Chapter 160: A Grain of Sand (1/2)

”Ah, I asked Evie not to enter the dungeon,” Nash informed me. I glanced at him, looking away from the road for a split second.

”Thank you,” I replied quietly. ”I don't think she will listen to you, though.” I shook my head. ”I see how she has been reacting recently and I get more worried.”

Nash was staring at me. ”I thought she was getting better…” he trailed off.

”She was getting so much better. She was combatting her fears and magical thinking really well and her sessions with the therapists were going great, but now… I am doubting letting her interning with the police,” I admitted.

”How so?” Nash asked. ”She has been excellent on the field and in the interrogation room. This is invaluable information and she has been so calm throughout every situation.”

I shook my head. ”You're the Head of Behavioral Studies, but you need to remember you analyze motives and the like. You don't know how good Evie is at suppressing her emotions. She can pretend to be a chirpy little bird even if she is having sleep paralysis demons chasing her down the hallway. That is what she is like… that is her coping mechanism.” I knew I was ranting, but I didn't know who to tell.

I was worried.

”And what kind of behavior is she exhibiting?” Nash enquired. ”I want to match our notes. I spend a lot of time with her at work, so I could help!”

I gripped the steering wheel. ”Disregard for advice or power structure. Lack of fear and confrontational behavior. Recklessness,” I ended.

Nash stiffened. ”She does leap into action,” he stated.

”The first case she worked with me… we found a serial killer who wanted to kill themselves. She figured that out herself and her reactions… I remember the hatred in her eyes. She almost broke every bone in the suspect's body after chasing him down a crowded street.”

Nash startled. ”That is dangerous behavior!” he exclaimed.

”She has never done it again and I have seen her vulnerable, but I think she feels cornered. She was finally feeling relieved that there was no one out to hurt her or the people she loved, and when someone clicks an intimate photograph of us, and she… she pretends it is okay… that she is level-headed.”

”She went into Alicia's interrogation room, didn't she?” Nash asked.

”I let it slide. It could be cathartic and she would see that no one held power over her. But… when she came out… she looked scared. But I don't think she knew that.” I felt my eyes heat and blinked to keep the tears at bay.

”She kept looking at that video obsessively. I know what you mean,” Nash whispered.

”I just want to catch this guy and give her some peace. I think we need to increase the intensity and frequency of her therapy sessions again,” I admitted. I felt defeated.

Maybe, I wasn't strong enough to back her up and reassure her. Maybe I could have been a little more intelligent and seen through the plots and caught the guy before he came back to haunt Evie.

The rational part of my brain knew there was no way to ensure these things. But I had turned into an emotional man. There were high-stakes in this situation.

We pulled into to the station's parking lot and I took the bag with me.

I went straight to the forensics department and placed the bag on the table.

”Dr. Butler, you brought in evidence today?” the analyst asked.

”Yes, it's for a case I am working on. I need complete privacy in this case, understood?” My voice held a veiled warning.

The analyst blinked and then nodded. ”Do you need it done right now?” he asked.

”Are you working on something at the moment? We have a fresh trail on a cold case… a serial killer,” I claimed.

”It's going to be hard, Dr. Butler. I can't start analyzing this before tomorrow,” he said with the scratch of his head.

Nash peered from behind me and voiced his opinion. ”What are you working on currently?” he asked casually.

”A burglary case,” he responded. ”The report is due tomorrow morning,” he gave an apologetic smile.

I sighed. ”Can I ask you to do this on an emergency basis? I'll treat you to dinner for your help.” I knew I was known as the icy boss, but I really needed it done. I was reminded of how Evie asked me to be polite to everyone, so I tried her method out this time.

I could see the analyst's eyes widen and he nodded slowly.

”Are you going to give me a name for the case or what I am looking for?” he asked.

”Anything. It's fresh off the site and untouched at that,” I informed him.

”Okay, I'll ask someone to cover for me and write the report. I'll get this done. Will you be overseeing?” he asked.

I nodded. ”Yes, it's a high-security case. I know you are the top analyst in the department, so I require your absolute secrecy in this matter.”

The analyst nodded enthusiastically. He snapped on his gloves and looked at the bag.

”Looks like a generic bag used in the early nineties. Nothing special. Tags have been removed,” he spoke as he inspected. ”The wear and tear show that this is something from the household of the killer.” His eyes gleamed with excitement.

”Does that mean something?” I asked, hoping it would be of use.

”Well, we can't get fingerprints because it looks cleaned down but the inside… we can check it.” He pulled out the box inside and took a magnifying glass and torchlight to look inside the bag.