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Breathe– Chapter 22
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Bette took a step back from the wall never letting her eyes stray from the picture he had so carefully prepared and placed as his gift to her.
Her chest tightened and her skin tingled as each nerve prepared itself to fight, flee or take any other action that ensured its survival.
The suffocating weight in her chest caused Bette to finally gasp as her burning lungs could no longer work with the air that had lost its life minutes ago.
Resisting the urge to give in to his madness and accept that she could no longer keep Tina, or anyone else for that matter, safe Bette took a deep, calming breath.
The room had grown silent, all work and gathering of evidence forgotten as the full impact of a simple picture on a wall was fully realized.
Jeff Kaplan had left the crumpled body of the victim and was now standing next to James and Bette, speechless at this bizarre and twisted development in a case he already found so disturbing that he had trouble leaving his daughters’ room each night.
Finally finding her voice, Bette hoarsely asked. “Jeff, I need you to check her mouth,” she said, bile finding its way to her throat as she knew what he would find.
He blinked his eyes and swallowed hard. “What,” he looked back at the victim, almost panicked at the thought of violating her further by prying her mouth open in front of a crowded room.
“Not here, Bette,” he almost pleaded. “Rigor is still in her jaw. I can’t just,” he paused, unable to finish the sentence and hoping Bette would understand what she was asking of him.
She dropped her head, looking at the floor she brought her hands up and rested them on her hips, one protectively draped across the butt of her revolver. “I know Jeff,” she answered, horrified by the request but needing him to do it just the same.
He shook his head, “I can’t Bette. It’s not right,” he barely choked out and then looked to James for support.
James just shook his head and responded. “I’ll do it.”
Kaplan looked even more panicked, realizing that not only were his emotions clouding his mind and judgment, but were preventing him from doing his job and following a direct request from the officer in charge.
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Another great chapter!!!Keep them coming can’t WAIT!
Sox – This story continues to be simply amazing. Thanks so much.
Another Great chapter Sox. Thanks so much for this story.
OMG I LOVE THIS STORY! You really know how to get someone’s attention! PLEASE post again soon!
fantastic story, just like reading a bestseller, looking forward to next post.
Your talent amazes me to no end. My eyes were glued to these last chapters that felt so real, as if they, the chapters, were being enacted on a live television broadcast. Damn! You’re good.
Amazing story, amazing detail…and once I got past the breaking teeth in this chapter I really enjoyed it….LOL…yikes! Wonderful story!
Man, this is an amazing story…I can’t believe how real it seems. As a reader, I feel the emotions of the characters…Excellent, just excellent.
SOX, YOUR A WONDERFUL STORY TELLER.I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS STORY…GREAT JOB….
While reading this ,you forget to breathe. Cold chills and goosebump over you body. Glad I have two big chows and an attack cat. This is so well written,you feel like you are in the room with them. THANKS
This story is so incredible!! I just read the last 2 chapters and I’m home alone and creeped out! lol I’ll turn on the alarm :) Please keep posting I love the suspense!!
WOW!! This is so dramatic and well written! I feel like I’m watching Law and Order. Great update!
Wow thanks for the birthday present, I love this story!
Sox – you are completely blowing me away. From the details of the forensic processes to Bette and Tina’s amazing connection and need to the Bette’s understanding the mind of a killer – you are hitting it out of the park completely. Girl you should be publishing this stuff. I can’t believe I was on line and caught it right when you posted – such a late night treat. Thanks for all your hard work and for sharing it with us.
Thank you Sox for sharing with all of us your awesome story and your incredible writing skill, I feel my heart skip beats as I slowly read my way through each impacted word. I just want to savor every moment of this lucid drama, I cannot wait for your continuation of Bette and Tina’s incredibly captivating story!
This is better than TV! I know, the written word always is, but in your case, it’s true. You shared with us how Bette’s first love died. Will she be faced with a similar situation with Tina? I hope not although I know it might help Bette to lay the memories to rest. Can’t wait to read more of this. Thanks again.
you just keep getting better, each chapter has me sitting in awe, my mouth and throat go dry, just reading this. It’s beyon words to try to express this story that is un folding in front of me.
I have read tons of mystery/thrillers and they just can’t compare. I don’t know what it is about you and this story. I crave it.
There is so much humanity in Jeff Kaplan. His overwhelming sense of respect and protection makes you glad that he was there to assist. That scene was one of the most powerful that I have read. I had tears running down my cheeks. Gruesome in it’s neccessity and terrifying in it’s results. There is a sickening maliciousness with this ubiquitous killer.
The way you are building up the suspense is masterful. Each agonizing step is drawing us closer to the edge of the high dive.
Does Bette trust that the killer won’t stop at impersonating an officer? He seems to think that he’s invincible at this point. I’m hoping that Tina doesn’t trust implicitly and takes precautions to make sure that if something chages, it’s because Bette herself has ordered it.
I love that your story is filled with subtle innuendo and symbolism. It makes our playing detective that much sweeter.
And you’re right…you are entitled to a little fun with your hubby. Besides, if it results in another great chapter like this – then we might be able to share him after all.
More…please!
keeps getting better and better and better..!!!!!!!
I’m actually shaking as I finish reading this chapter. I had the same thoughts as Lsbn about the possibility of impersonating an officer and I just hope a form of password is implemented, scary for Tina, but necessary to try and keep her safe.
I do feel that I am saying the same thing over and over again but I don’t care. This is great This is great. This is great. I love all the procedural details; makes me feel I am really there.
Bette is going to have a hard time coping with all this. She is in an emotionally charged state. She has just met somebody and both of them have in a way fixated on each other. There is going to be an ongoing serious and imminent danger – at least in the short possibly to medium term complicated by what happened to Bobbie. She is going to have to deal with her emotions in an mature, intelligent AND articulate way. Is she up to it? All we have really seen of Bette so far is that she shuts down and holds everything in – don’t see how she can do this here and keep everything together with her job. This story is the absolute best on this site.
sox i.am.speechless. im so tense that i cant go to bed. this has my mind just spinning. the connection between b/t is overwhelming the way you write it. i truly feel everything that all the characters are feeling. what a sicko. to have to witness something like that and then be normal for the ones they love. how hard would that be. im feeling this. hopefully you wont forget about us over the weekend. dont know if my mind can take it. thank you for this.
That was great but the suspense is killing me. Please type faster.
Wo! So intense! I did not even think about a police impersonator till someone commented…..I hope not!
I’m very worried for our favorite girls.
Please thank you hubby for his williness to share you, and thank you for sharing your story with us.
i swear i dont no how im gonna get thru next week without knowing whats going on in your story im gona go crazy but the upside is if u post everyday i’ll have a weeks worth of stories to read when i get back!! this chapter was so dramatic and real this guy is really starting to piss me off i almost screamed at the computer this morning but realised that if i did i would get in trouble. keep it up cant wait for the next one!!
Hey sox I’m just catching up Whoa! it getting Intense and very dramatic written I Love it I can’t read in the evening it is scare Me LOL! Please continue post soon and Thanks.
I’m sincerely astounded by your impressive knowledge and mastery in matter of police procedure ! Your detective story is so powerful, I’m speachless…
Really, you should seriously think about writing detective novels or scripts or whatever you’d prefer to do. I mean it. You have the gift for that, really.
There’s such a thrilling escalation of blind violence, deepest and strongers emotions possible, fears, questions marks, hate and love… So intense ! And, in addition, marvelously written.
You. are. talented. A lot.
God, more than ever I cannot wait to know what will happened now !
Thank you – a LOT !
Well, well, well – first let me say the quality of your work never disappoints. Another impeccably written chapter.
Although the fear that Bette must feel knowing that this guy was in her safe space is intense, it seems necessary as she needs to know what she is up against. I am also glad that she is not retreating from Tina, as could easily be the case due to the intense circumstances surrounding their union. However, I am not convinced that the Four Seasons is a safer place considering the very average nature of this guy’s appearance. Even if he does not impersonate a police officer, I’m sure he can slip by the hotel staff fairly easily since he must look harmless.
I hope he continues to plan the perfect attack for Tina (thus giving Bette more time to determine his identity) while executing his current M.O. on other victims (I know that must sound insensitive, but if he has to kill again I wouldn’t want it to be one or both of our girls). However, I also know that extending his planning time may not be plausible since he is losing patience.
Surely he left another piece of himself at this crime scene considering he had the arrogance to return several hours after the crime was committed.
Anyway, Sox I beg you to give Bette and Tina a few hours of peace together. Bette needs a mental reprieve to maintain her sanity and Tina needs to be close to Bette again.
this is like Law & Order SVU or similar, you got me spooked!!! That killer is in for the run of his life, ’cause bette ain’t gonna let nothin happen too Tina!!!
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit. This guy is sick and you’re starting to give me nightmares Sox, have Bette catch the asshole before I suffer from being sleep deprived buddy! Post soon I love how into the story you’ve got me!
Oh My God!! If its comments you need to keep this story going, then comments you will get!! Your story is A-MAZ-ING! I find myself coming to this site more and more just to see if YOU have posted…Im addicted!! You have the balance between the story and the relationship and the occasional chapter in the killer’s view PERFECT! And the details are incredible! Keep up the great work and post soon!
Just amazing! Your story really take our breath away.
I wonder how Bette will keep Tina safe…because from what i can see he is following Bette…so now that Bette will meet Tina he will know again where she is right ??. Gosh im sooo loving this story! Post soon!.
Wow!!! Your words are so detailed, I feel like I need to run, somewhere, and do something, but WHAT?!!!
My goodness Sox, I needed to take a minute to compose myself. You have me feeling EVERY word, emotion and action; and not just from Bette and Tina, but all the other participants as well.
Polarice said it first, you make one feel like they’re watching L & O SVU.
I ditto mc’s comment for the exception of being online; I had sat here and read so many other stories that I eventually went to sleep and it would seem, right when you posted, but I’m glad that I had the chance to read it now.
Happy Birthday to you Jackiee!!!!
@ Bettyv….nothing like an “attack cat” for protection :) LOL
God..my heart just pounds reading this story. You will definitely get an award next time..Sox. Amazing
Hope Tina will be ok with the cop there!