Page 88 of Kept in the Dark

Trey admired the man for his humility. Most cops would likely need to be escorted out of the building. It made this decision even harder for Trey. He didn’t want to fire or suspend Lucious because Trey knew that one bad moment doesn’t define your character. But he also knew that if the police couldn’t uphold the law, then they sure as hell couldn’t enforce it.

Before Lucious left, Trey said, “Be careful. Someone is killing people involved in this case and I don’t want to see you hurt or have to stand over your dead body.”

Lucious simply gave him a nod. With that, he left the building, gaining stares from other officers as he did.

I’ve been watching Trey since he got back to the police department. I know he’s getting much too close to the truth. Enough to keep me tossing and turning at night.

I try to calm myself. Even if he knows the truth, he can’t do anything about it, not without proof. I smile at that. He must be going crazy trying to put the pieces together.

Unfortunately for him, I’m too smart for that. I have eluded the police for thirteen years, and not by luck. It’s taken planning and cleverness. I’ve had to be cunning and calculating, leaving nothing up to chance.

I turn my attention to the door, movement catching my gaze. I was hoping it was Trey coming out, but instead it’s Lucious. I saw him on patrol earlier so his shift shouldn’t be over yet. He’s now back in street clothes, no gun or badge visible.

That’s concerning. Lucious always wears his gun and badge on his belt, even when off duty. Part of me wants to approach him and ask why it’s gone, but that would raise suspicion.

However, I don’t need to ask. I already know the answer. It only makes sense that the cowboy would question him about Morgan’s murder. And if he is without a gun and badge…well, it means he told Trey what he knew.

Which is fine. For now.

He doesn’t know enough to make me worry, though I’ll keep an eye on him.

The Beast beacons for Lucious as he climbs into his car. My gaze follows him until he’s out of sight.

Today is Lucious’ lucky day. Today, I won't kill him.

But the Beast is clawing at the surface again, begging to be released. I feel myself losing control. Not that I mind, I love The Beast. Because of him, I’m able to let out the darkest part of me. The part that society would love to slaughter.

They would be surprised to know I’m the monster found in nightmares, the kind that lurks in the sunlight, waiting for darkness to fall. I’m the creature you let into your home, not realizing you should have locked your doors instead. I’m the beast you trust…and by the time you realize the truth, you’re already dead.

As children, we’re taught to bury the darkness, to ignore the monsters that live within us. But what they don’t understand is how satisfying it is to succumb to the yearning that beckons us. Everyone likes to pretend evil doesn’t exist within them, but it’s those who embrace it that are completely satisfied.

We understand there's a euphoria that comes when our monsters are released. When we’re on the hunt and catch our prey, there’s nothing more fulfilling than that of the whimpers of the weak. And when our hands are covered in the blood of our victims, that’s when we’re most alive.

Now The Beast is tearing through, his force much too strong for me to stop. It’s painful, a stabbing in the pit of my stomach. It’s an aching desire, one that will need to be satisfied in order to stop the pain.

And Trey Harbor will be the one to fulfill it.

July 1, 2011

8:05 pm

After Lucious left, Trey spent a few hours catching up on paperwork before heading to Genevieve’s to get Hailey and take her to get ice cream. She needed a pick-me-up, and he knew the way to her heart was sweets. Unfortunately, his plan wasn’t going as well as he’d hoped.

The two were now on their way to talk to Bobby Young, and Hailey was giving him the silent treatment. Trey hadn’t wanted to involve her in the conversation he had with Lucious. He could lose his job if he talked to her about an ongoing Internal Affairs investigation.

So, despite her pouting, he kept matters to himself.

When Trey told her he was going to talk to Bobby, though, she had begged to come with him. And it was something he wholeheartedly disapproved of since she had a knack for getting herself into trouble and not minding her own business. But, she wanted to thank the man who had helped her the night her mother died and Trey couldn’t tell her no. He didn’t think it was fair to take that from her after everything she’d been through.

“I know you’re mad at me because I’m shutting you out, but I need you to understand why. The last thing we need is to jeopardize this case or for you to get hurt or killed. I need you to stay in the car while I talk to him.”

“Fine,” Hailey said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Trey smiled to himself. He had always been amused by her attitude, as aggravating as it could be sometimes. She had no problem letting him know when she was displeased.

The sky was painted beautiful hues of pink, purple, and orange as the sun had nearly set. If there wasn't a murderer on the loose, he might actually enjoy the view. However, with bodies turning up and Hailey’s life being in danger, it was a painful reminder that another day was passing without being any closer to arresting the murderer that was wreaking havoc on his city and his family.

“Is this how you’re going to be the rest of the night?’ he asked.

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