Jericho

Chapter 5

            David had asked me what was on my mind. So I began to tell him about Adrienne.

            “I met a girl, David. She seems really awesome, too. This one might actually be a winner,” I admitted.

            “How did you guys meet?” Asked David. “I mean, this has to be pretty recent.”

            “She was reading at a poetry slam I went to because I find it very easy to write under those conditions. She read a poem that was too good to ignore.” I shrugged. “We talked, she gave me her number. We hung out today. It’s been a good time so far.”

            “Sounds like you’re in,” said David. “What’s her name? Tell me more about this whole situation.”

            “Her name’s Adrienne. She’s a creative writing major.”

            David sighed theatrically. He was an engineer and as such liked to give me a hard time about my choice to go into the Liberal Arts.

            “Another future hobo, eh?” commented David. “Maybe you two will be able to push your boxes up next to each other. And you can huddle together for warmth in the winter.”

            “Very funny, David,” I said, totally insincere. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll probably suggest it to her when I see her again.”

            “Yeah, maybe not, actually. So you think you might really like this girl, huh?”

            “Well, I mean it’s a bit early to be throwing around serious words, but yeah. I mean, I haven’t connected with someone this quickly in years. Not since. . . Theresa.”

            “Hey,” said David. “Try not to think about her. That business is long done and over with. But still if you connected with this Adrienne girl that fast, that’s something to be happy about.” He paused for a moment. “Tell me more about Adrienne. So far I know she’s a creative writhing student and a great poet.”

            “Well, I mean there’s not a whole lot else you need to know up front. Most of what I know about her came up organically in conversation, so that’s probably what’ll happen here too,” I said with a shrug.

            “There is one very important thing you’ve left out, Aaron,” said David.

            I looked at him confused. “I don’t know what you mean.”

            “Yeah you do,” said David, nudging me.

            I shook my head and shrugged.

            David rolled his eyes. “Is she hot, dude?” He looked at me with a totally unabashed grin.

            Now it was my turn to do some eye rolling. “What’s that got to do with it?” I asked, staring straight ahead with a smirk on my face.

            “Oh come on,” complained David. “I can tell by your face. I just need to hear you say it.”

            “Fine,” I relented. “I think she’s gorgeous. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

            “Yes,” said David simply. “Is that all that’s on your mind? You seem like you’ve got something else bothering you too.”

            I didn’t want to lie too blatantly. Normally, I was quite adept at deception, but David knew me well enough that he always seemed to know when I was flat-out lying to him. Half-truths and implications were the way to go with him.

            “It’s just,” I began, then faltered. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about that girl who got murdered, Kristi Dell.”

            David raised an eye, quizzically. “What about her?”

            “I just. . .I feel like whoever did it is going to kill again if we don’t find him,” I confided.

            “How do you know it’s a him?” inquired David.

            “It’s a very male crime,” I said simply. “Anyway, it’s just been on my mind for whatever reason. Been making me uneasy.”

            David shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I’m really not sure what to say to you about that. I mean, if we let ourselves be scared into inaction, then whatever sick psychopath did this will have won. We can’t let bad things or bad people control us.”

            “That sounds like something from a movie, David,” I observed. “But you’re probably right. Still, it just gives me the heebie jeebies.” I paused. Debated internally while David walked silently at my side. Finally, I broke the silence again.

            “If you thought you might know who the murderer was, but didn’t have any actual evidence to back it up, not even an explanation of why you think it’s that person, would you call the police anyway?”

            David cocked his head to the side as he looked at me. “Do you know something you’re not telling me?”

            I shook my head. “No, I just have this hunch about someone. It’s no one you know, don’t worry. But I don’t have any sort of rational explanation for my suspicions.” I shrugged, powerlessly. “I just wondered what you’d do.”

            Now it was David’s turn to invite the silence. We walked as he thought.

            “I guess,” he said slowly. “That I’d try and keep my eye on that person. See if I could see any reason for the suspicions to either increase or decrease. And if another murder happened, you might very well be able to get some really firm evidence, or at least rationale. So I guess my advice would be wait and see. If things start to look fishy, then call the police. If nothing else, they can watch too.”

            “Thanks,” I said. “That really does help me out. I think I’ll take that advice.” It was one of the first completely genuine things I’d said to him since we had started talking about the murder. I decided to turn the topic to something else again.

            “So are we still on for hanging out tomorrow?” I asked.

            “Sure,” said David. “We’re going to be at Donnie’s tomorrow, right?”

            “I think so,” I answered. “I mean, I’ll call you if I find out different, but that’s my plan for right now, too.”

            “Good,” replied David. “All this talking and walking has made me hungry. Let’s grab a bite to eat and then we’ll head back to my place.”

            “Food sounds good,” I agreed. “But actually, I’ll probably just head back to my apartment after we eat. I mean unless we go way out of our way, anywhere we go to eat from here is going to be much closer to my apartment, so it’d be silly for me to walk to your place and then back.” After a moment’s consideration, I added: “Of course, you’re welcome to come over if you want.”

            “I think I’ll pass,” said David. “I mean, I’ll be seeing you again tomorrow, right?”

            “Yeah,” I said. “That’s the plan.”

            “Okay. So anyway, where do we want to eat?” David was impatient for food.

            We grabbed a couple of sandwiches and said our goodbyes. I started my walk home feeling much better. Tomorrow would be a good day, and I intended to write something non-Jericho related when I got home.