that august night - c.l.

34. Dead people

"Where are you going?" - Elena asked seeing Charles in a white shirt and some nice pants, putting on a cologne. "My friend's birthday is tonight, he wants us to celebrate at Jimmyz club. Do you want to go with me?" - He asked once he gave her quick kiss on the lips. "Is it a problem if I don't? It has been really tiring week overall and I have an important questioning tomorrow." - She pouted her lips as he narrowed his eyebrows with a smile on his face.

"No it's not a problem at all, but you don't work Saturdays?" - He seems confused too. "Well tomorrow I do. I can't let this man leave the country without getting some answers from him. You know, Gustavo's boss." - Charles nodded remembering how Jose was one of the most important people on this case if not the most important. Because he could hold some answers and details that could help us find out why Gustavo killed all three of the children and why he didn't shoot on Jessica once he saw her."

"Have fun though, call me if you need anything and don't drunk drive." - She pointed her finger at him as he laughed. "I won't, I promise." - They gave each other a kiss before he opened the front door.

...

"Charles?" - Elena sleepy answered the call she thought it was Charles because he was not in the bed beside her and she told him to call her if he needed anything. "Wrong person. It's Ashley. We have a problem, a big one, Elena. There has been a shooting at Jimmyz before few minutes... and there is dead people, can you come and-" - Before Ashley could finish her sentence Elena hung up and got out of her bed. Her vision got blurry for few minutes out of the speed she jumped from her bed.

Shooting at Jimmyz.

Dead people.

A problem.

Charles was there.

All that her brain could do is think of the worst and not the positive at all. Elena's breathing was never slowing down as she put on her suit, taking her keys and driving towards the direction of the club.

...

"Where is he?" - Elena yelled over to Ashley as she saw her and started approaching towards the entrance. "Where's who?" - She followed her as Elena got in the club, her eyes searching everywhere for the green ones. The eyes that would show her he was not hurt and that he was fine.

"Charles?" - Elena whispered out even though she knew he couldn't hear her. Elena heard high pitched noise in her ear as she looked all around. She decided there is nothing from just standing there so she walked to the right side of the club, hoping to find him as soon as possible.

"Charles! Oh my god..." - She felt her knees getting weaker a little by little her doubts kept increasing, with each moment she couldn't see him. "Elena?" - The recognizable voice called out to her as she turned around. "Carlos? You are here? Where is Charles, please tell me he is okay." - Elena felt herself being on the edge of tears as she stares into Carlos' expression.

"Elena?" - Another voice called out to her name and this time the voice sounded right. It was him. Confirming he was alright, as Charles appeared behind Carlos' back. "Charles." - Elena almost screamed out as she jumped into his arms.

"Oh my god, I though... oh, Charles." - She pulled on his shirt, gripping it in between her hands as she tightened her hug. "Don't worry, I am fine. See, I am not hurt." - He comforted her before making comfortable space between them and then looking into her eyes. "Its fine now, everything's alright." - He continued as they held each other close.

"Not to be rude, but detective Neville, we have something you should see." - Ashley interrupted them as Elena wiped her wet cheeks and looked one more time at Charles. "I'll be right back, go wait outside, all of you. This place is a crime scene and its best if you don't touch anything. Take fresh air." - Elena suggested as Charles slowly let go of her hand as she followed Ashley.

"I think we have bad luck." - Ashley pointed at the dead man under their feet as they stood above him. "Is this?" - Elena pointed looking back at Ashley who nodded with disappointment. "Fucking son of a bitch." - Elena cursed under breath. "Our last hope for finding something out about Gustavo is fucking dead." - She continued as anger started rising in her.

"Jose Perez is dead and we are empty handed once again in this case." - Ashley stated as if it was not already clear to Elena. She looked at her with fury now that it all went down. "How do we have this luck? The night before we get something, everything gets ruined within hours without us using the chance we got." - Elena complained as they started looking around the scene.

"How many dead?" - She asked looking around them. "Four, including Jose. The waiters said how someone just pulled out a gun in a crowd full of people, shot few times in the ceiling and then started shooting down people until security knocked him down, but not before he shot himself through the mouth, demolishing his head." - Ashley informed as Elena looked at the body of a shooter and gun beside his hand.

"Isn't this quite familiar? Have you seen this one before?" - Elena took gloves and picked the gun up carefully as Ashley looked closely at it. "I saw it before, it's pretty easy to get that one, and it's not a big deal." - Ashely shrugged it off. "Yeah but it could be. I think this gun is very familiar to the one Mrs. Allison used to defend herself. I think it's no coincidence that two shootings happen in a week, by a similar gun." - Elena pointed out as pointed to Ashley to take the plastic bag so she could put the gun in.

"Tell them to match the guns, try and find similarities. This could lead us to something." - Ashley walked away nodding at Elena's words as she walked out to see Charles blankly staring at the floor with his friends, while they sat at nearest thing they could. Elena felt bad because they were probably traumatized by now. It is hard to get used to it, especially if it's not in your field of your job. Elena was used to it, but Charles wasn't.

"Hey, are you guys doing okay?" - She stood towards them placing her hand on Charles' shoulder as he looked up at her. "Yeah, we are just tired. It's been a horrible, and tiring night so far." - Elena nodded at his words understanding the circumstances they may found themselves under.

"Do you have anything to report, anything you noticed that could help us? We already know the story and the killer is dead, but is there anything you think we should know before we move on?" - Elena asked as all of them shook their heads slowly like they were afraid to answer.

"Okay guys, you can go home. I know it's been hard but trust me, you will find yourself at ease that you are not hurt nor killed tonight. Get some sleep and try to distract yourself from any thoughts that may reflect this night." - Charles' friends thanked her and greeted Charles before they left, but Charles only stood up standing over her.

"Are you coming home with me?" - He asked but deep down they both kind of knew that the answer won't be satisfying for any one of them. "I am sorry, I have to stay. It's been crazy night and I need to stay until we get across everything. I may get home in two hours maximum." - She moved the strands of his hair through her finger as she talked. Charles' hands were wrapped around her waist as he looked in her eyes, falling in love with them all over again.

But that couldn't hide the pain he felt. He knew she could never be free. Even when she is not supposed to work and is peacefully sleeping in her bed, there could be someone who needs her help or something that occurs her attention.

Her job is nothing like his. He always needs to be on the time it is written. Races and everything is reserved months before they happen and they are never minute earlier or later. Sometimes it gets delayed but very rarely and everything is on time.

But Elena's job wanted her full attention her whole life. Sometimes Charles thought if she ever had pictures of the dead people she has seen when she is walking around, watching TV, eating or sleeping. Maybe it's him but maybe her job needs her mind 24/7 and he feels bad for her.

Charles hated seeing her leave the bed the morning when those poor children were killed. She got up but never wanted to leave. Elena never expected what was going to wait for her behind the doors of that family's house. Seems like it's just getting busier and more terrifying each time she wakes up. And he is amazed by it.

"Okay, but come home as soon as you can, all right?" - She smiled with a nod and gave him long kiss on the lips before he left. "You are not drunk are you?" - She yelled over to him as Charles smiled at her words opening the doors of his car. "You can test me, I only had water." - He assures her as she walked back in continuing observing every dead body.