As I walked down the stairs, I couldn't help but feel almost sick to my stomach and at the same time I felt really hollow. I had no idea why. Maybe seeing Wade with a female shook me up a little, through the duration that I knew Wade he had never had a girlfriend. It had really shaken me. I wasn't the greatest advocate for change, I hated it. But the other thing that was on my mind was how EJ had kissed me last night. I wasn't able to get the image out of my head, it was perfect and he was perfect. Although now I wasn't sure how to act around him now that that happened, it would be kind of awkward. Luckily I wasn't going to see him till later, this morning I wanted to see Jaclyn and try to get some more out of her. I learned that I needed to be a lot kinder to her, if I wanted to get more information out. While walking toward her diner, hoping that she was working I noticed on the front page of the paper that another murder had taken place, it was our serial killer. Her name was Brianna Multon. I feared that maybe Jaclyn was going to be next.
...
Jessica had finished her breakfast and sipped on her tea as Wade walked back in smelling soapy fresh. "Can't wait to dig into this" he said licking his lips.
She smiled at him as he chowed down on the food. "Ashleigh was here."
He stopped suddenly, "What?"
"She wanted to see you but then she left, feeling much more affectionate toward you" she said grinning.
Wade was confused, "More affectionate toward me? I don't understand."
"I told her that you and I were together and that frankly made her jealous, I could see it all over her."
Wade beamed, "She was jealous?"
She nodded confidently, "I know women, we never know what we have until it's gone from us. Now she's going to come for you, trust me."
"Thank you" he said, "...for that. I haven't really handled this Ashleigh situation right, but you've really helped me."
Jessica kissed his cheek, "Wade, you're a really great guy and I just hope that you're with someone who realises how amazing you are."
Wade smiled at her and then continued eating. She stared at him wearily and then finished her tea, "I'm just going to go buy some things and I'll be back soon. Have a good sleep." She grabbed her hand bag and walked toward the door.
"See you later then" said Wade.
She closed the door behind him and sighed, her back leaning against the door. As she got outside she flipped through her handbag for a lighter and then pulled out a packet on cigarettes. She picked one out from the packet, placed it in her mouth, she lit it up and took a puff, slowly exhaling. This feeling of calm left her body as she blew out the smoke from her mouth.
"A beautiful woman like you shouldn't be smoking" said a voice only too familiar to her. Jessica glanced up and fright covered her face. Yet there was nothing but love coming from him, "Hello Jessica."
"EJ..." she softly muttered. She looked around at the people surrounding them hoping to find some way to make an exit. But EJ cornered her toward the steps and there was nowhere for an exit.
...
I rushed toward the diner and saw Jaclyn serving a customer, I hurried toward but she was not pleased to see me. "Jaclyn, Jaclyn- I need you to talk with me urgently."
Jaclyn rolled her eyes and sighed with angst, "Just please leave me alone."
I stood closer to her, whispering in her ear. "Brianna Multon was murdered some hours ago and... I'm afraid you might be next." Jaclyn became overcome with fear, she began breathing quickly and her eyes were watery. I pulled her outside, "Relax for a moment, I'll take care of everything."
She nodded quickly and I left her to go see her supervisor, he was this hefty, middle aged man who looked to be of Hispanic decent. I pulled out my identification card and placed it in his face, "Hello sir, my name is Ashleigh Copeland, I'm a part of the New York crime investigators and you'll have to excuse Jaclyn from working, we just need her for some questions."
The man was very worried, "Is she alright? Is she in danger?"
"I assure you, she'll be fine" I said, "It would also be of help if you didn't speak of this to anyone."
The man agreed, "Absolutely, I'll just tell everyone she fell ill."
I smiled at him and then returned back to Jaclyn who was still in a panicked state. She was shaking and her tears streamed down her face, "I knew it! I knew that was why you were here... I saw the patterns in the murders too."
"Look, please don't panic. I'll be completely honest with you and I know I wasn't the most understanding person, but I really want to help you and stop this killer" I said, "Can we maybe go to my apartment and have a proper talk."
Jaclyn stared at me and then lowered her head, nodding it slowly. I placed my hand to her back and guided her.
...
Jessica was pleading in her head for someone or something to happen so she could just disappear but then she felt the hands of her husband touch the skin and all her hate toward him vanished, just like that.
"I know that I was the one who taught you how to smoke all those years ago, just when we were young teenagers" said EJ as he grazed his fingers against her cheek lovingly. He pulled a thick, long cigar from his jacket pocket and placed it in his mouth, "Could I get a light please?"
The look on her face was expressionless as she pulled the lighter from her pocket and lit his cigar. She really just wanted him to leave. EJ grinned as he exhaled the cigar smoke. "That's a nice cigar!"
"I really have to be going..." she spoke as she walked a few steps away from him.
But EJ cornered her, she felt her back pressed against the wall of the building, with EJ's arms pressed on either side of her body. "What's the deal between you and my brother? Is he trying to make me out as some villain and try to be a hero in all of this, because he has it completely wrong?" She stared at the floor whenever he spoke to her; she could feel his brown eyes darting at her.
"Jessica... Why are you looking at me like a stranger? I'm still your loving husband, who is still madly in love with you. Nothing has changed, you can't keep running away from me forever" said EJ, "You will come back home with me, I'll make sure of it." His face came closer to hers and his lips glided from her cheek and then toward her jaw. He hovered his lips above hers, almost about to kiss her but then moved aside so she could leave. Jessica was breathless as she hurried away from him; EJ watched her walk away feeling defeated but this smile returned on his face as he saw me approach him with a new woman standing walking alongside of me. He tightened his tie and placed one hand through his hair as he walked toward me and Jaclyn.
Suddenly the moments where EJ had kissed me, flooded through my mind. "EJ? What are you doing here?" I asked him. He looked a little shaken, almost like he was upset. "Is everything alright?"
He looked at me weirdly, "I'm fine." Throwing away whatever he was upset about, "Who's this?" His eyes moved toward a nervous Jaclyn.
She glanced up at the intimidating EJ, "I'm Jaclyn...Ashleigh told me that you're going to help me and ...Sheamus."
EJ sighed as he placed a hand on her shoulder, "I do want to make sure that you're safe but I can't promise you about Sheamus, all I can promise is that he won't be held responsible for this."
She nodded, her lips trembling. I wrapped an arm behind here, "Come on inside, you'll be safe." She came in quietly and EJ followed behind us. Once inside, Jaclyn made herself comfortable on the couch. "Just relax, I'll get you a drink" I said as I left to go toward the kitchen.
EJ paced behind me, "Could I get a cup? I'm parched." I glared at him but he had this cute grin on his face that I couldn't say no.
"Sure."
"Ashleigh, I think we need to talk about what happened last night, later maybe?" he said before he gave me a wink and then went back to check on Jaclyn, he still looked at me waiting for an answer.
I turned on the kettle and nodded to him. He smiled and then sat down with Jaclyn. I thought I would be much more excited, here was this man that I had been intensely crushing on want to maybe further our relationship yet weirdly, all I could think about was Wade.