Love, Basketball and Demons

Chapter 20: Game Night

Rob stood under the soft glow of a streetlamp, watching as Lindsey worked late into the night at her home. The light from her desk lamp cast a warm halo around her as she poured over the case files. He knew she was dedicated, but she would never be able to solve this case, making him feel even more guilty over what he was about to do.

Shaking it off, he clenched the bottle of whiskey tightly in one hand, and with the other Rob knocked on her door. When Lindsey opened the door, surprise flickered across her face before being replaced by a tired smile.

"Thought you could use a break," Rob said, holding up the whiskey.

"You know I could arrest you for having that when you are underage?" she teased, Rob's face turned bright red with the realization that she was right.

"But you won't because it is me." He half-joked, half-hoped.

Lindsay reached over and took the bottle from him. "Thanks, I really needed this," Lindsey replied, letting him in.

They sat down together on the couch, the clink of their glasses punctuating the silence between them, Rob's contained diet Coke Lindsey had found in the back of her fridge. Rob watched Lindsey carefully refilling her glass whenever it got too low, waiting for the right moment to ask about the case. As the alcohol loosened her tongue, he steered the conversation towards the people killed by Gluttony. "Still working on the Ethel murder case, eh?"

"Yeah, and we still have no idea where she is hiding," Lindsey confessed with a sigh.

"I wonder how Ethel chose her victims?" he prosed.

"Y'know, That's...that's the easy part," Lindsey slurred, struggling to focus. "The victims all had some connection to that fire that killed Ethel's family. Greg was the fire inspector, and there were rumors he covered up the true cause of the fire."

"Really?" Rob asked, now he could see Gluttony's plan. "Why the others?"

"Rachel, Peter, Wes, and Adrian all had arson histories. They were suspects at some point or another," she continued, her brow furrowing as she tried to recall more details. "Oh, and there was some rumor about it being the result of a cult, old ghost stories about strange things going on in that house, most likely Ethel is just looking for revenge for her loss." Lindsay paused staring out into space. "I can't say I really blame her for it."

Rob understood what Gluttony needed to restore his full power, Kyle needed to find the one who started the fire and if he found them then he would win. But as Lindsey seemed lost in thought about Ethel's loss, her thoughts drifted towards memories of her brother.

"I miss Ryan much," she whispered, tears filling her eyes. "I miss talking to him and watching him play with you. And taking you both for ice cream...those were good times."

Rob nodded, his own heart aching at the mention of Ryan. "I miss him too," he admitted softly. He couldn't lie to her anymore, " Lindsey, listen there is something I need to tell you," He began but as he looked over he found her slumped over the arm of the couch.

Lindsey's eyes drooped closed and Rob tucked her in. As he went to make his exit, a case file on her coffee table caught his attention. It was the original case file for the fire five years ago and Rob knew that an original suspect list was most likely included inside. He knew it could cost Lindsey her job if anyone ever found out she left sensitive files out and a civilian got a hold of them. He also knew Gluttony already had this list, most likely from Greg when he held him hostage for days. Rob flipped open the file and searched for Gluttony's potential targets, most of whom were dead, and that is when he found it. He quickly closed the file and left out into the cold night, The sight of Abby's name still fresh in his mind.