Chapter 33: The First Case
"I'm taking my break," Patricia announced. "I can't focus. I need coffee. Or sugar. Or a lot of sugar in my coffee." Still pinching the bridge of her nose, she marched off in a huff.
This time when Jon and I made eye contact we couldn't help but laugh. Her exit was just so over the top. Once he finished laughing, he stretched.
"Ugh, I'm so glad Sherry sent you over. No offense to Patricia, but I've never worked with her alone on something before and I had no idea she could be so…"
"Dramatic? Impatient?"
"…interesting." He finished with a smile. "Besides, I've always liked working with you. I still remember the first case we ever worked together."
"Really?"
I couldn't remember. So many days at work blended together in my mind. Jon had always been a presence in the office but I couldn't remember too many of our previous interactions in detail.
"It was a little over two years ago, not long after you started working here. I'd seen you around but didn't know your name. Sherry assigned us to do a home visit for Billy and Jamie Madison. You were very professional, almost too cool, and wouldn't talk to me unless it directly related to the case.
"I was ready to dismiss you right then until I saw the way you interacted with those kids once it was obvious that something was wrong. Then the mother was super rude to you but you didn't lose your composure. You just marched back to the office and started the investigation up again.
"Once the mother was declared unfit, you found the kids a foster home that eventually adopted them. I found out from Sherry the other day that Billy is on the varsity basketball team at his middle school now and that Jamie's part of 4-H.
"You really saved those kids. I was really impressed with you and started paying attention after that case. Your record is better than anyone else's in the office."
I hadn't realized Jon was with me on that case. Those kids had been in and out of foster care for years but the mother had custody again, which was why we were checking up on them. The house reeked of stale smoke and alcohol and the mother was clearly high. The kids were too skinny and had hollow cheeks and eyes.
Further investigation showed the mother was spending what little money they had on drugs and ignoring the kids until they cried, which was when she would beat them to shut them up. Jamie had a split lip when we saw her.
I was livid that the mother wanted to file for custody even after she was declared unfit. I was afraid the courts would listen to her again. I'd checked up on Billy and Jamie a month after they were placed in their foster home and they already looked healthier and less haunted.
There was no way I'd let their mother ruin that for them. She was the first terrible parent I'd killed. No one in the office even knew she'd died. It simply looked like she'd dropped her suit.
Those kids were happy and safe because of what I did. That's what started me down my path. I was already a murderer but being able to help those kids is what made me a serial killer.
I wasn't sure what to say to Jon after that declaration—I was right, he had been interested a long time—so I fidgeted a little and knocked a file off the table. I reached down for it out of habit before feeling a sharp pain in my gut. I seized the offending area and moaned.
"Lori! Are you okay?" Jon's worried voice was in my ear. He bent next to me and put an arm around my shoulder.
"I'm fine," I winced.
"It still hurts?"
"Only when I bend over. Or reach farther than I should. Or twist. Basically anything involving my stomach moving." I was still hunched over painfully while wearing heels and that wasn't helping.
"You should have told me, I would have gotten it for you."
I practically growled. "I hate this. I hate having to have other people do things for me. I've managed to do everything myself until this stupid accident."
Jon sighed. "I know you do. I'm sorry. It'll be over soon enough, won't it?"
"I'm not supposed to do any 'strenuous physical activity' for another month at minimum. I'm an active person! This wasn't supposed to happen to me!"
He looked at me, puzzled. "I didn't know you were into sports."
Crap. Too much information again. "I'm not really," I hedged. "I go to the gym a lot though. The front desk guy is probably wondering what happened to me."
"That makes sense. I didn't really peg you as a team player."
Jon was right, so I stuck my tongue out at him. "Could you just help me up, please?"
He seemed surprised that I actually asked him for help but he quickly pulled me to my feet. I felt a wave of dizziness accompany the pain from straightening. I leaned over the side of the table for support and groaned. If I ever got my hands on those kidnappers, I'd kill them for putting me through this. I was supposed to be invincible.
Of course, Patricia chose this moment to walk back in. It must have looked very suspicious having me barely able to stand Jon supporting me from behind. "Are you okay?!"
"She'll be fine in a minute," Jon assured her. "It's a side effect from recent surgery."
"Oh yeah, I heard about that. Are you sure you should be at work?"
"I'm fine," I said through gritted teeth. Partially from pain, partially from annoyance. I was so done with this.
Why couldn't I heal any faster? I missed flying around the gym equipment and the rooftops of the city. If I was still this messed up after so much time had passed, what if I never healed enough to do parkour again? What would I be then?
I slumped into the chair and Jon quit hovering. "Let's get back to these files."
We still didn't have an answer by the end of the day. After nearly blacking out I couldn't focus. I was too worried, between wondering if my moonlight career was over and if we'd be able to come up with a solution to protect Nick and Jace over dinner.
Patricia zoomed out of there two minutes before five o'clock, leaving only Jon and me in the conference room.
"So, do you have any plans tonight?" he asked. "Kaylee is still mad at me for letting you go home yesterday."
I laughed a little. "Actually, I'm having dinner with Nick. He needs some cheering up. Maybe another night?"
"Friday?"
I was a little annoyed with his persistence. I had a lot on my plate; I didn't want to spend all my free time with him. I wanted to spend some time relaxing with my cats and Faye! Like before all this happened. I missed the way things used to be.
"Plans with Faye," I lied, faking an apologetic tone. "She's upset that you're monopolizing me."
His countenance dropped only briefly. "Oh, okay. Have to respect the claims of the roommate."
"I can do Saturday," I found myself saying. "I'm volunteering at the shelter until one but am free after that."
He immediately brightened. "Great! I was thinking about taking the girls to the zoo, want to come?"
Spending time with adorable kids being excited about zoo animals? There was no way I could turn that down. "Sounds great."
Jon reached out to hug me. I only stiffened a little. "I'll walk you out."
He cheerfully waved goodbye after kissing my cheek and I was left wondering what on earth I was going to do once again. He was getting more serious about me. He wanted to spend time with me every day.
This was not good. This was actually very bad. I wanted to talk to Nick about it but now wasn't the time. We had business to attend to.
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