The City of Darkness and Blood

Chapter 12

The gray skies of a cloudy Monday morning cast a subdued light over the city as I drove through Solomon. The red light at the intersection signaled a brief pause, allowing me to rest my arm on the door of my car and take a moment to glance at the news on my phone. The headline blared, "The Hunter Strikes Again: Crusader to Criminal?" The frustration was palpable; I had become the Hunter to aid those in need, not to incite fear. Even after more than two years, the cops still branded me as a threat. The headline stung, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of anger. I closed the news app and tucked my phone away as the light turned green.

I navigated the city streets until I spotted a familiar face near the sidewalk. Kendall Vlad, a face from the past, was talking animatedly on her phone. I parked the car and stepped out, walking over to her with a friendly wave. "Hey!" I called out. Kendall hung up and turned to me, her expression brightening. "Hey!" she replied, her eyes lighting up as we embraced in a warm hug.

"How are you, Kendall—I mean, Detective Vlad?" I asked, a teasing edge to my voice.

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Jason, we've known each other since we were kids. You don't have to be formal."

"Well, I didn't want to disrespect you, especially after that impressive takedown of the drug ring last year," I said, my admiration evident. Her smile grew wider.

"If someone needs a syndicate dismantled, I'm the one for the job," she said with a confident grin.

"You definitely deserve that promotion," I agreed, nodding appreciatively.

Kendall's smile faltered slightly as she glanced at her car, which was parked nearby. "Actually, I'm having a bit of a problem. My car ran out of gas, and I forgot to fill it up this morning."

"Lucky for you," I said, reaching into my car and pulling out a red gasoline canister, "I happen to have some gas."

She raised an eyebrow, probably wondering why I had a can of gas in my car. "I was going to mow the lawn today," I explained with a sheepish grin.

Kendall was initially hesitant but accepted my help. I filled her tank, and I closed it up after the canister was empty. "You should be all set now," I said, stepping back.

"I really appreciate this," Kendall said, her tone sincere. "I'm lucky to have a friend like you."

"You're welcome," I replied with a smile. Kendall's phone rang, and she answered it quickly.

"Hello?... Where?... Okay, Mom, bye," she said, hanging up. "I've got to go. There's been a murder," she added with a hint of urgency.

"Oh, right. Go on," I said, gesturing towards her car. "We'll catch up later."

Kendall smiled and drove off, promising to meet for lunch sometime. I watched her leave, then returned to my car, heading toward my next destination. Arriving at a dimly lit bar, I entered and scanned the room for Gia Underwood. There she was, engaged in conversation with her lover. I wasn't sure if I should confront her directly, so I decided to observe first. I approached her, casually taking a seat beside her. "Gia Underwood?" I asked, catching her attention. "Yes?" she responded, a bit startled.

"Let me buy you a drink," I said to the bartender, who looked a bit puzzled but complied. As I waited, Gia slid closer to me with a flirtatious smile. I managed to maintain my composure despite feeling uncomfortable.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, pulling her hand away when she tried to touch me. Gia seemed to think I was just playing hard-to-get, but I wasn't interested.

Before anything escalated, her lover—Ron, I soon learned—approached and slammed our drinks onto the table. "Here you go," he said with a scowl, clearly annoyed by my presence.

I picked up my beer, took a sip, and then addressed Ron, "Let me ask you something. In a relationship, honesty is key, right?"

Ron and Gia exchanged confused glances before the former replied curtly, "Yeah, and what's it to you?"

I turned to Gia. "You're keeping secrets from him," I said, leaning in with a serious tone. Gia's face flushed as she tried to deny it, but her hesitation betrayed her.

"Is she under arrest?" Ron demanded, his frustration evident. I gave him a pointed look and handed him my business card.

"Private investigator?" he read aloud, his shock apparent. Gia's face mirrored his surprise. "Yeah, her husband hired me to find her. She's been disappearing, and I've been tracking her."

I dug into Gia's purse and pulled out her wedding ring. "Look at this," I said, holding it up. The revelation hit Ron hard; his anger and betrayal were palpable. Some patrons glanced over but most quickly turned away.

Ron's voice trembled with anger. "You're married?"

"I'm getting a divorce, Ron. We'll—" Gia began to explain.

"Shut up!" Ron interrupted, his voice harsh. "I never want to see you again." He stormed out, leaving Gia behind, visibly enraged.

I stood up, heading for the exit. Before I left, I turned to the room and called out, "Drinks are on her!" The patrons cheered, and Gia's face contorted in fury. I walked out of the bar with a smirk, satisfied with the day's work. The next morning, I followed my usual routine—working out after dropping Chloe off at school. After finishing my sixtieth push-up, I was about to grab a drink when a knock at the door interrupted me. I wasn't expecting anyone, especially not this early. I answered the door, surprised to see Kendall standing there. "Hey," she greeted, still slightly shaken by my sweaty, muscular physique. I invited her in. "What's up?" I asked, wiping sweat from my brow.

"I need your help. Jasmine Preston's missing," Kendall said, her voice tinged with concern.

"Jasmine Preston? The girl from high school?" I asked, trying to place the name.

"Yeah," Kendall confirmed. "Her parents reached out to me a week ago. She hasn't come home to pick up her daughter; they're worried sick. I don't blame them. Something must have happened."

Kendall's anxiety was palpable, and I understood her concern. "Do you have any leads on her whereabouts?" I asked.

Kendall shook her head. "I've checked her usual spots, but no one's seen her. I didn't want to involve my mom or the department because they're swamped with the Mad Butcher case."

The mention of the Mad Butcher sent a chill down my spine. "He's back?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah. He's even more unhinged than before. After his last mistake in 2003, he vanished, but now he's resurfaced," Kendall explained, shivering slightly.

"Why come back after all these years?" I wondered aloud.

Kendall shrugged. "Maybe he was waiting for the right moment. I can't share too many details, but it's definitely unsettling."

"I'll talk to Jasmine's parents and see if I can find any leads," I promised.

Kendall's expression softened with relief. "Thanks. It's good to have you on this. One more thing: a month ago, a body turned up in the Solomon River. Kelly Holt—she was raped and strangled. I suspect it's connected to Jasmine's disappearance. The victims all share similar traits."

I listened, processing the information. "I'll look into it," I said, determined.

Kendall smiled and patted my shoulder. "I appreciate it. It's good to see you, Jason."

"You're always so busy," I remarked with a smile. "You could've visited more often if you weren't."

Kendall chuckled. "Hey, at least I call," she said as she headed towards the door.

With Kendall gone, I was left with the gravity of the situation. Solomon was in turmoil, grappling with fear from both the Mad Butcher and my actions as the Hunter. I needed to shower and prepare myself for the tasks ahead.