Chapter 12

Vincent McDaniels was staring at a photo album that hadn't been cracked open in years. Photographs of his children Tom, Beatrice, and Christopher filled its pages. He was looking at a picture of Christopher staring longingly at Beatrice and Tom playing hopscotch.

"Why didn't you join them?" Vincent wondered aloud. As he flipped through the pages, he noticed more pictures of Christopher to the side and eventually his presence was gone altogether as was Beatrice's. Beatrice had had been murdered and Christopher went to live with uncle, roger.

Vincent couldn't help but wonder if his son Christopher McDaniels was still alive. It should have been impossible. Still, impossible things seemed to be happening. He could've sworn he saw his daughter Beatrice. Not her as a child but as an adult. Vincent convinced himself it was just a woman that looked like Beatrice.

His thoughts drifted back to Christopher. Why would he fake his own death? What would he gain from it?

Vincent finished off his glass of whiskey and sighed when his doorbell rang.

He got up and walked over to the door, opening it without checking who had come to visit.

No one was there.

Vincent cursed as he wondered who could possibly be playing tricks on him this late at night.

He stepped forward to see if anyone was walking away and that's when his foot collided with a small blue box.

"What the hell?" Vincent looked around and quickly picked the box up. He closed the door behind him and locked it, still holding the blue box. He almost dreaded the thought of opening it.

"Stop it," Vincent chastised himself for being apprehensive.

He slowly opened the box and saw a simple sterling silver chain link necklace with a heart pendant. Vincent stared at the piece of inexpensive jewelry and he wondered what the meaning behind the gift was.

~The Following Day~

Eva pushed past the crowd of people until the only barrier between her and the Gold Nugget Pawn Shop was some official police tape. An early morning listen to her police scanner tipped her off. Apparently a body was found inside the pawn shop early this morning by the owner.

Eva scanned the faces of the officers coming in and out of the rarely visited shop.

"Pssst," she tried getting the attention of the only officer she thought would give her information, "Detective Ellis!"

Detective Ellis, was off to the side, eating a crueler. He looked up as he licked his thumb and smiled. "Hey Eva. You found out quick," he said referring to the crime scene.

Eva laughed, "The early bird gets the worm."

"Yeah? Well no worms to be had here," Ellis sighed.

Eva ignored his comment, "So what happened?"

"Off the record?"

"It depends."

Ellis chuckled, "We have a female victim Eva and that's all I'm telling you."

"Is she in any related to the film, Raising the Demon King?"

"We don't know her identity yet."

"Can I ask you another question?" Eva asked, taking in his gaunt cheeks and tired eyes.

"You just did."

"Okay, then two more questions?" Eva smiled, ignoring his lame joke.

"Would I be able to stop you?" Ellis jibed.

She took a moment to give him a weak smile and in a concerned voice asked, "Are you okay?"

Ellis looked away and pretended to stretch.

"Off the record. How are you holding up? It's been a while since I've seen you around. Did you just come off of leave?"

Ellis smiled, "Thanks Eva but I'm fine. Really I am."

"Somehow I find that hard to believe."

"Why? Because my partner ended up being some serial killer? Because he was right under my nose and I never caught him? Or are you worried that the other guys treat me like some kind of pariah? You know a few of these assholes think I'm behind the new murders. Can you believe that?"

"I'm sorry Ellis. That's horrible," Eva said.

Ellis continued, "They won't let me near the case involving the Demon King film. There was a jewelry case broken into as well so they think this isn't related to the movie. It's the only reason they let me come."

Eva let him vent, "I didn't know Smith was the Disciple, Eva. He seemed so normal. Honestly, I'm surprised you're even talking to me."

"Why is that?" Eva asked.

"Because I was with him almost every day and I didn't know. If I had figured things out...you would've been saved sooner. Joelynn..." he let his voice trail off and looked away again.

"It wasn't your fault," Eva whispered. "It was his fault. These men. They've fooled all of us."

"Are you thinking of David?" Ellis asked.

"Not at all," she lied. "So how long have you been gone for?"

"Not too long. I was on leave for a while but then the captain put me on desk duty. This is my first real case he's given me in months."

"Ellis," Eva leaned forward, "If you really feel bad about everything, I can think of a way for you to make it up to me."

Ellis shook his head, "I already know what you're going to ask."

"You do?"

"Yes. I'm sorry Eva. We really don't know who she is."

Eva sighed, feeling slightly defeated.

"But I'll tell you what," Ellis continued.

"What?"

"If I find out anything. I'll let you know."

"Really? You promise?"

Ellis nodded, "I promise. I know the reporter in you won't give up on this story until you know every detail."

"You know me well Ellis."

Forty minutes later, Eva was sitting at her desk, trying to think of a witty title for her article when Jacob texted her.

On my way to drop off JD.

Eva smiled and texted him that she would be waiting. She was incredibly grateful to Jacob. He was the closest thing to a family member that she had besides her son JD. She often wondered how difficult her life would be without Jacob.

"Delivery for Eva Lewis!"

The male voice cut through Eva's thoughts and she glanced up to see a teen boy carrying a beautiful bouquet of roses for her. Eva raised her hand, "I'm Eva Lewis."

"I have some flowers for you. Can you sign here?" he said, lifting a delivery pad for her to sign before receiving the flowers.

"I didn't order any flowers. Someone sent them to me? Who?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am someone sent them anonymously," the teenaged delivery guy whispered, "These flowers are pretty expensive. Your boyfriend must be loaded."

"Boyfriend?" Eva was confused.

She looked at the flowers. Her delivery consisted of two dozen blue roses in a crystal vase. In the middle of the blue roses was a single red rose.

"Blue roses?" she whispered.

The delivery guy nodded, "We thought it was strange. The red rose means love but the blue rose-"

"The blue rose means what?" Eva asked.

"Mystery. My boss said it represent the unattainable or the impossible. We thought maybe it was a mysterious love that sent you these."

"Or an impossible one," Eva murmured.

After the delivery guy left, Eva continued to stare at the flowers. She tried to think of who could've sent her the flowers but no names came to mind. For a second, she thought that perhaps David had sent them to her.

"Stop thinking about him Eva. He's dead," she told herself.

A few minutes later Jacob stopped by with her son in his arms, "I have a late study session of I'd still watch him for you Eva."

"No problem. Thanks Jacob, you're a doll," Eva said as she took her son and kissed him. "I'm done here anyway."

"Great. I left his bag in your car so you wouldn't have to carry it back out."

"Thanks Jacob, I was just about to leave anyway," Eva said getting up.

Jacob looked at the flowers on her desk, "Where did those come from?"

Eva looked at them quickly and shrugged, "I don't know. Secret admirer."

"Really?"

Eva laughed, "No. I have no idea where they came from."

"Oh," Jacob said, disappointed.

"What's wrong Jacob?"

"Nothing. I just thought maybe it was time you started dating again."

"Hmmm...I could say the same thing about you, Jacob."

He gave her a weak smile, "Maybe. I'll start thinking about it. I'm in no rush."

"Neither am I," Eva smiled at him.

"Fair enough. I gotta go. I'll see you tonight when I get home."

Eva waved Jacob off as she slowly made her way back to her car. She drove home with Meatloaf's I would do Anything for Love playing on the radio.

After she got home, she took JD out of his car seat and grabbed his baby bag which was also in the backseat. She noticed a store bag for a local children's clothing store. She smiled as she thought that Jacob must've bought JD some new clothes.

Later that evening after JD was asleep, she opened the bag of clothes and smiled. They were cute outfits that had team names on them. She texted Jacob, "Thank you for the baby clothes."

She walked to the living room when her phone dinged back notifying her of a message. It was from Jacob.

"I didn't buy any baby clothes."

Eva had to read the message a few times before dread filled her. Then how did the baby clothes get into her car? She texted Jacob, "Who put baby clothes in my car?"

"What baby clothes?"

Eva began to panic. She was worried someone was playing tricks on her. She put the clothing back into the bag and headed outside to toss them into the trash and to get them out of her house.

That's when she saw him.

He was parked across the street, watching her house. She pulled out her cell phone to call 911. The door to the car opened and a familiar man stepped out.

"No!" Eva's throat suddenly became dry and she couldn't speak. A million thoughts swarmed in her head. She took a step back, dropping the bag of baby clothes on the sidewalk in front of her house.

"You're supposed to be dead," she croaked. She wanted to run. She needed to run. Unfortunately, her body was frozen in a combination of shock and fear.

In front of her was a man that looked like the father of her child. The man she knew as David Wilson.

He didn't speak. Instead he took a step forward and smiled, "Hello Eva. Did you miss me?"