The Last Thought of a Beating Heart

Six

Darius and Nicolas had arrived in Pasture Bluff after driving straight through from Mossy Hill Junction. Nicolas had driven leaving Darius to his endless thoughts of what had happened. In the entire trip, Darius had said a little more than a paragraph and Nicolas had left it at that. Knowing that Hailey would be meeting them there at the police station didn't seem to instill any comfort in him. Hailey had gotten away. Successfully running a business in art, running a museum, traveling the world, and now dating a man that in her words was "one of a kind", she seemed to have it all. Considering the fact that in two years, they had only spoken over the phone in brief conversations, using Alexander as a buffer. Seemed all somewhat pointless now, but hell the truth hurt. Push people out of your life and everything goes down the shitter.

Trapped in his own thoughts Nicolas sat wondering what could possibly be crossing Darius' mind. An usually outspoken cocky man who never seemed wrong in his mind was totally shut down with his thoughts. A blank expressionless stare was all he could seem to get out of him other than the occasional stop up here I've got to piss or I'm fuckin hungry. Whatever was running through his mind was going to consume him and that is what worried Nicolas the most.

Pulling up in front of the police station, Darius didn't even let the truck stop rolling before he jumped out of the passenger seat, practically running up the front steps to the front entrance. He placed the truck in park and started walking up the stairs to the front entrance to face whatever lies ahead and the dreading the demons that were about to be unleashed.

Looking around inside the police station reminded him of something out of a movie. People sitting around, others yelling at the receptionist, police officers wrestling in drunks, druggies, or murderers, then you had Darius standing awkwardly talking to Hailey.

A tall well-dressed man that reminded him of something that you would see in a cop show had escorted Hailey and Darius into a double door. I guess stereotypes had to come from somewhere.

Nicolas began thinking back on the last time he had seen Hailey. She was barely more than a child. Now as he watched them walk away from him, he couldn't help but notice that Hailey's petite body was in shock. Her long brown hair and short compact body only made her seem more fragile to him. He had always thought of the Wilcott's as his family, and he always would.

Hailey and Darius followed the well-dressed man into a small room only equipped with a small table and chairs with the infamous two-way mirrors. It looked like an interrogation room but smelled like a jail cell. Seated at the table were two agents. A well-dressed older man with the flawless seam of perfection. Beside him sat a young man who looked new and fresh to the job.

"Hello, my name is Special Agent Miles Bishop, and this is my partner Agent Mike Jameson. I believe we spoke on the phone earlier Mr. Wilcott."

Darius nodded and introduced Hailey to the agents.

Agent Miles spoke in softer tones this time, "If you would, please have a seat. I have some information to discuss with you. I've been asked to take this case along with my partner Agent Jameson due to the backlog of crimes here in Mossy Hill Junction. Usually, this sort of thing is resolved quickly but with lack of evidence, witnesses, or motives at this point an investigation may take time. If you allow us to perform our duties, we will try to resolve this investigation as quickly as possible."

Hailey spoke in a trembling voice, "What exactly happened to Alexander?"

Agent Bishop looked at Agent Jameson and he pulled out a yellow file folder. Agent Jameson slid them to the middle of the table, and he spoke, "There is no easy way to explain to you what happened but if you choose not to look at the photographs of the crime scene, I will do my best to explain. The photographs are very graphic and disturbing. If you wish to continue we shall."