Stealing Kat

The next morning, I was brought to an apartment complex. The building was dingy, the tenants questionable. It was obvious that the city’s least fortunate and most troublesome resided there. The small entryway’s discolored paint was peeling. As we walked by, music and a crying baby could be heard behind one door, and an argument behind another. Yellow police tape crisscrossed the doorway to the apartment I was being taken to. We ducked under it and stepped into a room that looked like it had been staged for a cheap horror flick. It was horrible. It would’ve taken several cans of red paint randomly splashed about to create such a scene, but of course, all the red I saw was anything but paint. It was a literal bloodbath. I couldn’t imagine any tenant wanting to live there in the future, assuming Alaska had full-disclosure laws. Even if it didn’t, news like that travels fast. Supposedly, a man had been fired from his warehouse job before stopping to get shitfaced at the local pub. Upon returning home, he caught his wife getting it on with a former co-worker of his. Pushed over the edge, he shot the couple multiple times and went on the run. That was all I was told. Brynn was already there when I arrived. She wore jeans and a blue T-shirt that enhanced her eyes. I definitely would’ve been interested if things hadn’t been heating up with Carol, assuming Brynn was the lesbian I sensed she was and the interest was mutual. “Miss Holloway,” she said with a polite nod. “Hello,” I smiled grimly. “You okay?” I nodded. “I don’t know how you do your thing,” Brynn began, “so would it be best if you were alone in the room or not?” “I don’t have to be totally alone, but it may be best if people stepped back as far as they could to help separate their energy from theirs.” I nodded toward the blood spatter. She and the two officers stepped out of the way. I closed my eyes, took a breath, and let whatever feelings might come… come. I didn’t get any specific visions that day but I got a strong feeling the killer had fled south. “He’s in Mexico,” I said confidently. “You think?” Brynn asked. I nodded. “How confident are you?” “Very.” On the way out, our talk drifted from business to casual. “So where are you heading now?” Brynn asked. “I’m off to the Anchor Fish diner for lunch.” “Want some company?” “Sure,” I said, wondering how she’d react when she saw Carol. Moments later, she parked her SUV by the diner. I was delighted to spot Carol through the window. I may have been attracted to Brynn too, but with Carol and me an official item, the last thing I wanted to do was lead her on. We entered, and I walked straight to Carol’s booth. She rose for a quick hug and kiss. I knew Brynn saw. No doubt remained. Disappointed or not, she understood. “Brynn brought me because I was helping her on a case,” I told Carol. “Oh, were you?” Carol said, glancing at her. Brynn nodded silently. Eventually, she loosened up as the three of us chatted through lunch. Time slipped away until Carol checked her watch and said we had to get back. She treated all of us, and I returned to the station with her in her pickup. I glanced behind me as Brynn got into her vehicle. She appeared to be wearing a somber expression.