Chapter 38 Somewhere here
VICTORIA
The shadow disappeared suddenly as I got closer to the corner. I sighed and ruffled my hair in anger, then stared at the empty corner for a long time.
I couldn't see his shadow again, nor could I feel his chilling presence.
“He's gone," Mr Thompson muttered behind me and ran his hand through his hair.
My shoulders slumped, and I turned around to face him, my lips pouting out in anger.
“It's him," I muttered.
"Who?” Mr Thompson asked.
I swerved my head to the corner, hoping to get a sight of him again, even though I knew the coward was gone.
“The serial killer," I muttered as I looked back at him.
He darted his eyes to the corner, then back at me, his eyes narrowing.
“Did you really think you could catch him?" He asked, and my throat knotted.
He sighed and threw his head back.
“You can't catch him like this, you need to up your game if you really want to catch him,” he said, and turned around, but paused and craned his head in my direction.
“Do you still want to stay over for lunch?" He asked.
I looked up at him and nodded. "What about you?"
He glanced at his wristwatch, then back at me, shrugging. I needed no one to tell me that the answer was no.
“I don't think I can stay over, I need to go home and rest, I feel like my body is about to break apart," I replied and pressed my aching arm, wincing in low tones.
“I'll take you home then, let's go," he said and squeezed my shoulder.
I clasped my hand in his and smiled up at him, feeling relief wash over me when his hand wrapped around mine.
He stared down at me with so much tenderness that I felt my heart race.
He turned, and we began walking away from the garage with me trailing behind him. He let go of my hand when we neared the garden.
“I will wait for you here," he turned around and said.
I nodded and walked in. The atmosphere was no longer the same as it was before the chaos broke out.
Everyone had fear in their eyes as they nit-picked their food in silence.
I walked to my dad, and he raised his head, his brows raised in question.
“I'm leaving with Mr Thompson. I'll come over to see you some other time. Let me know if you suspect anything," I said.
He sighed and picked up the napkin.
“I am having second thoughts about this job of yours," he murmured, and I heard voices agree in unison.
“Whether I take up the job or not, he will still haunt people," I defended.
He dropped the napkin and threw his head to the side to look at me.
“Your safety should come first!"
My throat knotted, and I clenched my fist behind me.
“I won't be safe until I hunt him down–”
“You were doing just fine before your obsession to find this killer began. If you had taken the company and stayed away from that murder case, I wouldn't have people break into my house!" He snapped.
My chest tightened, and I looked at the people seated around the table. None of them would defend me, not even my brothers. They all seemed to agree with my father this time.
I didn't blame them, though. I would feel the same way if I were in their position.
The last straw was breaking into my father's house. I would find that bastard, no matter what it would take.
“Quit your job!"
My head jerked up, and my eyes widened in horror.
“What?" I gasped loudly and shook my head.
My father stared coldly at me, his fist clenched.
“I've had enough of you trying to act like a hero and putting your life in danger every single time! Quit that damned job!” he spat.
My lips parted to protest, but someone beat me to it.
“I'm sorry, sir, but she can't quit her job.”
My head turned towards Mr Thompson's direction, and I felt my heart unclench a bit.
He looked at me with eyes full of assurance that he would fight for me, then turned to face my father.
“This is what every detective goes through, sir–”
“I respect you so much, Thompson, but I can not let my daughter keep putting her life at risk. You saw exactly what happened there, didn't you? Worse than that could happen.”
I was afraid that my father had made up his mind. The horrifying thing about him was the impossibility of changing his mind once he had made a decision.
The only option I had was to repeat the same mistake I made eight years ago. I had to cut off every tie I had with them, and I had sworn never to repeat that.
“Look at her knee!” he snapped, and my eyes narrowed down to my bruised knee.
I gulped hard and clenched my fist in anger and helplessness.
“Sir, I protected her and saved her, didn't I?" Mr Thompson asked.
My father hissed and looked away in anger.
“You can't stop someone from choosing the path they have been destined for. If she can survive years with us, then she could survive even more–”
“This case is different, and you know it!" My father cut in.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
Mr Thompson wasn't ready to give up either.
“I know, sir, but I'm not going to give up on her either. Leave her in my care, I promise to protect her," Mr Thompson said, and I looked at him in surprise.
My father looked at me, then at Mr Thompson, his brows furrowing.
My heart skipped a beat when Mr Thompson took my hand and placed it in his.
I looked up at him, my eyes wide.
“If anything ever happens to Miss Victoria, I'll take the blame, and you can do whatever you want to me. I swear to protect her with my life.”
“Mr Thompson!" I gasped in shock.
Gasps and murmurs broke out among my family members, and surprise darted across my father's face.
Michael's brows shot up, Connor smirked, and James stared on with a dropped jaw.
“These kinds of promises… are you sure nothing is going on between you two?” One of my aunts broke the tension, and I snapped my head in her direction.
The smile on her face faded, and she looked away.
“Please, let me keep her safe and find this killer. Think about the lives that have been wasted and the ones that will join the wasted ones–”
“That's enough!" My father waved his hand in the air as he cut Mr Thompson off.
He sighed, leaned back in the chair, and rubbed his forehead before turning in our direction again.
“If anything happens to my daughter, I'll kill you myself," he said to Mr Thompson.
My heart leaped in joy, and I slammed my eyes shut, smiling.
“I will give you the gun myself," Mr Thompson said and squeezed my hand.
My father muttered an agreement, and I clasped my hand over my mouth in happiness.
“Thank you so much, father, thank you," I muttered and bowed.
I straightened up and flashed a smile at everyone before patting Mr Thompson's arm.
He bade my father goodbye, and we turned and walked away.
“I'll be back," I said to Mr Thompson when we reached his car.
I briskly walked over to my car, unlocked it, and took out the diary.
I hid it in my shirt and slammed the door shut before walking back to Mr Thompson's Ford.
I slid into the car and wore my seatbelt, releasing a gasp of relief.
“Thank you," I muttered and smiled at him.
He nodded, turned on the engine, and then drove off.
We barely said anything to each other until he drove up to my driveway.
“I'll see you tomorrow at work," I said as I opened the door.
Mr Thompson gripped my hand and forced me to stop.
“If you notice anything suspicious, let me know," He said, and I nodded.
"Take care of yourself too, Mr Thompson," I said.
I paused and kissed him on the cheek.
His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped.
I smiled and quickly got out of the car before it got worse.
I walked up to my porch, unlocked the door, then glanced back.
He was still staring at me from his car, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
I grinned, pulled the door, then walked in. I waved again before slamming the door shut.
A sigh escaped my lips as I trudged across the silent living room. This felt worse.
I reached into my shirt and pulled out the diary, staring curiously at the cover.
My mother's autograph was there, along with her funny nicknames, and at a corner was my father's name.
I gulped hard and tried hard not to break into tears as I stared at the diary.
I would find out everything I needed to know about what my mother went through.