CHAPTER 1
Chilly, as I walk pass by bunch of people in the club. It is really annoying though, I prepared for at least three hours before I arrive here at 9pm. I bathe, shaved my legs, volumed my hair and picked the best “clubbing” dress in my closet, the only one dress I have. I went here to supposedly meet a guy I met online, John. I was skeptical at first but finally decided to meet him because why not? And now here I am, sitting in a bar, alone ordering another glass of cosmo.
“That’s a third in just an hour.”
I swayed my chair to be able to look at the voice that I think was pertaining to me. There, a guy was sitting, at the bar as well, just about half a meter away. He is staring at his glass of whiskey. While everything is at blur on my perspective now, I try to look at him from toe to head. He is wearing a darkened denim and a tucked-out mulberry long sleeves folded in three fourths. He looks a bit tired but yummy tired, you know what I mean? The one that is like “I am tired out of all day’s work but i’m still good looking” look. With his stance, I could say he is standing at least 5ft 11 or taller. Just the right amount of guy I would nail to date, but no, this isn’t John. That ain’t the John fucker who stood me up.
“Me?” I asked before the pause gets too awkward. I wasn’t Really sure if he was pertaining to me or the whiskey he holds and stares at.
“Yes, you. It isn’t safe for a woman, alone and dressed like that to get drunk in a club full of… them” he pointed at the bunch of people in the floor partying.
“You mean full of you. And who says that i’m drunk? It’s just my third glass. I am a strong independent woman, I can bring my self home with no harm done at me.”
He stood up, signaled bill to the bartender and talked to the guy “kindly bill me her drinks. This lady seemed judgy and sad. That’ll be my charity to her.” He get his card from the tab and walks away.
“Whu..charity? Hey!” I grabbed my clutch and rushed just so I could catch him. Damn! He walk fast.
Just as he was about to get inside his, what I assume his car, I caught his door. “How much is my bill? I can pay. Here..” I took 50 bucks from my purse “there, keep the change ‘coz I’m a strong independent woman” jeez! Why do I keep on repeating that sentence.
“You don’t have to but hey, thanks. Have a nice…”
*****
My phone? My phone is ringing. Where is it?
“Liv, where are you? Did you forget? Your substituting today! Oh my god! You forgot didn’t you?”
“Hey hey, no. I’m on my way. 15 minutes.”
“15 minutes? Don’t mess with me, you just woke up. Anyway, just get your ass going. I’ll…” dropped the call before she gets me to swear over something I would regret since I actually am late. Kim is always in control, well at least she tries to be. Ever since college, she’s always been organized, and with me being her seat mate from freshmen year til we graduate, she tries to tag me with that control disease she has. I mean, it isn’t bad after all. It got me graduating from college and getting to a job at this institution where I am her teacher assistant. She is now on her vacation leave with her husband somewhere at the west coast and I am stucked with her class for the rest of the month.
“And now, for the report tomorrow, I want you guys to read the article about the killings in Greatwoods. Have a reaction paper done about it and submit it on Friday. Bye class.” Why do I feel super tired when all I am doing is tell these students everything that was written and planned by Kim.
This class pretty much covers my whole day today. The other professors have their monthly meeting and I don’t think I have to be there. And so I called my dad and invited him for dinner later at the Diners’ because he has no choice or he won’t be having his supper.
As I was waiting for my him since he will be picking me up, no matter how hard I try, I couldn’t remember how I got home last night. The last thing I know was I paid my cosmo to that guy that charit-ied me and then it blurred. I probably passed out or whatever.
I heard a beep coming and the car of my dad approach me. “sweetie. Let’s go.”
“Hey dad. What’s up?” I asked as we drive our way to the diner.
“Nothing much. Just another day at the precinct. There was a report though, of a killing in the alley along Brook’s last night. Another case of neck slash.”
“Do they know who did it?”
“It’s hard to tell. Like the previous killings east of town, the boys couldn’t find any traces of anything that could lead to the killer. But the incidents were uniformly fashioned, all done with a slash on the left side of the neck.”
“The person must be a serial-killer-artist. I mean, artists do leave trademarks on their pieces you know.”
“Yeah. Probably. Anyway, how was school little miss professor? The university suits you.”
“Before you giggle about it, I am just a substitute. In three weeks, Kim will be back and I will be my usual working girl, checking on test papers and printing whatever her printables are. Besides, i’m only doing whatever she has written in her well-planned-and-organized lesson plan.”
“Still, when you finally get a hang of it, who knows, that could be a regular thing for you. Don’t close your doors hun. I have a ton of belief in you.”
“Yeah. Whatever.”
The Diners’ is the usual hang out spot in Greatwoods. Kids come here for the strawberry and vanilla milkshake and adults come here for the beer and deer steak. I, on the other hand, come here for the town news and overheard-s. The table lady standing by the end of the bar, Mrs. Milby, talks. The wives that hangs here every past their kids’ dismissal talks. Even the cops that drinks beer talks. All of them, muttering about the recent killings in the town that has been going for a month now. About three weeks ago, two men where killed in just two days. The bodies were found along the Warner bridge. A week after that, another body was found at the back of the town church. Another body was also seen at the back of the trucks parked near the town mart. And the recent killing as per my dad was at the alley at Brook’s last night.
Wait, Brook’s? I was there. Last night.
“Dad?”
“Yes hun?” He answered after a huge chug of his beer.
“You said the recent incident was at Brook’s last night right?”
“Yeah. In the alley in front of the bookstore, just beside the club.”
“I was there. I was suppose to meet someone but he didn’t show up. What time did the incident happen?”
“Not sure. The boys went there at 10pm but the say probably..wait. You were suppose to meet someone but he didn’t show up? Are you on those dating apps again? Didn’t I tell you not to…” I wiped his mouth with tissue paper before he says more.
“I didn’t ok? I mean he didn’t show up so nothing serious serial killer or sexual happened”
“Jesus! Olivia! I shouldn’t be hearing these things from you.”
“Let’s just eat.”
“No. Liv, listen to me. With all these killings around the town, I strongly suggest you not meeting random strangers you talked to from those god-forsaken apps. You don’t know these people, you don’t know what they’re up to, you just don’t know them. So please, stop that non-sense Max. Or i’ll send you to your mum in the coastlines. Mrs. Milby, more sauce please”
“You’re saying a lot. Let’s just eat dad, please”
He worries so much. Must be the cop in him. My dad is the town sheriff. Explains why he calls the police respondents “the boys”. Explains also why he is so cynical when it comes to dating..in all sorts. Ever since my mom and dad separated, he has been so iffy with the idea of me meeting with another guy. Probably because my mom had an affair with another man, again, explains why she lives in the south coast, miles away from Greatwoods. I hated my mom for leaving my father. Knowing the both of them, I did not see reason as to why my mom would leave my dad. Cane, my mom’s lover, was a freelancer, freelance model of some local beachwear, and most of the time a free-loader at my mom’s place. As far as I know my mom still works at the back office of an online store that sells products from brands, one of which is the beachwear, hence, Cane. Upto now, I cannot understand why she settled for someone like him..and over my dad? Why mom?
As I was eating my chicken and salad and my dad in another table chatting with some officer, I can’t help but notice a certain man in the bar. I know those jeans, it’s the same denim from the guy last night. Same denim? How did I even recognize them? Jeans practically all look the same.
“Got only one pair of jeans?” I approached as I walked to the bar to ask for a refill for my salad dressing.
I saw a smirk in his face. “Two nights in a row, are you following me?” He asked arrogantly.
“Excuse me? I eat dinner here with my dad, usually.” I replied.
“Dad? Hmm. So you’re the chiefs daughter huh?” He answered. Judging by his question, he probably has been staring at us while we are eating.
“Yeah. So don’t go doing anything crazy.” I said.
“Why? Coz you’ll go tell your daddy? Miss little strong independent woman? Haha!” And he remembers my on-repeat phrase.
“Dick!”
“No, i’m Conrad. Wait, is that how people ask around for names now? Call all of them “Dick”? Great move huh.”
“What makes you think I would want to know your name? I just call guys dick dick only if the attitudes so dick-y”
“Too much dick for a sentence. Last time I checked, no dick would bring some girl home safe and unharmed. If calling me dick is you saying thank you, then you are welcome.”
So he was the one who brought me home last night. Do I say thank you? “did you? Thank you and sorry for calling you a dick, Conrad. I want you to know that I am not usually like that.”
“Like what? All strong-independent but all passed out coz she was all so drunk woman? Haha!” He said as he laugh teasingly.
“Can you stop with the strong independent thing. We just met last night so don’t easily jump into any conclusion yet. Let’s just say that I was not feeling well last night. I was about to meet someone but he ditched me. I prepared and went on to meeting him but he did not show up.” Oh, I have said so much.
“So you’re saying you’re suppose to go on a date but your date, did not come? You should have told me, I can be a good substitute.” He replied.
“What makes you think that I would want a date like you as a substitute?”
“What kind of date are you looking for then? I can be that.” He replied. He really is so full of his self.
“You just really couldn’t stop yourself at teasing huh? Are we even friends?”
“You don’t date a friend so I guess we’re not. Do you like someone who would sweep you off of your feet under a dusky starry sky or someone who would sweep off your skirt off of you and..” he stops talking and nod on someone from my behind. “Sir! Good to see you.”
I look at my back and saw my dad approach. “You know him? Dad?”
“Yes. This is Mr. Davis. His family owns some of the smiths here in Greatwoods and a few I think in.. Where is it again sir?” He asked as he taps Conrad’s shoulder.
“A few in Springville sir.” He answered.
“Yes yes, a few in there. Mr. Smith here brought you home last night. He said you had a few drinks, passed out in a bar, he recognized you as the sheriff’s daughter and so he brought you home. It’s a good thing we have a few of him in this town. You know, with all the killings and slashing and all that.” And they laughed together. So they’re friends now? “Oh oh, forgive me. I almost forgot, this is my daughter, Olivia. The only daughter and woman in my life.” Oh-oh. Someone has had too much to drink. I better stop him before he tell tales everything. “her mom left me for some model by the beach. You see, Con.. Conrad right? Can we do first name basis now? I don’t wanna go all mister mister…”
“Dad dad, that’s enough. Let’s go.” I stoped him and wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
“Wait, why are you taking the sheriff away? He still has something to say. I’d like to hear it. Let him let loose.” Conrad says as he pours another glass of beer with what looked like my dad’s.
“Hey hey. Do not give him that. He’s had enough.” I pushed the glass away “dad, we have to go.”
“You sure you can drive him home? Oh I forgot, you’re a strong independent woman. Goodnight Olivia!”
“Liv. Just Liv.” I replied as I walk my dad pass the Diner.
The drive home is a bit foggy. The street lights are not turned on and has not been for the past years. The city engineer said it was probably due to energy outage caused by the new shopping center being built just outside of town. That plus the road being a bit slippery, I had to be extra careful driving but how do I do that when I m being bothered by the thought of Conrad Davis, a tool-junky warehouse owner and a dick and as a consolation, a hot dirty looking guy whose height is enough to sweep me off of anything that could be swept off of me. Gad! What am I saying?! Seeing his eyes, it’s like nothing you have ever seen. It’s green going blue with a slight lining if reddish brown. His brows are just the right amount of thick and the wrinkle in the sides of his eyes, they surprisingly look good on him. By the looks of his up-sleeved sleeves, his arms seemed broad they could cary me single handedly. His chest pressed on his polo. I can’t even explain how I am able to shell these details when I acted like I hated him. Why do I hate him when I talk to him but at the same time like it as well? Why, in my subconscious, am I wishing now to see him again?
****chapter 2 coming up
