Choice

Chapter 11

I eye the police officers once again in the hospital and look to my partner who shrugs “why did you go to the old Marbourne High?” I shake my head “the killer left me a message with room numbers I had to choose.” He shakes his head “you shouldn't have gone in alone, we’re partners.” I nod looking down “it’s something that couldn’t wait, I needed to go then.” He nods “you should have radioed in. This isn't just your case we've all been working it for years now. You can’t do everything yourself.” I rub my hand over my eyes “I know.” He sighs “next time, just call me I have your back Amanda.” I look up “I know, I will..” He laughs “say it like you actually will?” I shrug smiling “I will.” He laughs glancing around at the other police officers “going in like that alone, something could have happened to you.” I eye the closed door and I hear my partner “Amanda?” I turn to him “I know, I couldn’t wait. If I was just a minute late who knows if she would still be here.”

He nods agreeing “no one is saying you made a bad call. I just want you to know you have back up if you need me.” I grin up at my partner “I’ll keep it in mind.” He smiles as a nurse comes out yelling “Reynolds, detective Reynolds?” I nod to the nurse “that’s me?” She motions to the room “she wants to talk to you.” The nurse leads me into the room and looks to me “I’ll give you two some time.” I nod sitting down in a chair next to the bed and Officer Barnes looks to me “before, when you left me in the room I found this.” She opens her hand holding a crumbled piece of paper “I think it’s for you.” I grip the piece of paper and eye the words “ding, ding, ding…” I turn the paper over seeing the small red letters spelling out choice.  I shove the clue into my pocket shaking my head and she laughs “he left me alive just to give you that, he could have killed me.” I shake my head “but he didn't.” She looks up to me “he said, I was just right, just like her.”

I look down shaking my head and listen to her “he said make sure I tell Mandy that.” I look up to her “anything else, anything you remember?” She shakes her head “his voice was static. He was using some type of microphone the other person too.” I nod “distinguishing features?” She shakes her head “black hair, was pretty unkempt, he wore these leather gloves, black, but his wrist was visible, he had a tattoo.” I lean towards her listening “what kind of tattoo?” She shakes her head “it was weird, a large asterisk.”  I remain quiet thinking to myself “what color?” She shakes her head “black, dark black with a number, it was maroon in color.” I look up “what number?” She closes her eyes remembering “one.” She nods sure of her answer “it was spelt out in large letters across the asterisk...”

I get up from the seat and nod to her “get some rest.” I walk slowly out of the room and down the long hall opening Talmon’s room door. I close it glancing him over I step closer noting he is asleep. I glance down eyeing the asterisk on his wrist and sit in the seat hearing him “what’s wrong?” I shrug ignoring him and he laughs “Mandy?" I look up and he smiles “what is it?” I shake my head “the Marbourne ripper, he attacked your partner.” I watch him attempt to sit up but he falls back in pain “what?” I shake my head “I need to know the truth?” He grins laying back closing his eyes “what are you talking about?” I glance over the tattoo eyeing its number “that tattoo?” He looks down at his wrist and laughs “this old thing? It was one of my drunken souvenirs.” I nod not caring to know much but keeping my interest “your number two?” He laughs “yeah, there was a bunch of us, fun times.” I watch him run his hand over the tattoo as if remembering and I cut in “who was number one?”

He turns his head sideways shrugging “no idea, I was so drunk then. I think Stefanie was there.” I lean forward “your sister?” He nods “I was always getting into trouble, she was always there trying to talk me out of stupid shit.” He leans his head back “but I never listened, not once.” I watch him rub his hand over his eyes “I was their disappointment, but she, she was everything, their hopes, and dreams.” He laughs “but me I just could never live up to her, she was perfect.” I run my hand along the tattoo “the Marbourne ripper, he is number one…” I watch him shift his eyes around the room “if I knew I would tell you Mandy.” I question “would you Talmon?”