X

Chapter 18

  My mind was still on the fact Miss Trickleman and Mrs. Livingston was both killed by the same person. Something just don't seem right about all of this. I was in my office when Blake came in. You ok? No, something not right. I agree, Blake said. Look, Braxton said while looking at the door. Smith thinks you have something to do with these murders. WHAT! He said it's weird you just so happened to know both victims. That don't mean I have something do with this, I said. I said the same thing but you know how he is. None of that make sense at all, I said. You know Smith, he'll try to push this and turn it into something else. He can't do that, im the Captain. Smith will do ANYTHING to get anybody's spot around here. I heard from somebody in the mailroom that he's out for everybody that got promoted before him. He been here for 10 years and still have the same title. I'll do anything to knock you off your spot. Well, that ain't happening. Just watch what you say around him or outside of me in general. It's really not surprising Smith out for my spot. I mean, I would be too if I was stuck at the same position for 10 years. I really do need to watch my back, can't let him catch me slipping.

I got on the computer and checked a few emails. I saw an article that caught my attention. I immediately called Blake back in my office. What's up? Did you see this? No, what is it? 3 people were found dead in Portland yesterday. Stroll back up, Blake said. The active detective on the crime scene said it was a message left on the wall in blood that said, X marks the spot. X=? Our killer strikes again, I said. What was the time again Mrs. Livingston was found dead? 4am, Blake said. These people were found dead at 1:45am. Soo the killer went to Portland, killed them, fled the scene, then killed Mrs. Livingston. Wait, I said while strolling back up. This can't be right. What? I know all 3 of these people. What? Yes, I went to high school with 2 of them. That's Myiah, her brother Jarvin, and her little sister Mariah. When the last time you've talked to or seen them? A year ago, maybe. I'm still not understanding none of this. Within a week, this person killed 5 people that have no type of connection to each other. Left a message that don't make sense at all. X marks the spot, Blake said while tapping on my desk. What does X equals? That's the question we need to answer first. We both were wrecking on our brain trying to figure out what X could mean. Could X mean 10 in roman numeral numbers? That's it, I said. X equals 10, X marks the spot. Soo if X equals 10, that means the killer plans on killing 5 more people. When Blake said that, I immediately got scared. It seems like all 5 people that were killed, was somebody I knew. Look, this CAN NOT leave this office. I don't need anybody, especially Smith knowing I know these people. You know I ain't telling his ass shit, Blake said. I really don't know what's going on. I had to go to the one person I know that's gon help me make sense of all of this and that's my mom.

What you doing here? Something weird is going on, I said while putting my stuff down. What? You remember my old drama teacher, Mrs. Livingston? Yeah, I remember her. Well, she was found dead on her porch around 4am. OH MY GOD! The killer left the same message they left on Miss Trickleman wall. Lord, what is the world coming to? That's not all of it, I said. I saw an article about 3 people were killed around 1:45am. You remember my friend Myiah? I used to babysit her little sister Mariah, I remember her. Well, both of them and her brother was killed. LORD! The same person killed them and left the same message. My mom grabbed her bible and put it to her chest. I'm not sure what the message the killer trying to send but I have a bad feeling about all of this. Blake figured out X means 10, meaning the killer plans on killing 5 more people. Lord, the devil is really busy. The first 5 people he killed was people I knew. No, they wasn't very close to me but I still knew them. Maybe whoever the killer is, trying to send YOU a message. What's the message tho? Child I don't know, my mom said. You just might be the link to all of this. From the sounds of it, you are. Maybe what my mom is saying true. It does make sense, so I can't ignore that.

You busy, Blake asked? No, leaving my mom's house. You got a delivery here at the office. From who? I don't, I just saw Tia signing for it. I'll be there shortly, I said. After everything my mom said, im scared to even see what it is. If the killer is trying to send me a message, I really hope this delivery don't have nothing to do with it. That was quick, Blake said. Close the door, I said. I talked to my mom about what's going on. She thinks im the link to all of this. What you mean? With 5 people being killed that I just so happen to know, the killer could be sending the message to me. If X means 10 and the killer plans on killing 5 more people, the next 5 people might be people that's very close to me. Don't overthink it, Blake said. I'm trying not to but we have to find this killer FAST. Now that I got that out the way, I looked at the package. It was a huge box with no name on it. I opened the box and it was a vase. This vase was HUGE! That's nice, Blake said. Who sent it? I don't know, it don't have a card in here. Captain, Tia said while knocking. Come in, I yelled! These came for you. Tia had some BEAUTIFUL flowers in her hand. Guess the flowers go with the vase, I said. I looked at the card. "Not being able to see you or have you like I want to is killing me. I want you in every possible way I can. I can still feel your lips on mine, still smell your perfume, and I still have the sweet taste of your climax in my mouth. I'll do anything just to have one last moment with you. I won't stop sending you stuff until you give in", King. The whole time I was reading the card, I had a smile on my face.

That card must have been something juicy, Blake said. It just caught me off guard a little. I wasn't expecting King to send me anything. I must say, he's very determined and I like that. I guess ill reach out to him and thank him. Right before I could text him, Braxton walked in. Sorry for just walking in like that, Braxton said. It's ok, how are you? I'll leave y'all to talk, Blake said. I'm ok, could be better. What happened to you this morning? I got another call from my sister phone. What? They called around 7 something. When I answered I just heard the background, it's like they butt dialed me. You couldn't make out the background? No, I didn't hear talking or anything. I just heard walking and wind basically. Let me check with Blake and see was he able to get that trace on her phone. I wanted to apologize about last night. I don't know what came over me, really. It's ok, im not tripping. I just wanted to apologize and I want to apologize to your mom too. I'll tell her, I said. I'll let you get back to work, I just wanted to stop by. I'll check on you later, be safe.