The Suspect

Chapter 39

Jake Miller was arrested at 11:14 pm on a chilly Thursday night. After we brought back the pinboard to the office, agents searched through his apartment and found the murder weapon, with his fingerprints on it.

It was taped to the back of Brandon's skateboard. Ironic, isn't it?

We're at a bar a block away from the office, celebrating the arrest. I rotate my glass in my hand, staring down at the gold liquid swirling around the glass. I haven't taken a sip and I don't think I'm going to.

I don't even realize I've momentarily disconnected from reality when fingers snap in front of my face. I startle and almost drop my glass, but catch myself when I see it's Kie. She slides into my booth— at the far end of the bar—and holds a concerned expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" I ask her and she shrugs.

"I don't know. You tell me. You've been switched off this entire night, just staring at your drink you haven't even taken a sip of," she observes and continues, "Aren't you happy? Relieved even?"

I sigh and push my drink away, leaning to the side until I'm resting my head on the wall, "I don't know what I'm feeling. Lately everything has been just about shoulds and coulds. Like I should be feeling happy or I should be celebrating but...."

"But what?"

"Something feels wrong," I shake my head, confused at my own words, "It doesn't feel right to celebrate or feel happy. There's this uneasy feeling that has been nagging at me since his arrest."

Kie narrows her eyes like she's deep in thought and processing my words and finally nods.

"Look," she leans forward and wraps her hand around my forearm, "I think you need some time alone. Time to process everything, and I mean everything. Not just the arrest, but everything before too. Take some time off work. Take a week or hell a month even. Maybe go down to your Dad's and stay with him for a while. And even after all that time, if you feel like something isn't right, I promise you we'll get to the bottom of it. But as of right now, put yourself first and take the time you need."

I look at her with a warm smile and go to give her a hug, "I love you, you know that right?"

"Of course I do, you idiot. Call me if you need anything, okay?" she pulls away and I nod, "Love you."

~~

The next morning I decide to drive down to Dad's place. Since it was on such short notice, I didn't even bother calling him and figured I would surprise him instead.

I pull up to his street and frown when I see a moving truck and stacks of boxes outside his house. I do a double take to make sure it is in fact his house and I didn't take a wrong turn or anything. Not surprised that it is his house, I pull up behind the truck.

Walking into the house, the first thing that hits me is the smell of wood and dust. I cough as the dust hits me and call out for him. He appears a second or two later with wide eyes and a soft smile as he sees me standing in the doorway.

I can't help but smile despite everything around him so I go and give him a hug.

"Oh Will," he sighs and I immediately lose it. A sob escapes my mouth, muffled by his shirt.

"I heard about everything that happened with the cop," he softly says, "How are you feeling?"

"It doesn't feel right. Nothing feels right anymore," I admit and pull away, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"Come, I'll make you a cup of coffee and then let's talk."

Two cups of coffee later and I've caught him up on everything. The case, Miller, how I'm feeling and...Tatum too.