CHAPTER 47

       Sunday morning after Dylan had done her laundry,she had decided to take a walk outside. It had been four days since she had been suspended from work and she had nothing much to do. She didn't even have any idea if the chief was still investigating Kelley as he had promised. She was still thinking about other possibilities like the person who Mr Powell had seen with Peterson,the other person besides Kelley who could have been involved in her mother's murder. Her mind still brought nothing. Combining her past enemies with the ones from her current work was a tough job to do. She had people who didn't like her that much but she couldn't think of anyone who might have been so pissed to reach the point of murder. That was why she was still stuck on the Kelley Smith theory. It was the only one that seemed to make sense. Maybe the woman who Mr Powell had seen was just someone else who Kelley had used in the process. But the woman knew her, otherwise,why would she be so scared of her knowing the truth? 

   Thinking of Mr Powell reminded her that she had not yet checked in with Kenny to know how he was fairing on. His brother had ordered his transfer out of the hospital to a better guarded facility as soon as he was fit for travel. Kenny had not yet come back as he had said he would which meant he hadn't resigned yet. She still didn't know what his story was but was somehow curious but only because he had turned out to be a cool guy. Maybe she would soon know enough to confirm the same. That is if Kenny would actually show up and help her with her private investigation. Why she had trusted him that much was not explainable. It was just a gut feeling and of late she chose to trust her gut a lot. 

   Her dog walked in front of her along the path that led to the beach. It was moments like this that she enjoyed most. Walking, thinking without wanting to crack her head because the air outdoors always seemed to cool down tough thoughts. The thing with this walk was that it reminded her of some more fun days when she was younger. She and Carly had always loved enjoyed walking together although it wasn't on this beach. Throughout their first year of dating up to the point that they first broke up,Carly had always avoided going to this beach until much later after they got back together which had lasted only for a while. The question that had always remained stuck in her head for years was why Carly had decided to say that they had been too young to be in love. She still couldn't see it. Maybe she had tried to convince herself that it was true but it just couldn't work. And then there was the previous night when they had parted. She wasn't surprised that her heart went soft on Carly. In the process she had poured out her heart to her,it had been so easy and that showed just how much she still trusted her. There was no denying but she didn't want to admit it out loud either. And then there had been the hug,so innocent but it had been so intoxicating in a good way. She had been carried away,not just feeling her body against hers but feeling really good. She had closed her eyes, now a few inches taller than her,her head rested just below her chin. She had  leaned over her head, breathing in her sweet smelling hair products which had the same familiar scent that she remembered. She had closed her eyes and hadn't realized her hand had trailed along Carly's back until the moment she had pulled away. At that moment,her heart had been beating loudly and she was afraid that Carly had heard it. Maybe she had felt bad after they broke contact but it had been good for her too. She was saved from doing anything stupid like pull her closer or kiss her right there. She had thought it would be stupid to do that but then,Carly had kissed her. Lightly but still,that should say something, right? At least on her part she had felt things. She didn't know what Carly's intentions had been but something in her eyes told her that she had  wanted  to do that. They hadn't talked again since then,but it had only been some hours, which most of it was spent sleeping. 

             When she got to the beach,there were already several people going about whatever made them happy. Sunday was always like a family day and most of the people there were parents with their children having fun. It made her feel bad but at the same time she was happy for them,that they got to experience what she could kill to have again. She turned away and looked further down the beach. The sun was shining brightly but not too hot. Just the perfect day for a picnic. She couldn't have that with her dog, could she? Maybe a hike or throwing a frisbee for him. She hadn't even noticed he was no longer with her until she thought about him. She turned.

                 "Rockie?" she called then started up a hill some metres away to get a proper view of the place and see if she could locate him. When she looked at the other side, Rockie was running down the hill towards the other side of the beach. She couldn't see what he was chasing after so she started downhill after him. "Rockie, come back here!" 

The dog seemed to say that she could just as well talk to herself or shut up. She slowed down but continued watching him until he finally came to a stop down the hill, wagging his tail. She caught up with him and stopped beside him. "Where did you go to?" 

He woofed twice and that was when she saw what he was carrying in his mouth. Damn frisbees. 

                  "He found it!" she turned around at the voice that sounded so familiar behind her and came face to face with Teddy. "Hey Dylan!" he greeted excitedly as soon as he recognized her.

                    "Hey buddy!" she was actually surprised to see him there alone. For a moment he thought that maybe he was with his mother and she looked up the hill to look if she would see Carly but was disappointed to see no one. Disappointed? Damn right a big word but it was true. "Who are you with?"

                   "I came with grandpa. He threw the frisbee up the hill and it turns out he is really good at it. I almost thought I lost it but the dog went after it and I decided to follow him. Is he yours?"

She smiled,"Yes he is,his name is Rockie."

                    "I love that!" he said then stepped forward,petted the dog then retrieved his frisbee. "Thanks Rockie." He then turned back to her, lifting his face up so he could look her in the eyes. "I have never had a dog but it would be so exciting to play with him."

                   "Oh yeah? What would you call him?"

                   "Max or Bruno," he replied quite confident with his choice.

                  "Well, maybe you should talk to your mom about it."

                   "I don't know if she would allow me to have one. She doesn't really like dogs," he said in a disappointed voice and looked down before starting up the hill. "Maybe you could talk her into it?"

    She looked at him in surprise,"Why do you think she would listen to me?"

     His answer came automatically,"Because she really likes you."

                        "What?"

                   "Yesterday when you brought her home, she was happier than she had been the entire day. And she really smiles a lot when she talks about you."

                    "You are that observant,huh?"  Just then, Carly's father appeared at the top of the hill. Their eyes met and she smiled. "Let's get you back to grandpa, okay?"

     Instead of replying,Teddy rushed towards his grandpa ahead of her. "Pops, can I please hang out with Dylan for a little bit more?" he almost shouted.

   She chuckled and followed him. She acknowledged Carly's father with a handshake then stood aside.

                "How is it going?" I understand that you have been put off work?" he asked.

                  "Yes,but only for a little while. Disobedience and apparently, overworking but it's going okay."

He nodded,"Well,I think the chief was right in doing so. You needed some time for yourself. I can't even remember the last time you came over for dinner."

                   "It's just that..."she stopped herself from blaming it on the work and instead she said,"I will try and come by soon."

                     "How about tonight?"

   Dylan needed some time to think about the offer. This time there was Carly to consider. Would it be okay if she went there? What about what had happened the previous day, would it affect anything? ‘Come on, don't be ridiculous. It was probably nothing.’ Maybe it had just been their emotions bringing them together. After all both of them had things to worry about. She nodded,"I will be there."

                   "Alright, perfect. I'll get the word back to my wife to add another plate for you while preparing dinner." 

                   "Okay, I will see you then." She looked at Teddy who was still holding on to his grandfather and looking at him with pleading eyes. She had never been close to any kid but she had a soft spot for this one and that seemed to go both ways. Or why would he be so desperate to be around her? She however couldn't do anything that his grandfather didn't want so she excused herself. "I'm gonna go back to my walk now. Teddy, I'll see you later buddy."

                    "Please grandpa,I promise I won't bother her," he pleaded again.

                   "Okay clingy bear, it's not me you should be asking that," he replied and she found both pairs of eyes now looking at her. She wasn't sure what to say but  didn't want to ruin the excitement he had in his face, really hoping she would say yes. There were factors to consider like the fact that she was being watched. What if the attention of her stalker now turned to him? She couldn't live with herself if anything happened to him. But then, what was there to prove that whoever that person was didn't already know about Teddy? The only thing she could do was just be vigilant and look after him closely. She could also use the company even if it was that of a kid. Teddy however wasn't just a kid,he was brilliant and so sharp for his age. 

She smiled and nodded,"Of course it's okay. I would really love that."

                    "Alright, that's settled. I'm gonna go, leave you two to have fun." He turned to Teddy,"Don't cause any trouble. If you do, she has the permission to arrest you."

 She smiled while Teddy laughed,"I won't grandpa."

                         ★★★

               "So, what do you want to do?" she asked as they walked along the beach. "Play with the frisbee,swim, build sand castles or just walk?" 

                "I have never swam before," he replied.

                 "What,why?"

                   "My mom thought it was dangerous because of my health and then said she would take me for lessons when I turn eight. My dad never taught me either." That last part,he said with a sigh. 

She hadn't learnt much about Gavin except that he was no longer in the picture. She didn't think it was okay asking her son about him and so she tried to change the subject.

                "But you are going to turn eight soon, right?"

               "Yes," then, "Will you teach me?"

                 "Well, maybe if your mom will be okay with it."

                   "She will. She likes you more than my dad," he said then kicked a pebble with his foot. "I don't like him either. I am happy that we didn't come with him here."

   Now that, surprised her. It wasn't common to hear such a thing from a seven year old. That kind of stuff came from teenagers and it got her really curious. Teddy too seemed like there was something he wanted to say,so she asked,"Why do you say that?"

                  "Because he is a bad person. I hate him because he hurt my mom."

                   "Hurt her?" she asked wondering if he was talking about their divorce. "Because he left her?"

  Teddy sat down on the sand and she joined him. They faced the water and watched as the waves hit the banks and flowed back gently.

                 "Because he beat her up."

                   "What?" she asked almost out loudly and looked at him. Teddy looked really serious about the whole thing. Angry even? "Did you see him doing it,I mean hitting her?"

                    "Yes, there was blood in her face but she told me  she had hit herself at the door but I saw my father hitting her. She didn't know I was watching. It made me feel unhappy."

                     "Jesus Christ!" she said in reply. 

                  "Other times she was crying but she refused to tell me what was wrong. And then he left and I was happy."

  She didn't know what to do right then with everything Teddy had told her. She didn't know whether to get angry or whether to cry. What she was sure of was that she was hurt, she could feel the pain through Teddy's words and the thought of all that worsened it. Why had Carly let herself go through that? Why did she have to undergo such violence in silence? The only comforting thing was that she had finally escaped, she was out of it and here. But then, would she be able to face her and not bring up the subject again?