Thicker Than Blood

Chapter 5: Jennette

      My eyes open widely as I try and keep my external portion of my body looking calm. However, on the inside nothing but utter fear takes over my body. The noise of my blood pulsing through my body. My heart beats as if I was Secretariat running the '73 Kentucky Derby. I am in 'awe'. How could this be happening again? I thought this was all over with.

       Just then, I hear footsteps coming down the hallway. Each creak in the floor boards get closer and closer to the room. I quickly snap back to reality and remember I am not alone. I race to put the note in the right-side pocket of my pants. Jamming it in before Louis turned the corner. Just as I managed to hide the paper, Louis entered the room.

       "Hey Jim, backup is on their way. About 10 to 15 minutes or so."

       "Ya, gotcha. Just wondering what kind of sick bastard does something like this." Showing my disgust through my voice while looking down at what was left of the girl.

       "This doesn't surprise me, I'll tell you that. Montana does seem to attract some strange people. Like Carl Panzram or recently, David Meirhofer. Just a matter of time before one of them hits Butte County" Louis responded, eyes fixated on the body the whole time.

       After a couple minutes of the two of us just looking at the body, we heard a voice coming from the front door.

       "Hello. Jim? Louis? You guys still alright?" A piercing voice echoed through the house.

       "We were," as I looked at Louis sharing the same look of disgust.

       "Alright, good to know. You find anything that would identify the victim?" Dwight asked.

       I turn to the body and grabbed a pair of rubber gloves from my belt. Once my gloves are on, I start to search through her pockets. Patting her left-side and then moving towards the right. Nothing. I then proceed to look through her sweater pockets to which I feel something resembling a plastic cover.

       I pull the rectangular item out. Looking down at it, the item reads the name "Jennette Smith". The top of the card lined with the writing 'Montana Tech'. Oh brother, this will not go down well in town.

       "Hey Dwight, you know a Jennette Smith? She seems like your type. Tall, blonde, speechless. There no way she could say no to you." I heard no response making me chuckle in pleasure. I then got up from the floor, taking one good look at the body before exiting the room and walking to the front.

       I looked out the door to see police lights bouncing off the trees. Covering my eyes with my hand as the lights were radiating a brightness that were impossible to see through. Out of no where, I hear someone calling my name.

      "Jim! Buddy guy, come here."

      I scan the area, looking for where the voice came from through all the lights.

       "To your left," the voice shouted again. I turn my head to the left hard to see Louis and Dwight surrounded by 4 other officers.

       I make my way over, hearing the group discussing theories on the final moments of the girl's life.

       "...Maybe she got into it with the wrong miner. Hoping to strike gold but ended up hitting bed rock," one of the officers said laughing.

       "Or maybe, she wanted was looking for a way to pay off that student debt," Louis added as more laughter followed.

       I did not know how to feel about this particular time. I wanted to laugh along and jump in with some god-awful presumption on how that girl inside spent her last moments alive but, I couldn't. All that was going through my head was the note that was in my pocket. Millions of thoughts fled my head with what it very well meant. I had assumptions but no clues to off. I guess I am to wait for one.

       Once everyone was done spitting out their theories, we were all told that we could head home. Louis and I get into the cruiser ready to the day. On the drive back, we discuss the scene and the theories that arouse form the conversation we had with the other officers. Laughing at some and others becoming very curious of.

       We arrive back at the station to where I drop the cruiser off and Louis and I say our 'Goodnights' to each other. I then get into my car and continue to drive home.

       I park my car in the driveway, the back facing the house. Closing the door behind me and remembering to lock all three locks. Hungry as hell, I walk towards the kitchen to prepare myself some dinner. Along the way, I hear a noise. I immediately look in the direction of the basement door and think nothing more of it then Jennette Smith.