FrAcTuReD (Part One) (Completed continued in Part Two)

Chapter. 24

Isaac cursed mentally, they had made sure that no one was around, but Isaac did recall seeing a shady looking man while the police where investigating. What's more it looked to be a local, or someone who used to be. The police had made it clear to that man to not tell anyone anything until more evidence was found, the man merely smiled and laughed saying: "Sure, I can if you can comment on some things for me." Isaac couldn't recall who it was, at least not right away, he then remembered when he saw the man's face.

Duke Bram, someone who called himself a reporter but he was anything but that.

"Uncle," Charla's voice cut through like a knife, dark yet empty. "I need you to be straight with me, I'm not asking this out of simple curiosity. I need you to tell me how many died that night in the mountains."

"Charla, you know I can't give you any details..."

"A blunt object," she spoke suddenly cutting him off. "A metal pipe or something equivalent to that to bash their heads in... what's more you can't find what was used. Like it vanished in thin air, right?"

"How do you know that?"

"It's the same thing that happened in the city, I doubt it's a coincidence, hearing your response makes it clear to me..."

"Charla,"

She didn't speak.

"Charla, what happened?"

Still silence on the other end.

"Charla, are you still there?"

"I'm sorry..." she said finally. "I'm so sorry..." after saying those words she hung up. She looked to her phone with empty eyes and saw that Alex was trying to contact her, instead of answering it Charla turned off her phone and looked outwards to the town. Another storm began to rumble in, wind picking up as she looked to all that lay before her. "It's happening again..."

Mordecai simply looked at her as the wind began to pick up. Giving him a slight glimpse of the horrible scare that rested on her neck.

"Just like before... and it'll happen again, no matter where I go... it won't end."

Isaac handed looked to the now silent cellphone, why in the world was she apologizing? It wasn't like she had a reason too, though it was rather surprising to hear Charla guess what it was that happened to the ones who died in the mountains cave. And she was right, as of yet they couldn't find the murder weapon that the killer had used, what's more with the heavy rain that acumilated last night, much of the evidence had been washed away thanks to the winds, and the mess that the rookies, or the few that where there besides Claud, made during the time in gather evidence. Still something didn't sit right with him about this or how Charla reacted. Maybe her being sent here for safety had another reason behind it.

"So, what did you tell her?" Claud asked as Isaac handed back the phone to him.

"I told her that I couldn't speak on the matter, at least not yet but... she started guessing."

"Guessing?"

He looked to the files that was on his and Claud's desks. "She guessed how the victims died, what's more she was right. Even so to the fact that the murder weapon couldn't be found."

Claud thought on it for a moment. "Well she had lived in the city during the killings, so her guessing on the matter about how these people died and that the weapon wasn't at the scene shouldn't be surprising. It's well known that the killer of those crimes would often attack during a heavy rainfall and the police would never find the weapon that had been used in all of the previous cases before."

"But she apologized, like she thinks it's her fault that this happened." He looked back to the files. "Like this whole thing was caused by her."

Claud didn't speak for a moment, tapping his pen on his notebook. "Perhaps she would think that. After all she did move here just recently. Why not try calling your brother? Perhaps with the latest news he could shed some light as to why Charla feels this way."

"Good idea," he took his cellphone out of his back pocket only to remember the blasted thing wasn't working. He really needed to get a new one. Claud then handed back his cell to Isaac. "Oh thanks, I'll be right back."

Claud merely watched his partner leave before flipping open his notebook and adding to the notes that he already had.

Charla holding information on case – personal trauma – link in case – apologizing feeling guilt – car accident – self defence training good in a fight – link to killer.

Claud paused in his notes, this had to be connected somehow, he could feel it, but something about all of this still felt off, he knew that if he needed the information he'd have to look deeper. Perhaps talking to Charla again could lead to some interesting developments.