Shadow of the Mind

Chapter 5: The Hunt

Mia navigated through the congested streets of downtown, her mind racing as much as her car. The honking horns and the blaring sirens created a chaotic symphony that matched her internal turmoil. Going to see the one man, who might be able to help them on her case, but not allow Brian to know her secret with Dr. Graves. The affair had ended years ago after his wife had found them together, but she still had missed their nights together, of researching projects, to deep conversations about the mind. Missing that salt and pepper smell of cologne of his. Quickly shaking off the old feelings she had felt, this was not time to think about that. She swore to herself it was about finding this killer. Knowing he had just left his recent victim in the Chicago Zoo. Where a child figured out it was a real body instead of a prop, caused mass panic the other night. The crime scene was destroyed of any evidence that could have helped. Even the video footage was missing. But as the normal, the killer left them a package in the mail, another wild goose chase of the lake up North, were the body was clearly not found, but this time on back of the picture said "Shadow of the minds, play tricks on the light." What could that mean exactly. She is high spirits thinking Dr. Graves might be able to help them with the fake case files she had created, to help catch the killer, before the next victim was taken. Time was urgently needed for the killer time line in the past made him on the hunt for a new victim by now. She glanced over at Brian, who was staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought. Spinning his phone in hand. Tapping the screen with each flip. The skyscrapers loomed above them, casting long shadows that mirrored the weight of the envelope he held tightly in his hand.

"Are you okay?" Mia asked, trying to break the silence. She could see the tension in his jaw and the way his fingers gripped the envelope as if it were a lifeline.

Brian turned his gaze from the towering buildings to her, his expression a mix of frustration and determination. "I just can't believe this is happening again," he said, his voice low. "Emily, been mad at me before, but not like this. She still has not retuned my calls, since the fight we had about me coming home late. She still has not come home from the Vegas conference trip. I know probably needs space, but that video that was sent to me, with her and some guy stripping his clothes off, at the hotel she was at. Just makes me think our fight was over sight for her possibly cheating on me with this guy. I been going through her emails, and Facebook, or iPad messages and I can't find a connection to that guy. But the way he looked at her in the video. It was like .... Aww never mind."

"What is it?" Mia said weaving through the cars. Knowing that the class end on campus in 45 mins.

"Just... when we were back in college, she knew about someone having an affair with one of the professors, and how much she detested the nature of sneaking around. But there she was in the video, doing exactly that." Getting angrier. Goes back to looking out the window.

"I understand, some of where you're coming from but lets focus on the case. I created some fake cases for Dr. Graves so that way he doesn't know about the real cases details. I have a couple of theory's that might help us. Brian, step out of the box for a second of Emily, and I need you here with me." Putting her hand on Brains arm.

The sun was going down, through the classroom windows. Dr. Graves loved this time of the year, when fall would switch into winter. When life fought to survive and is willing to kill off part of itself to survive starring itself to make it to the next season. As the leaves falling off the tree. Not noticing that Mia and Brian had enter into the back of the lecture hall. "Now class," snapping his mind from the thoughts of death and survival. Hearing the chirps of a phone in the class. "Class, the rules. NO phone sounds. This a place of thought process not technology. Now where was I, yes. Michael essay. Holding it up for his class to see." Samuel walked to the front of the lecture hall, from the white board where he was previous standing. His stage of control he thought to himself, clasping the paper in his hand.: "Michael writes that women tend to hold more jealousy and resentment in the mind, over a man. That is what I was understanding in his repeated essay here." The guys in the class began to smirk and hold back as, the girls tighten their lips a bit." Is that an emotion? or do you think it is something that was programed into the minds? Emotionally, the female hormones are created in the mind versus a male hormone, well this is not for me to debate. Rather lets hear from someone else in this class. Who amongst the females would like to argue his research?" Looking around the room seeing if any hands were raised. "Come on let me have one of the ladies come up here." starring into the crowd once more. His eyes racing looking for the perfect person to argue this paper. Then he saw her. A familiar face. Mia Torres. What was she doing here? He wonders. She is no longer part of this class, and she knows we can't seen in public. But to make it off setting, he had to find out. "aww a former student of mine is in the class everyone, let's let Ms. Mia Torres answer the reply" holding up the papers and a hand to her to come down. His voice was bright spirited, for he knew she was the perfect one to argue this. Thinking about the long nights they use to share in debate over the male and female sight of the world. Watching her come down the steps pulling on her sport coat. Hair pulled back in pony tail. Brought back memories for Samuel, that sexual desire of being challenged. Still smiling at her as she walked towards him.