Two more coming up in a few minutes...
The next week passed in a literal blur. Barb worked hard during the time she was home to make sure all of the boxes were sorted and gave us Thursday evening off to load the trailor that John would haul into town bright and early Saturday morning. We loaded it fully, tarped it over and secured it in multiple places with tie downs before dark and then reported to work to finish our shift.The new hours took effect and so far, it was working out well. We were lucky that September first fell on a Monday so that everyone could ease into the new hours without a drastic change, since we were closed Sunday anyhow.With the new work hours, the threat hanging over my head and the busyness life in general had thrown at us, there had been very little time to work on the apartment. Boxes were still stacked, painting still had to be finished in the main rooms and Owen had yet to install the security system he was adamant be in place before I spent the first night there.I was hoping after the yard
Owen took Nate and I out for breakfast. Since the diner was closed, we opted to just do a fast food breakfast. I order Nate and I some pancakes and couldn’t help but just sit and watch him. He loved pancakes and sat there swinging his little legs with a smile on his face as he ate, not a care in the world. I wanted to savor this moment and hoped that this crazy cruel world we were living in would allow him to remain this innocent for a long time still.I made sure it wasn’t going to ruin Owen’s plans with us having Nate with us but he insisted that Nate was a part of me and that he knew Nonna would just love him too. His consideration of Nate and the relationship the two shared was one the main reasons I was so quick to trust Owen with my heart. He knew how much that little boy meant to me and I felt like he genuinely cared about him, too.After we finished breakfast, Owen and I took Nate to the park in Urbancrest to run off some energy. Owen wanted somewhere for him to play where we c
Taking it one day at a time proved easier than expected, mostly because we were so busy that there wasn’t a lot of time left to ponder on the workings and thoughts of a madman. The man with the mask haunted my dreams Thursday night resulting in me waking up ready to scream twice but during my waking hours, I was too busy to dwell on it. At least that’s what I kept telling myself. Stay busy and live my life.On Friday, I doubted if anyone actually learned or, at the very least, retained anything that was taught in any class we had. Between the announcement of a serial killer, the police department’s precautions and the upcoming game, the entire school was nothing but endless chatter and tension so high it was almost visible in the halls in it’s chaotic waves of red and black.As soon as school dismissed, the normal Friday ritual ensued. Pizza delivered for the players, cheerleaders and supporting members, of which I was now considered as the official photographer of the games. This meal
“What do we do?” I asked, surprisingly not as freaked out as I thought I would be. It was as if some part of me knew from last Friday night at the football game that I was the one he wanted to begin with.The diner was locked, Sheila was on her way to the hospital and I was huddled in a booth surrounded by Owen, Barb and John with Detective Clements and Chief Harding sitting in chairs they had grabbed and pulled up beside the booth.“Honestly, I don’t know.” Chief Harding answered as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “Wood Haven hasn’t had a murder in years let alone a serial killer. This is beyond my scope of expertise. Clements, do you have any suggestions?”“No, sir, I don’t other than getting the experts in here as quickly as possible to take over and tell us what to do next.”“So, that’s it!” Owen said, as he banged his hand on the table. “We just sit back and let this maniac come and get Aurora?”“I didn’t say that, son.” Chief Harding answered in an attempt to ca
The photo that Detective Clements took didn’t reveal anyone that I thought looked suspicious or that I remembered from last Friday night. Chief Harding thanked us both for our help and both officers issued words of caution for me, wanting to make sure that I would not be left alone. Owen assured them that he was making sure I was protected. Detective Clements walked out leaving us alone with Chief Harding.“Listen,” he started as soon as Clements shut the door. “I know CiCi has shared what I told her with you all. She was very clear that she would and I can see that you are both taking this serious and not divulging anything she said to anyone.”“No, sir. Of course not.” I stated. “I want this bastard caught as quickly as possible. We wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that.”“Good and thank you. I really am putting my neck on the line here but some information just came in from TBI right before the press conference. Owen, the two of you can tell your mother since the more times I am o
Chief Harding said he would consider my offer and discuss it with Detective Clements this afternoon. In the meantime, he would let Detective Clements know prior to the press conference starting that I would be in the crowd and to be on the lookout for anyone that seemed to be paying too much attention to me.Owen still didn’t like it, even more so now that we were here but I was insistent upon doing this. I wanted to help and I was also considering there might be information at the press conference that we were not yet aware of, either.We left Chief Harding’s office and walked back across the interior of the station to the front doors and quickly made our way toward the small crowd of people that were gathering outside. A news crew was setting up their equipment off to the side and I suddenly second guessed being here.If Chief Harding revealed the victim type, here I was front and center with a news crew that could pick me out of the crowd to try to interview. They would also see and