A Deadly Obsession

CHAPTER 1

Graduation Weekend

Congratulations everyone. You are now New York Police officers!

Brian McReynolds was glad that he was finally out of the academy, and he had done so well that he graduated at the rank of detective. His father, Sean McReynolds had been a detective also, killed a year ago in the line of duty, and he was the reason Brian joined the NYPD, and possibly why he had graduated at the top of the class.

He missed his father today. He couldn’t help remembering all the times he had thought of this day, and knew his dad would be so proud of him. He had felt a pang of sadness when he had looked into the crowd and saw his mother alone. She had been crying, and Brian knew it was because she missed her husband.

Liza McReynolds, Brian’s widowed mother, had always tried to discourage him from joining the police force. She became more adamant about it since her husband died last fall. She had cried when Brian had enrolled in the academy, and she had tried to persuade him to join her in her move to New Jersey, where her family lived.

Everyone had told Brian he could do great things with his intelligence. They said that becoming a cop was a waste of his great potential, but he knew all he wanted to be was a detective for the NYPD. Ever since he could remember, he looked up to his dad, and wanted to be just like him.

Brian was twenty-three years old. He was average height. Because he had worked in construction since high school, he was strong and excelled at the physical aspects of the police academy. He was smart, too. High school and also classes at the academy had been no problem for Brian.

Hey, man. Way to go! he heard from behind him. He turned around and saw his best friend, Joe Davis Jr. heading towards him. He had known Joe, who he called JD, since the third grade when he and his family moved to New York from New Hampshire. They moved to New York when JD’s father got a job at the New York Times as an editor.

JD was shorter than Brian, and he had a habit of drinking and partying a lot, which resulted in a bit of a beer belly. They had worked in construction together, and shared an apartment in the city. He was the complete opposite of Brian. He liked to keep everything a mess, and studying and making something of his life never seemed important to him. He was content with his mediocre construction job.

Hey JD, I didn’t expect to see you here this early. I’ve never seen you out of bed before 11:30, said Brian, with a smirk. He knew his buddy was about to invite him to go drinking to celebrate his graduation.

I wouldn’t have made it, if your mom hadn’t come over and dragged me out of bed. Liza, who had always treated JD like a second son, after the death of his mother, walked up. She looked as though she would start crying again.

Brian, you be careful. And JD, don’t keep him out too late, he needs to rest up for his new job!

"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he gets a few hours sleep Sunday night,’’ JD said with a chuckle and a wink.

JD, don’t you ever take anything seriously? Congratulations, Brian. You’re still coming for lunch tomorrow, right?

Of course I am, Ma. Thanks for coming. See you tomorrow around noon.

Alright, said JD, once Liza had left. Let’s go party!

Brian was hoping that the party was going to be at the Dublin Pub, one of his favorite bars. He should have known JD was planning a surprise party at the apartment when he said they had to stop there before they headed to the bar.

Brian thought this party would be different from the usual Friday night ragers that JD always threw, but he should have known better. It was at their 600 square foot two bedroom apartment with twenty or so of their friends from high school who hadn’t done anything with their lives either. It was so crowded in the little apartment it was hard to move.

Everyone was slapping Brian on the back and congratulating him. He didn’t like people making a fuss over him like this, but he figured this one night, he should just enjoy the attention.

Drink up, Bri, it’s your party! said JD, handing Brian another beer, and finishing his fifth bottle.

No thanks, man. I’m trying to cut back, and I’m still working on this one.

JD just shrugged and started in on his sixth bottle, disappearing back into the sea of people. At around nine thirty, Brian was getting tired of partying, and headed to his room. Despite all the commotion going on, he tried to get some sleep, but the party continued well until the morning. It was a good thing Brian didn’t have to be up too early.

Brian got up around 10:30 am. He showered and combed his hair. He checked himself out in his mirror, his hazel eyes gazing back in the reflection. He usually shaved every morning, but today he decided to skip that part of his routine, because he had to head to his mothers soon. He would have to just take care of the stubble tomorrow.

He left the apartment at 11:15. Good thing New Jersey isn’t too far away, I just hope there isn’t too much traffic! he thought to himself.

On the way, he decided to stop at a little diner he knew, Rocko’s Diner, to get a cup of coffee. He skipped breakfast, and he was still tired from the party, so he needed a quick pick-me-up.

As he walked in, he glanced at the waitress, who was serving more coffee to an elderly man. Brian stopped in his tracks. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her brown hair was in a ponytail, and when the old man said what must have been a joke to her, she flashed a breathtaking smile.

I’ll be with you in a moment, said the waitress, when she noticed Brian staring. He stole a glance at her name tag, Rachel.

I’ve been coming in here for years, and I’ve never seen her before, Brian thought to himself. I’m definitely gonna start coming more often though.

After she took a woman’s order of eggs and sausage, Rachel approached Brian. Sorry about the wait, it’s a little crazy in here today. What can I get you?

Brian was temporarily mesmerized by her voice. He finally managed to say, Uh… just a cup of coffee to go please. Cream and sugar.

Ok, coming right up. Too bad you’re not staying, you’re kinda cute, she said flashing another smile.

Y-Yeah, was all Brian could muster, and he hoped it didn’t sound as lame to her as it did to him.

Once he was back on the road, Brian found himself thinking about Rachel. He never felt this way about anyone before, he realized as he drove across the bridge into the garden state.

He pulled into his mom’s driveway at 12:20. She’s gonna be worried now. Stupid traffic!

Where have you been?! You said noon!

I know Ma, sorry. Traffic, you know? Got here as soon as I could, he explained. Hey, I thought you said Gam-Gam and Aunt Sally would be here, he said changing the subject.

Oh, Sally called and said Mom didn’t feel like traveling today. She has been feeling a little ill lately, Liza told him.

Brian could smell something good coming from the dining room. It smelled like tuna casserole, his favorite! He thought his mother would make corn beef and cabbage, (she thought it was important to honor their Irish ancestry), but she must have decided to make something Brian actually liked instead.

Something sure smells good, Ma, he commented, suddenly remembering how hungry he was. He followed his mother into the dining room, and stopped her as she began serving the casserole. No, Ma, I can get it.

Nonsense, it’s your special lunch, you don’t have to do anything. Just enjoy yourself. It was no use arguing with her. She was stubborn, and little things like this meant a lot to her. Plus, since the death of her husband, any minor thing set her off in a fit of tears. Brian always felt bad when she started crying, so he let her serve him.

Thank you for lunch, Ma. Everything is delicious. He meant it too. His mother was a great cook, and she enjoyed making meals for others.

Well, I put special care into this casserole. It was for a special occasion, she said with a sniffle. Sorry. I’m trying not to cry, but I’m proud of you. I’m worried about you too.

Ma, you know I’m gonna be careful. I’ll probably be behind a desk doing paperwork most of the time, anyway, he assured her. She didn’t seem convinced, however.

Your father always told me he was being careful! And with that she burst into tears. I’m sorry, Bri, I just miss him so much.

I know, I miss him too, Brian said as he got up to hug his mother.

A little while later, Brian was heading out the door, Tupperware of tuna casserole leftovers in hand, ready to drive back to his apartment.

Bye, thanks again for lunch! I’ll talk to you tomorrow, he called over his shoulder to his mother. As he drove away, he looked in his rearview mirror and saw her still waving to him, shrinking, as the distance between them grew.

I wish she didn’t move out here, Brian thought to himself, but then his thoughts drifted back to Rachel. He resolved to go back to the cafe tomorrow and see her again, and also try talking to her without embarrassing himself.

When he got home, JD eyed the casserole, and Brian could tell he wanted it. Instead of asking straight out, JD made small talk, hinting that he wanted to partake of the leftovers.

Hey, man. How was your mom? What did she make you for lunch. Tuna casserole, it looks like. I love your mom’s tuna casserole.

Brian laughed as he said, here, man. Have it. She sent it home for you, anyway.

Liza, you’re too good to me, JD said to himself as he attacked the cold casserole with a fork that he was already holding before Brian had even walked in. So, how was everything with your ma? he asked with a full mouth.

Good. She’s a little worried about me, though. Says being a detective is too dangerous.

That’s crazy, man. The majority of your job is probably gonna be paperwork anyway.

That’s what I told her, Brian said, turning on the TV, and flipping through the channels absent-mindedly.

Something wrong? Usually you go right for the mystery channel, JD said, putting the empty bowl in the sink.

No, man. Everything’s cool, Brian answered, turning the TV off and picking up the mail that was on the coffee table, thumbing through it. Just still a little tired from the party last night. That sure was a lot of fun.

In reality, he was thinking about the brunette waitress, Rachel. He couldn’t wait to see her again. Why couldn’t he stop thinking about her? He had seen her once, briefly. She probably has a boyfriend, anyway, he thought to himself glumly. He would just have to find out tomorrow.

As he lay in bed later that night, he found sleeping would be impossible, as he kept reliving the moment he walked into the diner and first spotted Rachel. Then, he thought of her perfect smile, and her angelic voice, which Brian longed to hear again.

Tossing and turning, he tried in vain to sleep, telling himself that first thing in the morning, he would be seeing her again. He began to doubt that he would get to sleep at all that night, but wishing he could. It was lucky for him that tomorrow was Sunday, and he didn’t have to go to work. What kind of impression would he make, showing up to his first day, unshaven, disheveled, and possibly falling asleep at his desk?

Finally, he fell asleep, and dreamed of the brown-haired mystery girl who had managed to work her way so deeply into his mind.

At 9:30 the next morning, he woke up and jumped out of bed. He quickly shaved and showered. Brushing his teeth, he planned out what he wanted to say when he got to the diner and saw Rachel again.

Going back to his room, he picked out his best shirt, a light blue cotton button up, and some black pants. He put on his sneakers. He checked himself out in his mirror, and decided he looked pretty good. He was ready to go.

Walking down the street with a spring in his step, Brian was humming to himself. He was so excited. Each step brought him closer to that wonderful girl who was constantly on his mind. When he saw Rocko’s Diner down the street, his pace quickened.

Reaching the door, he pulled it open and walked in looking around for the angel with the brown hair.

To his dismay, the old waitress, Mabel, was the only one he saw. His heart sank. She must have the day off, he thought to himself.

Hi honey, what can I get ya? Mabel inquired upon seeing him.

Hi Mabel, just some coffee, Brian ordered. You the only one working today? he asked, trying to sound casual, as she poured him a cup.

That’s right, she answered. Were you expecting someone else?

Brian decided to go for it, Actually, yeah. I came in here yesterday, and I saw that new waitress, Rachel. I was hoping she would be here again today. Oh well, maybe next time.

Oh, replied Mabel, with a knowing grin, I get it, honey. If you want, I’ll let her know you stopped by next time I see her.

No, that’s all right. Thanks Mabel,’’ Brian said as he paid for his coffee. I’ll just try again another day."

Leaving the little eatery, Brian suddenly felt crestfallen. He didn’t know when he would get to see Rachel again, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep until he talked to her. He felt oddly empty inside, and the fact that he felt this strongly about someone he hardly knew scared him.

He walked considerably slower back to his apartment, deep in thought. Should he just try to forget about her? That was easier said than done.

When he got home, he called his mom, as promised. She reported that Gam-Gam was feeling better, and asked him how his day was going.

I just got up not too long ago, then I went to Rocko’s for a cup of coffee, Brian answered.

Why would you want to go there for coffee? They charge too much, and their coffee is no good, she shot back.