THE ERASED CHAPTER

THE ERASED CHAPTER
I stepped out of the bathroom, in hot and angry steps, trying to stay quiet. The last thing I needed was to wake Cash, he’d been restless enough lately. 

My skin was still wet from the bath and soaking my robe, but I didn’t care. I went to the living room and sat on the couch, then balanced my opened laptop on my knees and looked up the file I’d been sent.

I scrolled through archived lists of Oregon’s chiefs of police over the past decade. Names and dates blurred together until I zeroed in on one: Carl Graves. 

Carl had served here, but only for two years. Not the standard full four years term. The timeline and dates didn’t match up. There was a gap, like someone had tried to erase a chapter of existence. No official resignation, no scandal reported, just a abrupt handover from Carl to another man. There was a missing loop and no explaining to why he left early.

Carl was neck-deep in this investigation, and he’d sent me here blindfolded. 

As I fumed, staring at the glaring evidence on the screen, a voice from the TV news caught my ear.

“…a really sad moment for the people of Tillamook, Oregon. Paxton was a young man who was full of life and loved by the people who knew him. As of now, finding his family has been difficult since he has no living relatives. It is really sad that he fell victim to the hands of this sadistic killer, the Man-Eater…”

What? Who let this air?

“…authorities have gathered evidence to show that Paxton was going on a trip when his young life was cut off in such a horrible manner. His body was found in a suitcase along with his personal belongings…”

They were all lies!

Twisted fabrications that made my blood boil.

Paxton’s body hadn’t been stuffed into a suitcase like the lies on the news. He was found naked and abandoned in that desolate creek by the chapel, skin pale and marred by brutal wounds, almost unrecognizable, his belongings nowhere in sight. He was just dumped like trash. 

This wasn’t just a cover-up; it was a deliberate smear, pinning it on the Man-Eater to tie up loose ends. And there was only one person who could authorize such a blatant lie: Chief of Police, Philip. 

And Philip answered to only one man—Carl Graves.
Carl would go to these lengths to protect someone he loved. 

One of the Graves boys. The evil one. 

The thought twisted in my gut, I’d had enough of this horse-shit. 

My fingers trembled as I snatched my phone from the coffee table, dialing his number with furious jabs. It rang twice before he picked up, his voice smooth and infuriatingly calm.

“Isabel, darling…”

“You bastard!” I yelled into the phone despite my earlier caution.

“Hey, hey, tone it down. What’s got you worked up?”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were once the chief of police in Oregon? You knew about Amelia!” The words tumbled out, as I paced the room now, my wet hair whipping against my shoulders.

“Now, what new info do you have about Amelia?” Carl’s voice sharpened. This was a rare crack in his cold facade.

“Nothing more than you gave me. Carl, I have a feeling you made everything difficult for me by sending me here and giving me crumbs, because you have a hand in this. I’ve never been stuck on a case this long before and what worse is you putting me up with and angsty boy” 

Behind me, the bedroom door closed softly behind Cash.

“I know it was you who told Philip to sign Paxton’s death as a kill from the Man-Eater,” I pressed, my breath coming in short bursts.

“Why would I do that?” Carl countered, feigning innocence.

“I don’t know, maybe you’re protecting someone. You always have a motive, Carl. What is it this time?”

Silence stretched on the line. 

I could almost picture him in his study, swirling a glass of scotch, his face a mask of calculated and cold indifference.

Carl sighed heavily “And why is that your business, Isabel?” he finally said, his voice low and dangerous.

“You know she didn’t do this. There’s another sadistic killer out there, roaming free. Paxton deserves to get justice.” My free hand clenched into a fist, nails digging into my palm.

“Do what I ask you to do, Isabel. Leave the dead to rest in peace.”

“I’m dropping this case, Carl.” The words felt liberating, even if I knew they were a bluff.

“You don’t happen to have forgotten about the open caskets, right?”

“I can’t believe you’re still trying to scare me.”

“Just do your job honey, you’re starting to get on my nerves, and you know how mad I can get when I’m pushed” His threat hung in the air.

But I didn’t care.

“You won’t do anything to hurt me,” I shot back.

“Oh honey, I won’t. You know I love you too much to do that. But I will do something to hurt Cash. I know you care about my son more than I do, Isabel.”

“What… what is wrong with you?! Cash hasn’t done anything to you!” Rage surged through me.

Cash was just a vulnerable kid in this twisted family web.

“I thought so too, but you have a mother instinct toward him, and that’s enough to know you’ll go any length to to keep him safe”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Carl. I’m not tethered to Cash or anyone. If I choose to protect him, it’s because of cruel people like you.” I glanced over my shoulder; Cash was leaning against the wall now, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on me with a mix of curiosity and concern.

“And that’s fine with me, Isabel. That’s the spirit of family, and I’m glad you’re watching over my baby boy for me. Just make sure you give me every detail on Amelia.”

“No, I won’t! Not until you tell me what I’m dealing with here. This is a blind case, and I’m going nowhere for months!” Frustration clawed at my mind; I was spinning wheels in mud, and he knew it.

“You know, when you come back home, I’ll explain everything to you, face to face.”

“Come back home? For what? Are you taking me off the case?” My mind raced.

Was this another way of his to pull the strings tighter?