Obsession

Suspect: Chapter 35

The tyres of Nico Hoffman's car came to a screeching halt in front of the Hastings' residence.

Out on the front steps, Julian and Gabriel were seated on the top step, chatting, and catching up. They were working on patching up their relationship, making up for lost time when they were interrupted by Nico's sudden arrival. They stood as Nico got out, throwing the driver's side door open with a force that left little room to wonder whether or not he was angry.

"Hastings! You fucking homo! You did this, didn't you? Admit it!" Nico bellowed as he charged up the steps.

Gordon and Lynette Isaacs had followed in their own vehicle, and as Nico and Gabriel got involved in a nasty brawl that went out onto the pavement, the couple initially did not know what to do.

The brawl had started first with yelling and accusations.

"What? Nico, what are you talking about?" Gabriel had queried, confusion and fear etched onto his face. Julian had gotten involved, stepping in front of Gabriel, and acting as shield, and tried to dismantle the argument before it had turned into something else.

"Lyssa! You fucking killed her! I know you did! You never fucking liked her, and you hated that she was open about condemning your lifestyle. That's why you killed her, isn't it?"

"Those are bold accusations, Nico," Julian fired, gesturing for Nico to step back. Nico did not listen.

"I know you're upset, Nico," Gabriel tried, "but I didn't kill her. I would never do that."

"Liar!" Nico roared. He lunged forward to grab Gabriel, but Julian jumped in the way. "Fucking faggot! Admit it!" Nico threw the first punch, hitting Julian with a solid right hook and veered him away from being an obstacle in his path. Nico made a straight beeline for Gabriel who tried to get away and continued to reason but Nico was not hearing it.

He screamed and yelled, his eyes bloodshot and crazed, far too gone in his anger and grief to listen to reason or anything someone might say that betrayed his wholehearted belief that Gabriel killed Lyssa.

A fight ensued, and all three young men were involved in the altercation. The ferocity and nonstop punches, the brawl that tumbled into the street, their shouting and foul cursing had rooted Lyssa's parents to the spot. Gordon sought to pull them apart but not one of the three boys listened or complied. They only shoved Gordon out of the way and resumed their onslaught of punches.

The debacle had caught the attention of Gabriel's neighbours, many of them coming out of their houses to spectate. Mrs. Archibald came running down the pavement, her little Chihuahua barking incessantly at the three brawling boys.

Blood was being spilt now. Nico had a gash above his eyebrow. Julian's nose was bleeding, and he was certain, it had been broken. Gabriel nursed a busted mouth. All three of them carried angry red bruises that were beginning to shine ever so nicely in the afternoon sun.

"Boys!" Mrs. Archibald shouted. "Stop this madness or I'll call the police!"

When none of them relented in the slightest, Mrs. Archibald whipped out her phone and dialled the precinct, explaining the altercation that was currently happening and where it was taking place. By now, other men had gotten involved in the altercation, Mr. Isaacs among them, with the intention of breaking up the fight. The men had a time of it as Nico Hoffman fought bitterly against the holds and had, multiple times, broken free to attack Gabriel. And so, it continued until finally, all three boys were properly bruised up and breathing too heavily to persist.

The men pulled them apart, a group of about six of them escorting Gabriel and Julian all the way to the steps of Mrs. Archibald's home, and another four barricaded Nico Hoffman, trapping him for the moment, in his car.