Free The Forsaken by Estevan Vega Page B

about? You think I want your position? I came here for Mike. He and my father were close. He asked me to be a part of this case, to help you. Why is that so hard for you to believe?”
    “It isn’t,” Jude spat. “It’s just stupid. I’m not some scared-stiff rookie. No one’s gotta come and save me.”
    “It must be hard to be the only one at the top of that tower. Must be lonely.”
    “Being lonely is better than getting knifed in the back.”
    “Wow. I have tried to open up, and in less than a day, you’ve attempted to run me through the mud every chance you get. You don’t wanna talk, fine by me.”
    Rachel tore at a hangnail. He knew he was making a significant impression on her. He smiled inwardly and turned the radio up a notch. She then lowered it. But a moment passed, and he raised it again.
    “What is it with you? You hate everybody. You trust no one, not even the people who try to help you. Are those sessions doing anything ?”
    Jude paused. He never expected his sessions with Dr. Irons to be brought up. “How do you know—”
    “People like to talk. It’s amazing what your colleagues are willing to share with the new girl.”
    “Just proves me right,” Jude hissed. “Everybody chews on everybody. I hate it. Makes me sick. Bunch of vermin crawlin’ around in their own vomit.”
    “Well, at least it’s finally safe to say with absolute certainty that he loathes all life, not just independent women, Rachel,” she said, rolling down her window.
    “You refer to yourself in the third person?”
    “When the occasion calls for it.”
    “You had no right digging into my life like that.”
    “Relax. You can hardly call it digging into your life . I just asked a few questions around the offices. Didn’t know I’d find such a colorful past.”
    Jude’s jaw felt tight. He slung it back and forth during the tension of the moment. Half of him wanted to speed the car up then slow it down by slamming the brakes, but he didn’t want her to get hurt, only to shut up. Shut up and leave him in peace to think about the case, to think about how to fix his life. He had been well on his way to putting his world back in orbit before she dropped in.
    “I don’t care what the chief says. This is my case.”
    “I’m your partner.”
    “On paper.” He was efficient at cutthroat replies. “And for the time being, we’ll play copacetic. But as long as you’re with me, you follow my lead. I’m not gonna get hurt because of you.”
    “Skipping right to the break up, huh?” she said. “Nice.”
    “None of this is permanent. Mike’s having a mid-life crisis or something. Thinks he can give his life meaning by taking in strays.”
    “I forgot to add that you’re miserable and self-righteous too,” she seethed. “It’s no mystery you’re all alone.”
    “I just don’t walk around with false hope. That ring looks expensive. What made him run?”
    Rachel paused and toyed with the metal.
    “Not so fun in reverse, is it? Please, it wasn’t that hard. It was on the other hand yesterday. Not to mention you’ve been toying with it since we got in the car.”
    Jude steered the car down Hollow Lane. He knew this area. They were close to the projects she spoke of.
    “Bravo,” Rachel said.
    “And with a catch like you, I’d wager there’s more to that story.”
    “Not really,” she replied, a little embarrassed. “You know, you don’t have to break your heart a thousand times to learn that it’s fragile.”
    “Sound like an expert. How many times did it take?”
    “Twice.” She hid her hands, and he could tell she wanted tears to cleanse her. “That’s all.”
    As the car rolled atop the asphalt, Jude found himself studying the soul of this place. He didn’t have to search hard. It lived all around the space where they drove and where the one-day victims lingered. It crawled inside the children playing hopscotch when they should’ve been in school. It waltzed through the teenage mothers