Page 36 of Aperture

He stands up and motions for me to stand as well.

“Come here,” he says, opening his arms to allow me to walk into his hug. I bury my face in his chest as he wraps his arms around me. We are quietly enjoying the moment when my dog jumps up from his bed and runs to the front door, barking like he’s heard something outside. It startles us both.

“Milo, what is your problem?” I yell in his direction. He continues to bark at the door, but now his tail is wagging as if he’s excited about something, or someone.

“He did this the other night, too. It scared the crap out of me,” I tell Theo, who looks at me with a concerned look on his face.

“I’m gonna go check it out,” he says. Theo shoves Milo away from the door and he tucks his tail between his legs, looking up at him. While he goes outside to check things out, I grab a cup of water. Theo comes back in a few minutes later.

“I walked the perimeter of your property but didn’t see anything,” he says. “I think Milo just heard an animal outside.”

“That’s what I was thinking the other night as well,” I tell him. “I never realized my house is a mecca for woodland creatures.” I snicker at my stupid joke, and Theo grabs my sweatshirt, pulling me closer to him for another hug.

“It’s late. I should get going,” he says. “If you are going to be alright?”

“I’m fine,” I reply. “Are you in town for a bit?”

“I am, actually. Let’s do this again, soon.”

“Definitely,” I smile as he leans down and gives me a sweet goodbye kiss. It’s chaste and perfect.

I open the door and watch him walk to his Bronco, and wave as he begins to back up. I shut the door and engage the alarm and turn to look at my dog, who looks clearly guilty.

“You may not be team Theo, yet,” I tell him. “But I like him, so get your shit together, Milo.”

Chapter 22

I walk into work feeling mentally and physically exhausted. I don’t know how long I am going to be able to keep up this double life. I spend my days here, looking for killers hiding in plain sight, and I spend my nights hiding myself as best I can, and watching. Always watching. With a heavy sigh and a pounding headache, I grab a cup of shitty coffee from the kitchenette and amble my way to the desk.

“Hudson,” a voice behind me calls. I turn to see the captain headed my way. Once he reaches my desk, he looks me over quickly.

“You look like shit,” he tells me.

“Thanks, Cap. You look great, too.” He does not seem amused, so I continue. “Just putting in some extra time on the strangler case.”

“Better not be on my time,” he states coolly.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, sir,” I return and take a sip of the coffee that tastes more like piss than coffee.

“Listen up,” he starts. “We’ve got a body over in Golden Leaf Lake. I want you to go check it out. It could be our missing girl. Preliminary reports are that the victim sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.”

“The M.O. doesn’t fit my serial case,” I explain.

“No, genius, it doesn’t. But last I checked, you work homicide. I doubt she shot herself in the chest.” I nod my head in silent agreement.

“Ergo, get your ass up and go check it out.”

With that, he turns and walks away at a speed much faster than his fifty-eight years.

I arrive about thirty-five minutes later at the scene where the body was found.

Golden Leaf Lake is a smaller man-made lake just outside of town, on the way to the freeway. It is not a popular tourist destination, especially in the cooler fall months, but it is well-known by people in this area.

There are a few Sheriff’s deputies already here, as well as the crime scene unit. I get out of the car and head to where several people have gathered around. The body has been retrieved from the lake and laid on a tarp.

The first thing I notice as I approach is the smell of death. Once you have smelled a decomposing body, you will never forget it. It hits me like a wall- rotting meat with a fruity, sweet undertone.

Violence and death are not new to me. I don’t tend to let it get to me. As I approach, a few of the people turn to look at me.