Little Romantic *Second Book*

Chapter 22: Her Phonecalls

Jihwan put the down payment on the apartment that night. We planned on moving in as soon as we could pack everything up. We talked about where all of our furniture would go including which furniture would stay and which we would sell. In the end we decided that we would keep my couch, since it's comfier than Jihwan's leather sofas and we were keeping Jihwan's bed, since it's bigger than mine.

Since Jihwan and I were moving in together, the past week I was barely working on my cases. Jihwan would call nearly every hour with new updates or questions, like he was now at this moment.

"The movers believe that we can be moved in by the end of the month as long as that's what we want," Jihwan told me.

"I'm fine with moving on the first," I said. "That way my monthly rent won't go to waste."

"Perfect. Will Murphy and Otis be okay with the new apartment? Or will they take a while to get used to it?"

"Murphy has only lived in my apartment with me so I'm sure that he'll be a bit confused. Otis will be fine since he hasn't had much time to get used to my apartment. Now, Jihwan I really need to-"

"Barnes! Your brother is on TV again!" an officer shouted from across the room.

"Jihwan, I gotta go. Turn on the news," I said quickly as I rushed over to the TV. I hung up the phone just as the newscaster in the studio began talking.

"Elmer George Barnes has finished showing the judge the evidence he has come across in Detective Janet Barnes' murder case," the newscaster said. "After a full day of showing evidence, the judge has finally ruled the case to be reopened by the East Towson Police Department. As of right now, the ETPD has been sent the new evidence. They are going to be reviewing it as soon and as quickly as possible. Let's go to the courthouse to see what Elmer George Barnes has to say about this tremendous win."

The officers around me cheered. On the first floor of the station was a memorial to the officers and detectives killed on duty. My mother was one of those people being memorialized. These men have been walking past my mother's picture for years. And a cop killer has never been caught, so the comradery of the force was celebrating that whoever it is will finally be caught.

The television then showed EG in front of the courthouse surrounded by cameras, microphones, and reporters. He looked very pleased with himself.

"Mr. Barnes, what do you have to say about your success in reopening the case?" a reporter asked.

"Justice has prevailed," EG said into the reporter's tape recorder. "I knew that my evidence was solid. The man who did this is going to face the justice that he should have fifteen years ago."

"Can you tell us who it is?" a newscaster asked.

"I cannot. I don't want to risk him watching this and getting tipped off," EG said with a shake of his head. "Everyone will find out at the same time; when's he's apprehended."

"When do you think that'll be?" another newscaster asked.

"When the ETPD has gone through the correct channels and finds a safe time to apprehend him," EG said. "I'm sure it'll be soon."

"How is your family reacting to this?" a reporter asked.

"I don't know. I haven't had contact with them since I went into court. I'm sure they will be shocked with who this man is," EG said.

"Were you shocked when you learned who it was?" a newscaster asked.

"Very. But then I realized this man is a murderer. I would like to say something to him," EG stared straight into the camera. "You are the worst kind of human being. You deserve all that is coming toward you. I hope you rot in jail for what you have done to my family. You may have been able to get away with killing my mother for this long, but not any more."