✔Paint Me a Murder | Book 1

Chapter 3: Deal with the Devil

While Jordy led Barbara away from the gruesome scene to wait for the police, Kazimir spent a moment alone with Hank. He was gone, consumed by the darkness of death's embrace. All Kazimir had left of him were his memories.

New Syracuse wasn't filled with many cordial people, so making friends had been difficult for Kazimir, but Hank treated him like they'd known each other for years. Four days ago, Hank had saved up enough to take Kazimir out to his first concert for a band they loved. He'd always cherish that day, especially the roadtrip. They'd never see another concert together again.

Guilt pricked at Kazimir's heart as the blood trickled down Hank's neck. Had they not come to the art gallery, maybe Hank would still be alive. A knot in Kazimir's stomach tightened, but he couldn't look away from his friend. Hank couldn't be dead. Seeing him slumped over on the bench should've been convincing enough, but Kazimir didn't want to believe it.

Kazimir knew he had to stay strong, if not for himself, for Hank. Who would do something so heinous? Could a gang member be responsible? Memories of Mr. Lamphere's death came to mind. Hank didn't have any reason to have enemies, let alone have someone who would want to kill him. Kazimir didn't want to disturb his body, but he needed to know who had been calling him. Behind him, Barbara sobbed in Jordy's arms. The poor woman just lost the love of her life.

Crouching down, Kazimir carefully searched Hank's pockets for his cell phone. He couldn't find it. Whoever sliced Hank's neck must have taken it with them. That only made Kazimir more curious about the calls and what else might have been on that phone. He wanted to search more, but he knew it would look suspicious if he stayed near Hank's body. He needed to move away before the cops arrived.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but look back at his neighbor. A tear trickled down his cheek. Kazimir started to wonder if he was cursed because everyone he cared about ended up dead. He pulled his coat tighter around his body. He couldn't get Hank's soulless expression out of his mind. It reminded him too much of his own father.

"You okay?" Jordy asked.

Kazimir shook his head then wiped his nose with the sleeve of his hoodie. "I couldn't find his phone. Remember how someone kept calling him? Maybe that's who did this."

"Yeah, you might be right." Jordy dabbed under his eyes with the collar of his shirt, jaw tightening. "Looks like his killer was smart enough to take it with them too. Who could've done this? You think it was one of those gang members?"

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Kazimir removed his glasses to wipe his tears. "I don't know."

Sniffling and whimpering, Barbara pulled away from Jordy, who tried to console her. Bright blue and red lights swallowed up the park, followed by a couple of officers with flashlights. Barbara hurried over to them, frantically gesturing to where her dead husband was on the bench.

Kazimir faded into the background like a shadow when nosy people and police gathered around like vultures. They moved Barbara into the back of an ambulance to try and console her, but not even the blanket they gave her stopped her shivering. While she spoke with one of the cops, Jordy called her son to gently explain what had happened. Kazimir stayed near the front of the ambulance away from them but close enough to know what was happening.

With shaky hands, Kazimir reached down into his pocket for his Bic lighter and a cigarette. He exhaled a heavy breath, hoping to calm his nerves. A red-headed cop made eye-contact with him as he smoked. Gripping his lighter tightly, he tried to calm his pounding heart. He didn't want the police to get suspicious of him.

The cops secured procedural crime scene tape around the area along with a white tent to keep inquisitive citizens out. Deputies in blue scattered about like little beetles, and a crime-scene tech went to examine Hank's body. Police made Kazimir squeamish for many reasons. Drug addicts didn't have a good rep with them.