Sociopaths and Serial Killers

BY: Montana

Disclaimer: I do not own Jean-Claude, Richard, Anita, Edward, or anything else that belongs to LKH.

Author Note: This is set after Obsidian Butterfly.

Edward woke up before I did. I woke to the ringing of the cell phone I had resting on the nightstand. It was seven o’clock. I scrambled for it, and picked it up. “Hello?”

“Anita.”

“Dolph.” His voice sounded a little distraught.

“I don’t know how to say this Anita, but I’ll just say it.” He took a deep breath. I was ready for the news. “Your house has been burnt to the ground. We have suspicions that it was an arson.” I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing. “You still there, Anita?”

“Yeah, I’m still here.”

“Do you have any idea who might have done this?”

I looked to Edward for a clue. He shook his head. “No, I don’t,” I said. It appeared Edward wanted to keep the police out of this as much as possible. Fine with me.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Where are you? Why weren’t you at your house.”

“I’m in a hotel. An old friend came to town.” Hey, I wasn’t lying.

“Oh. I need you to come down for a statement.”

“Can’t I just give you a statement now?”

“Don’t you want to come look at your house?”

I sighed. “Not really, but I guess I have to.”

“You sound like you’re going somewhere.”

“I might. I haven’t decided yet.”

“And will you be telling me where you’re going?”

“Nope.”

“That sounds suspiciously like you’re running from something, Anita. What aren’t you telling me?”

“I’m telling you everything, Dolph.” It was so easy to lie to him when I didn’t have to lie with my eyes.

“I don’t believe you, Anita. But I know its all I’m going to get. How far away are you?”

“Thirty minutes.”

“See you then, then.” He hung up.

I got out of bed, and picked up my clothes from yesterday to change into. “I can pack some more stuff at home. Wait, I have no home!” I said cynically, as I walked past Edward.

He grabbed my arm, spinning me back around. His eyes were blank and cold, I couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. “But you’re alive, Anita. That’s worth more than clothes, or a house, or anything else.” There might not have been much in his eyes, but his voice held emotion. His fingers dug into my arm, I might have a bruise later.

I sighed. “I know Edward. But its still hard.” Then a thought hit me. My penguin collection probably went up in the flames too. Sigmund, and all the rest. Gone. All gone. That brought a tear to my eye. Several tears, actually. Enough that I looked away from Edward to the ground. His grip on my arm loosened gradually until he wasn’t holding me at all. I wiped the tears away. “I can’t believe I’m crying about a penguin,” I grumbled, heading for the bathroom to change. Edward let me go, but I could feel his eyes on me as I walked to the bathroom.

I changed back into the clothes I was wearing, dark blue jeans, black polo shirt, black belt, black nikes. I thought about what else I might have lost in the fire. Some of the ammunition might have exploded, but my guns were in a safe that was supposedly fire proof. I would be able to get those. My credit cards were in my car, along with everything else in my wallet. Thank god. That was what I really needed. I had access to my accounts, it was all good. I didn’t like the house anyway.

I walked out of the bathroom, tossing Edward the oversized black t-shirt. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

I picked up the phone, and dialed Bert’s number. “Hello?” I could hear the million dollar smile. He thought it was a customer.

“Bert, its Anita.”

“Anita. How pleasant to hear from you at this early hour.” I could instantly tell he was frowning.

“I need a vacation.”

Silence over the phone. “How long?”

“A month.”

More silence. “I can’t do that.”

“Yes you can.”

“I could fire you.”

“I make you money, Bert. You don’t want to do that.”

“Oh yes I do.”

“Then do it. I don’t care.”

“Are you calling my bluff?”

“No. Because I quit. Good bye, Bert. Its been semi-pleasant knowing you.”

I hung up. “You just quit your job?” Edward asked.

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Why not? Its been more of a hassle than its worth. This just seems to be the week for new starts. My house is gone. The boys are gone. My obligation to animators inc. is gone. Yeehaw. Isn’t that what Ted would say?”

Edward raised one eyebrow. “No.” he simply answered.

“I need to go see my house. Dolph is waiting for me. Are you coming?”

“Yes.”



Edward's POV or the NEXT CHAPTER or the INDEX