CHAPTER NINETEEN : The investgation

"We can't make sure the murders are connected, drop it, Patrick!"

"You were there! You heard what the bitch said, she killed all those innocent people just because" Patrick nervously chuckled, remembering they don't know the reason why any of it even happened.

The psycho's words didn't make any sense in the real world. Patrick suddenly realized what he was doing, they can't make it a first-degree murder without knowing if there is an aforethought; pre-meditation, or even if the killer actually intended to kill them.

"Pat, I know you just want her behind bars for as long as possible, I can't tell you that I understand all the emotions but I sure as hell wanna catch her as much as you do, but put the personal feelings behind and just treat the situation like any normal murder this precinct takes care of."

"It's not normal," Patrick whispered.

"Murders aren't normal"

"Then how do you deal with a "Not normal" Thing"

"Rationally"

Jason then left Patrick lost in his own world, but none of it mattered, he had a possible serial killer on the loose.

A lot was about to go down if the department decided to put Patrick on probation since the unsolved cases files on his desk were piling up pretty fast, he had to distract himself from Alina's case or solve it, right now both options seemed preposterous.

He wanted to wrap Selena in his arms and recharge from all the insanity going on in their lives because of an idea that now appears to be the most absurd thing they ever came up with, and its price might be a little higher than what expected.

Meanwhile, Alina was struggling to get in touch with her friends. Something just hit her about the day she found the baby in the park and when she met the woman in black. She never thought she could share that part of her life with someone, but she was running out of time.

That same gate inside her head that once she suffered to close, is now about to open. The golden chains pulling her back to the past are winning the fight leaving Alina with breathless whimpering and lifeless hopes.

If it wasn't her fighting anymore, someone had to live to finish it, and she knew exactly who that someone will be.

She knew time was cutting the links between the logic and her life although she had to thriveno matter what.

Selena didn't come home that day, it was weird since she never missed a meal with Alina. After a while she quit waiting for her and gave in to her hunger.

When Patrick didn't make it home too, Alina just figured that they would be together, a simple thought preventing the worried ones to mess with her.

After several calls and messages, Patrick came home to make sure she was safe before he would head to his office again.

"Sorry princess, had to work a little longer"

Alina answered him with her cute sleepy voice.

"But, what time... is it?"

Patrick couldn't hide his smile listening to her low whimpering, she sounded like a baby in need of very much sleep.

"Smart even when you're sleepy huh?"

She smiled as he tickled the bottom of her palm.

"You know I'm not ticklish" With a winning tone, she responded.

"It's 2am princess. I'm sorry but I gotta go back to the office, I really need to make it by the morning."

"Okay... Did Selena come back?"

"She's not home?" Patrick tried to lower his voice and act normal so that the sleepyhead next to him wouldn't worry.

"No, I thought she was with you?"

"Uh, she was. Maybe she stopped somewhere before coming home. I'm sure she'll be here any minute."

It was the closest lie he could make up so that Alina could go back to sleep and not suspect a thing. His plan worked. He gave her a piggy back ride to her bedroom and made sure she was comfortable.

"Stop calling me princess."

He kissed her forehead and wrapped her face in his hands.

"Goodnight princess."

Alina then smiled, too tired to fight she just responded, "Goodnight."