9 p.m. Final Rest Cemetery, Haston city.
Bryan sat in the van alongside Bernadette as they kept watch over the cemetery. They parked the van a far distance from the cemetery but still close enough to monitor all that happened around the grave area of Miss Angelina.
Peaceful silence suffused the night making it serene and soothing. The cold air blew from time to time, whistling through the trees that lined the cemetery. The cemetery was fairly lit up by the street lamps making it possible for them to watch comfortably.
"Why do we have to watch this place again?" Bryan, who seemed vexed for having to miss his sleep, groaned. Sometimes he hated his job.
"According to Chief Denise, some psychopathic killers usually return to the crime scenes or burial grounds of their victims. We are keeping watch to note any abnormalities." Bernadette dutifully replied. Her short hair was loose and covered most part of her face, especially the left side. Bryan had earlier seen that she had a bluish-black bruise on her cheek but had refrained from asking how she got it given that she was fine last night. This was probably the reason she let her hair loose; to cover the bruise, which she had already covered with makeup.
Bernadette on the other hand was grateful that he didn't try to probe into the matter.
"Has this been done for all cases?" Bryan leaned into the car seat and asked casually.
Bernadette nodded, "we've also kept watch over the crime scenes."
Troublesome. This was the police's job, his was to analyse the clues and make inference. That was what he wished it was like but in reality, he had done several things before in Wakeville but it didn't include watching over places; that was never for him.
"And did you find anything?" He asked again knowing the answer already.
"No."
"Then why do you think we'll find anything here?" He asked and craned his neck as he swept his eyes over the cemetery which was calm and peaceful as usual.
"Criminal psychology." Bernadette gave a terse remark.
"I don't think this criminal abides by such thing." Bryan disagreed. Bernadette gave him a questioning look and he explained, "Someone who can kill so fast and easily and can clean up all his traces, would he then risk hanging around crime scenes just to be noticed?"
"True, but we need to take our chances. After today, we won't be the ones to watch again."
Silence enveloped the vehicle. It was so creepy and coupled with the fact that they were outside a cemetery, it gave Bryan weird ideas.
"Pass me the doughnuts, please."
Bernadette handed the pack to him. They had bought some snacks in order to keep themselves refreshed. Music would have been fun, but there was need for silence.
"Bernadette!"
"Hmm..." She jolted as she heard him call out her name.
"What would you do if a tall, dark figure with gigantic claws and iron sharp teeth, having blood all over his body, jumped out of the cemetery now?"
"..."
Is he serious?
"Hah, are you a fan of ghost stories? You could write an amazing description!" Bernadette stuffed a laugh. She found the ideas of ghosts to be very exciting.
"You aren't afraid of ghosts?" Bryan was puzzled a bit. It was rare for people, mostly women, not to be afraid of ghosts!
"I used to be, back when I was five," she took a sip from her water bottle and asked, "Sometimes I wonder why you didn't choose other field of work."
Bryan shrugged, "I never wanted to be a detective."
"Really? What then did you plan on doing?" Bernadette pulled her eyes from the window and looked at Bryan who gave a sigh and told her of his plans of becoming an electrical engineer.
"...but my passion for investigations which landed me on this job came from my mom."
He explained, in a more subtle manner, what happened to his mom leaving out some important parts. He felt there was no need for her to know.
"That must have been pretty hard..." Bernadette felt a surge of emotion as she recalled how her father had become cold and distant from her. She could remember that he wasn't always like that. He was a good man, nice, loving and cared for her. He changed the night she turned 18. That was also the period she had decided to go to a police academy and not a business school.
The van returned to silence once again as both of them watched the cemetery with great focus. The silence would have been perfect if not for Bryan constantly chewing like a croaking frog.
"Please, hit me if I fall asleep," Bryan yawned and stretched his body.
"I could stuff a grenade into your mouth." Bernadette offered which made Bryan open one eye to peek at her. She smiled to herself as she saw his expression.
Around midnight, the two already got bored as nothing abnormal happened. It was still silent and calm as always. Unknown to them, a dark figure with jet black hair and receding hairline clad in a black coat was standing in the shadows. His deep blue eyes flickered as he looked intently at the van parked just some distance away. He looked away and swept his gaze over the tombstones and his eyes landed on the tombstone with fresh earth, his hands balled into a fist and his lips curled upwards as he read the words on the tombstone:
Miss Angelina Albert Ezekiel.
A daughter, a friend, a lover....