The Life of the Wife

Chapter twenty two - part one

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

DET MORRIS

part one

We found three places that could withhold the commune. A large farming area, an old gold miners town, and a forest with a large lake residing across the front before some clearing that could definitely hide a community of people.

We drove around to the farming part, asking every cottage resident or farmer where the commune was, but nobody had a clue. This community was definitely recluse and I was hoping the county officers would help on the search but were certain that if there was an entire community of people in this town, then they would have known it. It was going to take all day to search the farmer's area, which meant one more day of Aiden thinking he was home free. I was definitely not going to let that happen. This had to be over so I didn't have to deal with another correction killer again.

The sun fell behind us, leaving us with the cold breeze of failure. We had found no sign of anything, and couldn't search in the dark.
'It is okay, Morris, we will find them.' He patted my lap before putting both hands on the wheel again.
I didn't feel like pretending everything was okay today. I just stared out the window, watching the dust throw itself into the air after the car in front of us drove over the dirt gravel road.
Once we got back to the hotel it had cooled down significantly and I wanted to go inside but had to finish my cigarette first, so Jerry went ahead, leaving me to stare at the stars in awe. The country sky was untainted by street lights and city buildings or smog, letting the stars glow brightly just how they were supposed to. I almost forgot that I was cold, but the icicles that were my fingers jolted me back into realisation.

The unprovoked push of sunlight hit in an instant as Jerry opened the curtains. It ripped through my closed eyelids willing me to get up. I forced my sluggish body to get up and shower and as the hot water sprayed from the showerhead, perking me up, I wondered what the day would bring. I was none to hopeful from yesterday's events leaving us empty handed without a clue, without a sighting, without anything. Getting ready to do anything felt useless, I just wanted to curl up into my own bed with Sasha by my side not caring about the world around us.
'You ready?' Jerry shoved a bar fridge whiskey in to his pockets and shuffled his keys around in his other hand.
'I suppose we get this over with then.' I sighed, leading the way to the car.

This time we were to search an old area where gold miners used to reside, now supposedly deserted. The road was rougher and trees blocked most of the sun, making a streaking effect as we drove along, one moment shadowed, followed another moment with sun kissed strips of orange light.
'We need to stop and look at the map.' Jerry mumbled, pulling over to a ditch that lined the change from forest to road.
'I think this is where we are, see that wind of road here? I am pretty sure we past that.' I followed the spiralling line on the map with my finger, trying to determine our exact location.
'No, that was this wind here, wasn't it?' Jerry's greasy fingers pound at the map, shaking it and making me lose focus.

Before I could tell Jerry to leave the map reading to me a car swerved from the sharp bend ahead and sped past, leaving us in the dust.
'You don't think?' I said, watching the car turn its final corner to be out of sight.
'Don't be daft, were not that lucky. He probably has his head down.' Jerry assured. Aiden couldn't have been that stupid to be out in the open with a man hunt for him going on.
We drove on as the road got narrower, assuring us that we had definitely taken a wrong turn.

Once Jerry finally admitted that he was wrong we tried to turn around to go back when the car got stuck in some mud.
'You try to shimmy it out while I hit the accelerator.' Jerry ordered before gulping down his whiskey.
I tried to move the car as asked but all that came from it was my clothes sprayed with mud.
'Let's look for something to put down on the wheel, like a stick.' I suggested as Jerry stumbled out of the car lighting his cigarette.
We slowly stepped a little ways in to the forest, with our eyes to the ground looking for a sizeable piece of wood.
Both of our heads jerked up when we heard the echoing screams.
We both ran in to the forest towards a woman's cries for help, not knowing where it was coming from.
My breathing felt harsh as if inhaling razor blades as my strides grew bigger, I was getting close. I started to see figures through the trees come in to focus; from what I could see there were three. I heard Jerry a few metres behind me trying to catch up, but I didn't slow down.
As I came in to the clearing I seen a woman on top of another, stabbing the one pinned down. I tackled her off and knocked the knife from her bloody hands. They were both clearly stunned and I took it as my chance to check on the woman. I was too late, she had already been dead.
'Morris!' The other figure yelled, and as I ripped my head to his direction my body shuttered with the sense of familiarity.
It was Aiden.
I reached for my gun to have Johanna try to tackle me.
'You can't have my husband! I can't lose him!' her screams rang in my ears as we struggled to both find our feet as well as be the one to succeed with domination. Aiden moved towards me with Jerry coming in to view just in time and tackling Aiden to the ground.
Johanna wrestled me to the ground and we rolled around trying to pin each other, and as I pushed with all my strength I finally reached her shoulders and pushed her down. Once I had her pinned I grabbed my gun that had been dropped in the struggle and pointed it to her head.
'Don't move!' I heaved, trying to catch my breath.
Our chests pulled up and down taking mighty breaths, and at first Johanna looked afraid, but she quickly drew a toothy grin across her face and I went to look up.
Things went dark as I felt an intense, dull hit to my head. I was knocked

Part two
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