46
The details ofDetectiveFields’life can be boiled down to a few uninteresting bullet points.
A high school bully who joined the force to gain some power.
5’11. Has a complex about not crossing the 6-foot threshold.
Sexually harasses his female colleagues.
That’sall there is to note about him.He’ssimple, plain, painfully average. If he were one of my patients, my file on him would be wafer fucking thin.
Last night, Ava stormed out of the police station.
I’drather be crazy than a fucking creep like you.I’drather be crazy than a fucking creep like you.I’drather be crazy—
The echo of Ava”s accusation reverberates in my mind as I arrive at Fields” apartment.
Fields sealed his own fate in that moment last night. Hearing him throw lazy insults at her was enough to make it feel like acid is burning straight through my stomach. But the thought of him leering at her, touching her—
He really left me with no choice. The monster inside me is hungry for blood, and the bloodthat’ssweetest is the blood that really fucking deserves to be spilled.
Anyone can tell Fields is a crude asshole within ten seconds of meeting him. But I had no idea he was harassing Ava. She keeps her pain buttoned up so tight, as if itdoesn’ttouch the soft little heart in her chest.
Little dove, whydidn’tyou tell me about this?
I want to be the one she turns to when the world bares its teeth. I want to make all her problems disappear, lock them in a box with only a few drops of blood left behind as a memento of the men who tried to ruin her.
I knock on the door. Two raps. Warning shots.
Fields’eyes are wide when he swings open the door.“What the fu—”
His hand shoots out to the hip of his black sweatpants, fumbling for a gun thatisn’tthere. I grab his neck. He chokes, trying to thrash away from me, but his throat is already crushing under my fingers.
I smile under my mask. This will be the last thingheever sees. Hyde. The ghost he never caught.
My blade sinks into his chest.“Watch where you put your hands when you get to hell, Fields.”
Fields would deserve to die anyway for daring to harass Ava and the women of the station. But his death will serve another purposetoo.
I’mbacking Ava into a corner. Bit by bit. Incriminating piece by piece.
Yes, I feel conflicted about getting my little detective into trouble.
Butshe’sgoing to realizeit’sso much fucking better on this side of the law.I’mgoing toforce her to open her eyes and see that she should be by my side.
I dumpFields’body outside his apartment like a welcome mat. Onlygoodfor wiping your shoes on. Guaranteed to be found within the hour.
Check, Ava. The last step before checkmate. The game is nearly over. The last piece is minutes from being knocked to the ground.
I whisper to myself as I leave the apartment building, as if nothingeverhappened.
Check, check, check.