Don't Let It Get You

Number 3

Derek Bradbury had never seen something like this before.

The last detective had retired saying that this town was pretty well, fucked up, but this was a whole new level!

Pulling out pictures of the killers previous victims, he saw no similarities.

One was a reporter.

The other a fitness specialist.

And this one? His previous boss!

Stepping under the yellow tape, he brushed the sweaty strands of hair sticking to his face. All around him was crashing and rolling of waves as they stood near the beach.

Derek, your a good boy with a golden heart, but we gotta sometimes bend the truth! Look, the people cannot learn that there has been a psychotic killer running around the streets for years now, and we haven't caught her yet! That would send everyone into an unnecessary panic!

Everyone just took his reasoning and kept quiet, but now he was dead.

His eyes were slit open so his bloodshot stare was visible. His hands had been tied together with the gun he used laced between them. Then, his killer had made him shoot himself in the mouth.

Abhishek Mohammed had not deserved this at all.

Five dedicated years of working in the police, protecting in the streets, and he had been forced to kill himself.

Derek could imagine being him, forcefully tied down by this murderous monster you tried so desperately to protect the people from, only to have them beat you at your own game and humiliate you by killing you on your porch. 

He had known Abhishek for a while, after his wife died from a heart attack on that very spot he was tied to.

It was difficult not to cry, seeing such a selfless man killed by his own gun.

Derek? You know why I named my gun Aditi? Not because I feel lost without her, but because I want her to know that in heaven, I can move on and love her at the same time.

He had kept those words at heart, and now his precious Aditi had killed him.

Kailee Connolly would pay.

"Bradbury, you should go home. Let Mohammed know that he made you a better person, not some insomniac," some colleague said.

The words didn't have the same effect.

Suddenly, the crackling of his walkie talkie stopped him from mentally breaking down.

"Sssk... Connolly sighted on black  Harley-Davidson on ssssk Muldeline Avenue in from of the book store."

Jumping up, Derek grabbed his car keys and sped off to find her.

This was personal.

When he finally found her, she was no longer on her motorcycle, instead she had hotwired a Bentley and was zooming off.

Lights flashed by him as his only focus was on the girl in front of him. Several honks and screams surrounded him, but Derek had one goal, and it wasn't driver safety.

It felt like nothing besides her existed, like she was the only thing that mattered and he needed to kill her to open up again.

She had definitely noticed him tailing her, and was heading towards the highway. The walkie talkie besides him rippled with noise, telling him to stand down or update his location.

He didn't care. He was going to kill her soon. 

Derek, buddy, I joined this police force and not the military for a reason. It's because I cannot kill anyone in cold blood. You know I couldn't have killed Aditi for that reason. You know I'm innocent.

He swerved for a second, but cleared his head and went back to the chase.

I couldn't have killed Aditi for that reason.

Derek blinked, nearly missing the car next to him.

I can't kill anyone in cold blood.

The honking around him was bringing back those migraines.

You know I'm innocent.

'Dammit Abhi! I know.'

Silence filled the air as he continued the chase.

"Your innocent because I got angry at you and punched her too hard," Derek announced to the world.

And just like that, he wasn't mad at Kailee anymore.

Because he drove right into the side of the highway and died. 

At home, Kailee slid her notebook out and drew a line right over the next name.

.

.

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Derek Bradbury.