The Curse Of Eden
Chapter 8- I'll always protect you

Collette kept pacing her living room back and forth, her nerves on edge. She was contemplating what was the best way to tell Adam about what she found out. The only problem is that it will lead to the exposure of what she's done. Several ways popped into her head but then were quickly dismissed. If she were to send him an anonymous note, he'd immediately notice her handwriting and if she computer typed it she still wouldn't know who to send it with or how long it might take.

Her train of thoughts was cut short with the sound of someone fumbling with the keys outside the front door.

Adam made an entrance through the door, slightly surprised with the woman standing right in front of him like a ghost out of a horror movie.

"Geez Collette. Why are you standing here like that?" He sighed as he shut the door.

"Uhmm..nothing. I was waiting for you." Collette replied nervously. She was sure in her mind that Adam will be extremely pissed no doubt.

He looked at her suspiciously. "I don't really see why waiting for me here is necessary." His expression suddenly changed. "Did something happen?"

"No no. Everything is fine." Collette dismissed with a wave of her hands.

Adam stared down at her with semi narrowed eyes before brushing it off and marching upstairs towards his room.

"I know where the next victim will be." Collette blurted out, making him stop midway just as he was about to ascend the stairs.

"I know where E's next victim will be found." She repeated, thinking that the best course of action was to just blurt everything out. Adam can react whichever way he liked but he had to know so that he and his team get moving.

Adam turned around slowly in his place as he spoke. "And how do you know that?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. He knew his wife did something just the moment he stepped into the house. He didn't k ow that she'd be blurring it out so soon though.

"I..uhm...I did something."

"Collette." Adam sighed.

Instead of speaking, she grabbed his hand and led him towards their room.

"What is God's name.." Adam gaped out at the mess on their bed.

Collette reached out for the map to show him what she meant.

"See, each dot indicates where each of E's victims was found. They were six so far, forming two parallel lines. But that's the thing, you guys didn't know about my father being the first victim and he corresponds perfectly beside the dots on top. Which means that the next victim will be found in a place that would continue the other line. Somewhere crowded. A place where he can create his big show."

"Wednesday's fair." Adam whispered out.

"Yes! And that's only two days from today."

"The time between the killings was never this close." Adam thought out loud.

"Something must've happened."

The detective, never more flustered in his life, ran his hand through his hair while the other rested on his hip.

"How did you even get the case files anyways?"

Collette looked at the map guiltily. "I- I went to your office and-"

"Oh for the love of everything sane, Collette." Adam groaned.

"What did you expect me to do Adam when I know I could help!" She tried to defend.

"What part of not wanting you involved in all this don't you get! Why do you keep placing yourself in situations in which you'll get hurt?"

"And why do you want to keep me away so bad? It's not my first case and those are my hurtful memories." Collette replied.

"It hurts me too Collette. Seeing you the way you did hurts me too." Adam's voice broke and his tone lowered.

Collette sighed and took a calm step towards her husband.

"Adam this case is directly related to me. It's related to my past and I, more than anyone else can help you. I don't want to stay hulled up in her. I'm tired of being on the weak end of the line."

Adam looked at his wife tongue-tied. He never wanted her to feel tied up or completely dependent on someone but he couldn't help the feeling of always wanting to protect her. Especially not after what happened with his sister. "Adam please." Collette pleaded as she moved closer. "It's not like I'll be fighting E straight on. Plus, you'll be there to protect me right?"

"I'll always protect you."

A wide grin appeared on Collette's face as she cupped her husband's face and pecking him on the lips. "Finish changing and come down then. I made you your favorite lasagna."

"Yes, we'll need to be on the lookout starting now. We can't miss this opportunity if it really is one." Adam spoke through the phone. "Tell the chief that I'll come to explain everything in an hour."

Collette remained silent as she waited for her husband to get off the phone with Ken. Se felt bad that he had to run back to HQ tonight but the sooner they're done with this case, the better. She played with her fork, dancing it through her lasagna.

"Okay, I guess all we have to do now is wait till he shows up." Adam spoke, making her look up at him.

He was already off the phone and taking his seat in front of her.

"A part of me feels bad about this Adam." Collette voiced out.

"Bad about what?"

"Think about it. E is actually saving those families from their abusive fathers. He's not killing just for the fun of it."

Adam sighed. "His cause may be noble but nothing justifies for murder Collette. He could've notified the authorities about them one way or another and they'd be prosecuted legally. Those families could still be saved."

"Oh please Adam, you know it's not that easy. They'll be asking him for evidence and other many many paperwork and stuff and it will be his words against all those men, including their families. You saw how Mrs. Everglade was too adamant about not saying a word, even after her husband was killed." Collette argued.

"That's still no excuse Collette. Once a killer will always be a killer. And you never know, he might go on another killing spree once he's done with all the Holers."

"Yeah..maybe...."

The couple remained in silence as they nibbled at their dinner, none of them at all hungry. But suddenly, an idea hit Collette causing her to break the heavy silence. "What if we found out whom the next victim might be before he's killed."

Adam looked up at her with furrowed eyebrows. "And how do we do that?"

"We scout out the Holer near that are. How old did you say Mr. Everglade's body was?"

"Doctor Newman said that he was dead for about twenty-four hours before he was found. All the victims had the same death span."

"And they're homes are all near the place they were found?"

Adam's thoughts ran crazily as his mind calculated the facts.

"So what, he takes them from their houses, kills them somewhere close, changes their clothes then places them somewhere to be found." "He doesn't want to risk being caught with a body." Collette continued after her husband.

"But how do we know who he'll strike next if we know nothing about the Holers?" Collette's mind hazed from reality for a moment before looking back up at her husband. "My father. My father had an entry journal remember."