CHAPTER FOUR // SIARA LYNN DUPONT
[WORD COUNT: 2949]
[TOTAL: 15398]

• † •

“Did you find anything at Rye?” Lisa asked me, and I fought to hide the distraught expression on my face as I entered my office. 

“No,” I shook my head. “None of those kids were responsible for the massacre. It was a good guess though.” I added, and sat down in my office chair. For some reason the boy, Lux, appeared in my mind. There was something… off about him that I couldn’t pinpoint. I didn’t know whether he was innocent or not, there was a feeling in my stomach that he was hiding something purposely and was hiding it. Then again, after thinking that, I felt this overwhelming amount of guilt building inside for blaming someone who had amnesia. Though I didn’t know his full story, I knew it had to be tough, considering the fact that his two friends defended him instantly. 

“Nothing?” Lisa snapped me out of my train of thought as tears filled her eyes. “Damn, I feel terrible for not watching over Mason more. I’m such a bad–” 

“Don’t blame yourself, Lise,” I interrupted, frowning as a few of my own tears clouded my vision. “I miss him too, it’s not your fault.” A part of me wanted to blame her for his death, but I knew that it was wrong. Lisa did nothing wrong, and didn’t partake in Mason’s death, no matter how much I didn’t want to believe it. I knew my sister better than anyone in the world, and by even thinking of blaming her made me frustrated because I knew that the real killer was probably hiding, annoying everyones torment with glee. 

“I–I,” she stuttered, burying her hands in her face. “I–I should have done something, god I’m such a terrible person. You know we barely spoke? When we did it was just small talk, and I regret it more than anything. We should–should have been closer, especially after Mom killed Dad–”

I immediately stood, feeling the pain invade my system with full force. One lone tear dripped my face as I ran to her and engulfed her in a hug. “Shh, it’s not your fault. You’re not a terrible person, you out of all people should know that. Mason has become really distant since the death of our father and the imprisonment of our mother, and you shouldn’t blame yourself for that either.”

“I can’t help but feel guilty,” Lisa sobbed, crying onto my shoulder. “I miss him so much, I should have realized what I had with him until he really went away.” 

I didn’t say anything, knowing that I did I would start sobbing with Lisa. I hated crying in front of people, especially with someone as close as my sister. Someone had to be strong for her in the time of grief, and I was the only one there for her now. I felt a huge weight settle itself in my heart as I rubbed her back and whispered soothing words in her ear, knowing that my time to cry would be soon. That would happen when I am by myself, so no one can see the famous Lynn Dupont break down under pressure. I knew that I was the youngest homicide detective in the city, so everyone thought of me highly, with respect. I knew that as soon as they see my facade of being strong and unbreakable would crash and burn as soon as they saw me mourn for the death of my brother, and I didn’t want that. I worked too damn hard for my reputation to crash. 

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts once more. “Am I interrupting something?” Bona said, appearing to be stricken with an emotion I couldn’t decipher. 

Lisa pulled back, sniffing while rubbing her face with the sleeve of her sweater. “No, I was just leaving. Lynn, call me later on, I… I have to go.” She rushed off without saying another word. Bona watched her go and shut the door, as I removed my sweater and sat down in my chair, feeling the weight in my chest grow. 

“Everyone has to grieve once in a while, Lynn,” Bona said, making himself comfortable in the chair across from my desk.

“I know that,” I was stressed. I wanted more than anything to find who was responsible for Mason’s death, but I knew that it would be insanely difficult. The person who we were dealing with was experienced, and could be easily classed as a serial killer. The amount of work I had to do for the next few hours were already making me cringe with the thought that I had less than 36 hours to find a lead for this case.  If I didn’t then there was a chance I would never find who was at fault for Mason’s death. The thought terrified me more than anything I’ve ever experienced. 

“Lynn, I wanted to speak to you,” Bona said, running a hand through his dark brown locks while his blue eyes stared at me. “I know that now is a hard time for you–it’s a hard time for all of us, due to the fact that most of the rookies here just experienced the worst thing they could have with this job. I just want to be sure if you want to do this case.”

“I want to,” I immediately said, the thought of not doing this case making me jittery with nerves. I had to do something.. 

“I expected that.” he admitted. “This case is going to be harder than the others, I hope you know that. It’s turning personal, and I wanted to warn you that while doing this case, just remember that no matter how much you want to avenge Mason’s death when you do find who is responsible, it’s not worth it.”

“It’s not like I’m going to kill the guy,” I frowned with bitterness. “I know sometimes I twist the law but it’s for a reason.”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that,” Bona offered me a small smile. “I just want to warn you, Lynn. It’s going to be tough. I know this will irritate you, but you are young–don’t give me that look–and things will get harder than you ever expected. This case is going to turn national pretty soon, so I would suggest that you prepare yourself for constant paparazzi and reporter mobs for a few months.” 

“I’ll be fine,” I insisted and leaned back in the chair, feeling a migraine form. “The Handren vs Lukers case was worse than this, so I think that this one won’t be as difficult.” The Handren vs Lukers trial was a case that I spent one year, give or take a few months, working on with Bona. It was one of the most hardest case we have ever done before. Even thinking about it made me cringe, remembering the constant nights we had to spend cramped in our offices looking at tons of videos and receipts that both Handren and Lukers did. The trial was about Handren suing Lukers for stealing money from his corporation. The reason why it turned national and even worldwide, was due to the fact that both of them were pretty high up in the government. This was the case that granted me as a homicide detective, and the case that granted Bona position as the chief when the previous one wanted to retire. 

“Don’t even remind me of that trial,” Bona shuddered and let out a small laugh. “My back hurts just thinking about it.” Many of those office nights were spent on the floor, due to the fact that we had to bend down countless times to achieve paperwork. I even think my spine curved a bit throughout that year.

I laughed with him. “I still can’t get over the fact that we won the trial.” We were on Handren’s side.

Bona grinned. “That trial was the one that made us where we are today, so all of those sore bodies throughout the year were worth it.” We both shared a laugh. “But back to my point, I just want you to be careful. It’s going to be tough, difficult and frustrating since it’s personal. Lots of things can happen, Siara.”

I knew that when he started calling me by my real name that he was being deadly serious. “I will,” I promised softly.

• † •

When Bona warned me that the press was going to be outside, I expected that it was going to take a few days. I would have never imagined that they would be outside a few hours after the case started and was found out by reporters. After I had the talk with Bona and Lisa, I decided to head home to find some digging, knowing that if I stayed the migraine that was starting would only increase. What once was my escape was now my reality, and it bothered me more than I realized.

I was the type of person who adored going to work. I was one of the few left on Earth that loved waking up at four in the morning to do a case just so the criminal could go to jail. I loved looking at the victims face when I told them everything was fine. I enjoyed my job. 

However as soon I stepped outside, I was immediately surrounded by blinding flashes and shouts that I could decipher from one another. I heard all of the popular news stations begging me for a statement, and all I could do was just stand there like an idiot before I snapped out of my daze. This was the part that I hated the most with my job. The publicity. I could never enjoy my job if I was being stalked by large groups of reporters and news people.

“Siara, a statement please?” I was asked the same question a million times, and like a robot I responded the same way: “No comment.” I wasn’t allowed to say anything to the press, especially if there were any leads on the case. Any word I leaked could potentially allow the culprit to hide in vicinity for who knows how long and possibly get away with it. I couldn’t allow that to happen.

I shoved them out of my way with more force than necessary, until I found my way to my car. I shut and locked the doors, grateful that Jacob convinced me to tint my windows since I could get away with it. I tilted my head back and let out a huge breath, feeling my head pound as both of my hands were firmly grasped around the steering wheel.

I peered out the window and noticed that the size of the mob surrounding the entrance to the county was larger than it ever had been before, even with the Handren vs Lukers trial. Why were these people so invested in finding out what happened? I turned on my car and pulled away from the station as I drove home. 

It was understandable, I mean, since it was natural that everyone wanted to know what was going on, but still. Then I realized; this was the first time that something like this happened, especially in city as crazy astonished as New York. Of course they would react like this, it was just overwhelming.

I pulled in my driveway and thanked the heavens that the reporters hadn’t gone as devious as going to my personal home–yet. My peace wouldn’t last long, so I took advantage of it and called Lisa.

“Hey Lise,” I greeted, dropping my keys on my counter. I awkwardly removed my sweater with one hand.

“Lynn,” Lisa said, sounding terribly distant. “When is the funeral for Mason? Is it going to be as a ceremony together or separate?”

“It will be together,” I said, slightly unprepared for her blunt question as I sat on the couch. “And it will be tomorrow. Why are you asking me this so suddenly?”

Lisa was silent for a while. The only thing I heard that kept me from hanging up was her muffled sniffles. “Lynn,” Her voice was broken and full of grief. “Promise me something, and I’m begging you to do this. For me, for us, and most importantly, for Mason.”

“Anything,” I said instantly, feeling my heart race while aching as well with grief. 

“Promise me that you’ll find who.. who did this.”

“I will.” I fought to keep a sob from choking out as tears stung my vision as the memories threatened to pass the wall that held everything together.

“And,” she gasped for breath, her sobs evident through the phone. “I want you to make sure that whoever did it suffers, forever.”

Before Lisa could hear me sob I ended the call, feeling the memories of Mason, his adorable smile, his obsessiveness with Star Wars action figures and books and how he hated the rain flew past my guarded wall with surprisingly strong force. I couldn’t hold it back any longer and let the tears fall down my cheeks, one after another, as if it were a race. My heart stung with grief, sadness, anger, and many other heart wrenching emotions. I sobbed, cried, sniffled and threw all of my stuff on the ground as the memories invaded my every sense. 

Everything reminded me of Mason. He hated pillows on the couch because he claimed that pillows were meant to before beds only, not for couches. He loved watching tv and would even stay there for hours unless someone told him to stop. If he wasn’t watching tv then he was reading a thousand paged book with a few Star Wars action figures beside him for comfort. I sometimes forgot that he was only eighteen years old, but most of the time he acted like a kid. He was so quiet and rarely spoke unless someone spoke to him. He had little friends, but he had the type of friends that would stick by his side no matter what. But not anymore. 

I wouldn’t see him anymore. I remembered all the things I sacrificed for him so he could be happy, though his little paradise was with his books, tv, and action figures. I rarely saw him when I earned my position as homicide detective and I regret that.

Now I’m crying my heart out with this persistent pain in my chest that won’t go away because I finally realized that I’m never going to see him again and that he’s never coming back.

 • † •

“Lynn,” Jacob whispered to me. “Your time to give a speech is now.”

“I don’t want to do this,” I whispered back, feeling the lump in my throat rise. I forcibly pushed it back and squared my shoulders. “But I have to, for the sake of these people.”

Jacob rubbed his hand soothingly on my back. “You’ll do great.”

I felt physically and mentally sick as I made the dreadful walk to the podium. I felt everyones heated and weighted stares, which only made me want to hide in a corner and cry my heart out. But I had already cried. I was strong for Lisa and I now had to be strong for everyone else attending the funeral, most importantly for the families related to the victims. I fixated my face in a neutral expression and made sure that my guards were up high and my emotions were secured as I set the crumpled paper on the podium. 

“To the people who do not know me, I am Siara Dupont. All of us are here today to grieve the loss of these people that were brutally murdered by someone who is probably out there watching this with a smile, though he should be paying for his sins,” I swallowed the growing lump in my throat and felt my stomach flip with nervousness as I met the eyes of familiar and unfamiliar people. “These people–Ashley Janson, Joshua Abran, Maria Destiny, Sheryl Larke, and Mason Dupont deserved something greater than death. They were amazing people and had amazing lives with people who cared for them deeply. Unfortunately it was ripped out of their grasp as soon as death wrapped itself around them and took them away from us.” 

“To the family of the victims, I want to personally tell you that I know what you are feeling. Mason Dupont, who was apart of the victims was my brother and I cared about him more than you can possibly imagine. I want justice for these people as much as you do, and I just want to promise you all something,” I took a deep breath and rubbed my eyes before the tears fell down. I looked at Jacob, who was giving me and encouraging look and then to Bona, who was nodding at me. I didn’t look at Lisa because I knew that if I did I would start to cry. 

I continued. “I want to promise you all that I will find the culprit responsible for this and put him to jail.” I rushed out. “I know that it’s a hard promise to make but I want to give you something to be hopeful for. I personally will place the person responsible in jail, wherever you are. I–I know that this speech is crap, so I’ll end this before it gets worse. I want to say I’m sorry to everybody who is grieving and I hope that together we can find ourselves out of this mess the culprit created.”

Before I finished my speech I had already ran off, hoping that no one saw the tears running down my face.

 • † •

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