Dark Secrets (Thriller)

Chapter 6

Neil had on an old jersey and slid on some white sneakers. His mother was tremendously amazed by his sight. It was a sight she didn't get to see often. She placed some berries in his mouth.

“You want to start running again?” She quirked.

“No,” he denied before leaving for the marathon race. He wouldn’t deny that he wasn’t a good runner as well, but since he broke his ankle during the last race, he’d withdrawn himself. Facing this nightmare again, was something he never expected. At least, not until Melanie’s murder and his messed up reputation.

The other contestants looked as smart and ready for the race as he was. In fact, they welcomed him in a friendly manner and embraced him like he was an old friend. Neither of them recognized him as the hot detective Neil Schoenfeld. Sorry, he was just so hot. While he laughed and interacted with them, he paid attention to their body cues. 8 of the contestants looked friendly and open except 1 who closed herself off. She wouldn’t speak to anyone and she wouldn’t smile either. Neil knew of some people having an avoidant personality disorder and didn’t think much of it.

“Melanie’s death was crazy!” He feigned a joke, catching the attention of the other contestants. The others reacted positively, except the girl who offered him a frown. He kept an eye on her. As they were about to get ready for the race, he approached her and offered her some glucose. She refused it.

“You do not like to talk?” He asked.

“That bitch deserved to die.” She said with a cold tone, before picking her bag and joining the other contestants. Neil felt cold chills in him. Was that a clue? Should he take that as a hint? Trying not to be judgemental too quickly, he hurried after her.

“Wait!” He pulled her back. She forcefully took her hand. “Do not be scared. I also believe Melanie deserved to die too. It was for her own good,”

The girl stared into his eyes for a while and pushed him.

“You are that detective! Stay away from me!” She warned, before rushing into the crowd.

Neil needed no one to tell him that was a red flag. He instantly picked up his phone and called George.

“I think I know who the murderer is!”

"Really?! Let me send a dispatch right away!" George said.

"No, wait..." Neil stopped him.

"What do you mean wait? You said you found the killer."

"I understand, but I need a proof against her. For now I have nothing. No one will believe me.”

George sighed and advised him to be careful.

***

Despite the strong urge to go after her and arrest her right away, Neil knew he needed strong evidence against her. He tried as much as possible to keep an eye throughout the race, and lazily avoided the run with an excuse of keeping an eye on her on the track. Every attempt was useless. He saw nothing. The girl gave no further hint that could incriminate her. After the match, she got into her car and left. Neil smartly noted her plate number.

“You got someone?” Mr Evans asked.

“Maybe, I can’t say yet,” he confessed.

Neil Schoenfeld wasn’t sure of the dangerous person he was dealing with. He’d driven to Claire’s home (that was her name by the way) and kept an eye on her via his binoculars. The girl never left her house and if she did, she made her way to the mall or the park. She doesn’t seem to have a social life and loves to live a boring life like himself. Neil felt stupid. Was he suspicious of the wrong person? What if she just hated Melanie the way others do? I mean, Melanie had a lot of haters. Spying on Claire was futile since she did nothing suspicious.

“Leave this lady, Neil,” George warned, when Neil called him to give a report of his findings.

“I have a gut feeling, George. That girl is onto something. I swear!” Neil responded, still parked before her home.

“If the CO hears of this and the girl is innocent, I will not save you Neil,”

“She isn’t innocent.”

“Just don’t mess up my car.”

Neil instantly hung up the call and stared through his binoculars into her home. The girl was coming out again, but this time she was carrying her purse and entering her car. Neil tailed her carefully and arched his brows when they got to the mall.

“Yes! I knew it!” He thought, when she walked into reagent area and got some bleach and gloves. He stalked her further into the cutlery area as she began to pack some knives. He noticed her fidgeting as she grabbed a lighter.

“Neil!” He felt a tap on his back. Neil panicked and turned around. Behind him was Morrie, who frowned with her arms crossed.

“What are you doing here?” She asked. “Why have you been following that girl?”

“I...I...I was following no one,” Neil denied. He turned back to the girl’s direction and saw that she was gone. “Damn!” He stumped his feet in frustration. “Why do you have to get involved, woman?! I missed her!”

“But you just told me that you were not following her.”

“This girl is dangerous okay? I have been stalking her for a while. She could be the person we are looking for,”

“You have been a creep?” Morrie was in shock.

“What?!” Neil was surprised by her interpretation. “No! That’s not what I mean…”

“I can’t believe you were stalking that lady. What else do you do in your spare time? Watch naked…”

Neil covered her mouth sharply.

“Do not say it. You have insulted me enough. I do not do that.”

“What made you suspect her? Let me guess, she is a runner?” She went on when he removed his hands.

“Trust me, Morrie. I know what I am doing.” Morrie frowned. She watched him leave before picking up her phone to make a call.

“I am done with this guy,” she said as the line rang. The call was answered. “Chief officer…”