Life was slowly passing. Joe Cruz stood in his kitchen staring at the many meals that community members and friends around him had prepared. He hadn't seen Chad in three days. The only indication he was still around was the occasional thump of something falling to the ground. Someone knocked on the front door, and Cruz opened it. He blinked at Casey and let him in. The dogs didn't even bother getting up. It was almost like they knew something was wrong. "Have you heard anything from Antonio?"
"No. I assume you know what the police are saying about her death?"
"Yeah. That it was murder, that someone lured her over there. Why would anyone do that? Who is that sick and twisted?" Cruz had to stop himself from getting too worked up.
"I don't know. But he will pay for what he's done when we find him." Casey saw the kitchen behind Cruz. "Wow."
"Yeah. There's too much. Take some if you want to. We won't eat it all." Cruz looked up toward the upper level.
"Have you seen him at all?"
"I haven't seen him in three days. He'll eat when he thinks I'm asleep."
Casey looked slightly taken aback. "Have you been sleeping?"
"Honestly, not as much as I should. I can't help but think about how this crazy murderer is still running around."
Casey shook his head in agreement. "I know they will catch the guy. But you can't let yourself go. You have two kids to care for."
"I know. Where the Hell is Jonathan?"
"I've called him eight times. He won't answer. I have left him messages, so I hope he'll show up."
"Chad is right, you know." Casey looked at Joe in confusion. "I did promise him, and I failed him. I failed her too, and I have to live with it until I die."
"You didn't fail. No one failed."
Later that week, Cruz was walking the dogs when his phone started ringing. "Hello?"
"Cruz, it's Antonio. I need you to get down to the station right now." He hung up and went home.
"Thanks for watching Lily." The old woman smiled at him and nodded. He headed to his car and drove to the station. He approached the front desk. "I'm here to see Detective Antonio Dawson. My names Joe Cruz."
"Right. Come with me." He followed the less-than-happy desk sergeant to the room that Antonio was in.
"We've got the guy who started the fire."
"Who is it?"
"It's Leon."
His heart stopped again as he sat and tried to digest the news. "Are you sure?"
"He admitted it on tape. He caught the buildings on fire and called out when he didn't need help." It was quiet while Joe stood thinking.
"Can I talk to him?"
The detective looked reluctant. "Fine. He doesn't know who he's killed. I'll let you tell him." He followed Antonio to a room with a table. Leon was handcuffed to the metal table as Joe walked in. "I'll be outside. Don't try anything, Joe."
"Hey, Joe. I don't know what them cops were talking about. I didn't kill no one, especially a fireman."
"Are you positive you didn't lure a firefighter to you and then run when a wall fell on them?"
"Yeah. I think I'd remember that."
"Stop this stupid game. I was at the fire. That firefighter was my wife, and because of you, she got impaled by the wall framing."
Leon's jaw dropped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. How was I supposed to know it was your wife?"
"It doesn't matter. You shouldn't have done it anyway! I told you to get out, and I gave you the chance. But you ignored it, and now you've murdered seven people."
"You havta believe-"
"She had two kids, and they'll never see their mother again. My daughter won't even remember her mother." Leon didn't say anything as he looked nervously around the room. "I'm done. Have fun getting what you deserve." Joe threw open the door and stormed out of the precinct.
Then his cell phone rang again. "Hello?"
"Hello, . This is . It seems your stepson has gotten into a fight with another student. I would like to discuss this with you further if we could."
"Yeah. Um, yeah, I'll be there in like 15 minutes. Thanks." He hung up his phone and put a hand on his head. "Dammit!" He walked to his car and quickly drove to the middle school. He was shown to the principal's office at once. Sitting in one of the chairs was Chad. He was looking at his feet, his hair hiding his face.
"Thank you for coming so quickly, ."
"Yeah, no problem."
"As far as we can tell, Chad and another student were walking to their next class when he said something that upset Chad. Then Chad punched him in the face and tackled him to the ground. The other student was sent home with a bloody nose and black eye."
Joe's jaw dropped, and he looked at Chad. He didn't even flinch. "I... I don't even know what to say."
"Since there have been some traumatic experiences recently-"
"You mean my mom getting murdered." Joe shook his head.
"...we won't be putting this altercation in his file. The family of the other student agreed not to press charges. But, , if this does happen again, we have no choice. He will be suspended for five days."
"Yeah, of course. Thanks for telling me about this. He can go home, right?"
"Yes." Joe stood up and shook 's hand. "Good day." Joe left with Chad in tow. The ride home was silent. Chad didn't say anything as Joe thanked the neighbor for watching Lily.
"What the hell Chad? What were you thinking?"
"He was being a jerk! He said if mom had stayed home and in the kitchen, like every woman should, she wouldn't be dead!"
"And you actually listened to him?"
"It just got to me, okay! I don't know. It's no big deal."
"Yes, it is. You can't do stuff like that!"
"So? You don't have to take care of it! You're not my dad!"
"You're right; I don't have to deal with it. But I do. Instead of shipping you off to the system, I keep you here with your sister and me. I know I'm not your dad, but where is he? Matt and I have been calling him since she died, and he hasn't answered his phone. So looks like I'm the only one you got now, bud!" Chad threw his bag on the floor and ran up the stairs. The door slamming woke up Lily. She started crying, and Joe sighed. He went to the nursery and picked her up. As he was quieting her down, he pulled out his phone.
"Herrmann here."
"Hey. It's Joe Cruz."
"Oh hey, buddy. How are things?"
"Things are falling apart with Chad, and I don't know what to do. They don't have a book on how to deal with emotionally crushed teenagers, do they?"
"Not that I know of. What did he do?"
"He punched and tackled another student after they said Cyra should've been like every woman and stayed in the kitchen."
"Hey, if I were there, I would beat the crap out of him myself."
Cruz smiled. "That's what I was thinking. But I don't know what to do. I am struggling to handle Chad. I don't know how to help him."
"I think you need to deal with her death first. It's a hard thing to do, and you are a new parent. You can't balance it. I think you need a few days to yourself. How about I come and care for Chad and Lily while you see a counselor or something?"
Cruz paused for a moment. He didn't want to leave his kids right now. It had only been a week. After the funeral, Chad disappeared, and Cruz just wanted to help him. But Herrmann was right. He had to take care of himself in order to help the kids. "If you don't mind, that would be great."
"No problem. Just call me later."
Herrmann stayed at the Cruz home while Joe went to talk to some people. "So why have you come to me?"
Cruz situated himself on the couch and looked at the grief counselor. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know how I'm supposed to handle her son. How am I supposed to help them when I don't feel anything right now? I don't feel angry at my brother for killing her. I don't feel sad anymore about her death. I don't feel scared now that I'm alone. I don't feel human anymore, and I don't like what that does to me."