Past Unveiling by Audrey Walker (good books to read for young adults TXT) 📗

are avoiding me,” she said. “And I know why. I am sorry about the incident at the Butcher’s house. I didn’t mean to hold you hostage. I just needed to get away, and I didn’t think and–.”

“It’s alright, Detective,” he said. “You don’t have to explain yourself.”

“No, I do,” Robin said. “Andrews, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I really look up to you, Detective Matthews,” he said. “I always have. You have always been one of my role models. I hoped to be as good as you someday. I must admit I am a bit shy, and a bit gutless. This case especially is much more than I imagined. I came here because I love mystery and crime, but seeing it laid out in front of me – it’s horrible. I never thought humans could be this cruel!”

Robin looked at the man in front of her, and for the first time, she truly saw him. She saw an officer who had recently become a Detective and was slowly realizing that he had bitten off more than he could chew. She saw a young Detective who had probably been feeling less of a man because he couldn’t stomach all the blood and death. He probably had no one to talk to about this, being too ashamed to reveal the weakness within him.

“Andrews, listen to me,” she said. “I know how you feel. I know how horrible it all seems when you start out, and to be honest, it never gets easier. As time passes on, you only see the worst of the worst, and you will stop being shocked at how deplorable humans are. You might become numb to it like us, but it won’t ever truly leave you. And I want you to know all these feelings; they don’t make you any less of a Detective. What you feel, it’s not something to be ashamed of. Everyone feels it, but no one has the guts to talk about it. I know how overwhelming this all is for you. If you ever need to talk, I am there for you, okay?”

Andrews nodded, putting forth a small smile on his face. Robin patted him on the back and walked away, feeling relieved. She had felt guilty about Andrews for the past few days, and she felt good having talked it out.

“Hey, Matthews,” Burke called out. “We got the boyfriend for interrogation. What do you think about the girl’s statement?”

“I would like to know for sure who the boyfriend is,” Robin said. “The friend thinks she knows, but it could be someone else. I guess we will find out.”

They walked into the interrogation room, and Burke barked the introductions before sitting in front of the boy. Adrian gave a cocky smile and said, “Can I ask why you called me here?”

He was an arrogant jerk. Robin could tell instantly. The son of one of the local businessmen, he was a handsome little brat. He had money, looks, and probably lots of friends and imagined himself the king of the world.

“Were you dating Kaila at the time she passed away?” Robin asked.

“Tch,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I date many girls. I don’t remember who is who.”

“Really?” Burke asked, narrowing his eyes at him. “Were you dating her or not?”

“Why? Did someone tell you we were?” Adrian asked. “Everyone wants a piece of me.”

“You know, if you are the boyfriend,” Burke said softly, “that makes you our prime suspect.”

“Woah!” Adrian said, instantly sitting up. “I didn’t know this was that serious. I thought she was one of the Executioner’s victims!”

“Talk!” Burke snapped.

“It wasn’t me, man!” he said. “I mean, at one point, we were. A few months back, we were a thing. Her father disapproved, so we kept it hushed up. Then things started changing. She met some other guy, I could tell. She started pushing me away and slowly slipped out of the picture.”

“What guy?” Robin asked.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Someone shady enough that Kaila kept him hidden from everyone. Maybe an older man, or that’s the impression I got from her conversations. She dropped hints whenever she was high, but she was careful not to say too much even then. Apparently, she was in love with him, but she knew that her father would never agree, so she just hid him. She said once her father was re-elected, she was going to bring it all out into the open. That’s it! That’s all I know.”

“Did you send the taxi to pick her up?” Burke asked.

“No, I didn’t!” he said. “I already told you guys that I didn’t see her that night! She never came to me! Look, if this is serious, then I am not going to speak any more! I want my lawyer here!”

Robin exchanged a look with Burke, who sighed.

“This crap just keeps getting deeper and deeper,” he groaned as they walked out of there.

“I know,” Robin said. “It’s like quicksand, and the more we stir things up, the worse it gets.”

Chapter Fourteen

She looked at his green eyes, filled with desperation and hope at the same time. His hands clutched hers tightly as if begging her not to let go.

“Do you love me?” he whispered.

“Of course, I do,” Robin whispered, smiling at the child.

He smiled at her, his face filling with relief and happiness.

“Okay,” he said and then let her hand go.

Robin woke up with a gasp, her body shivering in the cold winter night. The nightmares were back, and they had come back with a vengeance. She thought she was doing better ever since therapy started with Dr. Rosemond, but things were getting worse again. Robin couldn’t sleep even for half an hour without nightmares plaguing her. She lay there panting, her eyes closed.

“I like playing games with you,” the child giggled.

“And I like playing with you, too,” Robin said, smiling at him warmly.

“I am glad you are here, Robin,” he said, looking away. “It’s like I have my Mama back.”

“Do you really miss