|
|
|
|
Delving Deeper Selene peered down at the black disc. “What is it?”
“I was hoping that you could tell me,” Celeste said, crossing her arms. “I found it in the ashes of the cat monster I fought last night.” “In the ashes?” Selene echoed, looking at Celeste. The woman nodded. “Does that mean something?” “I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll see what I can find out.” “Good. Let me know when you do.” The cat jumped from the coffee table unto Celeste’s lap. She peered up at the woman with concerned gold eyes. “We’re doing the best we can, Celeste.” “Are we?” Celeste asked, meeting the feline’s gaze. “Yes, we are,” Selene said adamantly. “This object may be the link we need to find out who’s behind these attacks. Don’t give up hope, not yet.” “It’s hard.” “Yes, yes, it is. Now, shouldn’t you be heading to class?” Celeste actually smiled. “Nag.” Selene jumped to the floor to allow Celeste to stand. She watched as the woman gathered her belongings. “Celeste, are you having dreams?” She paused before turning to the cat. “Nothing about this.” “If you do, will you let me know?” “Sure. Well, I’m off to class. Happy researching.” “Yeah, thanks,” Selene grumbled as Celeste left the apartment. * * * * * Jonathan shot his partner an evil look as Ricco dumped a file on his already crowded desk. “What’s this?” “A file regarding our favorite witness, Celeste Halley.” Ricco plopped in his chair, facing Jonathan. “I figured that the captain would have us look at her sooner or later. I thought sooner would be better.” “She has a record?” Jonathan asked, picking up the file. “Not really, just a parking ticket. Which she dutifully paid, I might add.” “So, what’s this?” “Read for yourself.” Jonathan opened the file. It was the file on a double murder from over eight years ago. James Halley and his wife Rebecca were killed in what was believed to be a robbery gone wrong. “Her parents?” Ricco nodded. “Pretty grisly stuff, even by our standards.” Jonathan agreed as he scanned the crime scene photos. The murders had been a blood bath. “Was she a suspect?” “No, she had an alibi. She had been at the library. I guess some habits don’t die. Anyway, she arrived home to find the police already there.” “She was what, fourteen or fifteen at the time.” “There about. Apparently she got bounced around the foster system for a few weeks until a great aunt was discovered. She apparently died about a month after Anastasia graduated high school.” “Anastasia?” “Her first name. She started going by Celeste, her middle name, shortly after her parents died.” “And her parents’ murderer was never found.” “Right. This girl has had some pretty rotten luck, but I don’t think she’s a killer.” “Which is why we have to keep working.” “Eddie and Jasmine find anything yet?” Jonathan shook his head. “Not that I heard but I haven’t asked either.” “Judging by Eddie’s face earlier, I’d wager that they’re having as much luck as we are.” “Wonderful,” Jonathan muttered and resumed reviewing the files on his desk. Ricco quickly followed his example. * * * * * Celeste returned to her apartment right after class. Selene wasn’t in the living room as she dropped her stuff by the door. With a sigh, she sat on the couch and propped her feet on the coffee table. She only had a few hours before sunset and the start of her patrol. Daytime attacks were rare, allowing her some semblance of a normal life. The monsters seem to prefer the cover of darkness. “How was class?” Selene asked as she jumped unto the arm of the couch. Celeste shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Did you find out anything about that disc?” “Nothing,” the cat admitted. “I’ve been working on it all day. I’ve checked every resource I have. And I found nothing.” Celeste sat up. “You can’t find nothing, Selene. You said so yourself: this could be the link we need to find out who’s behind the attacks.” “I know that, Celeste, but I’m telling you that I can’t find anything.” “Then you’ll have to look harder.” “Where? Where would like me to look?” “I don’t know!” Celeste cried, rising to her feet to begin pacing. “There has to be somewhere else you can look!” “Well, I’m open to suggestions!” Celeste stumped off into the kitchen. She banged and slammed everything she could as she set the kettle to boil for a cup of much needed tea. But it gave her little satisfaction. Selene had to be wrong. There had to be somewhere else to look. The disc was a link and they couldn’t give up on figuring out what it was or what it meant. They couldn’t give up so soon. Not if they wanted to stop the attacks. The kettle soon whistled. She poured the hot liquid into a mug. She was dunking her teabag when Selene walked into the kitchen. “Can we talk?” the cat asked. “Civilly, at least?” “We can try.” The cat jumped onto a stool. “I told you that I have exhausted all the resources I have here, but that doesn’t mean that we are totally out of options.” “Meaning what?” “There are people we can ask.” “Which people?” Selene glared. “You know who, Celeste.” “No way,” she replied, shaking her head. “I won’t do it. You ask.” “You know I can’t. It has to be you or nothing. Is your pride worth that?” Celeste said nothing. She carried her mug into the living room. She stopped at the balcony doors, looking out at the city she had protected so long. “I thought you were serious about stopping these attacks, Sol.” Celeste gripped the mug tighter. “I am.” “Then you are going to have to do this.” She knew that Selene was right. They needed to know about this black disc if they were going to have any hope of stopping the attacks. The lives she protected were worth more than her pride. “I’ll leave tomorrow,” Celeste finally said. “I’ll patrol tonight and leave in the morning.” “You’re doing the right thing, Celeste.” Celeste, however, still had some doubts. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|