SACRIFICES (14 page)

Jenny chuckles. “Are you kidding?”

“No I’m serious.”

Jenny smiles from ear to ear. “Bradley S. Jostler, I think you are one of the sexiest men I have ever met in my life. Your powerful, handsome and the way you deal with people in the media is so, it’s so…let’s just say I think you’re really hot.”

There is no doubt he is flattered beyond belief and also slightly confused. “Your kind to say those things but I just don’t see it. I’m just an average looking guy at best and you look like a model, I’m nothing special.”

“Allow me to explain. You make me feel; by the way you handle yourself, that if I was walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night and you were with me, I would have nothing to worry about because you wouldn’t let anything happen to me. I’d feel that safe with you. That’s how you come across, strong, confident and tough.”

“That’s true I would never let nothing happen to you or anyone for that matter.” Brad smiles.

“That fact alone makes you so sexy, and that’s why thousands of women across the country call you the sexy detective from Chicago. Because, to most women, a man that makes them feel safe is the sexiest thing in the world.” Jenny reaches over and touches the top of his hand.

“That is a nice thing to say. Thank you very much.” Brad looks away then back. “So basically a tough guy that can handle himself is what attracted a gorgeous woman like you to a guy like me?”

“Absolutely! There is nothing sexier to me than a man that makes you feel safe. You got that and then some. Now after getting to know you a little bit, your sweet shy side is just as sexy as the tough guy persona you show to the public.”

“I can kind of understand what you mean now, it makes a little more sense to me that you feel safe is why you would be interested in me. I see that. But…I am at least…sort of cute, I mean my looks…right, maybe a little bit right…” Brad smiles and looks away trying to be funny. “I understand the feeling safe part but I am a little bit cute…right.”

Jenny winks and smiles. “You’re so-so.” She grins.

“So—so?” Brad shyly looks away.

Jenny leans close to his face and whispers. “I’m just kidding. You are
incredibly
cute.” She leans up and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

Brad clears his throat and doesn’t know what to think. He smiles and looks away. Brad looks at his watch nervously.
“Whoa
, I didn’t realize it was so late. I’m going to be picking up my son in a little while.”

“Do you still have time to give me a ride to the station?” She looks at her watch. “I can have Debbie give me a ride to my hotel that’ll give me some time to visit with her.”

“I’d be glad to.” They make their way to the exit. He pushes open the door and the heat hits them both like a blast furnace at a steel mill.

Once inside Brad’s jeep Jenny starts up the conversation as they drive toward the fifth precinct. “I hope I didn’t scare you off with some of the things I said earlier.”

Brad looks over at her as he turns onto Michigan Avenue and explains. “Not at all, actually I thought it was very flattering.” Brad checks his mirrors as he changes lanes.

Jenny feels the need to get out another question but struggles to find the right words not wanting to come across too strong. So she decides to just come right out and say it. “I know your going to be taking a couple of days off, I heard you talking to your boss why I was on the elevator. And well, I still have a little over a week before I have to go back to work. I was just wondering if you would like to go out sometime. I mean, if you don’t, just say so and I’d understand, but if you do want to...it would just be friendly, I wouldn’t,” She looks out the window as the midday traffic is thick, she’s nervous to keep talking but more nervous to stop. "I mean it could just be maybe dinner or a movie or I don’t know…it would be my treat and…” Jenny puts her head down. “Am I sounding like a scatterbrain?”

Brad chuckles. “Not at all, and to be honest I’d like that very much. Your good company but it would be my treat though.” Brad grins. “I’d like that a lot.” Brad smiles as they make eye contact.

They continue to fight the traffic back to the station exchanging only small talk. Brad has been getting a lot of press with this new investigation. In a sort of funny way it makes him feel a little bit like a rocks star with all of the attention he’s been getting from women in the media and now this beautiful woman going out of her way to meet him. It feels kind of good, and definitely
strange.

They arrive at the station and he puts the Jeep in park. “Do you want me to walk you up?”

Jenny opens the door and says with a smile. “No thank you. I had a very nice afternoon. I hope you have a nice time with your son tonight.” She starts to get out then stops and closes the door. “Should I call you, or will you call me?”

“I’ll call you. What’s your number?” He reaches for a pen.

“Let me see your pen.” Jenny smiles as she writes it down on a piece of paper out of her purse. “Here you go.” She hands her number to him. “I hope I wasn’t out of line by giving you a kiss on the cheek earlier, I just couldn’t help myself.” Jenny smiles and looks away.

Brad clears his throat nervously. “No, no, it wasn’t out of line at all.” He looks away nervously clearing his throat.

Jenny leans toward him and puts her hand on his chin and turns his face gently toward hers. “Would it be out of line if I gave you a kiss on the lips this time? I really don’t think I can help myself…again…you are just so cute.”

Brad swallows hard and takes a deep breath as he stares her in the eyes. “I guess…I mean…if you can’t help yourself…I wouldn’t mind, I think…I mean…I think I would like that.”

Jenny leans up and holds his face and gives him a incredibly slow, soft kiss as she gently rubs the side of his face. Brad is almost paralyzed as kisses her back. Jenny stops and keeps her hand on his chin. “I can’t wait to see you again. Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.”

She opens the door and gets out and starts to walk up the enormous concrete steps that lead to front of the fifth precinct as Brad watches her with his lips still puckered.

BRAD ARRIVES AT HOME TO TALK TO HIS SON

    
Brad Sr. can see his son pulling into the driveway as he pulls up in front of his home. His son is driving his black
1989 CAMERO IROC Z
., a gift from dad for doing well in school and being on the honors society. Not to mention being number 9 in his junior class out of 356 students.

Brad grabs the box from the back seat and greets his son with a hearty and happy. “Hey boy...” Brad Jr. smiles and continues up to the house. His curiosity has the best of him as he’s spent all day thinking about his conversation with his dad.

The Jostler home is a well built and an extremely well maintained bungalow on the middle-east side. The home has an all brick front with a master bedroom that occupies the entire second floor. It’s spacious, almost too spacious at times for the two guys.

The basement is finished and it has a pool table room that Brad Sr. and Brad Jr. frequently use, and a family room. Bradley Jr. has a large bedroom with his own bath on the main floor. The kitchen walks out to a large deck that Brad and Todd Avery built about 3 years ago. Brad had an above ground pool put in five years ago with a large deck that encircles the beautiful four-foot deep-water wonderland.

                            “So tell me what’s going on? You left the messages and now you’re saying you don’t want me to be alone. I mean could you tell me what’s got you so freaked?” His son asks as he walks over to his dad still curious about his behavior.

The elder Brad walks into the kitchen and says. “I think you’re old enough to know the truth.” He pulls out a chair and says. “Now listen, the cases going on about the girls that were raped. And now their husbands are being killed. You know the case I’m talking about right?”

“Of course it’s all over the news, just like you are. What about it?” Ask the curious Jr. who’s used to his dad being in the limelight because of his public job.

“Well this morning I received a letter from this psycho that talked about killing some more people. And the letter said if I didn’t back off with my investigation a little that…” Brad Sr. looks away and then stands up and walks over to the refrigerator. He opens the refrigerator and takes out a couple cans of Coke and then sits back down next to his son at the dinning room table. “…well the crazy son of a bitch said that they would kill you as well as other people that I care about, including your friends.”

Brad Jr. pops the top to his Coke and then shakes his head in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?” He takes a deep breath and then a sip of his soda.

“I wouldn’t be joking about something like this son.” Brad senior explains as he looks out the back door still scared about the threats.

“What are you going to do?” Brad Jr. inquires as he starts to feel uneasy himself seeing the look on his dads face.

                            “Well, actually I think I have it figured out. I think I have a plan where I can still catch this creep and keep you and your friend’s safe.” Brad Sr. explains as he nods his head looking toward the ceiling.

“Do you think this guy is serious?” Ask the growing more nervous by the moment young Mr. Jostler.

“Son, this guy has attacked and raped at least 5 women. He’s killed execution style 4 grown men so far. He’s planning on killing 2 more. One of the guys he killed had police watching him and his house all day and night, another guy had his dick cut off and shoved down his throat. I have no choice but believe this crazy son of a bitch means it.”

Brad Jr. is at a loss for words. He has his dad’s macho exterior, but with has dad obviously nervous he feels that he should be nervous too. Brad knows his old man is a rock and he can’t be rattled. But he can tell by the tone of his dad’s voice and the way he’s acting his dad is scared, really scared. “So what’s your plan?”

“I think that I’m personally safe. This character acts like he likes playing cat and mouse with me. I don’t think this would be fun for him if I weren’t involved. So my plan is to talk to your friends’ dads and tell them about the actual threats and show them the letter. At least if they read the letter and hear what I have to say they can make their own choice.” Brad takes another drink of his Coca Cola. “So anyway, I’ll talk to the other people in the office and let them decide for themselves what they are going to do.”

                            Brad Jr. asks. “Who at the office was threatened?”

                            Brad Sr. lists. “Todd, Tammy, that new kid I’m training Darrin, Betty Downs, I don’t think you know her, but she’s a real good friend and Dorothy was mentioned as well you remember her don‘t you?”

Brad Jr. shakes his head and says. “Yeah I remember her…” He smiles. “I don’t think Todd will care.”

Brad smiles as well. “No, he’d love for this asshole to try something. No, I know what Todd will do. But I do think that Betty, Dorothy and Tammy should maybe make some new plans for a while. I’m not sure if I want Darrin around either. He’s too young and way too cocky.”

“So what are you thinking as far as me?” Brad Jr. asks with growing anxiousness.

“You’re already taken care of. If your buddy’s dads go along, you boys will spend some time with your Uncle Buck in
Texas
. “I know he’d love it. You guys would probably have a good time too.” Brad Junior raises his eyebrows and looks around the house slowly. “He’ll show you the sights. He just had a new pool put in at his ranch. It’ll be fun for you guys, at least until I find this mother fu...., I mean this guy.”

Brad Jr. smiles and looks around the house then comments as he squints. “I’d be worried about you. I don’t think I could have fun if I knew you were in danger.”

                                          “That’s sweet babe. But you don’t have to worry about dear old dad. I’ll be fine.” Explains the Sr. Brad as he touches his son’s hand and smiles.

“Well let’s get ready to go. We’ll stop by and talk to your friends and their dads. I’ll show them the letter and let them decide for themselves what they are going to do. But as far as you’re concerned, you’re going with your Uncle Buck until I find out who’s doing this stuff. I’ll talk to the people at work and the chief and give my recommendations, their all grown ups they’ll have to decide for themselves.” Brad explains to his only son who‘s a spitting image of him twenty-five years ago but has his mom’s heart.

“Hey dad is it ok if I go take a shower first? Matt and me where swimming at his house and playing catch. I want to get out of these clothes and get cleaned up.” Brad Jr. asks as he lifts up his shirt.

“Sure son, that’s fine. That’ll give me a chance to look at this tape this guy sent me.” Brad Sr. explains as he starts to open the box.

“Can I watch?” He walks toward his dad.

“No, I don’t know what’s on it, so go get cleaned up and we’ll go out.” Brad Sr. smiles as he pulls back the flap. He waits until his son is away from him as he carefully pulls back the flap looking.

“Why don’t we go to that new steak house on Wiltshire? I heard they have great rib eyes.” Brad Jr. asks as he opens the door to his bedroom.

                               “You remind me more of your mom everyday with the high—class taste you have.” Brad smiles.