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He doesn’t answer me, but I guess he agrees with me. These barriers are necessary, especially knowing that we’ll have to work together.
So, after endless seconds, Tucker steps back and releases me. “Okay.” He walks away, but just before he turns the corner, he gives me one last look. “If you can fake it, then so can I,” he adds.
And he disappears from my sight.
19. Unknown Territory
Iris
It’s time for me to suck it up and do what I said I’d do. I grab the file on the Mikael Larey case that Mrs. Richards gave us and start to flick through it. I have to get to work on this assignment.
According to the report, the police arrived at the crime scene at 1:53 a.m. after being called by the neighbors, who were alerted by screams coming from the house. When they entered the living room, they found the woman and the little girl lying in a pool of blood, right next to the father.
I break out into a cold sweat as flashes of memories try to impose themselves on me. I try to stay focused, but these damn images are burning my skin. I take a deep breath while rubbing my eyes.
This is different, Iris, your situation is completely different from this case. Pull yourself together, damn it!
I swallow hard and continue reading the report. The father is accused of abusing his daughter. There’s evidence of rape, but no DNA was found inside her. A taste of vomit invades my mouth as I read the next sentences. The girl had been sexually penetrated by an object, the same object that her father was holding in his hand when the police entered the house.
I drop the paper and catch my breath. My God…my God…how can such an abomination take place?
What do I have to study here? I don’t understand. The father’s criminal behavior? Clearly he is guilty, and he was apparently not mentally ill or under the influence of any disorder or hallucinogenic substance that might have clouded his perception of right and wrong.
I just want to write “scumbag” on my notepad because I tell myself that he is an evil person who deserves to die in prison.
Nevertheless, I grab the other pages that make up the file provided by Mrs. Richards. I come across the testimony of a former co-worker of the defendant, Bob Harrison, who describes Mikael as the nicest and most patient man he knew. Both worked at a bank in their small town. Bob says that Mikael always smiled and talked about his daughter with a glint of pride in his eyes. He explains that his colleague acted like his daughter was the apple of his eye and that he is deeply shocked by the acts of which Mikael is accused.
This description of Mikael Larey doesn’t fit. So he was two-faced? That’s it…kind and patient, until the day he murders his own daughter! Just because he behaves normally in public doesn’t mean he can’t be a perverted and violent man in private!
Mikael Larey’s lawyer has sent several messages proclaiming his innocence. Despite the way he was found, in the middle of his wife’s blood and next to his daughter’s body, she still believes in his innocence.
“What the fuck…” I sigh, running a hand through my hair, “what the fuck did you do, you lunatic?”
Immediately, I text Tucker, asking him to meet me on campus with his notes. I just want to get this fucking assignment done so I can leave all these psychos behind.
***
When I arrive on campus, still no answer from Tucker.
“You’re such a pain in the ass,” I mutter to myself as I stare at my screen, as if the tall, dark-haired man could hear me from where he is.
Besides, what could he be doing this early in the afternoon? Maybe he’s just in class…or maybe…with…the chick who was glued to him the other night?
I mentally slap myself trying not to think about it anymore. It’s none of my business, after all. I made it clear to him this weekend I’m not interested.
After a few minutes, Tucker still hasn’t arrived. Still, I need to talk to him right away about the case. I’d like to know what he thinks about it. Why on earth do I have to have him as my partner?
I finally call him, unable to wait any longer.
“Yeah,” he picks up the phone after just one ring. His voice is deep, much deeper than usual.
“Are you on campus?” I begin bluntly.
I hear him grunt something to someone, and then a cracking noise sounds in the background. “I was sleeping,” he grumbles.
I’m pretty sure he’s lying but I don’t say anything. “Well, sorry, but we need to talk. About Larey,” I continue when I’m met with silence. “I’d like to wrap this up quickly, just to get it out of the way.”
“Have you finished taking notes and studying the file?” he then asks me.
