Epilogue
Boston
3 months later…
They said love was the root of all happiness. That love could heal the toughest wounds. They said love could drive out hate.
What happened when love was the cause of such wounds? Or when love created hate? What did a person do when they could no longer distinguish between the two?
The warm summer breeze filled the air with the scent of flowers. I walked slow, letting my memories of Lucy play out in my head. She was surrounded by different kinds. She pointed and nodded, acknowledging her like of each one. The long blue dress she wore swayed with her every step. We were back at the gardens. Back to smiling and laughing with each other, in a time that almost didn’t seem real. But I wasn’t really retracing our steps from that fateful day. I was leaving her grave, passing four more before coming to a stop next to Anna. Her tears were long-gone now. Dried up, just like our hearts. Sometimes we managed a fake laugh. Sometimes we just stared blankly at our food through another quiet dinner. We were inseparable in our silence. The perfect pair in an otherwise unorthodox friendship. It didn’t matter. Without each other, we had nothing. Together…still, maybe nothing.
My hand gripped her shoulder. Robotically, she stood, kissing her finger and touching the top of Braden’s headstone, only to move over and place the kiss to Roman’s. It was the same thing every time. The same routine. The same black dresses. The same…silence.
Chirping sounded in the distance as we walked back to my car, and the smell of flowers grew stronger. I inhaled them in, knowing somehow, I had to do something to change things. Maybe not for me, but for Anna. She needed me, and my obsession surrounding her grew from that knowledge. She was the only thing keeping me from swallowing a bullet. Perhaps, my need of her kept her alive as well.
“Want to change and go for a run?”
Brown eyes glanced over. Instead of answering, she shook her head.
“Do you want to pick up Chinese food on the way home?”
Again, a silent no.
“Ice cream?”
Her response was delayed, but she shook her head.
I frowned, opening her door as she climbed in. When I got in and began heading out of the cemetery, we were once again riding in solitude. It was beginning to drive me crazy. Turning on the radio, I let some unknown song play. Anna stared ahead, a zombie of mourning. I tried to think of something to talk about, but nothing came to mind but the day that changed her life forever. It was like we were both stuck in the fog of that nightmare. I could still feel her going wild in my arms as I opened the garage door to reveal Braden’s SUV. I could still feel her sobbing against me as we discovered his dead body slouched in the passenger seat.
Even when I cleaned her up and the police came, Anna couldn’t be controlled. Diego, Braden’s partner, couldn’t even break through her grief. I held her for hours—days—weeks. Every night, I still held her. And every night, she screamed through the new nightmares. It didn’t help that the dog she tried to cling to treated her like a dangerous stranger. Maybe he could somehow sense the owner he barely knew wasn’t there anymore. She’d get close, and he’d growl. When he bit her hand, I nearly killed him. Instead, I dropped him off at the neighbor who cared for him.
“What about pizza? I can call it in. We can pick it up on the way.”
“We had pizza last night.”
“We did.”
The song ended, and I turned at the light, glancing over as she stared out the window.
“Have you talk to your boss? You mentioned going back soon.”
Another shake.
“You don’t have to work. Really, you can stay at home with me. I’m okay with that.”
Full lips pursed, and she glanced over, raising one of her eyebrows. The smallest change in her personality had me smiling. Even if I knew the look wasn’t a good sign, it brought a happiness I hadn’t felt in months.
“Really. I’m serious. Don’t work. I have money. We’ll stay at home all day, eat lots of candy, and spend the rest of our lives watching horror movies. It’ll be great. The best. You know, I like this plan. We can make this happen.”
“I have to work, Boston. I’m just not sure I want to work back at the station. I can’t do that anymore.”
“So, what do you want to do?”
“What do you want to do? You have to work too.”
Silence. This time on my behalf. Commercials ended, and when the news started, I was barely listening. What was I going to do with my life now that I was here in Rockford? What could I do that kept me close to Anna? I had to watch over her and make sure she was okay. But…my eyes went to the black book resting in my console.
This is Kerry at WZMD Hot 95.9’s News at Noon. For those out and about, expect delays on East Riverside Boulevard due to a two car accident at exit twelve. For those of you passing through, I-39 is clear. A prayer vigil will be held tomorrow at seven for the two Rockford High seniors who went missing nine days ago.
Anna flew forward, turning up the radio.
Rockford Police Department and the FBI want to remind the public to take precautions while you’re out. A midnight curfew is still in effect until further notice. Be safe, Rockford.
Anna’s hand was trembling as she pulled it back into her lap. Wide eyes peered over at me, but not ones of fear. She had the same look she’d had with Davis. It held madness. Rage.
“Daniel. It has to be him. The age of the girls fits the profile. I assumed he left town, but what if he stayed?” Fog. Yes. Anna seemed to be blinking it back too. Emotions began to register and increase with every second. “Daniel…Bill…Linda.” She turned more in my direction. “Boston…ask me again what I want.”
Life. She had life again, and it was all so she could try to save others. Or maybe it was because she wanted to put an end to the names she’d mentioned. I wasn’t sure, but I sure as hell wanted to find out. Again, I looked at the black book I’d taken from Dr. Patron’s inside pocket.
“What do you want, Anna?”
Tears streamed through the anger beginning to darken her face.
“Revenge. A partner.”