Chapter 3
"So, due to the case on the letters, it'll be just us." Danny said, as he and Mandy walked to the lab.
"I didn't mean for Stella to get reassigned." Mandy said, yawning.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Danny asked.
"Before or after I made sure I had locked my doors for the ten billionth time?" Mandy asked.
"If you want to, maybe Mira can stay with you." Danny suggested, biting his lower lip. He could not believe he was about to say this. "Or even me." He said.
"I'll be fine." Mandy said.
"Are you saying that because you don't want me staying over?" Danny asked, laughing a little.
"Not yet." Mandy replied, causing Danny to stare at her. Did she really say what he thinks she just said? Was it possible?
Mandy wanted a hand to fly up and cover her mouth. She could not believe she let that slip. And, based on Danny's reaction, he couldn't either.
They stared at each other for a second and then quickly turned away to their piles of evidence they had in the lab they had to look over.
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“You know, you can tell a lot about a woman by looking at her CD collection.” Mandy said, as Danny turned to face her. He watched a smile crawl across her face.
“I think you’ve found something.” Danny said.
“She owns fifty autographed CDs by the same band.” Mandy said.
“Fifty?” Danny asked, staring at Mandy.
“Pretty close. And they’re signed by at least the lead singer. The band signed a few, and then a couple of them signed a few. But, the lead singer signed every one of them.” Mandy said, setting down CDs to prove it.
Danny looked them over. “Each one is signed personally to her, his Angel.” Mandy added.
“Think we may have found a suspect?” Danny asked.
“I’ll have someone run his name, see if they come up with something.” Mandy said.
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“Okay, apparently Kenneth James has a thing for groupies.” Mandy said, joining Danny back in the lab.
“What did you find?” Danny asked
“He’s been in jail before, for murdering Sasha Taylor. He met her at Rudy’s Roundabout, which was Sasha and Angel’s place of employment.” Mandy said.
“Rudy’s Roundabout?” Danny asked.
“It's a bar that’s a place for up and coming bands to play. It’s apparently where Kenneth’s band got its start, until they disbanded due to Kenneth’s murder charge.” Mandy said.
“So, how about we go talk to him?” Danny asked.
“Already talked to Mac. We’re going to do some undercover things. Flack has already talked to Kenneth and could tell he was hiding something.” Mandy explained.
“Undercover?” Danny asked.
“Well, it sort of slipped out that you could sing, so you’ll keep an eye out from the stage. I’ll play the possible next victim and Flack will have some of his buddies there, to keep another eye out.” Mandy said.
“It sort of slipped out?” Danny asked.
“Yes.” Mandy said, looking at the ground.
“I take it a little bird told him, right?” Danny said, as Mandy smiled.
“A blue jay.” Mandy replied, a smile on her face. Danny just laughed.
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“Danny, how is it that I’ve never seen you wear anything sleeveless?” Mandy asked, as they stood by the bar before opening.
“Everyone has their demons.” Danny replied.
“Does it deal with the Tanglewood boys?” Mandy asked. She noticed Danny’s jaw tighten.
So, she just walked off. She knew he wasn’t pushing her about the letters, so she wouldn’t push him about the gang. It would come out, sometime.
Danny wanted to tell her. He had always tried to hide his involvement with those guys. He didn’t want to hide it from Mandy.
He watched her go talk with Mira and Flack. She looked sexy in her jeans and plain white shirt. Somehow, the simplicity of it all made it so much better.
His hand reached up to his upper back to scratch, and it stopped at the spot by his shoulders. He knew what was back there. His demon.
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Danny had to admit it, he had been having fun. The band knew any song you could think of. People kept shouting out requests and then the band would play them.
Danny had kept a careful eye on Mandy as she served drinks. A few seconds ago, she had stopped at a table to clean up and had picked up an unmarked envelope.
She quickly opened it and then her breath caught in her throat. Mira must have noticed because the first second that the band was taking requests, she suggested one of Mandy’s favorite songs.
Beauty queen of only eighteen
She had some trouble with herself
He was always there to help her
She always belonged to someone else
I drove for miles and miles
And wound up at your door
I've had you so many times but somehow
I want more
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn't matter anymore
It's not always rainbows and butterflies
It's compromise that moves us along
My heart is full and my door's always open
You can come anytime you want
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
She will be loved
I know where you hide
Alone in your car
Know all of the things that make you who you are
I know that goodbye means nothing at all
Comes back and begs me to catch her every time she falls
Tap on my window knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I don't mind spending everyday
Out on your corner in the pouring rain
Look for the girl with the broken smile
Ask her if she wants to stay awhile
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
And she will be loved
Danny kept his eyes on Mandy. He watched a few tears come to her eyes and he watched her smile. She was feeling better.
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“Well, we got no leads. If Kenneth showed up, he slipped in.” Flack said to Mira, Mandy and Danny.
The three looked a little disappointed. Mandy’s hand was in her pocket, fiddling with the letter. Mira had a hand on Mandy’s shoulder. Danny had his arms crossed, but kept a watchful eye on Mandy.
She had seemed a little out of it. Ever since she had received that last note, she had seemed a little uneasy. Stella had come in and taken a look at the note, only to return and say Mandy’s apartment had been broken into.
Now, as Flack was speaking, she wasn’t fully paying attention. So, Flack seemed to just stop and keep talking with Mira. Mandy slowly started stepping away, but then turned back to face Danny.
Mandy bit her bottom lip. The note had unraveled her. And now, she felt like she was doing the unthinkable. “Danny, do you want some ice cream?” She asked.
Danny smiled at her. “Sure.” He said, as he grabbed his coat off the chair he had laid it over for the talk from Flack.
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Central Park gave them one of the most beautiful sights of New York City. Mandy loved all the lights shining through the trees in the park.
“You know, I was going to ask you to stay the night.” Mandy said.
“Why don’t you?” Danny asked.
“Because I’m not ready to be that close with a guy yet.” Mandy said.
Mandy looked over at Danny and saw the look of confusion on his face. “Mandy, don’t say its more demons.” He whispered. He noticed Mandy swallow hard. “Damn it Mandy. Why is everything so secretive with you all of a sudden?” Danny asked.
“Because I’ve been hurt.” She said forcefully. “You want to know my demons so bad? Fine, I’ll tell you them.” She said, standing so close to him. “I was seduced by a TA in college. My then fiancé promised to protect me but ended up raping me. I turned him in, he got arrested, and then I started getting the letters from the stalker. The entire time I was in college, I kept wishing you were with me, because I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.” Mandy said, tears forming in her eyes.
Danny quickly finished his chocolate cone while she was talking. And, he was taken back by her last sentence. She wished he had been there, because he wouldn’t hurt her. But then, he remembered her not wanting a relationship. “But it wouldn’t have worked. There’s stuff about me you don’t like, which stopped us from getting together.” He replied, all excitement falling from his face.
“But, you would have been away from the Tanglewood. You wouldn’t be living in a house that was under surveillance.” Mandy said, more tears coming to her eyes,
“You knew I was a Tanglewood Boy?” Danny asked. Was it just him, or had the air become so thick? And his tattoo had suddenly become so itchy.
“I kept thinking that if I pretended I didn’t know, then every time I saw you, I wouldn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.” Mandy said, tears running down her face.
Danny moved closer to Mandy, to wipe away her tears. But, she quickly left, heading home.
So, Danny took a seat on the nearest bench. And, like he hadn’t done since the last time he lost Mandy, he cried.