I opened my eyes, heart skipping with hope. “Are there any cameras set up along the dock?”
“Just one,” Vanessa replied before my uncle could. “At the entrance gate. Rogerson is reviewing the footage at the front office now, looking for anyone wearing a Chinese opera mask.”
“The killer took off his mask before he left. Probably to blend in.” I stood with difficulty. My foot had fallen asleep during my trance. I impatiently shook it out to the side. “The camera could’ve gotten a glimpse of his face as he was walking out. We could also send divers into the marina to look for the mask.”
My uncle grinned. “Good work, Charlie.”
◆◆◆
We weren’t able to recover the mask. The camera had managed to capture a grainy profile shot of the killer that wouldn’t do us much good, but Uncle Vic acted like this was the big break he’d been waiting for. He was sure they could run facial recognition software back at the precinct and at least come up with a partial match. Then they’d have a new suspect to go after. He and Vanessa talked about it at length on the drive home, comparing the methods of this murderer to other serial killers they’d come across in the past.
Their excitement and subtle chemistry was enough to make me nauseous. I tuned them out after a while. Thought about Esmer instead. We couldn’t call ourselves just friends after that kiss. It wasn’t a one-time thing. At least, I hoped it wasn’t. I couldn’t describe how good it felt to hold her, how exhilarating and freeing it was to find a new method of communication, one that was so superior to words.
Were we a couple then? Maybe. Esmer was progressive enough that she might not want to put a label on it. Which was fine by me. It was like she said; so long as we were in each other’s lives—and I could kiss her whenever I wanted—I’d be happy. Still, I felt like I should make her something to commemorate this…whatever it was. She seemed to like the earring I made her. Maybe I could craft another piece of jewelry for her?
I drummed my fingers against my knee and watched the city streak past the window. No. It had to be something different, something special. What would she like? What materials did I have on hand?
That was a better question. I usually figured out what I wanted to make when I had all my tools and materials laid out before me. I could piece them together in my mind’s eye, see the finished product, decide if it would be worth my time. It usually was.
When we walked into the precinct, I saw a woman sitting in the waiting room. This lady was young, maybe in her late twenties or early thirties. Tawny brown skin. Long, wavy black hair tied back. Thick eyebrows. Mahogany eyes. She dressed like a typical hiker with a black waterproof jacket, army green cargo pants, and hiking boots. The man sitting next to her must’ve been her partner. He too was foreign-looking, sporting a khaki vest jacket and jeans.
I knew I hadn’t but, for some reason, I felt like I’d seen them before. More than that, I was overcome with a strange calm, the kind of relaxation I could only associate with a chill evening with my family. Which didn’t make any sense. These were strangers; I’d never been comfortable around strangers. What was even weirder? The woman gawked at me, brow crinkled with emotion, eyes swimming with tears, like I was her prodigal son returned or something. The man sat up and squinted at me, head cocked to the side like he couldn’t see me clearly.
I hurried to catch up with Uncle Victor and Vanessa, craving protection for the first time in a long time. Before we could get to the tech department, one of the officers we passed stopped my uncle and his sort-of partner.
“Detective,” the man said. “A pair of cops from Tacoma just dropped off those suspects you were looking for. They couldn’t find you so I accepted the paperwork on your behalf.” He handed a folder to Uncle Vic.
“No way.” Vanessa craned her neck to get a look at the waiting room while my uncle perused the file. “Where were they? Did they give you any trouble?”
“Cops found them hiking near Mount Rainier,” he said, making my heart constrict. “They cooperated. Haven’t spoken much since they were dropped off.”
My uncle grinned. “This day just keeps getting better and better.” He closed the folder and tapped the officer on the arm with it. “Thanks, Nguyen.”
“No problem.” With a respectful nod in my direction, Officer Nguyen left.
Vanessa swung around to face Uncle Victor, eyes alight with anticipation. “What’s our battle plan, partner?”
Before he could reply, the elevator door opened at the end of the aisle between cubicles. Jasmine stepped out. She floated toward us with a funny look on her face, as if she’d encountered an odor she’d never smelled before and wasn’t sure she liked yet.
Without even glancing at our uncle or Vanessa, she stopped in front of me and said, “Tell me you can feel that too.”
“What’re you talking about?” I asked, afraid of the answer.
Our uncle placed his free hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right, Jazz?”
“It’s this powerful, intangible thing.” My sister frowned down at her toes and snapped her fingers several times while she tried to come up with the right words. “It’s…uh…like…when…” Her head snapped up. “When Mom used to tuck us into bed at night.”
Uncle Victor and Vanessa shared confused looks. I just kept staring at my sister, waiting for her to elaborate.
Jasmine let out
