Lipstick Stain

Episode 3

Something clicked inside Jake’s head, his thoughts were rushing in a million speed. It made him itched for the answers he was seeking so desperately in that hotel room.

“Why didn’t you tell me about it?” He stormed out without waiting the answers from the girl. He was enraptured with the idea of witnessing another clue from the ruthless killer. It may be a bit peculiar but Jake was salivating from the turn of events. He managed to reach his car in no time without attracting unwanted attentions, no one even noticed when he slipped back the stolen card to one of the bell boys. It was a craft he mastered in his younger years playing card tricks.

“Jake wait a second!” The tip tapping of Camilla’s stilettos echoed through the still empty parking lot. “I said wait!” came the incessant voice.

“What do you need Camilla, as you said I need to get going. And I better go now.”

The girl sighed grabbing the car’s window, stopping it from closing on her face, “Just, don’t do anything stupid. I know you, when you get this excited over a case …just use your freaking big brain, okay?”

“I know. I got this.”

The girl let go and Jake drove with doubts in his mind. The worried face of his friend grew tiny in his rearview mirror. She was right about him being sloppy because of his shifting impulses. But no matter how he tried, it always got the better of him. After all, it was the one who made him famous amongst his colleagues, and the very reason why he worked alone. There was no single soul who dimmed to be his partner.

An hour passed, struggling his way to traffic he reached the precinct. The angry face of the chief greeted him even before he could unbuckle his seatbelt.   

“Chief?”

The nearly bald man in an ill fitted green polo shirt and jeans wore an expression of a thousand-year-old monk. He was on his early forties but all the stress of their job made him aged twice. “Let’s talk in my office, now. And you better give me a good enough reason for breaking inside a crime scene without clearance,” he said swaying his head from left to right. “Are you coming?”

“Yes chief!” Jake wanted to make the best excuse for his extravagant but there was none other than admitting the truth and hope for the best. “Chief—”

The chief cut him off with his hand, “Save your words in ear shut.”

The moment the two stepped foot inside, eyes followed their wake. The news of his little trip must have spread wide. Silence fell even from the visitors, all movements seemed to stop as if time left them and only resumed when the loud bang of the chief’s door closed.

“I couldn’t sleep—” Jake started but was immediately dismissed with another hand.

“You couldn’t sleep so you simply decided to barge inside that hotel room? You’re making my headache worse Salazar.” The chief slapped the wooded table in front of him. “Sit!” he ordered with a sharp voice. “Do you know what we have in our hands, young man?”

“A serial killer.”

“A serial killer, why yes! And do you know when was the last time we had one?”

“About twenty years ago, with the missing kids in Tondo.” Jake knew every detail of that case; he poured all his sweat to make the best dissertation about it. “Do the two killers connect? But that is impossible, the M.O. and everything—”

“No, that is not what I meant. What I mean was, it’s not every day we encounter cases like this so we are taking great measures. The gravity of this is huge, if we are focusing on the victims alone. Do you even understand that? When this get leaked to the media, a frenzy is sure to follow.”

Jake was about to utter a word but regretted and fastened his mouth, he needs to find the right thing to say, “I was looking for answers that time. If you wanted to me to solve this case, you all need to be honest with me and don’t hold anything behind. Santiago assigned me this because you all knew I am the best fit for this.”

The chief’s mien softened, “That’s an absolute, you are the best. But Jake, you are clouded… your decisions are too immature at times.”

He didn’t know where the chief was getting to, nevertheless Jake was sensing something about the talk. Most of the times, his antics were brushed off with a three-minute talk of good behavior and conduct but this time was different. It seemed that the chief was dragging, making it longer than the usual.

“I swear—”

“I have heard that talk too many times now kid. You need proper guidance; you need someone to put sense in that brain of yours. It’s time for you to have a partner.” At the mention of the name, a soft knocking came to the door. “Just the perfect timing! Get in!”

A woman wearing a blue suit and a baggy pants, walked in taking the sit beside the gaping Jake. She didn’t bothered to grace him a salutation nor a friendly remark. The air around her was ice cold, her face matched it perfectly.

“Jake, this is Dianna Marquez, from this day onward, she would be your partner.”

“But—” Jake started but he didn’t have the energy to make his point so instead he put on a façade.

“Dianna, please introduce yourself.”

The woman nodded, finally looking on Jake’s direction, ”I am Dianna, if you were familiar with the dumpster killer, which I know you are. I was one of the detectives who worked in that case. And, Director Santiago, felt I am fitted to help you. And be your partner in solving this case. If you have any question, feel free to ask me."

That was the reason why she felt so calm in the presence of the chief, she used to work with him. And if there was a question Jake wanted to ask, there was only one thing, "How old are you anyway?" he asked with a straight face.