I'd Sell My Soul

Chapter 19: Slow Descent into Chaos

Katie's POV
The morning early October air was frigid. I settled on a turtleneck with jeans and vans. I zipped up my parka with a piece of toast fresh from the toaster in my mouth. My mom met me in the foyer, standing in her robe and pjs. I took the toast out of my mouth with my left hand and stared at her, waiting for her to speak.

"Grandma made a point of telling me you were out pretty late last night." She says as she removes a piece of lint from my hair. I had removed this turtleneck fresh from the dryer and it was starting to pil.

"Yes and? I'm in my thirties." I take a bite of my toast and chew it quietly.

"I know...have you thought any more about moving out? She worries about you Katie. She's too old for that kind of stress." Mom folds her arms over her robe.

"You know I really should. I'm getting sick of Amanda going through my shit." I roll my eyes, thinking back on the light left on in my room last night.

"When did she go in your room?" Mom huffs.

"Last night." I answer as I pick up my purse from the floor.

"Honey, Amanda slept over at a friend's house last night. You're too old to be blaming shit on her Kathryn." Mom scowled at me.

"Really?" I stop gathering my things and freeze. I swore I didn't leave that light on. I know I didn't. "Must've been Izzy."

"Again too old to be blaming stuff on your younger siblings." Mom rolled her eyes.

"Got it Mom, thanks. See you later." I leave in a huff. Honestly it was time for me to move out. Most women my age had their own place, a career, a marriage and or a family. I wasted so much time with my ex, Sage,  I forgot time moves so fast. It was time to get serious about life and my goals...if I had any...

When I got to the saloon, Levi hadn't arrived yet. I tucked my parka and purse away in the managers office before walking out to my section of the dining area. I tied my black apron around my waist as the sheriff walked in followed by Officer Jake Barns, with Daria seating at one of my tables. I grab a fresh hot pot of coffee from the drink station and walk over to the booth.

"Good morning officers, how are you both?" I ask approaching the table. Both of them flipped up their mugs signaling they want coffee so I pour the mugs full.

"Jake this is Katie Aberdeen. Her family is good people. I knew her grandad well, God rest Paul's soul." The sheriff tells Jake.

"Nice to meet you Katie, I'm Jake." He smiles at me and extends his hand to me which I shake with my free hand.

"Welcome to Colfax, sorry it's under unfortunate circumstances." I say as I drop my grip on his hand. He's just as handsome up close as he was on the stage at the emergency town hall meeting.

"Yeah well it's par for the course. I used to be a cop in Seattle and that was far more grizzly day to day...NOT THAT two teens getting murdered isn't horrific." His eyes get wide as he realizes his possible mistake.

"No I understand. My friend Allison just moved back from Seattle. She has quite a few awful stories." I wave away his comment. "So what can I get going for ya?"

"I'm gonna need fuel for the day ahead. Ham and eggs, Kathryn." The sheriff sighs and hands me his menu.

"And for you?" I smile at Jake.

"A veggie omelet for me please." He smiles and hands me his menu as well.

"I'll get that going for you both." I nod and head to the kitchen where I punch in my orders. I sigh and take a tray of silverware and napkins to the dining room. I find an empty booth and start rolling silverware, carefully listening to the sheriff around the corner from me.

"So is the announcement going live today?" Jake asks.

"Yes and it will be pandemonium when it does. This town doesn't take crime lightly." The sheriff replies.

"I can't get the mother's sobs out of my head." Jake sighs.

"Use that as motivation to find this fucker. He's truly evil." The sheriff responds.

"How much longer til we hear back from the lab about that DNA we pulled off of January Pauler and Sandra Turnkey?" Jake sets his coffee down and the ceramic mug makes a clatter sound against the wood of the table.

"Any day now." The sheriff responds. I get up and head into the kitchen to retrieve their hot plates of food sitting under the warmers. I bring them out to their booth where they had since quieted down.

"Can I get you gentlemen anything else?" I ask after setting the plates down on the table.

"No, that's all. Thank you Kathryn." The sheriff nods at me to which I return a smile before walking back to the kitchen. I find Daria putting away some dirty dishes in the dish pit.

"Did you know January Pauler or Sandra Turnkey?" I ask her.

"Yeah actually I did. They were seniors this year. January's older brother Austin was in my graduating class. We were friends, he would host kick backs sometimes. Sandra was January's best friend. She was always over at the Pauler's house." Daria shrugs as she puts the dishes in the correct compartments.

"So you know they were both victims of the creek killer?" I say cautiously. Daria solemnly nods her head.

"Austin hasn't posted anything on social media since it was announced. I feel for him." Daria sighs and stops her task.

"Do you know why they would've been targeted?" I press.

"No. Why do you care so much?" She folds her arms and scowls at me.

"It's scary...that's all." I shrug, playing off my intrigue.

"Well, I mean...don't pass this around but Brianna told me her little sister said that they were real party whores...like they did a lot of drugs and crap." Darla looks around the room nervously.

"Interesting." I nod. I walk away from her and back into the dining room when I notice Allison sitting in a booth with Levi in front of her. I sprint over to them.