Chapter 3 Fucking the deputy's mum 03

*Oscar Delaney*

I arrived at Finney Park feeling an equal dose of relief and exhaustion. The relief came from knowing Wendy was no longer on my bed contaminating my sheets with her terrible cologne. I considered burning the sheets when I got back. As for the exhaustion, well you know –   Sheriff Ryder stood by the gate with a cigar the size of a fist between his lips. The weird thing about it was that Ryder didn't smoke.   First the sigh now this.   "It's a bloody mess, kid." He said as I approached him.   I got close enough to notice his hand shaking. This was also a first. Sheriff Ryder got the nickname Steel Gut Ryder for a reason.   "How bad is it?" I swallowed through the lump in my throat.    He shuddered visibly. "You'll have to see for yourself."   I wasn't sure I wanted to see the body anymore, not with the way it affected Sheriff Ryder.   He suggested we wait for Davis before going in. Apparently, the night guard at the park had been doing his round when he stumbled upon the body; not literally though. That would have fucked up the crime scene.    I could kill for a drink right about now, I thought feeling my nerves turn to liquid.   It took less than 10 minutes for Davis's Mini Cooper to pull over. I was glad to see him.   "It's about time," I said, rushing over to his door.   I failed to notice the woman at the passenger's seat until she opened the door and stepped out.   Joanne!   My heartbeat increased to a maddening pace. It banged hard against my chest with enough impact to bring down a wall.   What the fuck is she doing here?!   "What's she doing here?" Sheriff Ryder asked as he joined us.   She walked around, her steps deliberate and confident.   "I'm here because I think I might be able to help," Joanne said to Sheriff Ryder.   Help? How??   "How?" Ryder asked.   "I was the head CSI at Gilberg for ten years. I know my way around a crime scene."   Sheriff Ryder breathed a big sigh of relief. I knew we were heavily understaffed and we had never had to deal with a murder so we had our balls in the wind on this one but if what Joanne said was true then we were lucky.   "Hey." I smiled at her.   Her smile was enough to destroy the solar system. She pushed a flask to me as we walked to the gate.   I opened the flask without hesitating. It was coffee. She had brought coffee with her to a crime scene.    Who does that?! She's my new hero.   "Thanks."   We entered the park in silence and stayed that way until we reached the clearing just before the well-trimmed thicket.   "It's back here." Sheriff Ryder said in an unsteady voice.   Davis seemed to have a lot on his mind. His face took a serious stone hard expression.   Just as we turned behind the dumpsters, I saw a shoe stained with what I could only imagine was blood. Blood dried on the floor but there was a thick pool of it that led up to a leg.   Fuck.   Cold fingers ran through my spine as I saw the whole thing. I looked at the body for ten seconds max before I turned away retreating as fast as my legs would let me.   Holy mother of God! What kind of animal would do that to another human being?   Hot bile threatened to move through my digestive system but it retreated after a few puffs of fresh air.   "You good?" Sheriff Ryder asked, coming up behind me.   Hell no!   I turned to tell him I wasn't but stopped when I saw how green his face had become. He looked like a spinach come to life. I almost felt bad for the poor guy. He also had the chief to take care of once this mess got out, not to mention the press people.   We decided to question the security guy, Freddie, to find out more about what he knew. He knew nothing.   Repeating the questions to him didn't change his answer. He was just as affected by the whole thing as we all were.   It would be a miracle if we close this case before Christmas. The whole setup had too many holes.   I could visualize every important thing I had planned for a month being eviscerated into dust.   Fuck. My date with Joanne is tomorrow!   I wanted this so badly. The very idea of canceling it filled me with rage. Not this. Anything but this.   "Hey, man," Davis said as he walked up behind me.   "Look, I think I might be here longer. Joanne just rounded up the observation. Do you mind driving her back home for me?" He asked.   Joanne Matheus   The scene hadn't been contaminated. It looked almost too good; too clean.    She wasn't killed here. Even a blind man could point that out.    The next thing I noticed was her underwear. It was missing. There wasn't a woman alive that would wear a simple wool dress with a plaid mini skirt without wearing panties underneath. The panties helped seduction if we went with that angle.   It didn't take long to notice the marks around her thighs and dried semen.   The sheriff and Oscar had run off while Davis watched me from a distance quietly as I worked. They were all green. I didn't blame them. The killer had done a heck of a job hacking her away like she was nothing.   The killer was an amateur. There were hair fragments on her clothes and broken skin in her fingernails. I reckon they'd close the case in a day or two.   An ambulance arrived just as I was rounding up. It felt good working on a case after so long. The thrill. There was nothing like it.   The ME, Garry Bishop, came out of the ambulance looking like he was just dragged out of bed. It was starting to feel like I was the only one excited to crack this thing.   Don't get me wrong, I felt terrible for the victim. She had to be around the same age as Ariel. It could be my daughter lying lifeless on that cold floor. Finding the killer was my way of showing her I cared.   I shared my observations with Aaron and he promised to get me the full picture once they were through with the autopsy and tests.   They had needed my help after all and for the first time in a while, I didn't feel completely useless.   Davis stepped over in his usual hurried long strides. He seemed to have recovered his color.   "Are you okay?" His eyes were filled with concern.   "Sure." I meant it.   He eyed me for a while and then nodded. "I think I might hang around a while longer. Oscar will drop you off at the cabin if you don't mind."   I took a while to digest what he just said. A hurried response would be my undoing and it would be weird if I delayed.   "It's fine," I said softly.   It's fantastic! It's terrific! It's super fine...   Davis walked to the corner talking to a tall dark figure who happened to be Oscar. He left Davis and walked over. He was the most impressive man I've seen in a long time.    There was something dark, dangerous, and equally sexy about the way he moved. It took my breath out of my lungs just watching him.   "Hey there again." He smiled.   "Hey right back at you," I said with a smile of my own.   It was amazing how this man who could easily get any woman he wanted seemed to have his mind fixed on me.   "You did good back there." He winked at me.   I jabbed his side. "Thanks. That's a lot coming from a man who's scared of a little blood."   "A little?" He gasped in shock. "You call that a little blood?"   "I've seen worse."   "The worst bloody mess I've seen in my entire life was from a paper cut." He said, raising a brow.   I laughed so hard my sides hurt. "You can't be serious."   "Well, I am. Paper cuts can be a real bitch."   I paused for a moment to stare at his chaotic handsome face. He had the kind of face a woman could never forget. The face of trouble. Irresistible trouble.     As I climbed into the passenger seat of his car, the night air felt cool against my skin. He kept looking at me from time to time which gave us the opportunity of being in deep moments.   As we buckled up, Oscar's voice resonated with a mischievous tone, gracefully dancing with my curiosity. "You know, Joanne, I can't help but think about our planned date tomorrow. I've been looking forward to it all day. Too bad we have to cancel it."   Cancel what now?    My heart fluttered at what he just said. I could understand why he would think we have to cancel the date with what was happening right now but I didn't want that. I also knew this man was exceptional, his tender gestures and easy manner have already won me over.   "Who says we have to cancel?"   He flinched. By the look on his face, he wasn't expecting that response at all. Well, I was still looking forward to our date together.   "But –"   "No buts. Just make sure you pick me up. I need the opportunity to explore the town. Remember I just got here."   Quick thinking... Wonderful angle.   Oscar nodded. "Yeah. I didn't think about that."   I smirked, feeling a playful glint in my eyes. "Don't you think you're taking a big risk? What if one of your girlfriends were to see us together – you'd get maimed. No need to wonder who the next victim would be."   With a hearty laugh, he said, "I don't have girlfriends. Most of the women here are still kids."   "Oh. I see."   His eyes gleamed as if he had discovered a kindred spirit. His words became lighter and more animated, flowing effortlessly like poetry itself. The conversation danced around topics that ranged from deep philosophical musings to light-hearted banter. Oscar's words were a charming orchestra that played harmoniously in my ears, filling the silence of the darkened road.   The minutes passed swiftly, and before I knew it, we found ourselves on the winding road leading to the cabin. As the car neared the driveway, Oscar parked and turned his head toward me. His face was illuminated by the warm glow of the moon, and there was an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes.   "Joanne," he said softly, his voice brimming with sincerity, "I must admit, I'm enjoying every moment we spend together. You have a way of enchanting me with your intellect and your beautiful spirit."   Feeling a mix of exhilaration and vulnerability, I met his gaze with a genuine smile. At that moment, the boundaries between camaraderie and romance blurred, and an undeniable connection was forged between us. His words hung in the air, creating an unforgettable symphony that echoed through the night.   "Oscar..." I whispered, my voice filled with desire, "I feel the same way. Our conversations, our shared laughter, they mean more to me than words can express."   What are you saying? Shut up!   His hand reached out, gently caressing mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my veins. I marveled at how our thoughts and emotions had seamlessly intertwined as if fate itself had orchestrated our first chanced encounter and even now.   "See you tomorrow, Oscar," I said using every strength I had to pull myself from his subtle seduction.   I opened the car door and got out. The cold night licked my body, making me shiver slightly.   "I'd better go in. It's freezing out here."   "Wait." He rushed before I could turn around to leave. "Don't I at least get a kiss for driving you back?"   "Let's see how tomorrow goes. If you're lucky you might get more than a kiss."