The Father: A Dark Cannibalistic Thriller (Nepolai A Noir Murder Series Book 2) Read online

  A couple tears fell from Bexley’s cheeks watching the empty yet concerned expression fade in on Aubri’s face.

  “We ended up getting a heart just in time.” She said wiping the water from her eyes. Aubri left her thoughts behind and smiled at Bexley. She looked down at her bandage. So far looks like it’s working out fine don’t you think? She joked. Bexley let out a laugh and you could hear the tears in the back of her throat.

  “Yes.” She said. “Uncle took care of the surgery. I think he did a pretty good job but-” Bexley paused and her head fell to her chest. “One more day and we would’ve lost you.” Aubri lifted Bexley’s chin up dragging her attention away from the floor. She wiped away the tears that couldn’t stop following from Bexley’s face.

  “You didn’t really think I was going out the easy did you?” She joked.

  Ready to get out of bed Aubri started pulling off the remainder of the wires attached to her. Bexley stopped her grabbing her arms.

  “What are you doing? You Can get out of bed yet you need to rest. You just had surgery.” Bexley said.

  She didn’t really care about that after lying in bed for months on end she was ready to start moving around. She didn’t feel tired and thought that was weird but she wasn’t going to argue with it.

  “I’m tired of laying in his bed Bex. Are you really just going to make me say here?” She asked. “Look at me I’m fine.” Bexley knew she was fine she just wanted her to be careful. “I didn’t think so.” She said but Bexley wasn’t sure if anything could cause her to have issues breathing or whatever caused her to wake up the way she did.

  Bexley wished her uncle was there, that way he could check her to make sure she was fine. She thought about how she would feel if she had to sit in the same bed Aubri’s been laying in for over a year. She’d probably be depressed. So much so that if she was able to finally get up after a year she probably reconsider instead of just hopping out of bed like her sister.

  “Where’s Uncle Arthur?” Aubri asked sliding her legs off the bed.

  “I’m not sure.” Bexley looked over her shoulder and out the door. Thinking that maybe there was a slight chance he’d walk in at that moment. He didn’t, and she had a feeling why he wouldn’t. He’s been gone almost two days now. She looked back at Aubri. “After he finished your surgery he made sure you were stable and that everything was okay but he left immediately after doing so.” She said.

  “Did he say where he was going?” Aubri asked. Bexley shook her head.

  “No, he left without telling me so I have no idea where he went off to.” She said.

  Aubri’s eyes squinted just a little. She was curious to why he would just leave. “And it’s been almost two days?” Aubri added.

  “Yes.” Bexley nodded.

  “Well that’s rude.” Aubri chuckled. It reminded her of the childhood she barely got to experience as a normal kid. Her father used to do the same thing to their mom and to pretty much to anyone who got under his skin or angry. This had been when he was sober. The times where he had been wasted was a different story. Instead of just storming out the house without telling anyone where he was he’d lash out on their mother and more than often them. She missed her mother a lot and sometimes it made her sick not being able to talk to her and asked for her help. She was a strong person and always did her best to overcome hardships that were presented itself to her. She even missed her father. Although he wasn’t the best man alive she believed that he did his best and took after his responsibilities. She didn’t even blame him for what happened to her and what happened to their mother. She didn’t blame anyone. She believed that sometimes bad things happen to good people. Maybe she was naive, but she felt it was better than being angry at something that you had no power over and things you have no possible way of changing. It was easier to forgive and move forward.

  “What happened when I was out?” Aubri asked. She knew it had to be something their uncle didn’t take kindly to because they were taught not to leave without telling someone where they were going. It was a safety thing their mother taught them before she passed, and they passed it on to their uncle promising that they would never do that.

  Bexley’s gut felt like it was drowning every inch of her energy. She knew why her uncle left. The simple fact was that he knew. He knew the dark thing Bexley had to do to get Aubri’s heart or at least he had speculated about it. She knew she would. You don’t just come home with a heart. He was a surgeon for a little over two decades, so he knew how these things work. She felt guilty for putting her uncle in this position but at the same time she buried it with the relief of her sister being conscious. As dark as what she did was somehow Aubri’s presents drowned out her shadow. At least for the time being.

  “Nothing.” She said. “He did seem to be a bit down not sure if we would get a heart. I’m not sure if that has to do anything with it.” She said.

  Aubri had been serious about getting out that bed. She slid off, her bare feet merged with the cold wooden floor. She buckled as her right leg gave in from her body weight. Though her spirit was high it appeared her body wasn’t quite ready after being down for so long. Bexley caught her helping her stand up straight. She walked with Aubri following her lead out into the hallway not quite sure where she was heading. Aubri’s stomach growled. To her it felt like her stomach was caving in on itself. She waited for it to explode but it never did.

  “Oh God! I think I’m going to die if I don’t eat anything.” She laughed painfully holding one half of herself against the wall of the hall and her other arm wrapped around Bexley’s shoulders.

  “That’s not funny!” She said. It was a little bit early for her to be joking around about death considering things could’ve went terribly wrong and she wouldn’t be helping her sister break for the kitchen. But maybe she was being a little too uptight. It reminded her how grateful she was feeling at the moment that Aubri could even joke with her. At times she could be serious sometimes but Aubri was a bit of a clown. At least when she wanted to be. She knew just how to put a smile on everyone’s face.

  Bexley remembered her mother being the same way for a while but the later years leading up to her passing she wasn’t that open and playful. She wondered if it was her father, but she couldn’t know for sure it was so long ago. Still it was possible that his drinking and beating attributed to it. Not only could that physical trauma affect the inflicted but also the ones observing the inflections so, she was surprised that that side of Aubri had stuck around. Something truly horrific would have to happen for her to lose that side of her and it seemed as being inches from death was not one of those things.

  “I don’t remember the kitchen being this far away.” Aubri sounded slightly fatigued but pushed her way through it. Bexley helped Aubri get up on a stool sitting at a table in the middle of the kitchen. Her stomach caved even more in this time. Bexley heard it. Aubri wrapped her hands around her stomach and held it tight. “Man am starving. When was the last time I ate something that did more than just make sure I didn’t throw in the towel?”

  “Well what do you want? I’m sure we got something I can put together for you.” She said opening the fridge.

  “You? You’re going to cook something?” She asked. Aubri was curious because the Bexley she knew sucked at putting together a meal. It was either Aubri or their uncle who took care of that.

  “Of course. You don’t really think uncle has been cooking for me this whole time do you?” She asked.

  “No. I guess not.” Aubri said.

  “So, what will it be?” She slammed the fridge and opened the freezer before looking back at Aubri.

  “A burger.” She said with a blank stare.

  “Just a burger?” She asked.

  “The biggest one you can make. Oh! and with bacon, cheese, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pepper.” Aubri’s face was glowing. She sat there imagining how delicious the sandwich would be.

  “Okay well this isn’t Burger King! Were all out of onions and
tomatoes.” She laughed.

  Aubri nodded. She was okay with whatever she put on it as long as it had bacon.

  Chapter 4

  A metal door swung open in front of Eric’s face. The county jail had smelt like must and mold. Detective Lane stood next to him waiting for a guard to direct them back into the visiting area. It was small and crowded and they had to wait their turn even though they were on time for a scheduled visit. Gibbs knew Eric was coming to visit him, but he wasn’t sure when. Detective Lane couldn’t notify him, so it would be a surprise once he seen Eric waiting for him.

  They stood in a packed room waiting to be told that it was their turn going on a little over twenty minutes. Eric was getting anxious. Another metal door opened, and the guard walked through letting the next batch of visitors through the back. It was finally their turn. Eric’s let out a deep sigh before walking into the visiting lounge. They said at a cold round table that had an on even leg causing the table to tilt more to the left when he sat. Eric thought the table was shitty. The fact was he thought this entire place was shitty but what more could you expect from a county jail. It wasn’t like they spent most of their funding on pristine tables for visitors and proper custodian’s who could do away with the awful smell.

  Eric started to wonder if it was a good idea to be visiting his dad right now. There was a voice inside of him scratching and yelling that he couldn’t do it and that he would have to come back another time. Which was just an excuse to get out of the situation and avoid speaking with his dad period. It was weird because he was the one that wanted to see his father in the first place.

  His elbows leaned against the table and his head fell to the palm of his hands. He was confused about everything. What if his dad did do it? He didn’t know but there was no way for him to stop the question from raging inside of his mind. It was impossible to drown out the idea and picture of his father butchering his mother. It was the only reason he was able to get a few hours of sleep collectively over the past few days. His world was coming to an end and he wasn’t sure where it would leave him. “I can do this.” He whispered.

  Detective Lane held his shoulder. She couldn’t imagine what he was feeling right now but she knew it wasn’t good. She knew that whatever it was it was torturing him. She could see it gloaming on his face.

  “Hey. It’ll be okay. Just try to relax.” She rubbed the back of his shoulder. “You know your father never could have done something like this.” Lane said. But it was tough for Eric to know if that statement was true. He felt bad because he wasn’t around that often after he went off to college and there was no excuse sense he lived close by. On a good day it was no more than a fifth teen minute drive. The first few months he did visit and came back for Thanksgiving and Christmas but after that his presence became almost nonexistent. When Eric entered high school, he remembered his father becoming more angry and acting out. He was always angry more than not while growing up but when he didn’t get his way things got bad pretty fast. Thinking about that made him realize how easy it was to blame his father for the loss of his mother but there was nothing he could remember that would make you feel like he wasn’t capable.

  A door buzzed on the opposite side of where Eric and Lane entered the waiting room. A correctional officer walked through and following him was the row of inmates. Gibbs was the last one to walk out the door. He looked across the room and saw his boy sitting at the table with Lane. His face was glowing. A large smiled plaster across his face not because of his situation but because he was glad to see Eric. He made him feel hopeful and that his son believed in him.

  In reality Eric was there to ask him questions. He had so many and had no idea where to start. Did he start with the elephant in the room? It was too big for him to ignore and the more he thought about it the more uneasy he became. Watching his father approached him and the smile on his face made him upset. How could he be smelling right now. He thought.

  “Hey Eric.” Gibbs hugged him squeezing his arms tight around Eric like he used to do when he was a boy. Eric was reluctant to hug his father back. He wasn’t sure what he thought of him so he thought it was best to not give him any ideas. “Its good to see you!” He said patting Eric on the back once before letting him go.

  Eric nodded. “Yeah dad.” He didn’t know what else to say but he felt as though he should say something. Gibbs opened his arms wide around detective Lane and hugged her. His arms fell to her waist before he let go. Eric’s eyebrows jumped from this forehead. He was curious. What was that all about? He thought.

  “Thank you for bringing him.” Gibbs said sitting at the uneven table. “I didn’t know you were coming today.” He said. Eric and Lane followed him down to the table. Eric and Lane on one end of the table and Gibbs on the opposite. It was the rules to keep inmates from smuggling things inside.

  “Dad.” Aric paused. “What did you-” Eric couldn’t find the right words. His hands clamed. He was slightly intimidated by his father.

  “Aric.” Gibbs stopped Eric from tripping over his words. He was aware of what Eric was trying to ask him. Over the past few nights he’s been running through all the questions Eric may have asked when he finally came to visit. He was prepared in a sense but right now figuring out how to get him out was more important. “I know you have a lot of questions but I believe it would be better if we didn’t go into any details right now considering the C.O’s are listening. It would be better if I didn’t hand over any ammunition the prosecutor can use at a trial. But I’m hoping it doesn’t even get that far.”

  When Eric heard the word trial he realized how serious the situation was of course with his mother being gone he knew that the situation was serious but he couldn’t believe it. Every moment that went by listening to his father it became apparent how much his new reality was being unveiled. There was nothing he could do about it or at least that’s what he thought at the time.

  “With that being said I want you to know that I loved your mother and that every part of me is dying inside. Having to wake up in the morning without seeing her face and knowing she will never be coming back to me. Now I have to fight being accused and framed for her tragedy. It kills me inside and I need your help.” Tears fell down Gibbs cheeks, mirroring the tears falling down Eric’s face. Lane wrapped her hand on top of Gibbs. For a moment Eric believed his him. From what he could tell this wasn’t a man who would take the life of the woman he loved.

  Detective Lane and Gibbs discussed a plan that will clear his name. Detective Lane thought about Chloe’s missing organ.

  “Maybe we should start by tracking down Chloe’s heart. If we find that maybe it could lead us to the person who did this to her.” Eric’s head shot up.

  “What are you talking about?” Eric asked. Gibbs looked at the table before looking back up at Eric.

  “Because it was difficult to tell how she died they had an autopsy done. The coroner found that the organs that were in her didn’t belong to her.” Gibbs said.

  “Who did it belong to?” He asked. Gibbs was quiet for a moment. He didn’t know what the answer to that question would make Eric think.

  “It belong to one of our victims.” Detective Lane interjected.

  Eric gave his dad a cold stare. “How does that happen? How does someone else’s organs and up in mom?” Eric said.

  Gibbs didn’t respond he just stared back at Eric knowing that it didn’t matter what he said back to him. It would sound bad no matter what.

  “We found what belong to your mom in the house but there was one thing that wasn’t accounted for. Her heart.” Her heart? Eric thought.

  “Why would someone take her heart. That doesn’t make any sense.” Eric asked.

  “We don’t know.” Lane said.

  “But I do know who took it. I’m sure of it.” Gibbs said.

  “Who?” Eric asked. Gibbs pressed a fist into his hands crushing his knuckles.

  “Nepolai.” Gibbs face tensed up just thinking about his name.

&nbs
p; “Why does that name sounds so familiar?” Eric asked.

  “Probably because he goes to Ohio State.” Detective Lane told him.

  That’s where he rememberd the name from. He didn’t actually know him but he’s heard his name on campus before. He vaguely remembered what he looked like but he wasn’t a hundred percent sure. It made him curious to why in the hell would someone from his school do such a horrific thing. That is if it were true. It was easier for him to believe that his father did it than some student at school. What was the meaning for doing it? Was there a purpose? he thought.

  “I need both of your help with this.” Gibbs said.

  “What do you expect me to do?” Eric asked.

  “Well if we want to prove my innocence we need to start by following Nepolai. See who he’s hanging with, track where they’re going and try to document anything and everything you can.” Gibbs said.

  Eric wondered if his dad really expected him to find some guy with a heart. He doubted the possibility of someone walking around with it. How was he sure that it was still intact enough to be used as evidence or at least set him free?

  “I can take care that, but I would have to do it on my down time considering the chief made this a major case and made it off-limits to everyone in our department.” Lane said. Although detective Lane was more experienced Gibbs didn’t think that she should be the one following Nepolai. It was too dangerous because he would know her face and he had no doubt that if Nepolai seen her and caught her when she was most vulnerable he probably never seen her again. After experiencing someone so close to you being killed by your suspect he had no reason not to think he would do the same to her. If not that it would probably dig more of a whole for Gibbs.