Chapter 7 Taru

Dana was frustrated, Rupert was not easy to handle. Thirty minutes into the interview she wanted to strangle him. The man, stoic on his seat smiled at Dana, his brown teeth showing how much he needed dental care. Dana asked him for help, he shamelessly flirted with her leaving her even more frustrated. Philip was outside the room waiting on Dana.

"Look, I know this is all a game to you. But, I need your help. I want to solve this case, you turned yourself in because you felt guilty and wanted to face the charges . . ."

"I pleaded guilty because I wanted to, not because I felt pity woman."

"Well, okay." He was stretching her, getting to her. He knew that and did it on purpose.

"If you feel the need to talk to me, anytime. You can contact me. I will be ready to listen to you when you can think of something. I know you will do the right thing." She handed him her card containing her information and walked out of the room.

"Did you get through to him?" Phillip asked.

"No, but I hope to hear from her soon." She glanced behind towards the room where Rupert played with the card in his hand.

The two detectives walked out of Taru Correctional Facility, they drove back to Tapas. Dana wanted to look at the cases- again. She was losing sleep. They stopped at a coffee shop and she ordered the largest mug on the menu.

"You have to take it easy Dana," Philip said. He was concerned, Dana was working day and night, breaking a sweat. She was getting irritated easily, by the littlest things.

"We have three cases waiting to be solved Philip, don't tell me to take it easy. "

"Whoa, I'm sorry Dee but you have to. I will ask Nicholas to give you another break. Only then can you work on this case, once your head is clear. "

Dana bite her tongue holding her remark, "Alright."She mumbled.

Philip suggests that if she drives back to her hotel room, he would take a taxi to the station. He promised he would not call her even if it was an emergency so we could loosen up.

Dana made her way to her room, dropped her coat on the floor, and grabbed a bottle of red wine. She drank straight from the bottle, the chill drink burned down her throat. She sighed.

She carried the bottle with her to her office, it was unlikely that she was going to relax as Philip suggested. She stared at the board with the cut-out news articles and illustrations from the cases.

"Worry, as the homicide cases remain unsolved." She read out loud one of the headlines.

"Despair, families cry out to authorities." She read another.

"Three murdered despite police deny a serial killer on the loose. " Another stated.

She slammed the bottle in her hand on the table. Tied her hair with a loose band and grabbed her pen. Nothing seemed to change with the cases, she still lacked enough clues. The department of vehicles had not registered any truck in their system so she could not track the number plate.

All she had, was the markings on the two bodies. The case of Isabella was a bit difficult as it seemed unrelated to the first two. She took a look at the marks she had crossed on the map, she faintly traced the pointers and connected them hoping it would make sense. It didn't.

She left the pen on the table and walked out of the office. She looked around the empty room, she wished she had her ex-wife there with her. She always calmed her after a long day. Their divorce was due to the different line of work, Dana barely had time for her and when she did it was only for a few minutes before she went back to work. Her ex-wife wanted to spend time with her, but she had very little of that. It was mutually agreed by both of them that they had to get a divorce. They did maintain their friendship, so they did not lose a lot.

She wanted someone who would assure her that her work was appreciated, she had it hard talking to families of victims. She more than often appeared cold but her heart would break for their loved ones. That was why she needed to bring justice. She felt lonely in that large space, her thoughts were running wild.

It was times like this Dana wished she had someone who understood the demands her job came with. Someone who would listen to her rant about her cases and her brutal day and even help her out.

She walked to the kitchen, grabbed another bottle of wine, and walked into her room. She stripped out of her clothes and warmed herself a bath. She poured in her bath oils and fragrant soaps. She got in and closed her eyes, her mind wandered to the cases. She could not help it. It was hers to crack them.

Her phone rang loudly disrupting her thoughts. She grabbed it and answered it seeing the caller ID

'Oh, hey mama.' She said into the mouthpiece.

'You never call me anymore.' Her mother's voice rang in her ears.

'I am sorry mama, work is overwhelming.'

'I hope you are not overworking yourself, honey, you know how I feel about that.'

'I will try to mama.'

'Good good, now anyone caught your interest in Tapas?' Her mother asked, her voice teasing Dana.

'Mama I came here to work." Dana chuckled.

'I know, but I am getting old honey. I need you to give me a grandchild soon.'

'Okay, I am hanging up now! Dana laughed. 'Bye mama, I love you. I will talk to you soon.'

'Bye, give me a grandchild honey.' The woman said hurriedly before Dana could hang up. She had soaked her body enough so she got up grabbed a towel and walked out of the bathroom, her feet leaving wet imprints on the tiles.

She dried herself up and got into a black silk nightgown. She got into the bed and covered herself, it was one of the many times she got to sleep at eight o'clock. She knew would wake up startled in the middle of the night or the early morning but, that could wait. Her eyes closed and she was dragged into a heavy sleep within a few minutes.