Hiding Within The Betrayal

Chapter Fifty: I forgive you

"And now, an update of today's main headlines. The new railway service running from Scotland to Wales has finally been completed after seven years of planning and construction, an increase of parking tickets are given out as new guidelines go underway after mass contradiction and finally Blackpool's pleasure beach was swarmed by officers last night as the serial kidnapper and child murderer known as the Flesh Monster was tracked by world renown Detective Degarmo and her team who were able to return his latest victim Ethel Donson to her parents. He is due to attend court this weekend and could be facing fifty years in prison."

I switched off the TV.

It had barely even been twenty four hours since the incident. Life in the office was tainted. Ethel's parents were happy to have her home and the Flesh Monster couldn't harm another child but not everything was solved. I knew him. His eyes and that smile. He was the one that took Jenny but it was my word against his.

I had sat in my office for hours after getting in. Just thinking.

A gentle knock arrived at the office door.

"Come in." My voice broke. Ingurgitating to correct myself.

A timid young intern came in. I took my trainers off the desk, "Brileigh, how can I-"

An envelope landed on my desk.

I reached for it, "What is this?"

Looking at her, I tore it open. I read the first few lines of the letter.

"I don't want to work here anymore." She told me remorsefully.

I stood.

She dropped her eyes to the ground, "I should have done it sooner. This position has been enlightening and I thank you for the opportunity but this is not the career I had hoped it to be."

Stunned, I placed the letter back on the table, "Thank you for being honest."

There was a brief moment between us of silence before she left the room.

I had no fight in me to ask her to stay. Even if I had, she deserved to be somewhere better. I looked back over to the TV. His eyes flashed over my mind. Both the image from last night and when I had first seen him as a nine year old. I left my office.

Heading over to the small trio who I had asked to look into Jennifer's case. I had told them that I was certain that it was the Flesh Monster who had taken her. That I needed evidence to prove it. They had been working on it for about ten hours and regretted to inform me that I wouldn't get justice for Jennifer. There was nothing we could use against him. He had a very strong alibi which was fake but I had no way of proving otherwise. He knew where Jennifer was. I didn't know if she was even alive but he did. Without evidence against him for the case, I would never get that answer. I pressed further but the same answers came up.

The hole in my heart ruptured open as I took myself away from their station.

"Degarmo?" Tess called. Sluggishly I made my way over to her desk. "We found Ethel and got him convicted. You should be happier!"

Avoiding the subject, "You know Brileigh just handed in her resignation?"

She sighed, "Face it, she was never happy here." folding her arms, "I left Tony."

Raising my brow, I remembered offering her my help, "How?"

"We went out for dinner. Feeling safer in public, I made my concerns clear. Put things straight. He had the chance to leave or I would charge him for abuse. He was wrathful. Asked who would believe me. I bluffed, told him I had more than just bruises to prove it. He got the message. Gave me a piece of his mind. He had moved out his things by the time I got back yesterday. Moved in with a workmate. It's lonely in the flat now but I don't regret it."