“There are three injured on the Delta #5 team. My team said the person went ape shit and started slicing their way through. One of them picked up the playing card with the white rabbit on it as it fell from the perp’s hand. We can confirm The Mad Hatter has struck again.”
* * *
Donnieand I spend the rest of the night back at the precinct. We go over case notes and make reports of our own. This was the first time The Mad Hatter had witnesses. I wonder what made them commit the crime tonight in such a public place. Usually they choose places such as the victim’s home, or a public place, but with no one around.
“Are you going to the mixer tonight?” Donnie asks me.
“Nah, I’m going home, eating something, then hitting the bed. Got some chores around the house to do today. No point in going out tonight. It’s really unsafe for anyone to throw a party at night these days.”
I don’t understand the audacity of people. We have warned them not to throw parties. Not to be out past a certain time. Yet even the police officers are fucking around.
Donnie laughs at me. He cocks an eyebrow, and that cocky grin of his makes him look ridiculous.
“Dude!” He slaps my shoulder and shakes his head. “It’s one girl. We can handle her. We are, after all, cops.”
I don’t tell Donnie he’s being arrogant or that it’s stupid to go. He’s a big boy, he can take care of himself. Shaking my head, I laugh and head out the door. My bed is calling me. As I walk to my truck, I think about Maddie. Seeing the time, I know it’s inappropriate to send her a text, but she won’t see it until the morning.
Me:Five more days until your birthday. I can’t wait for that movie night.
Drew almost caught me tonight.Dammit, that was close. I run to Knave’s house to change my clothes. The crowd ripped the bodice of my shirt open to expose my chest. The embarrassment is eating me alive. At least they didn’t see the scars. I’m pissed as hell at the idea of almost getting cornered. Too close for comfort.
I change with a quickness, uneasy with being naked. I don’t like the idea of someone seeing me naked with all these bruises on my body. I sigh because it’s not just the damn bruises that mar my skin, it’s the scars too. I feel like trash when I see them. Shame eats at me. My Momma used to tell me I was pretty as a doll. If she could see me now, she’d call me hideous.
Sighing, I leave Knave’s house to make my way back home. I climb the tree that’s beside the window of my room as carefully as I can, so I don’t scrape my knees or cause any rustling of the leaves. The thought of waking up my father terrifies me. If he wasn’t the Chief of Police, I would just gut him. I don’t need an investigation into his murder—at least not yet.
As I get into my room, I hear my father screaming in his study. He’s no doubt received a call about tonight’s incident. I smile, knowing I’ve disturbed his sleep. Creeping along the second-floor hallway and into my bathroom, I take off the shirt and pants while cleaning the blood off my body with wet wipes.
I use the restroom but don’t flush the toilet. I really don’t want him coming up here right now. Making my way back to my room, I stash my clothes and weapons in the back of my closet. Old bags cover them, and since I have clothes on the floor, my father won’t be nosy. No, he’ll demand I clean up. That’s exactly what I want from him.
Throwing a sleep shirt on, I get into bed and turn my back to the door. It’s easier to pretend to be asleep when my father opens the door.
“Maddie?”
I don’t answer him, trying to keep my breathing even.
He shakes my shoulder, and I stretch, trying to hide the disgust of him touching me. “Yeah?”
I blink up at him. In a hurried, irritated tone, he rushes onward. “Going into work. Don’t forget you have to work tomorrow at the police station. Your brother is going to be asleep. Don’t wake him up. Get to work on time.”
“Yes, Father.”
For once, he doesn’t call me any names or belittle me. He walks out and closes the door without locking it. That’s a shock, considering he is always trying to keep me in the house.
* * *
Shit.I hear my alarm going off at a quarter to six. I wanted to be up at five.Fuck.If I’m not on time for my shift in the dispatch office, my father and Donnie will make my life a living nightmare. I rush out of the house, hoping if I bike fast enough, I won’t be late. Maybe I can stop and grab something to eat. As I grab my bike, a horn blares, making me jump. I look and see Drew waiting for me. I normally ride my bike to the dispatch office on Sundays, but having Drew here is a pleasant change.
I look at my phone and smile when I see I have a text waiting for me from him. I read it as I walk toward his truck, wondering what he’s doing here this early on a Sunday.
“What are you doing here, Drew?” I ask as I climb in. He laughs as he pulls out of the driveway. I could live off that laugh of his. It’s never forced, and when he gives me that smile, it lights up my day.
“Thought you'd like to ride with me to the station. I’m off duty, but I forgot my bag in my locker, so I’m going to get it.”
“Thank you, Drew. And just so you know, since I didn’t respond to your text, I’m looking forward to movie night too.” I click the seatbelt into place.
“Yeah?” He looks at me with a raised eyebrow.
I laugh and nod. “Yeah, of course I am. Just the two of us? Absolutely.”
