Chapter 3 #3
The air is filled with caramel, wood smoke, and hot chocolate.
The sky is clear and sunny, while the cold of autumn wakes my skin up.
I’ve been assigned Jared as a partner since the guy who used to have this job resigned a few months ago and he’s pretty pumped about having me here.
Maybe that’s why he invited me to his parents’ home tomorrow, which I didn’t see coming since we’d just met.
I tried avoiding it, but he insisted so much…
Well, I thought, might as well leave my hut and meet the locals.
The small house I rented here is nice and functional, but it’ll be good to go out and meet new people.
“Yeah, Bella’s twenty-two, like Alaska. She’s a pain in the ass, you can’t imagine.
” He grins wide, shaking his head. I’ve got sisters of my own, Maya and Annie, both in their twenties, and I wouldn’t change them for the world.
Sure, they made me crazy when I was a teenager, but we actually have great conversations and solid relationships now.
Plus, it made me learn a bunch of stuff about women I’d have never picked up if we hadn’t shared a room the first ten years of our lives.
“I’ve got s-sisters too, um, I know what y-y-you mean,” I say, while I watch him waving and smiling at people he passes by. You can tell he’s well-liked. At least two old ladies have offered him cookies since we showed up.
“Oh, family man then? Would’ve bet you were more of a lone wolf,” he notes, his brown eyes scanning me.
“Th-they stayed in M-Minneapolis with my mom. But I, uh…I’ll try t-to get there every other month to see them.” I squeeze my hands, riding out the small spasms in my chest.
“Good for ya,” he grins, “I may be thirty, but I’m still a mama’s boy.” Jared laughs. “It’s dinner at seven sharp every Sunday with my family. At first, I was a bit annoyed, but now I get why it matters.” He stops at the end of the alley, opening up to the lake view.
“Thanks again, by the way,” I manage, “for the invite." He pats my shoulder and I notice he’s slightly shorter than me, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in muscle. The guy is stacked.
“It’s important for you to meet the locals.
And since we’re gonna be partners for a year, I think you should start with my family.
They’re kind folks. You’ll like them,” he smiles genuinely, like when you remember a fond memory, “and there’ll be Bella and Alaska, so it’ll be fun.
Maybe we’ll play a board game or something. ”
“About the t-tour…” I start, wondering if I made Alaska uncomfortable, especially since he clearly knows her well.
“Bella was just messing with you.” He smirks.
“Right,” I say bluntly. “Is she—” I wince, struggling, “s-s-single?”
“Alaska?” He arches a brow, and I’m reminded he’s known the girl since she was born, hence the protective edge in his voice.
“Yeah, she’s single. Married to her books, though.
” He chuckles. “Just—” A strange silence stretches as he takes a deep breath, his gaze locked on the lake while the festival roars behind us, the choir singing loudly.
“She’s been through a lot. It’s nice of her to show you around, considering…
Anyway, if she does, don’t be a jerk, alright?
She’s been through enough.” He turns his head, eyeing me like a hawk.
My gut was right. Something happened to her.
You don’t carry a haunted look in your eyes from living a normal, uneventful life.
“Officers! Officers! A picture for the Lakeside Journal, please,” shouts a tall woman with red hair and a long striped skirt, camera in hand. She’s out of breath, her hair tangled like a bird’s nest.
“Sure, Lydia.” Jared poses, then elbows me in the ribs. “Jack, c’mon.” But the journalist’s already pressed the button, and I’m not sure I’m even in the shot.
“Thank you, gentlemen! It’ll be in tomorrow’s paper,” she waves, “Lakeside Police Station: reinforcing its ranks.” Then she mutters while walking away, “Perfect. Exceptionally perfect.” Strange woman. Reminds me of a witch from the fantasy books I read as a kid. I look at Jared, who’s laughing.
“You’ll get used to it. People here are one of a kind.” Then he turns back to the lake and sighs, like he’s expecting something to come out of it. “This damn lake,” he mutters, almost to himself.
“What ’bout it?” I frown, looking at the vast waters shimmering before us. There are a few boats at the edge, but no houses. I guess it’s a protected area with the forest and all, so no building allowed. All you can see are endless trees surrounding it, sending out an earthy aroma of pine and wood.
“What about it?” he repeats. “You’ve got a bit of learning to do, Jack.
” He crosses his arms. “Folks use it for fishing, swimming in summer, teenagers have parties there sometimes. It’s mostly famous for ice skating in the winter, though.
” His voice loses some of its cheer. A small silence expands between us.
“Just a fucking thin layer of ice,” he murmurs between gritted teeth.
“When it’s cold, I’m talking real cold, the kind that makes you pray you didn’t leave your keys in the car so you don’t freeze to death.
There’s a thin sheet of steel ice out there.
Some county specialists come to approve it, check it out, measure it.
When it’s that thin, it’s off-limits.” He runs a hand on his nape.
“But some folks just can’t help themselves.
They go out there when it’s closed.” He pauses.
“You go under, man, not sure you ever get out.” I glance at the lake, then back at him.
“Did it happen to s-someone?” He takes his time, weighing the answer. Like he’s wondering if it’s something I should know.
“It’s, uh, complicated… What I can tell you is, thirty years ago, when the cops before us were looking for missing people in the area, guess where they ended up finding them?
” He goes on. “Nowadays, everybody forgot about it. I didn’t.
Not when you’ve seen photos of bodies after weeks in frozen water.
Their skin just—” he stops, “honestly, when I see people skating on it, it gives me the creeps.” He rolls his shoulders, shaking off a chill.
“I wouldn’t go out there for all the gold in the world.
God knows what’s underneath.” I listen, mentally noting everything he said, then turn back to the crowd, searching for long, light brown hair, not even realizing my mind is still thinking about her.
Whether Jared was superstitious or telling the truth, I flex my jaw at the thought of a new challenge.
Maybe she’s not the only mystery in this town I’ll need to uncover.