Blissful Misery

CHAPTER 17 - Theories

***

With Lucas' head resting against my shoulder, I gently smoothed his bleached messy hair, hoping to comfort him.

"I guess there's no helping it..." I sighed. "Charlie needs a funeral whether we want to accept it or not."

"It's not that," Lucas said, straightening up and taking a long drag from his cigarette.

He walked outside, and I followed, watching as he sank into a chair by one of the convenience store tables. He looked like he hadn't sat down in a while.

"Mom wants to cremate him," he said, his voice bitter. "But I told her to wait with all that nonsense. There's still evidence the police could gather from his body... the parts they have, anyway. Cremation would just destroy it all."

I understood his point, but his mother needed closure.

"I'm sure the police have done all they can..." I said carefully.

Lucas' eyes flashed with disdain. He pulled the hood of his jacket up, casting a shadow over his face.

"That's where you're wrong," he sneered. "They're a mess. The media's tearing them apart, and they're scrambling to wrap this up as fast as possible. But that desperation just makes them sloppy."

I couldn't argue with him. The only suspect they seemed focused on was me. Though I could hardly blame them. My situation did seem rather suspicious. And there probably was a lot of pressure on them.

"This is why I'm studying Criminal Justice," he muttered, disgust thickening his voice. "Everyone in this city is so incompetent. It's been a week, and they haven't even gotten toxicology results from Charlie's samples."

I glanced at my friend, his face illuminated by the harsh neon glow from the store sign. The shadows amplified the dark circles under his eyes and the bruise on his face.

Was it just me or did he look thinner?

"I haven't eaten yet," I said.

I headed back inside to grab a couple of the discounted meals set to be tossed, along with two bottles of chocolate milk.

Lucas gave a faint smile as he snuffed his cigarette and took a bite of the wrap.

"Actually, I wanted to share some of my theories about the killer," he said, a flicker of determination in his tired eyes.

"What is it?" I asked, frowning.

Lucas leaned in. "After Charlie went missing, I started digging. And I think I've got a profile on the killer."

I blinked in surprise.

"You do?"

He nodded.

"The police keep saying the victims have nothing in common, but they're missing something. Every single one had some kind of skeleton in their closet. Some scandal or sin. Big enough that people knew. I talked to family and friends of some of those victims, and they confirmed it."

My pulse quickened as I listened, caught between admiration and dread. I already knew Jace's motives, but seeing Lucas so close to the truth was unnerving.

"That's incredible, Lucas," I said, feigning calm. "You're miles ahead of the police."

Lucas shrugged.

"I started hanging around some rough crowds to dig up dirt on the victims. You wouldn't believe what I've learned. It's crazy they were never arrested for half of it."