Angel Of Death

Chapter 4

"Edward Noven, Director of the police here in New York, has been found dead in his hotel room in Paris, France early this morning. It has been said that the serial killer known as Azrael is responsible for this gruesome death. It is said that they have left a calling card marking Edward as their victim above the headboard of the bed where he lay, written on the wall in his blood."

I got on a bus in Phoenix, Arizona, the news playing over the radio. "Is this bus heading to Tucson?" I asked in what I hoped was a passable British accent. Sighing, the driver nodded, so I headed to the only empty seat available after paying the fee.Just before the bus started to move, a man came running up, getting on just before the doors closed. I have to admit, he was cute.

"Sorry for the late arrival. Tucson, I hope?" He looked familiar. Jay, I believe his name was. He was on the news just hours before. That's right! Detective Jay Norman. He was one of three candidates to be voted in to become the new director.

The driver sighed and nodded once more. Jay sighed with relief and played the fee before walking towards the only open seat... right next to me. "Is this seat taken miss?"
"Not at all. Have a seat." I gave him what I hoped was a bright smile. He sat down, placing a briefcase on his lap. Opening it, he pulled out what looked like a case report as the bus started moving. "What are you reading?" He shifted.
"Witness reports." He sounded distracted, which meant it was the perfect opportunity for me to get information out of him.
"That's right. You're a detective, right? Are you, um, investigating the director's death? Such a terrible thing!" I couldn't help but think back to the night he died. It was unfortunate that he had to die so soon, I was really starting to enjoy his company. However, he had unknowingly aggravated me. To call me a child! Oh, but he had been so nice, trying to comfort me when he thought I was helpless. I don't expect anyone will do that again if they knew who I was.
"Yes, an unfortunate occurrence. He was my boss, you know. However, I hope to learn from his death and not underestimate Azrael again." I caught sight of pictures taken of his body and gasped. I hadn't realized just how careless I had been with Edward.
"Yes, underestimating her seems to be a careless thing to do." I said breathlessly.

"Why do you suppose Azrael is female?" Jay was looking at me with suspicion. I pointed to the next picture, which showed my bloody writing.
"The, uh, writing isn't hurried, so you can see how clearly she took care in each stroke. A typical Male wouldn't care if the words were messy, but she obviously does." I lower my hand, which had been tracing my work. "I apologize if I am intruding in your work, Detective." He only shook his head.
"Not at all, miss. In fact you may have just given me my first lead. So thank you very much!" I held in a laugh that bubbled up at his enthusiasm. "It's been a rough start for this Azrael case. Actually, This is the first clue I've gotten about who she might be since it's started." He carefully replaced the papers, making sure they were in a neat pile before closing the case. His excited air had been replaced by a tired one.

"Is that why you're going to Tucson? To investigate the Director's death?" He only shook his head. "To inform a family member?"

"It is unfortunately so. The director has a daughter-had a daughter, I mean. I don't suppose he can have anything now." I shook my head. I didn't want to think of him as human. As a father and a friend of another. I couldn't understand it. This pain in my chest, I couldn't feel guilty for his death, could I? No. It's impossible. If not a sinner, Edward was an arrogant fool.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know he had a child." Jay looked at his hands folded in lap.

"Not many people did. They didn't get along very well." I looked out the window, not wanting to look at him any longer. I told myself it was because he, too, was a sinner, but I knew it was because it didn't feel right to intrude on his grief. The nearly two hour drive was silent, unbearable.

When it was finally over, I quickly exited the bus. "It was a pleasure meeting you, detective. I hope all goes well." I was gone before he had a chance to reply. I was walking into a dollar store when my wrist was grabbed. When I looked behind to see who it was, I found that ragged man had his gross, dirty hand clasped around my white lace glove. I tried to move away as quickly as I could to avoid a scene. I didn't work my way up like this just to kill a man in such a public manner.

"Hey, Hot stuff. How 'bout you come with me?" I tried again, inching my hand toward the switch blade that hung on my key chain. "I didn't hear a 'yes', sweet cheeks." Ugh, I couldn't stand him. He leaned his face close to mine, jerking my arm to pull me closer.

"I respectfully ask you to get your hands off me." He laughed. This man had the audacity to laugh while he was assaulting me as well as ruining my favorite pair of gloves. My fingers grazed my blade. I was about to release it from its place when my other wrist was grabbed. I was really getting irritated. Could people just stop grabbing my wrists? Whoever the new guy was, he pulled me back, causing me to crash into his chest.

"Hello. If you could please let go of her, sir." Jay. I gave a great sigh of relief. I at least know the guy. The hobo that had originally grabbed me growled. I don't mean that metaphorically. No, he growled. On top of that, I think Jay might have made the guy piss his pants! Whatever the detective did, hobo let me go. This, however, was no advantage of mine, because Jay was still slightly pulling my other wrist, which put me off balance.

"Oh! I, uhh, I'm sorry, but could you, you know?" He had caught me, but now blood rushed to his face and he quickly let me go. Whatever had been so menacing before was gone. I studied his face, wanting to know what the hobo had seen.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" I had to laugh. He looked so confused. "What? What did I do?" I shook my head and walked past him into the store. He followed me in.

"You gonna follow me everywhere?" That stopped him. He looked at his feet and mumbled something about getting a soda. "Thanks by the way!" I said as I walked away. As I turned a corner, I caught sight of him. He was still looking at his feet, but his cheeks were flushed and his lips were turned up in a small smile. I walked away, trying to suppress the smile that grew on my own lips.

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Blood rushed to his face as Jay watched her walk away. "What the Hell am I thinking! I don't even know her name," he chided himself. But however much he tried, he couldn't stop thinking about her laugh. What on Earth could she have been laughing about? He couldn't fathom what she could have been thinking, trying to pull a knife on the guy, though, if he had to guess, it would probably be how best to shove it in his throat.

'Perhaps' he thought, 'it had been a terrible idea to grab her wrist. Until she knew it was me, she looked like the knife would be shoved in my throat!' He shivered but could not bring himself to think badly about this nameless girl, no matter how hard he tried.

'Snap out of it! You need to get to Dolly's house before it gets dark.' He took one last look at where she had disappeared before leaving. It's ridiculous , he told himself, that a stranger should catch his attention. 'Is it though?' He chanced a look behind him, hoping to see her, to catch even a glimpse. "What the hell?"

He turned back, catching her as she left the store. "Dinner," he asked breathlessly. She smiled.

"You're cute, detective. Sure. Dinner sounds nice. I'll be staying at a hotel down the street." Jay put his hands on his knees. He really hated running and hadn't known he had been so far away from the store. "Are you alright, Detective?"

He straightened up. "Yeah. I'm good. Anywhere you want to go?" She had to laugh.

"Had you nowhere in mind? That's fine. How about Eegee's," she continued as his face reddened. "Only in Tucson do they have an Eegee's. Be a shame not to visit at least once." He nodded, too embarrassed to speak. 'You idiot! She's just like any other woman. Don't let her get to your head.'

Laughing, she turned and started to walk away only to stop before she got three feet away. "Meet me at my hotel at five. We'll head over from there, okay?" He could only nod and stand there like an idiot.