the dishwasher but he can build a high tech super suit body armor with bulletproof nerve stimulating electro sensors? Bullshit! 

The suit was a shiny charcoal gray with black stripes along the sides of the arms, legs, around the neckline, the wrists and ankles. The black stripes also lined the zipper going up the front. The texture is reminiscent of flexible tiny fish scales. There was a certain elasticity to it. The arms, legs and back were reinforced with thin Teflon plates covered in the scaly material. The interior was covered in electrodes that connect to the skin of the person wearing the suit. Their purpose was to increase neurological response time, reflexes and stimulate muscular contractions.

Abigail was physically attracted to the suit. It magnetically drew her in, pulling at her flesh and tugging at her soul. She didn’t understand why, but she could not help circling the suit and studying it. When she reached her hand out towards it, her eyes turned blazing blue. She pulled her hand back and they returned back to normal. She took in a deep breath, stretched her body, her fangs extended and her powers were turned on. Roger jumped back. He walked slowly over to his mother, guarding her. Ms. Atkins had never seen Abigail like this, but she was not afraid. Abigail continued circling the suit. She smelled the suit and touched it like prey she had just killed and was ready to devour.

Ms. Atkins didn’t show much emotion but could hardly stand it. She was so excited that she would have jumped out of her skin had it been possible. Her life’s work was finally going to have a purpose. She smiled at Roger and said, “It’s calling her.”

After Meghan and Jennifer had left Starbucks, Brown and Duffy returned to the police station. They didn’t say much along the ride, Brown knew that he would pay for his immaturity later. Brown sat at his desk, going through papers, looking for something to do as he waited for Meghan to give him an update. He thought about Meghan and figured it was time to check in. He took out his phone and sent her a text message: “SORRY ABOUT EARLIER. MISS YOU. CALL ME WHEN UR FREE.” He put down the phone. He knew she wouldn’t respond.

Meghan wasn’t much of a joker when it came to official police business. He couldn’t believe that he let his ego get in the way of getting the job done. He didn’t really want to joke with Duffy at the interview but Duffy had that effect on him from time to time– the betting, the joking. If Meghan knew the things the men said about her, she would never allow their relationship to be public. The first time, Meghan and Sydney came back from a drive she said to him, “Thanks for the ride.” The men in the room snickered like 15 year old boys and “Thanks for the ride” was the joke of the week.
Men will be men,
he thought to himself. But he never wanted to let Meghan down. He loved her. What was important to her should also be important to him. He knew this would never happen again. He just hoped he didn’t have to spend weeks or months explaining this to her.

Duffy walked over to Brown’s desk and asked, “Is she still mad?”

Brown shrugged, “Yeah. I feel like I should have set a better example.”

“She’ll get over it. We’re gonna grab a bite to eat at Tony’s. They have a soup and sandwich special today. Wanna ride out?”

“No, I have a lot to do.”

“Wanna see that tape?”

“I would love to, but I think it would be better to view it when Finch gets here. I’d rather wait.”

“She would be mad as hell.”

“I know!” Brown smiled.

“I’ll send you the footage anyway. View it when you’re ready. And, if you change your mind, call me and I’ll pick you up a sandwich or something.”

“I’m not really hungry, but thanks.”

“Hey, Brownie. Don’t let your girlfriend twist up your head and mess up your day.” Duffy smirked.

Brown wasn’t sure how to respond to the comment. He couldn’t tell if that comment was a joke, or if Duffy was letting him know they were on to him and his affair with Meghan. He could just imagine if their cover was blown, all the gossip floating through the airwaves. Any officer with a hot female partner faced locker room jokes and ridicule about budding relationships and sexual intercourse, but Sydney was actually guilty of it. His guilt didn’t allow him to utter a piggish comeback or even a simple denial. All he could say was, “If you’re that concerned about making sure I eat, grab me a turkey on wheat... with a pickle and a Snapple. Any kind will do, but not diet.”

“You got it.” Duffy left the desk.

Brown breathed a sigh of relief, sat in his chair and leaned back. He looked through his phone at some pictures he had taken at the crime scene. He connected his phone to the computer and uploaded the pictures to the cloud server. Then he remembered that Meghan was very diligent about taking notes and looked to see if she had made any updates to the file on Jen which she had begun in the Starbucks. He opened the file labeled . No updates since she left. He opened a few of the other files and saw that Meghan hadn’t added any new files. He thought to himself that either Meghan hadn’t continued the notes, or she created a new file, but hadn’t given him permission to access it. He was thinking it must be the latter. He was a little disappointed in himself.