Past Unveiling by Audrey Walker (little readers .TXT) 📕

copycat killer, and instead of risking being caught struggling, he decided to depress her nervous system, making the victim easy to handle. He probably thought he was clever. We don’t usually test for this chemical.”

“So, the killer is someone who knows this chemical is a depressant but doesn’t know the actual medical effects of it. Otherwise, he would have known that the methemoglobinemia would have given it away,” Robin said. “So, it’s not anyone with medical knowledge.”

“It would seem so,” Burke said.

They headed back to the police station while bouncing ideas off each other. The moment they entered the precinct, silence suddenly fell all around. Robin looked around confused, wondering what the hell was going on. The TV was on, and the news reporter was saying, “Mr. Danvers has returned to town and is talking about establishing a new mall on the grounds. After being abroad for over five years, he has returned to his hometown–.”

“Kyle?” Robin whispered, turning to look at him.

He was glaring at the screen, his jaw clenched, and his hand tightened into a fist.

“He is back,” he whispered to her. “The man who murdered my wife is back.”

Chapter Eight

“I am worried about Kyle,” Robin said. “I haven’t seen him in two days. Ever since he saw that news, he has just disappeared.”

“You are talking about the return of the billionaire, Mr. Danvers?” Dr. Rosemond asked.

“Yes,” she said, frowning. “I don’t know how to help Kyle out of this.”

“Why does this man affect Kyle so strongly? Is there something there?” he asked.

“I forgot, you wouldn’t know,” Robin said. “You were in college at that time, weren’t you? This happened five years ago when Kyle suddenly lost his wife, Rose. She was murdered and quite cruelly; assaulted before she was finally shot in the heart and killed. Kyle reported her missing and started a hunt for her, and two days later, she was found dead in a quarry. Kyle was heartbroken. The two of them loved each other like crazy. He couldn’t handle it. He started looking for her murderer, and it wasn’t long before he had a suspect: Vince Danvers, the head of the multinational company. Rose worked as his personal secretary, and recently she had told Kyle that Vince had been a bit inappropriate with her. He was asking her for sexual favors. Kyle asked her to quit, but she was pregnant at the time, and they really needed the money. Kyle believed that Danvers killed her for refusing his advances and went all out on him.”

“I assume that wasn’t well-received?” Dr. Rosemond asked.

“It wasn’t,” she said. “Danvers was a wealthy, influential man with lots of power. There was little evidence, and everyone was too afraid to investigate him. The Captain ordered Kyle to stand down, but he refused. He went off the deep end; not eating, not sleeping, only working to find the murderer. No one believed him when he said Danvers was the killer. He was all alone, except for me. I believed him, but there was little I could do. I couldn’t deny the fact that there was no evidence. And then, the incident happened.”

“The incident?” he asked.

“Kyle went after Danvers, and a fight erupted,” Robin said. She could see the scene in the back of her mind as clear as day. “Kyle shot him, but his bodyguard lunged forward and saved Danvers. An innocent bodyguard was killed, and Danvers went livid. He pressed charges against Kyle, who was suspended. Kyle had to live with the guilt that someone innocent died by his hands. He got worse and worse. Eventually, Danvers agreed not to press charges when the Captain talked to him personally. Kyle was suspended and mandated therapy for a few months, and then he resumed working. He never mentioned it again. He acted as if it never happened. Danvers left town and went abroad, and this is the first time he has come back in five years.”

“I see,” he said. “And, of course, you are worried about Kyle, and you need to find a way to help him. Do you think he has accepted the fact that Danvers is not the killer?”

“To be honest, I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t think so. I think that’s still what Kyle believes.”

“Robin, I think you need to be there for Kyle at all costs,” Dr. Rosemond said. “There is a very good chance he will go after this man. And I don’t mean legally.”

“What are you saying?” Robin asked, even though she knew what he meant.

“Robin,” he said. “Go to him. Go to him before he does something stupid! I have met Kyle. I know his psychology! It’s my job! Just go!”

__

“Kyle?” Robin called out, knocking loudly on his door. “Kyle, open up!”

The door slowly opened, and she found herself looking at the gaunt face of her friend.

“Kyle,” she said. “I need you to talk to me.”

“There is nothing to talk about,” he said.

Robin pushed past him and walked into the room, looking around.

The apartment was a complete mess; there were blueprints, plans, and documents scattered everywhere. Robin picked them up and started glancing over them. Her worst fears were confirmed. Kyle had been monitoring Danvers, stalking him, making notes, and studying his schedule. Robin looked around, and she spotted a gun lying in the center of the coffee table.

“Kyle, don’t,” she said.

“He killed her, Robin,” he said. “I know he did.”

“I believe you,” she said. “But this is not the way.”

“Not the way?” he whispered. “Is there any other way? You know justice will never catch a man like him.”

“I know,” she said. “But you can’t do this. You can’t become a killer. An assassin!”

“I have to avenge Rose,” he said. “I won’t let him get away with this again.”

“Then let’s work together,” Robin said. “Let’s find the evidence we need. Let’s bring this man down.”

“You know it will never work,” he said.

“We will make it work,” she said. “This is not the answer, Kyle. You know it’s not.”

Robin’s phone started