Chapter 15: Maneki Neko

Late morning in Blue Valley was starting to dry the dew on the leaves and grass. However, dark rolling clouds were coming in from the north, beckoning a chilly breeze. Bringing the first snow fall. People were out doing speedy winterizing of their yards, running to shops to buy snow gear and shovels. An SUV was parked in the lonesome lot of a local park. It was at the far end of the lot with bushes and shrub shielding it. If someone was to walk by, they'd clearly see the vehicle swaying back and forth, and hear the muffled moans.

Cori and Edward were in the backseat after going to Singh's home. She straddled him as he was slouched over the backseat. Her pants and underwear completely off but her shirt left on. His clothes intact but the zipper of his pants down, fitting the only necessary thing out for use. Cori pushed over it, bouncing on top using his shoulders for leverage. Her hand would clasp the roof of the car as her hair flew to her face, excited moans escaping. It was loud and titillating in the SUV, showing an aggressive part of Cori Edward had never seen before. It was alarming at first, then growing more alluring the more he experienced it. Knowing he was the reason for her pleasure.

In Cori's head, he was a factor, but the excitement of smashing Singh's windshield was replaying in her head. Edward's reveal of his hacking abilities to find Singh's place. She had never felt so dangerous, never felt such adrenaline. Even leaving the cul-de-sac left her wanting more. So, when she pulled over into a park that was usually empty, she didn't hesitate in snatching his collar and pulling him into the backseat. She was already sexually repressed for days, and now him being inside her now, she was in a trance. Edward was hanging on for dear life by her hips. She was fast and brunt in her thrusts, using all her strength to push him deeper. Edward would raise his own pelvis to surge it further, clasp her collar bone. She was soaking the zipper opening of his pants. Her erotic swear words, and unbridled moans just driving him harder inside her.

She wailed, "You feel so fucking good, baby!"

"You, too. Holy shit… Cori…"

"Are you gonna come?"

"Yes," he ached, "I'm coming right now."

"Right now?"

"Right now!"

He clenched up and groaned, bowing his head and clenching down on her hips. He jolted inside her a few times, then hung his head back on the seat. Cori lazily laid over him, both in heavy breath. Edward took a minute to ask, "What… the hell was that?" He asked it with an amazed smile.

Cori weakly giggled in his shoulder and sat up, "I don't even know yet. It was amazing though."

"Yeah, I'll say." Edward laughed, grasping her shoulders fondly, "I never thought you'd slash his tires. Much less smash his windshield. That was… unbelievably hot. I can't even put it in words. You're a force to be reckoned with."

"You're one to talk," giggled Cori, "You had a valuable skill this entire time and neglected to tell me. You're this secretive genius and it's so sexy. I love it."

They were driven to their lips again, passionately kissing before Cori pulled away and said, "Just… don't tell my mom about this. Okay?"

Edward irked, "That... you vandalized Singh's car or we had sex in her SUV?"

"Both," winced Cori.

Cori started to pull her leggings back up as Edward zipped up his pants. He fixed his glasses and the sweep of his hair. Releasing the tension she had been feeling for days was a cup of coffee she couldn't brew. Giving Singh a taste of his own medicine and celebrating with Edward after was exhilarating. Surprisingly, it didn't waiver her moral compass as much as she thought it would.

However, when they arrived back home, they'd come to face the first consequence. Cori came inside with a bottle of wine and could already hear her mother shouting on the phone in the kitchen. She glanced back to Edward with a disturbed glare. He shrugged and they came inside, listening to her rant and rave.

"I don't even know where you live, you towel head. If I did, I would sooner take a bat to your face than your fucking car!"

Cori walked into the kitchen setting the wine on the counter and keys, but she was stiff in her movements.

"Oh, will you now? Call them then. I'll tell them about the meds! Tell them you're a sick pervert who prays on vulnerable women in therapy then dopes them up on shit! Just so you can get paid! I know half the cops in this town, baby. I've lived here for over thirty years! Call them up and let's see who they believe. Me or the sand monkey from fucking Dubai!"

Cori asked her mom, "Is that Singh?"

"I don't give a shit if you're from North India or the fucking Ecuador. You're an asshole, either way."

"Mom!"

Yumi hissed, "Yes!"

She went back to ranting on the phone, and Cori continued, "He's threatening to call the police?"

Edward took Cori's shoulder, both exchanging a glower that was kindred.

"I told you that I didn't smash your stupid fucking Ferrari! I don't know where you live, dipshit! Pretty hard to smash a small dick energy car when I don't know where the hell it is!"

"Give me the phone, mom."

Cori reached her hand out, but her mom pulled away.

Yumi raged, "Try it! I dare ya! Make my day, you prick!"

Cori then snatched the phone quick, pulling it to her ear before her mom could react.

"Coraline!" She shrilled.

Cori snarled on the phone, "Hey asshole. I think your wife and kids would be pretty disturbed if they found out daddy was slutting around with his patients behind their back. Call the police and I won't just fuck with your license, and I'll shit on your whole life. You threaten my mom or call her again, it won't just be your car next time, you understand me? Enjoy your premium increase, dickhead."

Cori hung up the phone, handing it to her mom in dead silence. Edward was trying not to smile but couldn't help it. He bowed his head and wheezed in his throat. Yumi was a picture of pure shock. She mumbled, "Oh my God."

"Mom."

"It was you?"

Cori sighed dejectedly and looked back to Edward; his smile long gone. Cori cooed, "I'm sorry. I… I lost control."

Yumi suddenly yipped and praised, "That was fantastic, honey! Oh, God! You little badass!" Yumi tackled Cori with a tight hug, making her beam a smile.

"I thought he was just spraying that story out of his ass! You actually went and smashed his car! Haha!" Yumi erupted in an overjoyed cackle, a laugh her mother was known for. Hearing it now for Cori was elating.

Yumi then pulled away and asked, "Wait! That asshole had a wife and kids?"

"Yeah. We saw them leave as we pulled up."

Yumi irked, "Ugh! What a turd! To know I slept with him. Jesus Christ. Wait, how the hell did you find him?"

Cori looked back to Edward nervously, unsure she should say it. He admitted anyway, "I hacked the Dayside Clinic terminal for staff."

Yumi went slack jawed, "You what?! Haha! Oh, Eddie, you fuckin' cad!"

She went over to him and folded her arms around him, "You may not have a mom, honey. But you're becoming my son with every day passing!" Edward hugged her back, more warmly than he ever had with her, making her awe in his arms. When they released, she said to the both of them, "You guys really went out and did that just for me?"

Cori replied, "Of course, mom. No one gets to do that to you and get away with it."

"Look at you two! Fuckin' Bonnie and Clyde! Haha! Is it bad I'm neck-deep in pride right now?"

Edward said jokingly, "Depends on who you ask."

"I think it's best we keep this as our little secret, between the three of us. Sound good?"

Cori said to her mom, "Probably for the best." Yumi squealed happily and hugged Cori again, jumping in her arms spritely.

A vehicle was heard pulling up to the driveway. Cori panicked and ran to the window, thinking it was the police. She cursed, "I swear to God, I'm gonna go throw that tire iron through his fucking window!"

Yumi raised, "Tire iron?"

"Did he call them?" Edward asked. Cori sighed in relief to see it was Aunt Eiko and Uncle James coming by for their visit before they drove home.

"No, it's just auntie. Jesus, I almost shit myself."

Cori went to the front door to open it for Kimmy, Eiko and James. As usual, Eiko and James were nagging each other up to the door.

Eiko saw Cori first, "How's it hangin', player? Feel better?"

"Loads," smiled Cori, giving her a hug on her way in, "Needed sleep, I think."

"Awesome, awesome. Sobo and Jiji will be here soon, too. They were busy fixing the fucking television in their room when we left."

Yumi then snatched Edward's hand excitedly, "I've got a fucking killer idea! Ha!"

Eiko groaned, "Really, sis? I just got here."

James and Kimmy followed suit, Kimmy going straight for the couch with her phone once again.

James chirped as he closed the door, "Ideas? I love ideas."

Yumi explained excitedly, "Last night was absolute bullshit! We can all admit that. So, hey. Now that we're all together again, fuck it! Let's go out for dinner again. Like we used to!"

Eiko hummed, "Sorry sis. We gotta be outta here by at least five for Omaha. James has work tomorrow."

"Lunch, then! We'll go to that Chinese place in town, you know the one we used to love going to. Fortune cookies and ginger beef. Cheap ass egg rolls and the smell of stale carpet. That's family tradition, baby!"

James stretched his lips, "I could eat."

"You could always eat, James." Eiko grumbled.

"I'll call ma and pa, tell them to meet us there. Come on! Eddie and Cori gotta leave in two days. Might as well celebrate their relationship and do Thanksgiving dinner one more time!"

Eiko asked snidely, "Thanksgiving with egg rolls and chow mein?"

"That's the spirit! You're damn right!"

Eiko shrugged, "Fuck it. Better than sitting around in the house talking about bullshit."

Yumi celebrated and raised her hands, "Woo! Let's go! Let's go right now!"

Yumi fussed for her coat and got her shoes on at the door. Eiko hissed at Kimmy to get off the couch and get back in the car. She replied with a petulant groan.

Cori and Edward got a ride with Yumi, who was back to her ebullient self. Her chatting all the way to the restaurant was gracing Cori's ears. She was engaging in her chatter, laughing with her again. Simply enjoying that her mother finally chose herself.

When they got to The Lingnan, Sobo and Jiji were already there waiting at the host desk. It was a page straight from Cori's childhood as they greeted the two, found a large booth and sat down with the stained menus. It was filled in red Chinese décor, but a thing always seemed to catch her attention in the restaurant. Something at the dining table on Thanksgiving the day before. Appearing in restaurants, Chinese and Japanese. They sat just before the maneki-neko on a shelf, waving its mechanical arm close enough to hear the gears rolling. Unlike the many she'd seen; this one wasn't calico or white. It was black. Eiko, James and Kimmy arrived, sitting with the rest of them. They all began talking among themselves, leaving only her and Edward quiet. Cori and Edward sat together again, and he caught her looking up to the black maneki-neko.

"What is that?" He asked, "I saw it last night, too."

Cori flinched from the statue and replied, "Huh? Oh. The maneki-neko? I was just thinking how you always see them in Chinese stores or restaurants. But they actually originate in Japan. We always use that one you saw last night for family get togethers."

Edward nodded, taking a minute to respond, "Why?"

"They're supposed to bring good luck. Mostly to the shopkeeper or the homeowner. Even the patrons and guests. In English it's the 'beckoning cat'."

"So, it's a symbol?"

"Yeah, a figurine with a meaning, I guess. Supposedly in Tokyo in the Edo period, a priest adopted a stray cat. One day the priest sat down in the temple, the cat waved its paw to beckon him over. As he approached there was a lightning strike where he was sitting just seconds before. That's the legend of the maneki-neko. That's why you see these figurines in so many Asian homes and shops, everyone wants a bit of that luck. Superstition is big in our culture, as I'm sure you know."

Edward looked up to the cat with her, but she continued, "But I've never seen a black one before."

"No?" Edward glanced down to her, "Black cats usually mean something pretty unlucky."

"Not in Japanese culture. They mean the opposite, actually. Black cats are a symbol of good luck and fortune. If you own a black cat, it was believed you'd greater your chances of becoming rich. They're also said to ward off evil and dark energies. You know, if you believe in that kind of thing."

Edward raised further, "Do you?"

Cori smiled up to him and shrugged, "I don't know. When the world doesn't make sense, sometimes the only way to cope is to make your own sense of it."

Jiji banged a knife on his glass, "Chūi! Chūi! Attention! I just wanted to give an apology for my actions last night. You're all deeply loved in my heart, and no matter what we may do or say, that'll never change."

Eiko awed, "Awe, Pa."

"Many words were said last night, a small victory is that it was said in Japanese so at least a small portion at the table didn't understand it."

Sobo cackled as he continued, "But it is all forgotten. We are good family who honour each other as much as we honour our dead. So, I wanted to celebrate Coraline's efforts with Celeste's case. Let us hope and pray her voice is heard, and the animal is brought to justice before the judge."

Yumi raised a glass, "Here, here!"

Sobo cheered right after, "Kanpai!"

Cori, Eiko, Yumi, Sobo and Jiji raised their wine glasses, "Kanpai!"

Sobo said to Edward and James, "No! No. You two do it, too! Kanpai!"

James glanced over to Edward and shrugged, they both lifted their glasses, "Kanpai!"

They clapped for the two, celebrating loudly, the loudest booth in the restaurant. Jiji pointed at James and Edward with a proud voice, "You two in Japanese family, you cheers with us! No one left out."

Kimmy grumbled, "I would but all I got is fucking cream soda."

Eiko snapped, "You gonna talk like a trucker I'll treat you like one. Eat your egg roll."

Yumi gasped, "Oh, shit! That reminds me!" She grabbed the basket in the middle of the table with the fortune cookies, handing them around the table.

"Family tradition, guys! Family tradition."

Cori amusingly said, "It's not really a family tradition if it's what everyone does at a Chinese restaurant, mom."

"Hey, we always go around and talk about our fortunes. It's fun! I'll go first." Yumi opened up her cookie and peeled the paper out, "Don't hold onto things that require a tight grip."

Yumi smiled a little at the fortune, glancing over to Cori's grin who lazily nudged her. Cori added, "Accurate."

"Yeah, yeah. What does yours say, smart ass?"

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

Cori's fortune struck some humming and contemplation around the table. Eiko joked, "That's deep, Cori. Can you relate to that?"

"Not really," said Cori as she started to eat her cookie.

Eiko opened hers, "If you want a rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. Ain't that the fucking truth." She glared at James.

James scoffed and said, "Alright, let's see mine," as he read, he threw his head back and laughed.

Eiko nagged, "What is it?"

"Sitting in silence with you is all the noise I need."

Yumi, James and Sobo erupted into laughter, even Cori giggled as Eiko flagged him the finger.

"Let's move on to the next fortune, please!" Eiko yelled over their laughing, seldom amused as she said it.

The dinner that should have been last night, Cori looked around to the smiling faces at the table relishing every moment. Her family in their truest form, far from whatever displayed last night. She glanced up to Edward and even he was smiling at the harmless jabs around the table. She slipped her hand into his under the table, catching his attention and he squeezed her hand back. His thumb grazing against her own was a silent security among the loud chatter. When he looked down to her and smiled it was a strike of lightning every time, and in that moment, she adoringly contemplated the submerging feelings she had for him.

In the peak of enjoyment her phone rang in her pocket. Cori pulled it out to see a number she didn't recognize. She asked Edward, "Is that a Gotham number?"

Edward looked down and shook his head, "I've seen that area code, no."

She answered regardless, plugging her other ear with her finger, "Hello, this is Coraline Atkins."

Sobo shushed them all, "Cori's got a phone call!"

"Hello, this is Detective Kowaski. Um. Do you have a minute to talk?"

Cori struggled from the booth with her phone at her ear, "Uh. Yes! Yes, I do. Just let me get somewhere quiet."

She walked from the dining area to the outside of the restaurant, her heart racing as she got further away. When it was quiet enough from the dining area she said, "Hi. Uh. Sorry I'm just with family."

"Do you need me to call back?"

"No! No. If this is about Celeste's case, I'd like to know about it now."

"Well, Miss Atkins we ran the DNA found on your sister's crime scene through the database. We found a 99.5 percent match with a Dale Hewitt. He was already existing in the database due to an offence in 2012. Surprisingly in the same area, Webbler County. He's currently serving a life sentence at Cornwall Maximum Penitentiary near Coast City. We have a pretty solid case against him, and he is being charged with first degree murder, as well as aggravated sexual battery, sodomy, kidnapping, sexual assault of a child under the age of twelve, just to name a few. He's set to appear in court for his plea on the 26th at the Coast City Courthouse. There's a hope he will plea guilty, but if he pleas not guilty, it's likely you'll need to testify at trial as you were the only witness of the crime. Now do you have any questions for me regarding this information? "

Cori wasn't able to breathe, much less talk. Her entire body frozen to the spot when he uttered they found Celeste's killer. It was the only sentence in her head, replaying over and over the entirety of his relay.

"You… you found Celeste's murderer?"

"Yes, Miss Atkins. We got him. He's bang to rights, too. I told Lieutenant Gordon I'd call you myself if we made a breakthrough."

"I… I don't know what to say. I've been waiting for this day for twenty years, I figured I'd have something to say when it happened but… I don't know how to think right now."

Tears were crawling from her eyes she wasn't aware of till they wet her cheeks. She cupped her mouth and started to silently weep. Her entire life was leading up to this moment. A day she'd never forget when the white van first circled the playground. When her sister went missing. When the lights of blue and red came to their camper van that night. The hours and hours of loneliness as her parents couldn't cope. The slow decline of her father when he turned to drink in an attempt to live on. Her brick layers stacked higher and higher, all while wishing for this day. To finally reach closure. That the destruction of her family wasn't for nothing.

Detective Kowaski said, "You can digest this. I know it's a lot. I know you've probably been waiting for this day for a long time."

She thought, you're damn right about that.

"We'll see how court goes and depending on his plea, the prosecutor will likely be in touch with you from now on. I don't know who that'll be just yet, but I'm sure they'll pick the best for your sister's case. I just wanted you to know that the search is over."

Cori wept hoarsely, "I can't tell you how thankful I am for your work. What you've done for my family— for me, it's extraordinary. Thank you so much, detective. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Miss Atkins. Stay safe and good luck with the case."

The phone hung up and she squished the top of it into her nose, squinting her eyes to the intense bout of relief. Tears spilled down the case of her phone, going over her lips and chin. She gasped for air finally taking in late November's cold. Her thoughts were swarming in the possibilities of the trial. The horror of having to relive Celeste's suffering. Fear was battling with her pride. Doubt that took her back to a mindset as a child. When she was afraid she wanted her dad. Cori scrolled through he messages to his once again. She saw his last message again, "I will always love you."

Without a second thought or hesitation she called him. The cold air chilled her bones outside, but she was already freezing to the shock. The phone rang, going on for moments displaying the signs of a hopeless endeavour. Then it clicked, his breath fuzzed on the other end.

He said it lowly— defeatedly, "Hi sweetie."

Hearing his voice was sanctuary for the first time in a long time. Just as it was when she still clutched her elephant stuffy, "Hi dad."

"I wanted to tell you that I was sorry for the diner. I know I wasn't… I wasn't listening. So many times, I didn't listen to you, and you needed me to."

"We can talk about that later, dad. I need to tell you something first, okay?"

"Okay. What is it?"

Cori snuffled and huffed, her voice squeaked, "They got him, dad."

He was silent on the other end. He barely whispered it, "What?"

"They got him. Celeste's killer, they got him. They got him, daddy."

He was quiet aside from the occasional shuffle of the phone mic. Then he started to breath heavy into it, following a short but sharp rasp. Cori's face winced in more tears when she heard him sniffle on the phone. She hadn't heard him cry in decades. Now he was on the phone with only her. Showing a side of him she always longed for, kindred earth-shattering rejoice they both had been waiting for. He too was without words, realistic and well-mannered to the news. A breath of fresh air from the exuberance of her mother. Somehow in the silent exchange of crying over a cellphone, she had forgiven him for everything.

He took time to speak, struggling to at first, then he managed the words, "You did it, baby. We did it."

The grip on her chest and throat pulled as she convulsed to sobs quietly, bowing her head to the pavement. He whimpered, "I'm so proud of you, Cori. You did it for her. For Cece. She's so proud of you, too. She's not screaming anymore, honey. She's gonna sing. We're all gonna hear it now."

Cori quavered, her voice breaking, "A new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

He weakly chuckled and rasped, "That's right, honey. This is our new beginning. I wasn't a good father to you, Bug. I could hear you screaming for me. I knew you needed me. It was the greatest regret of my life not knowing, not cherishing I still had you. Not making you my whole world after Cece. I can't take back the pain I have caused you. But I won't deny that I did."

"Dad…"

"I saw you in the diner that day. I didn't see you before. I saw the hurt and anger and I had to accept it was because of me. Sure, you always had your mom but… you needed your dad, too. I lost myself not knowing I was losing you. Not until it was too late. That day was the consequence. The true knowing of what I've done. I'm not ignoring you anymore. I'll never ignore you again."

Cori's eyes were stressed from the tears, every muscle in her face tensed as her knees would start to buckle. She mumbled, "I love you, daddy."

His voice broke as a large breath of relief flooded the phone, "I love you, too, Cori. I love you so much."

Inside the restaurant, Edward was beginning to get concerned with how long Cori was taking outside. He moved from the booth leaving the inflated laughter and jesting of Cori's family behind. He walked from the restaurant to find her. When he got outside, he looked both ways and saw her against the siding of the restaurant, her black hair dangling down over her face as she cradled the phone to her ear. Her shoulders would bob and her rasps for air were obviously telling she was upset.

Edward crooned as he walked up to her, "Cori?"

She looked up to him with swollen and glossy eyes, saying to her father in a croak, "I gotta go, dad."

Edward was taken back to hear the goodbye, and he asked, "Was that your dad? Is that why you're crying?"

Cori shook her head, "No." Her voice weak like a whisper.

He brought his hand to her cheek and brushed the tears, "What's wrong?"

His green eyes behind his lenses echoing in concern. Even his own lip shook at seeing her. But then she smiled, choking a short laugh, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

He didn't believe it, "Cori."

"They found him," her lip shook, "They found Celeste's murderer. They have a… 99.5 percent DNA match. They said they have him down to rights. They got him. We got him. It's over."

Edward breathed a smile that didn't last long, as Cori was still distraught. He muttered in a voice he only used in their most tender moments, "Then why are you crying?"

"Because it's over. The search is finally over," she started to mewl in words that fuelled sobbing, "And the brick layers are crumbling down… and I'm scared, Edward. I'm so fucking scared of victory. Like the summit of this mountain is crushing my lungs and I can't breathe."

Edward took her shoulders then, and she collided into him with force. She started to sob into his coat, clutching onto the fabric as if she too was dangling from a cliff. A matter of shock and relief. Immense, incomprehensible relief. Where silence in success couldn't be enough. A purpose in life that was always indulged but never reached. Now it was in the palm of her hands, staring up at her waiting for her to be grateful. Yet all she could manage was fear. Oceans of comfort came from his embrace, despite how worried he was. How terribly he wanted her not to cry. She knew she needed to. Every tear and suppression of her pain in the years after Celeste's death was being released in his arms. A safe host for her to hold onto as the wave came crashing down. Edward's body was now the blue, floppy eared pillow of wool as every year from five years old caught up to her. His arms folded her in tighter, as if only he could take her into himself, she'd soothe. Still, she wept, and he stayed patient, compliant and soft. Almost inanimate in the obedience of comfort. The same consolation of Mr. Trunks.