Dressed For Death

CHAPTER 19

JULIETTE

From the moment I woke up, I could feel Hayden's nervousness rubbing off on me and I didn't like it at all. I tried to subtly ask him what was wrong, but he just brushed off my question.

I was sipping my coffee as he was typing aggressively on his phone. I watched him with frowned eyebrows as he mumbled sentences under his breath. His gaze switched back and forth between his laptop and his phone.

I placed my mug back on the counter and walked over to him. I slid my hands over his shoulders and kissed the back of his neck. I ran my fingers through his hair, knowing it always seemed to calm him down when I did that.

"Tell me what's bothering you, babe" I softly asked him as he leaned back on my chest.

"I can't figure out this case and if I don't report a new lead to my chief... let's just say it won't end up pretty" He sighed as he rubbed a hand on his face.

I nodded and moved to take his hand and lead him to the couch despite his protest. I made him sit down on it before going back into the kitchen and grabbing his laptop from the counter. I walked back to the living room and settled between his legs on the couch.

I looked at the images in front of me and analyzed them like I did a million times already.

"You're in your brain too much, butter biscuit. You have to think about the bigger picture" I stated to him and he grumbled something under his breath.

"Have you thought about what was his motive behind his murders?" I asked him. His sigh of despair indicated to me that he didn't think about that, which was surprising for a man who wanted to discover every single detail.

"I have a theory that the signature of the unsub might be related to his childhood. No one with a sane mind would cut off someone's face and keep them as their trophies" I explained to him.

"But that doesn't help the case?" He said slowly as he processed what I just said in his head.

"Actually, I think it does. Think about it, someone who grew up on a farm witnessed butchering animals from an early age. So it limits your zone of research" I continued and Hayden let a small gasp out of his mouth.

He slid out behind me and stood up from the couch. He paced around the living room and I watched him as he puzzled the pieces together.

"Signs of psychopathy or sociopathy show up regularly during the development of a child. So the chances of that person having a juridical case are very probable or even complaints from neighbors even. If we search in areas where farms are located, we could find something" He said with sparks in his eyes.

He walked over to where I was sitting and grabbed my face before crashing his lips on mine. "God, what did I do to deserve such an intelligent woman" He whispered against my lips. I chuckled as I kissed him again.

I set the laptop aside and then encircled my arms around his neck. I dragged him down to the couch and I fell back on the cushions as we continued to kiss each other.

We were grinning like idiots to each other, but it never felt more perfect. God, it was impossible to stop me from falling in love with him. Hayden Smith had won my heart and I just hoped that he wouldn't break it.

A couple of hours later, Hayden had to go to the station and search for the lead that we possibly found earlier. Assumptions were worth nothing until concrete proofs justified them.

Fortunately for me, I didn't have to go to work since I had no autopsies due for today. To occupy myself, I decided to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

While the cookies were baking in the oven, I walked toward the guest bedroom and softly knocked on the door. Not a sound could be heard through the door and I was beginning to worry.

My dad must have fallen asleep, but he didn't eat anything for a long time now. I carefully opened the door and peeked inside. No trace of my dad could be seen in the room. I opened the door and walked inside the bedroom.

He wasn't there anymore... I should've known his words were worth nothing after he repeated them over a hundred times.

Except for an envelope laid on the bed. I picked it up and then sat down at the edge of the bed. The envelope had my name written on it in an elegant style that belonged to my father. I carefully opened it, trying to not rip the paper inside of it.

I opened the sheet of paper and began to read what was written on it.

My little pumpkin,

I'm sorry I'm too much of a coward to say goodbye to you in a proper way like you certainly deserve. Except, it isn't a goodbye.
I can't bear the thought of you witnessing my withdrawal and my vulnerability during this time. As a father, I should've been the one to protect you from getting hurt, but I did the opposite.
When you'll be reading this, I will be in a rehab center where I can properly get the help I need. During that time, I don't want you to contact me or try to find me.
I will contact you when I'll be ready to do so and I hope you will understand my decision to do so.
I will get better for you and Nathan, that's a promise I will fight to keep even if I have to become my worst enemy during my time in rehab.

With all my love and admiration,
- Your dad who loves you more than life itself.

I didn't even realize I was crying until wet spots stained the ink on the paper. I set the letter beside me and wiped my tears off my cheeks.

It baffled me that it was now that he finally decided on getting help. I didn't know what triggered him to make that choice and willingly go to a rehabilitation center.

I was relieved as I put the letter back into the envelope and set it down on the nightstand's drawer. It felt like a heavyweight was lifted off my shoulders and I could finally stop worrying if I would get a call in the middle of the night saying something happened to my dad.

I could finally hope for the best now and see a positive outcome after all the things that I had to deal with during all those years after my mother's death.

My heart felt lighter and I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the world. I could finally begin to move on to other things.