Picture Perfect

Chapter 47

I kept getting strange looks as I walked into the station, no doubt they knew about my ex being the crazy serial killer had spread like a wild fire. I didn't stop to talk to anyone though, I headed straight for the captains office. Lucky for me his door was open and he was sitting at his desk.
"Captain we need to talk." I said as I closed the door.
"Nice to see you too Ashlee. Please come in, although I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to be here per my orders." The captain said in a joking manner.
"I know it's not standard procedure but I want to talk to Jenna. Not as an interrogating officer or anything, just as..." I hesitated because I wasn't sure how to finish this statement: friend, ex, victim. What exactly would be appropriate here?
The captain saved me the trouble of finishing that statement by saying, "I agree Ash."
    "What?" I was honestly surprised I didn't have to beg.
    "I think it's a good idea for you to talk to her. Jameson has gotten nowhere with her and she's asked to speak to you a number of times. She's got a lawyer now but maybe she'll talk to you and we can get a few things cleared up."
    "Cleared up Capt?" I asked.
    He sighed and said, "Obviously you know Jenna better than I do but honestly I just don't see it. She doesn't seem like a killer much less a prolific serial murderer."
    "I agree with you Captain, I definitely have my doubts." I admitted. "But I got the impression from Hayley that you guys think you have the right person."
    "Yeah well it seems Hayley has a serious dislike for this woman. That's why I haven't allowed her to talk to Jenna."
    "Ahh, makes sense." I said.
    "I have no problem overlooking personal connections Ashlee, as long as there are no hostilities you have towards your ex."
    "No worries Capt. I just want to get to the bottom of all of this."
    "Then let's go see if Jenna will talk to you. At this point I don't care if it's with or without her lawyer."
    "Great." I said as we both got up to leave his office. "Oh, is there any chance I could see the evidence you guys found in her locker before I talk to her?"
    "Miss Dutton is holding onto it during the questioning process. She's probably still writing up warrants in the interrogation room next to where we have Jenna. We'll stop by there first."
    As the captain had guessed Chyler was busily typing away at the computer. I took a quick glance at Jenna through the two way mirror then looked back at the captain.
    He nodded for me to go in while he waited outside. The door was open and I could see Chyler had hr back to the door. I walked up behind her and said, "Typing anything interesting?"
    She jumped in her chair and yelped, "Shit you scared me."
    I smiled and said, "I didn't exactly mean to."
    "Right," Chyler said catching her breath. "Why at are you doing here Ashlee? I thought you were supposed to stay away from here for at least the rest of the week?"
    "Yeah well that was before my ex was arrested for the family murders."
    "Oh, right." Chyler said then looked back at the computer screen.
    I guess I never considered how awkward a conversation would become when discussing the potential of ones ex being a serial killer would become. Any way around it I needed information. "So the Captain said you have the evidence that was found in Jenna's locker."
    "Yeah, I do." Chyler replied without taking her eyes off the computer screen.
    "Well can I see it?" I asked as nicely as I could manage.
    Chyler let out a sigh and said, "Ashlee you're not on this case anymore. I can't just hand evidence over to you."
    "With my okay you can and I am giving the okay Miss Dutton." The captain said from the doorway.
    "Oh sorry Captain." Chyler said as she dug in her computer bag which doubled as her briefcase. "I didn't see you there."
    "I was messaging the powers that be about our progress on the case." He informed us. "They also agree that Ashlee should get a look at the evidence. But I have to go upstairs Ash, so take a look at what Chyler's got then see what you can get from Jenna." He said then left the room.
    When I looked back at Chyler she was holding up a notebook for me. "This is what was found."
    I spent about ten minutes looking through the notebook and pictures found in Jenna's locker. I had to admit it was compelling evidence that she was the killer but there was something off about the notebook. The pictures were of the families killed, not only here but one that John had told us about as well. Plus in the notebook addresses were grouped in three's by area, just like the photos I had received. I couldn't blame Hayley for arresting Jenna, this all seemed to fit what we knew. But the thought still nagged at my mind, this was too easy.
    "So what do you think?" Chyler asked.
    "Honestly it seems too easy!" I admitted.
    "True but you can't deny what's there in black and white Ashlee."
    "But you don't know Jenna." I replied defensively.
    Chyler looked at me and said, "That's true but do you really know her either? Maybe she only let you see what she wanted you to see."
    "No!" I shot back. "Jenna may be a lot of things but she's not this deceptive. If she were a killer she would be a sloppy killer. I don't think she's capable of this kind of organized deception."
    "Well the evidence says otherwise Detective." Chyler said coolly.
    "Well Counselor the evidence is wrong! First of all this doesn't even look like her handwriting." I replied just as coolly. I thought we had at least become friends but Chyler seemed to be drawing the battle lines now.
    "Well I suppose we'll see what kind of take you ex spins for you." Chyler said as she stared to get up.
    "You don't have to escort me, I can walk across the hall on my own." I said as I stormed out of the room slamming the door behind me for emphasis.
    Though I was pissed at how Chyler had questioned my judgement, I had to pull my emotions together. I needed answers from Jenna and I knew I wouldn't get them if I stormed into the room pissed off. I paused in front of the two way mirror and looked at my ex. She was talking to a guy in a suit who I recognized as one of the better public defenders in the city. I couldn't hear what they were saying but I'm sure he was telling her what to say and not to say to any cops that walked through the door to question her. One look at Jenna's face told me she was scared out of her mind. I waited a few more minutes before I walked in the room.
    "Ashlee!" Jenna yelled, her face immediately brightening.
    "Jenna, we need to talk."