Undying Rage Nightclub

  2:05 a.m.

  Rachel serves Detective Mackey his last orange juice of the night with another energetic wink.

  "Drink up, Detective. I hate to run you out of here...But we're officially closed. I'll be back tonight. I work most nights. Gets me away from the boyfriend. Well...Sort of."

  "If you dislike him so much...Why don't you just leave him altogether? There must be some redeemable quality about the guy?" Mackey says with a coy grin.

  Mackey's grin fades when an emotional shadow seems to pass over Rachel's expression. The young woman averts her gaze and peers at the Jimmy Stewart racing clock behind her on the wall. When she looks at James again, her eyes are moist and her voice quakes.

  "Like I said, I've gotta start shutting this place down. I really wish I could've been more help. But, that Jim Mackey guy really only came in here to drink and feel up on all the tipsy young women. At first glance, he does resemble you quite a bit. But, knowing you now...I could tell the difference if I saw him again. I doubt I will. Who would be that stupid, eh? Especially, with a high profile murder investigation underway? Come back tomorrow...If you need to talk, Detective Mackey. I'll scout around. I may have some information for you."

  "No. Absolutely not!" James exclaims. "I don't want you doing anything that might put you in harm's way. There are already too many faces of innocent dead women floating around in my brain. I don't need just one more."

  James reaches into his suit jacket pocket and pulls out a thin card. He takes Rachel's right hand and places the card inside of it, cupping her hands with his own.

  "If you need anything, Rachel. Anything at all...You can always reach me at this number. Well, assuming I'm not cooling my heels in jail. Ha."

  "I hope it doesn't come to that," Rachel replies, placing her other hand over the detective's. "I really appreciate the offer. And the same goes for me, James. I'll help you in any way I can."

  "Thank you, Rachel. It makes my heart happy to hear you say that. Not too many people seem to have faith in me these days. Remember, you can call me any time. Except...maybe at night. I've got a newborn. He might get grumpy if you wake him up from his nap. And my wife will kill me. No. Not Madison. She's too sweet. Ha."

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Rachel manages a small laugh of her own as they both separate their hands from each other. Staring at Detective Mackey's face, Rachel feels the first pangs of something akin to regret. Why are the truly good men always taken? Maybe it's like the saying goes: 'Good in; good out.'

  Miss Josephine Peters hadn't quite finished sowing her wild oats when fate finally struck. Josephine had attempted to straighten out her life. Only to fall back into the same old routine of drugs and extra special late nights. The wandering soul, formerly known as their mother, had left behind two very confused and vulnerable girls. The Aquarius Killer had claimed Karine. Will Ned be the one to claim her life? Is it the least she deserves--for staying with Ned for this long? Maybe.

  "Sure, Detective Mackey. I'll try to remember all of that. I'll put your number in my phone as soon as I get off work. I promise."

  "Good. It was nice meeting you, Rachel. I'm sure Karine was a nice woman as well."

  "She was. Before Maldova and Stefan. She was beautiful...Even before the surgeries. She had our mother's nose. Eduardo told her it looked lopsided. So, she had it fixed. Along with plenty of other things. Now, all I have are pictures of the way they both used to be. Sometimes, I really hate life."

  "Yeah. I hear ya. Well...Bye, Rach," Mackey says in a reassuring tone.

  Rachel's expression brightens a little at the use of her common nickname. She offers Detective James Mackey a pleasant smile.

  "Goodnight, Detective Mackey."

  -

  -

  Mueller Mobile Home Park

  Mackey Residence

  James enters the front door and peels off his suit jacket. He hangs the jacket beside his trenchcoat on the nearby rack. Madison enters the living room, rubbing sleep out of her eyes. She yawns as she crosses to where James stands.

  "So? Any new information?" Madison inquires.

  "A lot actually. More than I expected to find," Mackey answers. "This case is getting weirder by the day. I'm seeing new angles I never even considered. Whoever killed Evelyn...Her execution...Because that's what it was...Was more than a little personal. I can feel it. I met the sister of one of Aquarius' victims tonight. Rachel Corbin...Karine Peters' younger sister. She works at the Undying Rage. Rachel was roommates with Evelyn for two semesters, while attending community college almost halfway across the country. I'm not liking all of the strange little coincidences I'm seeing. Almost too coincidental. Like they're not coincidences at all. There's a connection here. And in time, I'm gonna figure out what it is. I just hope I can figure it all out before O'Leary stretches me out for the media vultures to pick clean."

  "Nuh-uh-uh," Madison chides James in a sultry voice, rubbing her nose against his chin and nestling into his arms. "It's like you always tell me, Detective. Patience."

  "I know. I'm sorry, Hon," James says, kissing Madison tenderly. "I forgot."

  "That's why I'm here to remind you," Madison exclaims with a beaming smile.