"There was so much shit going on in that one apartment that night, you wouldn't even realize your hands were gone until two days after the party. Guys were getting drunk, the girls were on the dance floor, and the Whores were fucking the Jocks in the kitchen, skirts lifted and boxers down. The music was loud enough it was like you had front row seats to a concert. Cigarette smoke and the smell of liquor hung in the air, and though we all knew it, we couldn't get the alcohol out of our system even if we wanted to. We were 17 for fucks sake."
Sandy took in another drag of her cigarette before flicking it and throwing it to the ground, stubbing it with the tip of her heeled boots. The officer interrogating her only stared at the butt of the cigarette before averting his gaze back to the girl, who only crossed her arms and kissed her teeth. The red and blue lights of the three squad cars flashed on their faces, coloring their skin in blue and red. The officer sighed, putting his black pen back in his front pocket of his blue blazer, right next to his name tag, which read Jason D. The note pad covered in notes was shoved in his pants pocket, along with the address written on the small paper he was fiddling with on the ride to the motel.
Sandy kicked the butt of the cigarette, making it hit the side of the tire on the first squad car. The officer's gaze followed the cigarette, and he pinched the bridge of his nose as Sandy continued to speak. She threw her arms in the air and sighed, placing one hand on her hip and the other to drop down. She popped her gum, inspecting her nails as she told the officer what happened.
"She was always nosy, ya know? So, she had a couple too many. A few shots of vodka here and there, one or two rounds of tequila, and at least seven cans of beer. But then again, who hadn't? Like I said, everyone was drunk that night. It wouldn't surprise me if all that alcohol from seven years ago were still in her system. She even smoked a few cigs. So what, it was a party, and everyone was bound to get banged at least once. I mean, you can't be a Downer. Live a little, ya know?"
She spat out her gum onto her hand, rolling it over her fingers before placing it on the officer's blazer. The cop stared down at the mess now stuck on his uniform before looking back up at the girl, exhausted. He alreasy had one hell of a day, fighting through training and eventually, nearly escaping death. Twice today. But the girl wouldn't care. All she would care about is the small package of cocaine in her hot pink jacket pocket. Once the cop left, she would drown herself and let the world slip away.
That's the problem with society. You're either innocent or thirsty for trouble. There was no in between. There was no telling others for who they were, because they had separate minds that were lost fighting other troubles. People these days are too focused on what happens to them instead of what happens around them. And the girl could care less that the other girl was murdered.
It was the fourth homicide of the week, in the same state, in the same town, at the same place. A little cabin in the woods secluded from the eyes of drivers and passersby. It was deep within, and the murderer would always play out an act. People would be having tea, one finger cut off and placed in someone else's tea cup, the cup placed close to their mouth while their eyes and expression showed that of cheerful and merry times. It make you wonder if the suspect pretends that the victims are family.
The girl kicked off her boots and picked them up, the gold embroidered foot wear hanging by her fingers. The officer looked down, inspecting Sandy's long, hot pink acrylic nails. The officer only wanted a nice, quick interrogation from Sandy, but alas, that was not what he got. Instead, two more cars showed up, investigating the scene. And Sandy had already been through two more interogations, and though Jason felt bad about the time he was taking away from the girl, the investigation needed to continue.
Sandy was drunk and way too out of it, and they should be arresting her, but it would've been too much work. They already arrested her horrible soon to be Ex. He had one too many to drink and came home after Jason arrived. He thought Sandy was cheating and threw punches towards Jason, who dodged most of them. The man eventually pulled a gun on Jason, threatening him and Sandy, who was drunk and helpless. Henceforth the extra cars. It just goes to show how horrible people are in this world.
Jason shook his head, letting his arms hang heavier on his body. "Well, we have your ex under arrest. Is there anything else we can provide for you ma'am?" Jason asked, looking over at the squad car that held the psychotic and screaming kid. He was only 28, but that didn't mean that people had the energy and fight inside of them as a 10 year old on a sugar high. The girl looked past Jason, distressed and annoyed. She clicked her tongue, pointing at the abusive 28 year old.
"As long as he stays nowhere near me, I'll be fine. That there slugger is gonna have one commin' at him if he ever tries to take one more foot near me. I'm done with his lies and bullshitty-ness. That asshole can go fuck himself for all I care." Sandy flicked her wrist at the kid, who only started shouting and squirming in the car. Jason pinched the bridge of his nose, breathing heavily as he was finally done with his surroundings. "If you have any leads on Bethany Rogers, let us know," he said, tipping down his head at the girl. The girl shrugged her shoulders before turning around, being stopped by yet the fourth officer that night had brought.
He looked over to his colleague, who nodded and walked to the car that held the 28 year old before tapping on the window. The kid screamed and thrashed around, kicking anywhere he could just to get out. He bared his teeth and it seemed as though he was biting his tongue to hold back anymore words of profanity or screams of hate. The officer rolled his eyes out of annoyance and knacker, sighing as he walked to his car. He was ready for his dinner and family hugs as every man should be.
Jason left the scene in his Grey Nissan SUV, driving down Crypton Rd, his hands tightened to the steering wheel. His knuckles nearly white from overwhelming about the case. His driveway was covered in rocks as he turned into his garage, closing the door behind him. He clambered out of the vehicle, happy that he was back home. He entered the house, taking off his hat, sighing as he ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. He scoured his surroundings, smiling to himself.
A hand came over his eyes, and his smile shone through, his white teeth sparkling. "Hey babe," his response. The woman took her hands off of his eyes. Jason caught a glimpse of the hands before being placed on his shoulders. The acrylic nails on the woman's hands, coloured a pastel blue, the hands delicate and soft to the touch. "How was work," the woman asked, turning the off work officer to face her. Her smile shined, brushing a loose strand of her pinned blonde hair behind her ear.
Her striking green eyes staring at his as she waited for the answer. The man smiled again, leaning in for a well needed hug. He sighed, rubbing her back and closing his eyes for a second. "We went to a suspect's house. Didn't go too well," he said, pulling away from the hug and following the woman down the beige hallway, pictures of memories and picnics in the field reflecting the two pass by. The woman chuckled, entering their kitchen as pots and pans filled with rice and gravy and corn and chicken sat on the stove to finish.
"Madaline, your father's home!" The woman smiled again before returning to the cooking, turning everything off and mixing things together. Steps were heard running down the hall as a little girl with her curly brown hair bouncing up and down as she bounded over. The man smiled, picking up the girl, hugging and twirling her around him as she giggled. "Hey daddy," the girl said, being set back down on the dark hardwood floor.
"Hey Maddy," the man responded, ruffling the girl's hair, causing her to giggle with even more laughter. They both looked over to the woman next to the stove, Jason looking past her at the cups and plates and bowls that sat behind her. All reflecting the gorgeous woman he fell in love with nearly fifteen years ago. "How was your day, Amy," Jason said, walking over to hand the woman another hug. She smiled as he laid his chin on her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her waist and swaying his hips.
"Well," the woman started, mixing spices and vegetables into the food. "They let me off early. Glad I was able to come home on how busy it was. We had one man come in, said he shot a nail into his arm by accident." The man grimaced before smiling again and unwrapping his arms from her waist. "Well, I'm glad they let you off early," Jason said, turning around. "Because otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to see my two angels," he said, his smile radiating as he ruffled his daughters hair again.
"I'm going to get dressed and get cleaned up, then I can join you two at the table," he said, walking down the hallway to his bedroom as the woman agreed. He closed the door behind him, looking around at the room he saw before him. The bed lay in the middle of the room, as two bedside tables sat next to it. Painted pictures adorned the room in blues, green, and yellows. The dressers had jewlery boxes and a few unfolded clothes on them. He turned to his right to his dresser, laying next to the door before pulling out a blue tee and darker blue pants to match. He unbuttoned his blazer, taking it off and laying it on the white fitted bed, doing the same with the white undershirt he had on.
He pulled on the blue top, pulling it down to fit before changing his pants and walking to the bathroom, turning on the cold water and letting it run for a few seconds before cupping some water in his hands and smearing it on his face. He sighed, staring at the water running down the drain before lifting his left hand to turn off the water. He stared at himself in the mirror, wonder about something that wouldn't leave his mind.
He shrugged it off, exiting the bathroom and his room and down the hallway, also adorned with family photos of merry times and holidays. It was times like these that families would brush off or throw away, claiming they had everything stored in memory. But to keep the photo would give you the details that your brain twisted and changed and created, so you can remember every detail from what the sky was coloured, to the ladybug that you found on a blade of grass.
He stopped at one photo, overlooking it and smiling. It was Madaline's first picnic, and the family was at the beach. The girl had collected shells to make jewelry out of it, using the extra for sand castles she made on the trip. It was the day that Madaline made friends with a starfish she named Larry. It was also the day she found her first sand dollar. She was so proud and excited, she let mommy hold onto it. For safe keeping. The picture of the girl holding the sand dollar was next to the picture with the family on the picnic.
The little girl giddy and excited, holding the white dollar next to her face with two fingers, the waves and sky behind her. Jason smiled, placing his hand next to the pictures. He couldn't forget the smile the little girl had. The fun they had making a sand castle, or running in the water, having fun and splash the woman and each other, carrying the girl to the car when she fell asleep on the beach towel. Jason left the hallway, and headed to the table, which was already set, and sat down next to Madaline, sending her a playful wink in her direction.