Jeopardised Crime

Chapter 7

Two days has passed and Jazmine continues to receive packagings from an unknown source. At first being a tube of blood, to a lock of brunette hair and for this day it is a bag of loam combined with slightly torn and enfeebled dollar bills.

As the African-American stumbles towards the kitchen, she makes a standstill: Freezing before even placing a foot into the room, her eyes automatically glues onto the spot where the puddle of blood that once stained the floor two days ago. Despite nothing actually being there, it proves that the imagery contaminated her mind, discouraging her to step into the cookery room without recalling the crimson fluid splattered all over.

Eugene's presence in the kitchen brings her back to reality,to which his actions makes her quick-tempered, disclosing the agitation.

"Don't touch those, dammit!"

She exclaims while taking the bag of loam into her hands, advancing towards the bedroom, this puts Eugene in a dumbfound manner as he did not lay a finger onto the suspicious package.

"Why do you even keep them?"

"I have my reasons." Her voice is perceived all the way from the master bedroom, soon enough the acoustics of Jazmine's heels is heard, making her way from the passage back to the kitchen, with a handbag strapped around her right arm.

"I've got a meeting to get to, then I'm off to work, so I might see you later in the early hours of the morning." But then, she comebacks with an additional reply, just before turning the doorknob. "On second thought, you better get outta here." As she is about to walk out, Eugene brings her to a standstill by capturing her arm into his grip, receiving a holler in advance.

"What the hell?!"

"Are you kicking me out?"

"Am I speaking riddles?"

"Why?"

"Look at it in this way, I'm saving your ass."

"From what? What do these people want from you?"

Just by Jazmine's response reveals evasion. "I'm getting late."
"You are the one who's making yourself late," that is all what Eugene says, clearly his intentions are not to allow Jazmine to get away this time without an explanation.
"Look, I don't know who is the sicko sending me all these and I don't know what they are trying to do but -- it doesn't look good at all..." Her short period of silence leads into abeyance. "-- I'm afraid that someone I care about might get hurt because of me. I don't want to feel more guilt than I already do. So please, just listen to me for once."

Only after a minor moment of silence did Eugene gradually release Jazmine's arm from his grip, along with a low-pitched utter. "We'll talk about this later."
Jazmine remains lip tight, making her way hastily towards the hall.

***

Jazmine's unusual mood makes Aaron drop an eyebrow here and then. Firstly she requests that the ketchup to be removed from the table and makes it clear to the waitron that she does not require anything red in her meal, if that be the case, the young lady sets a complaint to the manager that she found pieces of brown hair in her food, and that was not the least of the problem. Anything she ate earlier that day almost brings her to regurgitate due to the aroma of the food she receives; results in her in own opinion that the food wasn't right, which causes an unnecessary scene in the restaurant as at the end of the day, the food had nothing inedible.

-

Aaron and Jazmine resume their meeting inside the car, which the ex-detective begins with inquiring an explanation about his client's health condition, but the African- American refuses to speak about it. Aaron reveals a sigh before opening a file he had in his hand, presenting three photos to her.

"Do you recognise any of these people?"

Jazmine scans them carefully, the first one is a young African-American male with a triangular facial structure and a fade clean cut for a hairstyle.

"This is my brother... Andrew."

"He passed away, correct?"

Jazmine confirms through a hesitant nod.
Aaron turns to the young lady, handing one of the files to her and requests that she skims through it resumes while questioning her about Andrew.

"He was involved with Kevin, while he was still alive?"

"Yes, they were partners in crime, but before Andrew died, Kevin had already planned to backstab him, so I believe that he was involved in my brother's death."

Aaron drops an eyebrow, and his eyes narrow, clearly interested in Jazmine's theory.

"But, obviously the cops say it's suicide, and I'm guessing you're with the cops on this one."

"Well...I cannot say for sure, as I wasn't personally involved in the investigation of your brother's death."

Jazmine remains unresponsive, giving Aaron the opportunity to ask about the next person. Which is a young brunette.

"Are you familiar with her?"

The young lady makes a minor flinch, once she scans the image, it also takes her awhile to make a comment on it.

"Um...she looks familiar but maybe if I got a name..."

"Vanessa," the detective is swift to answer, and bit by bit, Jazmine begins to recall.

"Um... I think I remember her. I believe she used to date my brother -- but, I think she was involved with Kevin as well, although she went missing hours before my brother's death."

"And you know this, how exactly?" The young African-American becomes hesitant, but evenly she reacts to the detective's query.

"I think I was the last one to see them -- I think..."

"What were they doing before this young lady disappeared and Andrew's car wreckage?"

"They were arguing about something that made Andrew upset and before I know it, Andrew left the premises of my home at that time along with Vanessa trailing behind him. I'll have to mention that I forgot what exactly they were arguing about. But that's the last I saw of them. Many say that my brother is responsible for her disappearance, the exact reason why it's claimed that he committed 'suicide'."

The detective makes an exhale after awhile, it's almost as if he is frustrated. "There's probably more to the whole theory, than they claim. Perhaps, I suspect that Kevin was the one who threatened you -- right?" Jazmine crosses her arms as she evades herself from Aaron. "Maybe..."

"Very well, this is a story for another time," He says while ordering the documents. "I forgot to tell you that
I'll be leaving the country for a while."
Sudden shock strikes the African-American causing her to shoot her attention back to him. "What?!"

"It will only be for about two to three days and don't worry it is related to this case."

"Oh! So you're planning to leave me here alone, with all this shit going on?" Her tone is mangled with fury.

"You should be alright as long as you don't get into trouble's way."

"So, you are saying that I'm constantly trying to get into trouble?"

"Technically speaking. Just don't try to solve this on your own."