Psycho Skills (Sample)

Chapter 8

"Excuse me?" Margrett asked stunned.

"How close was the kid to the end of what you could teach him?"

"Fairly near, but what does that...?"

"Come now Mari we both know you know where I'm going with this. You must really care about him huh?"

"I don't know what you're getting at."

"Who better for a future detective to learn from than the very type of person they'd be trying to catch right?"

"And what makes you think I would entrust him to her? You're right I care about him, so why would I chance his life?"

"Because you know it's not a chance. Sarah may be a serial killer, but you two are still sisters who were very close. No wonder you're not more worried about him."

"Were. We were close. Not anymore." A tear ran down her pale cheek. "And as far as not worrying as much, you're wrong, I worry for all of them. I worry for his safety just as I worry for Sarah's, but even if Sarah were to bring him back unharmed and turn herself in she still wouldn't be safe, would she?"

"Mar..."

"No!" Tears covered both of her cheeks now.

"I would try..."

"And you would fail! You know as well as I do that if Sarah turns herself in she would get the death penalty without so much as a second thought. Then, what I dread would come true."

"But what about the people she has killed, Mar? What about the people she is still going to kill?"

"You know as well as I do the people she's killing deserve what they're getting."

"No, I don't think I do. Maybe you can tell me what happened to Sarah and Katy the night they were nearly killed." Tears started to stream down my face as well. "The night I wasn't there."

"I can't, but there is much more to this than you realize."

"So tell me."

"I can't. What I can tell you is that I wish for the safety of both of them."

I sighed. "Fine, I will be back tomorrow and I hope you'll be ready to talk then because if you're not you will be held as an accomplice to the murders that Sarah Morgonson has committed and I won't be able to help you."

With that I walked out of Margrett's house with Marcos close on my heels. My speed increased as I felt every bit of pain and sorrow I had swallowed down all those years ago, for not being there, come writhing back up.

"Detective." Marcos called, but I couldn't hear him. Then he grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me to face him. "Silvia!"

"What?!" I snapped at him the anger in me spilling out. I looked at him as if he could give me the answers I had been looking for since the day Sarah and Katy came back to school.

"This has to stop!"

"What does?"

"You're too close to this case. It's hurting you."

"No."

"Yes. I'm not about to watch you tear yourself apart."

"Why do you care?!" I realized I was starting to sound bitter.

"Because I won't be able to watch you destroy yourself. You can't ask me to do that."

His words almost stunned me speechless. "I can't. I can't stop. I can't not know. I have to solve this. For Sarah, Margrett, and Katy. I have to."

He sighed. "I know, I know. I just don't want to lose you."

Journal Entry

Case 1

Detective Silvia Merrez

Today I found the connection between the boy and Sarah. I am sad to say that it looks like I am going to lose yet another friend. I don't look forward to getting the proof I need to put her behind bars. The proof to which I am referring would most likely be on the security camera of the clinic. While it's true the camera has no view of Sarah's room I would only need to see Margrett in the clinic once while Sarah was there to prove her connection as a accomplice. Then my boss wouldn't be able to stop me from bringing her in. As for Marcos, he scared me when he started talking about not wanting to see me destroyed. I mean it's sweet and out of character for him, but he almost made me think he was going to quit if I didn't and I don't know how well I'd be able get things done with only me. I know he's right. With each step in this case I am losing bits and pieces of myself and although I am covering the voids as best I can they are not being filled. I don't think they'll ever be healed.