shadow [h.s.]

t h i r t e e n t h

I dropped by the Department on my way back home to identify the man in the photograph. He looked tall, handsome. Well-built. But there was a cruelty, a sadness to him, that made me want to know more about him.

Questions obviously arose in the back of my mind like, 'Why was he in each of those journals?' 'What did he have to do with case 1145?' But each of these questions remained a mystery to me. I had to understand it, had to put the pieces of case 1145 together.

I approached the Evidence desk- a miserable looking, green affair with Mr. Weasl standing behind it- greasy combover and all. "Ah, Ms. Jacobs. Congratulations on your engagement," he commented in the nasally tone that made my spine crawl.

"Thank you, Weasl." I brushed a piece of hair behind my ear. "I'm here to identify the man in this photograph?" I handed a photocopy of the picture to Weasl. "I was hoping you could give me a few clues?"

Weasl shrugged. "Well, we can try, but Evidence is pretty backed up with the terrorist attacks in the airport. There's been evidence comin' in like crazy."

I nodded. "I understand- just, if you do get around to doing it, lemme know, okay?"

Weasl nodded and was about to say something else when Leighton called my name. "Skyler! There you are, babe! I've been calling your cellphone like crazy."

I brushed past him. "I left it at home."

"How did dropping off Harry go?"

"You know what, Leighton? I don't understand you. How did you know I had Harry at my place?" I turned on him, resolute and regal in my anger towards that stupid phone call he had made just last night. "How did you know I was dropping him off today?"

For the first time in his life, Leighton was nervous. He pulled at his collar and swallowed. "Denton told me."

"I didn't tell Denton anything," I seethed.

Leighton sighed. "Look, babe, I'm sorry for hanging up on you last night, I didn't mean it." He bit his lip and ranked a hand through his hair. "How about dinner, Friday night?" He looked at me with puppy dog eyes. "Please?"

And just like that, any romantic thoughts I had had towards Harry dissipated as I nodded and kissed Leighton's cheek. But our scheduling of the date didn't make me excited or happy. It made me feel normal and standard.

"I gotta go," Leighton explained. "They're having a memorial service for my dad. The coon died 20 years ago but they wanna keep remembering him, y'know?" He rolled his eyes. "The invitation literally says, "Please come to remember our beloved Morty Harrison." He snorted. "Anyway, see you, babe."

And with that, he walked off.

My blood was cold in my veins, ice in my heart as I watched him walk away. It can't be. I muttered to myself. There's plenty of Morty's in this town.

-x-

To: charles.denton@hotmail.com

From: skyler.jacobs@gmail.com

DETECTIVE SKYLER JACOBS OFFICIAL REPORT - VERIFICATION ID 4459930

CASE 1145

I HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING THIS CASE FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS NOW, AND ONLY SINCE TWO DAYS AGO HAVE I BEEN MAKING ANY SORT OF HEADWAY ON IT. 

1) THE JOURNALS I FOUND IN EACH OF THE WOMAN'S APARTMENT CONTAINED A SUSPICIOUS PICTURE THAT EVIDENCE HAS NOW PROVEN TO BE MORTY HARRISON, FATHER OF ANALYST LEIGHTON HARRISON WHO IS ALSO MY FIANCE. THIS NEWS IS TO BE KEPT PRIVATE, I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.

2) THERE ARE FIVE YEARS BETWEEN EVERY MURDER DATE, AND FIVE WEEKS BETWEEN THE SPECIFIC DAYS. THIS PROVES THIS MURDER WAS A PLANNED AFFAIR.

3) I GOOGLED/YELLOW PAGED ALL THE VICTIMS. ALL THE SUBJECTS, EXCEPT FOR MY FATHER, WERE RELATED TO SOMEONE WITH THE LAST NAME OF 'TWIST'. UNCANNY, I KNOW, BUT IT'S TRUE AND I THINK IT MAY BE A LEAD.

4) ALL THE GIRLS WERE EXACTLY TWENTY WHEN THEY DIED. NONE WERE JUST OVER TWENTY ONE OR ALMOST TWENTY TWO. ALL OF THEM WERE SPECIFICALLY TWENTY.

IT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW, BUT I THINK IT'S A START. AS ALWAYS, KEEP IN TOUCH AND KEEP THIS PRIVATE.

SINCERELY,

SKYLER JACOBS

RIVER HEIGHTS, NY

NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT

490-320-1145

-x-

I phoned my Mom right after I filed the case report. According to all the similarities I had found with the other subjects, I needed to see if anything Dad had done/said matched with the leads Harry and I had already found.

She picked up on the fourth ring, out of breath. "Sky!" She cooed through the airwaves. "Hey, honey. Sorry, I was just running laps in the bathtub."

I cleared my throat. My mom could be a little of a handful. "Hey, mom."

"How are you? I'm great, before you ask. Although," she said, grunting as she sat down on her favorite, purple easy chair in the living room. "Leonardo DiCaprio did not win an Oscar last night, for which I am eternally damning those god forsaken fools who make those decisions, because did you see him in the Great Gatsby? Like, Great Gatsby my foot, the only reason I watched it was because DiCaprio was in it. And what about that Idina-"

"Mom," I cut her off, biting my lip. "As much as I would love to debate the winners of the Oscars, I have some questions for you."

"Oh, sure, honey." She laughed. "Go right ahead."

"Did Dad know any Twist's?"

My mother frowned and hmmed a bit. "Well, now.... oh, wait! Why, yes he did." My mum's smile was evident in her tone. "He dated Heather Twist in the eighth grade. She was nice, prettier than me, for sure." Mom sighed. "The only reason I remember is because I dated Heather's brother- Robin. Yeah, he went on to marry Anne or Jane or something like that. Pssh, didn't know what he was missing when he broke up with me. Speaking of which, I really need to check my casserole. Do you need anything else, sweetie?"

"N-no, I'm good, Mom. Thanks."

"Love you baby girl!"

"Love you too."

I hung up first, placing the phone down and then running over to where my laptop sat, perched on it's desk all neat and tidy for me. With shaking fingers I opened Google and typed in Heather Twist.

Nothing.

Robin Twist.

Yeah, there it was. His Facebook profile. I clicked on it and it didn't show me much- a fat, balding man who looked happy and said Married to Anne Twist, so I Googled her name, anxiously awaiting the results as it loaded. What I saw made me gasp and clap my hands over my mouth.

For it said, very blatantly: mother of Harry E. Styles.

--

so basically Sky's mother dated Robin Twist in high school, but Robin went on to marry Anne who is Harry's mum and it's just like HELL'S ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE.

prepare yourself for the next few chapters.