15 Chapter 18

Derrick arrived home to an inquisitive Jennifer. She had much to share and really needed to get it out of her brain and into someone else's. The hour out in public that Jennifer took the liberty of gifting herself had resulted in many problems, some interesting information, and a possible new friend that could assist with a number of shady sort of things.

Someone had had a very rough day and that someone wore a shirt covered with blood and face painted with somberness and despair. There was a good chance that presenting any information gathered today could result in a mental breakdown and Jennifer would have to do the saving this time.

Doing his best to present a happy, upbeat attitude, "What's up Jenn? How's the day been? I have been busier than a flea on a runaway dog." His fake smile was obvious, especially to Jennifer who had trained herself to read body language and subtle social nuances.

Jennifer smiled and lowered her head, "Well, we have much to discuss. I have an inkling that you need some time to decompress. When you're ready, I'd like to discuss things." She shuffled her bare feet on the smooth off white tile she stood on. Like a little kid that was in trouble and was just awaiting her punishment.

There was clearly something going on, something that was beyond Jennifer's comprehension, "Sure. Let me go take a shower. Wash this day off of me and we can get down to business." Slowly, Derrick trudged his way up the stairs while possibly sobbing, Jennifer couldn't tell.

Jennifer didn't know how to cook, she rarely ate a complete meal, but she knew the basics for spaghetti. Boiling the water, grabbing the noodles, cooking the meat and adding the sauce, she wanted it all to be done by the time Derrick made his way back from whatever demons he was fighting. Short of a small fire on the stove top, nothing to be concerned about, she had done it. The noodles were slightly under cooked and the sauce had splattered all over the place but the meal was as good as it was going to get.

With a smile on his face, "What in the world are you doing my dear? Did you go and fix us some dinner? That's fantastic. I've never had someone cook for me for a change." He smiled again and this time it didn't feel like he was wearing a mask over his face. It was a heart felt smile that really meant the world to Jennifer, regardless of how horribly hard the noodles were.

With a large, comical shrug, "I did my best. Let's suffer through these noodles and pretend that it's perfect. Deal?" Jennifer was proud of herself but with each bite and crunch of the under cooked noodles, she slowly lost her pride and sunk into a slight depressive state.

Derrick looked up, he too was able to read simple body language, "Don't get down on yourself Jenn. First time cooking? You did a hell of a job for your first time." He happily crunched his way to an empty plate and even went back for seconds. Crunch, crunch, crunch.

With each crunch they both flinched. The final flinch caused them to lock eyes resulting in both of them bursting out in oxygen depriving laughter. Even make joined in with doggie kisses and the zoomies.

After finishing off the spaghetti, "So, give me your notes. What did you determine today?" Derrick was at the sink pre-washing the dishes before delicately putting them into the stainless steel dishwasher.

Taking a deep breath and a large sip of water, "It turns out, those intruders, those were my parents. I confirmed this with a short walk today and saw them unmasked and in public." Jennifer wanted to lay everything out there at once but she figured if Derrick was going through something emotional, bit by bit would work best.

His jaw dropped, as did the glass he was rubbing down with an inefficient silk rag, "Are you shitting me? You found them...that fast?" Derrick leaned down and started to sweep up the glass, careful to ensure he got every little tiny particle.

Shaking her head like a bobble head doll, "Yep, Detective Phillips and Grumpy were with them and buying them stuff. They're staying at the Grand Marque just down the road." She pointed as if Derrick didn't know where the Grand Marque was located. He must have made one thousand visits to that hotel for sketchy, sweep it under the rug type of calls.

Dumping the glass into the trash and still digesting the new information, "Okay, that's a problem. They seem to be sponsored by the SFPD to do some shady stuff to find you at all costs." This set Derrick on edge, knowing the police were going to bend the rules in their favor for the sake of chasing a lead they both thought was squashed.

This was some heavy stuff, hard to understand and difficult to process, "There's more. I met a guy named Rock and found our next victim as long as fate and justice don't get in the way." Jennifer seemed very content with herself, she had done a lot in a short amount of time.

Baffled by this information, "Rock? Really? I've met him a time or two, he seems...abrasive, I guess. You guys hit off?" Derrick didn't wait for a response as he was simply being funny, "Who's our next target and what are the details?"

Jennifer pulled the magazine from her back pocket and flashed the cover, "This is the target, pending any failure of his league team, he has earned his way to the front of the line for the Christmas Darling." She elated to show him the cover and how high profile this guy was. "Also, Rock, he's seems like a good, street wise kind of guy. He may be just what we need when we actually need something."

Derrick smirked his most causal smirk, "Doyle? Doyle! I have been to at least five of his crime scenes. If he did do this stuff, he is the king of the dirt bags. That's a damn good find Jenn. About Rock, him and I seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. He deals with prostitutes and drugs and guns then I come in and clean up his mess. We'll see about him."

With a passive nod of the head, "I understand. Did you have a bad day? Would you tell me about it?" At this moment she was not concerned with Mr. Doyle, she was feeling compassion for her housemate.

Contemplating whether to spill all the details or hold some back, "You want all of the story? It gets pretty rough." Jennifer sat softly on the couch and waited for the full on tale of the day.

With a somber exhale, "I got called to a know meth users house, been there ten times easy." His voice slowed, preparing himself to relive the attrocities that he had witnessed today, "It was my first infant call, ever. I've been doing this for a long time and this was my first. The meth head mom put her baby in the stove because a 'monster' told her to do it. She was just following the 'monster's' orders."

Jennifer grasped at her mouth, not knowing what to say or if she should say anything at all.

Derrick continued, "The baby was cooked alive. The fucking diaper ignited in the stove and reinforced death on this innocent little baby. Everything was burned, everything." He broke down crying, nose running and all. "Fucking eyelids were burned off for God sake. Who does that, what type of person does that?"

Adding a tear to the bucket of tears Derrick was filling, "That's horrible. I'm sorry you had to see that. What happens to the Mother?" Jennifer tried her best to show real human compassion but she was put on this Earth to do one thing and one thing only, restore balance to society and make the evil pay for their horrific crimes.

Knowing what would happen, Derrick continued to weep, "She'll be tried, found not guilty, and sent to a rehab center all for the sake of saving space in the jails and prisons." It had happened so many times before, a parent full of drugs kills their kid, gets arrested, and gets a slap on the wrist in terms of real justice.

Jennifer got up as elegantly as you could after flopping down on a couch and hugged Derrick. She knew he was hurting but she also knew this was not Christmas Darling material. It was the way of the world out here.

They still needed to discuss the police academy and the machinist Derrick had been in contact with but that was not a conversation to be had at this time. Not at all.

It was time to move on to Doyle and determine a path forward concerning his potential acquittal and imminent death by the hands of our Christmas Darling.