Chapter 11: When all is put away

Vincent and JT decided to go to the police station right away. Vincent's stomach felt weird the whole way there. He felt strange knowing he would be around Evan again. It was so much easier to not know him, to not know what he looked like to just be some evil no faced person in his mind. Now he was all too real and from the looks of things he was actually a good guy. Vincent rather think of him bitterly it helped him get by, but for the sake of Roxanne, he would put it aside.

Evan had just got back to his desk when the front desk assistant rang his phone telling him someone was here to see him. After spending hours at the crime scene he wanted just a second to breathe. This case was stressing him out to the max not to mention his unexpected run-in with Vincent. He didn't exactly expect to see him and then out of nowhere there, he was with JT.

Vincent and JT were acting so strange before they left and he was hoping they didn't do anything stupid.

Evan gets up and walked to the front lobby to his surprise there are Vincent and JT. Lord am I being punished? He questioned in his mind as he made his way over to them.

"what can I do for you?"

"We need to talk we may have a lead and be able to help you find the murderer," JT says.

"Right this way," Evan says leading them to his office.

Vincent and JT took seats in front of Evan's desk. They were ready to just lay out all their findings and get this awkward meeting over with.

"So while at the crime scene Vincent was able to trace a scent from the guy based on chemicals I use"

Evan's eyebrow furrowed.

"I am a biochemist" JT states

"And this smell? why wasn't anyone else able to smell it we had a whole team of investigators around they never found a scent or chemical?"

"that is because Vincent is unique he sees and notices things other people cant"

Evan was confused "how is that?"

He glanced over at Vincent.

"I can't explain that right now he just can, and enough of that. We need your help to be able to get a warrant to search the logbook to find out who has been using this chemical"

"wait didn't I tell you guys we would handle it this is police business"

"Yes, you said that but we don't care we found something valuable, and your wasting time. Dude, the guy could be planning his next attack and you guys don't even have a lead. we do so just let us help" JT says.

Evan sighed. "first of all what is the chemical?" he took out a notepad to take some notes.

Vincent who hadn't said a word since he sat down had been staring at a picture of Catherine that Evan had on the shelf on the back of his desk. She looked great too, she had a white sundress and sitting on a swing with a then baby VJ on her lap. They both had smiles on their faces. It was beautiful he couldn't take his eyes away.

"Vincent, you OK?" JT asked noticing how quiet he was.

Vincent finally popped out of his trance to answer.

"I am fine," he said making eye contact with Evan who appeared worried too.

"Look guys I don't have any evidence of this chemical only your word. By law that is not enough evidence for me to issue a search warrant"

"What!? That is stupid we told you what we know, use it! Go to the place that the chemicals are made and you will see. All you need is their logbook to narrow it down. I am sure the list is small there isn't a shit load of biochemist in the city"

"I get that JT but this is the law, I am a cop I have to do this the legal way. There is no evidence of the chemical therefore there is no probable cause to issue a search warrant to get evidence from that lab. I am sorry but my hands are tied"

JT sighed in frustration

"what if we go" Vincent finally spoke.

"We can tell them JT and I are private investigators and need that logbook"

Evan thought about it, that could work. He was tired of getting dead ends with this case and JT and Vincent have the first clue to something big in months.

"Fine, you got to keep this hush. Off the books, I am not even supposed to let you know any details about this case. But since you guys might be on to something I will allow you to help me. But you have to listen to me I don't want you guys getting hurt or it's my ass on the line."

JT and Vincent both nodded.

"Fine now can we go already," JT says.

All of them got up from their seats and as soon as Evan opened his office door there was Catherine. She was just about to knock on Evan's office door. She was in shock seeing her Ex and her husband together. She hadn't had the chance to introduce them to each other and yet here they are.

"Vincent what are you doing here?" she scanned all three of their faces to get a read on what is going on.

"Its official police business," Evan tells her "what are you doing here?"

"We are supposed to be having lunch today remember"

"Oh, yea" Evan looked over at Vincent and JT "you guys down to have lunch before we head to this lab across town?"

"Umm sure," JT says looking over at Vincent whose face screamed hell no.

Vincent wasn't sure he wanted to see Catherine with Evan. Having to sit near them as husband and wife he kind of dreaded it.

Catherine was kind of excited JT and Vincent were coming to lunch with them it would give them a chance to talk, for everyone to get to know each other a little better.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Vincent asked JT as they followed Catherine and Evan's car down the street to a nearby burger place.

"Probably not, but you guys had to meet eventually why not get it over with now"

Vincent sighed he just rather avoid the whole thing. To be blind and not know anything about their relationship but because Catherine wanted him in her life this was just something he would have to face.

Vincent and JT sat side by side in a booth across from Evan and Catherine. Catherine looked nervous everyone was quiet so the situation was awkward.

"So is there something wrong? Did something happen? Why did u guys need to see Evan?" Catherine asked to break the awkwardness.

"The newest victim was Vincent's therapist he just came down to help with the case," Evan says

"Oh ok," she said sadly "Sorry for your loss Vincent"

They made eye contact and Vincent was the first to look away.

"So how did you guys meet?" Vincent asked he doesn't know why he asked but he did, curiosity suddenly sparked an interest.

"We met at the hospital, I was visiting you and Evan's grandmother was sick. We always seem to run into each other" Catherine smiled awkwardly.

"Hospitals are a nice place to meet singles," Vincent said sarcastically

JT said nothing he watched the exchange in amusement. He would never want to be in the middle of this kind of drama.

"I'll be right back," Vincent says excusing himself from the table.

Vincent walked into the restroom and turned on the faucet he cupped his hand under the water and splashed it over his face he felt hot and needed to cool down. hearing that Catherine and Evan met because of him enraged him. That damn accident such a life ruiner. In the blink of an eye he lost it all, and it open doors for everyone to move on but him.

Vincent took a few deep breaths feeling himself calming down. He thought about Catherine and the way she looked at him. He caught a glimpse of sadness in her eyes he would give anything just have one whole day with her and VJ, to get to know her all over again. To be able to hold her tight and make everything all right. To hear VJ call him dad to have the family he always dreamed about. To know what it feels like the have son who loves you and thinks of you as his hero. He wished he could have VJ and Catherine all to himself.

Vincent shook off his wishful thinking and made his way back to the table.

Their waiter walked over to the table after Vincent got up they all ordered their food, Catherine got a soup and sandwich, while JT got a chicken sandwich and fries. Evan ordered a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Vincent got back from the restroom just in time for his order. He unknowingly ordered the same thing Evan did only Vincent got a Pepsi instead of a coke.

JT looked over at him in shock.

"What?" Vincent asked looking over at JT. JT shook his head, nothing. Catherine smiled she noticed as well but she already knew Evan and Vincent had similar tastes. Maybe that was the reason he liked Evan so much in some ways he reminded her of Vincent. Evan and Vincent were both different yet they were the same in so many ways.

They made small talk until their food arrived they all were hungry and devoured their food, especially Vincent he never got the chance to finish his breakfast this morning.

"So vincent I hear you're a big hockey fan?" Evan says.

"yeah I was on a team, been a fan for as long as I can remember"

"Yeah my son plays hockey too," Evan says in the middle of stuffing a fry in his mouth. He looked over at vincent realized what he said, my son. "All of ours son," he said referring to Vincent and Catherine.

Vincent was surprised he didn't expect Evan to be so nice to him. He was his wife's ex this situation was complicated but he did appear to be trying so maybe he is not as bad as he wanted to believe.

"Vincent maybe one day you can come to one of VJ's games," Catherine says.

"Sure I would love to see him play" Vincent smiled at her. They again made eye contact and it lingered longer than it had before but again they both looked away when JT and Evan noticed.

Vincent and Catherine often spoke to each other with their eyes. They could always seem to tell what the other was thinking and feeling just by looking at each other. Their connection was unlike anything anyone could ever imagine, and even after all this time it was still there. Longing to reconnect.

"He is in the beginners class, so he just getting the hang of skating around chasing after a puck with a hockey stick" Catherine smirked.

Vincent smirked too, after seeing VJ he imagined his short self skating around having hardly any control because he was so new. If VJ were anything like Vincent he would get the hang of it fast.

JT was over the small talk he was full and ready to get the bad guy already. As soon as the waiter brought back their card to pay for their meals he jumped up ready to go "Well since we are done maybe we should get going we do have a killer to catch"

Vincent and JT headed to the car while Evan walked Catherine to his car which she was going to drive back to the precinct for him so he could ride with Vincent and JT. Vincent watched as Evan and Cat kissed each other goodbye he felt a hint of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. He wondered could he ever get used to seeing her with another man.

"Well that wasn't awkward at all," JT said sarcastically.

Vincent chuckled "It actually went a lot better then I thought it would, even though yes it was slightly awkward"

Evan climbed into the backseat of JT's car and they were off to the lab.

AuthorsNote: Hey reader sorry for the loooonnggg wait I kind of lost my mojo for writing and have been trying to get it back. I've had this chapter for months and have been working on and off on it for so long. A Clear indicator my mojo is gone..lol But this story has NEVER left my mind I think about it all the time and all the many scenarios I can go with. But for now, I guess am back. Try not to hold it against me if I take several months to write again..smh. I feel like writing at the moment so who knows I may have another chapter in a few days or weeks. Hope you are safe and have a Happy New Year!