Symphony Of A Serial Killer

Chapter 13: To Con or Confess

Normally I'd accept everything as a possibility, but this one came from way out of left field. As James continued to come near, I jumped up ready to defend myself. Keeping my focus on him, I take a few quick steps back, almost knocking over my chair.

"What the hell!?" I shout with my fist cocked back, ready to strike.

"Danté my boy, calm down. I know this is a lot to process but we'll get through this together." He said while slowly approaching, holding his hands up in front of him.

"You'll have to excuse my son. He's understandably shaken by what's happened."

James continued to paint the picture of this loving relationship between us. Officer Neal, who reentered the room after him didn't seem to be buying it. However Ms. Rubeck seemed more than interested in what he had to say. She began probing him for information on our lifestyle, as well as the relationship that existed between us. Questions like, "Do I confide in him when something is wrong?" "Do we talk about my day and how I feeling?"

What amazed me the most was his demeanor, the man is retired for crying out loud. He usually spends his days in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, yet here he stands clean shaven, hair glistening with activator in it, and dawning a suit and tie as if he just came from the office. His speech is proper and quite frankly perfect, there's no disturbance in his tone; he's relaxed and responding to the questions with precision. Rehearsed... that's the best way I can describe it, this seems too prepared. James is a con man, always has been, he can work a crowd easily if need be. I'd probably believe him myself if I didn't have the inside scoop on who he really is.

The officer came forward and sat next to Ms. Rubeck, then asked James and I to take a seat as well. With no hesitation, and a smile upon his face, James sits at the table. Granted we aren't in here to discuss child abuse or his parenting skills, but still... he plops down in the chair across from the policeman as if he's an innocent soul with nothing to hide.

"Care to join us Danté?" she asks while pressing her glasses back up from sliding down her nose.

Now I'm the odd one out, still backed into a corner trying to wrap my head around everything. In the beginning I didn't care to find out more about my mother's death, but now... how can I not be curious? To travel this road means to tear down some of my defenses, am I ready for that? Is it even safe to allow emotions that have been buried for years to resurface? Fuck it, I really have no choice at this point. I didn't realize it, but I'm trembling with rage. Did this son of a bitch kill my mother? Did he have something to do with it... knows something surrounding her disappearance?

My walls were up, blinding me to everything on the surface, but common sense allowed the obvious to slip through the cracks. If successful, he's about to pull off the greatest con of his life, and I'm not about to let that happen. James looks over at me and flashes a grin as I take my seat next to him.Interlocking his fingers while placing his hands on the table, Officer Neal leans forward and locks eyes with James, "Mr. Albright, when was the last time you saw your wife alive?"

After a brief pause, he told them that the last time he saw her was at Christmas, 4 years ago, that she stepped out saying she was making a quick run to the store to buy something that she forgot. This was the first time I heard this version of the story, I was always told that she simply walked out and never came back. Technically it's the same story he's telling them, I just didn't know that one added detail. When she left I was in the bathroom, so didn't even get a chance to say good-bye.

Ms. Rubeck hasn't said a word, she's in shrink mode, here to profile us for the case. She keeps cutting her eyes back and forth between James and me. The officer leaned back in his chair and rested his hands in his lap. After looking at me then back to James, Ms. Rubeck interjected, breaking her silence and calling attention to his high level of calmness.