CHAPTER XVI: ONLY A MATTER OF CRIME...

OK, we had our killer and then no we didn't. Burned the crap out of my idea that we would wrap up the spree,and get on with a normal life. Normal? US? Me and Rob and the twins? NORMAL?

Shut up.

Anyway, creep got arrested and then arraigned, and then court and the judge liked him about as much as I did, and it was 9 months for attempted armed robbery and then extradition to Kansas City.

Another wonderful day in River City.

Drew seemed to handle it ok, but we kept watch. I knew it had to be hard reliving that night over and over during the process. Dylan kept a dutiful eye as well as to be expected.

We got through it with our feathers unruffled (sorta).

In the meantime, life went on and didn't sorta. The dry spell continued and in a way it was almost as if none of the previous murders had even happened. It had been months and nothing. No murders, not a one, and nothing much else either.
Life became routine once again.

Rob and I continued as before, being in love (or at least our weird version of it) and frustrating the fuck out of the twins. Hahaha. They were pretty consumed with their new life as ADULTS/COLLEGE STUDENTS and yes growing up and it was indeed fun to watch and be a part of.

I had grown to really adore these two misfits (next to us anyway) and watching them grow into themselves as twins but also as individuals was (and is) yes fun.

"Dylan?"
"Yes, Jr.?"
"Would you help me with something?"
"With what?"
"Math?"
"Math? ME? HAHAHAHAHA.You wanna FLUNK?"
"Please? I'm serious."
"I am serious too. Math was my worst subject. Ask your brother. He is a whiz."
"OK, but rather have you do it."
"Why?"
But just then Rob came into the kitchen and rescued me.

Before long, winter bore down on us, meaning cold and snow, and it would drive me bonkers knowing the twins were out there in that yellow deathtrap on wheels driving GOD KNOWS HOW FAST, and skidding into trees and pregnant nuns and oh my mind was doing wheelies, and then of course they would arrive home safe and sound and I was good until the next day...when it would start all over again. Even on good weather days, I was a momentary trip to the funny farm away from total melt-down.  I would wake up in a cold sweat...but Rob oddly enough never seemed to worry about them. Me? A nervous wreck.

THEN, one snowy and Godawful cold and nasty thursday night, and a night off thank God or so we thought, the phone rang. I had become so used to the peace and quiet we had been experiencing as of late that I barely noticed it anymore, but alas...it was the precinct. It would seem our reprieve was sadly over as another body had been found.

'This time it's a bit different', Rob said as we drove into town.
"How so?"
"I don't really know. That is all Ryan said. A bit different, but he was busy so I didn't press him."
"Hmmm."
So, here we were, and yes the four of us. Can't leave the children unattended you know. Almost wish we had as the scene was really gruesome. Must have been one hell of a struggle, and I could only imagine...and it was enough to tear me apart to see the aftermath. Victim was a young kid, maybe 15 or 16, and very slight of build. God who IS this animal and yes animal. No normal human could do something like this I don't think. Then again...

What neither Rob nor I were expecting was...
we all knew him.
He had been in school with the twins (but younger), his home life was Godawful and he had been in and out of homelessness for most of it. He was always such a sweet kid and everyone felt bad for him and the life he had been forced to lead all his young and way too short life. Mother was a drunk, father a drunk at the very least, as well as a pedophile chronically in and out of jail. An older brother who was it would seem pretty much a carbon copy of his father...plus a younger sister who at twelve or thirteen was already a raging whore and running wild constantly. Chronic misfit almost never going to school. Real wonderful life lay ahead for her, not.

Well, I thought to myself, maybe now Tommy would get some peace, but GOD what a way to get it. 

From the looks of things, he had fought off his attacker like a bandit. I almost lost it right there and Drew did. As soon as he saw the body, he just fucking lost it, and Dylan rushed to him but...

I started to mist up, and even Rob was really shaken.

Sgt. Barton who is much older and more seasoned I noticed was also rattled. First time I had seen him anywhere near close to melt-down.

We all stepped back, nothing to do for the moment, as we waited for Forensics and the Coroner.

Fortunately the body was outside in the alley out back in a dumpster so the warm still air inside wasn't a factor and we sorta huddled for warmth. Cute bunch.


CONTINUE TO CHAPTER XVII