The killer it seemed had gone dormant over the winter. They hadn’t had a kill over the winter since the start of this mess. Kissney looked down at the pictures again. When she looked at the full body shots, she could almost see the art he was talking about. Did that make her some kind of freak? Kissney didn’t know but she wanted to catch this guy. The headaches were still bothering her but she had an appointment with an eye doctor to have them checked.
“Kissney, the pictures really aren’t helping catch him, are they?”
“No, Levi, this guy is getting away with this. The fact we have his DNA is great, but we have nothing to match it to. Either he’s never gotten into trouble with the cops before or he’d never gotten into any trouble.”
“How is your head?”
“I keep getting the headaches behind my eyes, I go see an eye doctor in a couple days.”
“I’m worried about you, Kiss.”
“I know, Levi. I’m worried about me as well.”
Levi gave her a sideways look and wondered what she meant. He’d noticed she seemed a little out of it lately but didn’t say anything about it. This case was eating away at both of them. As he moved toward his locker, he smiled at her.
“It’s time to go home.”
“I know, Kane’s having a party for my birthday.”
“What are you going to be? Forty?”
He ducked aside when she threw a pen at him. She didn’t miss when she threw the second pen. Levi gave her the pout and she laughed at him.
“Serves you right, I am not that old. I’m only twenty-eight.”
“Kissney, we better hurry or we’re both going to be late for your birthday party.”
Kissney rolled her eyes at him. He knew the party was almost an hour away. She stood, putting all the files in the bottom drawer. Kissney grabbed her purse and keys, waiting for Levi at the door. She tapped her foot at him as he moved slowly toward her.
“Who is being slow now?”
“Oh sorry, let me run.”
Kissney laughed and punched him in the arm. Levi rubbed at it making her laugh. They arrived at her house almost forty-five minutes later. Traffic was a bear and Kissney hated that part of New York. When they walked into the house, she almost screamed at Kane. He had invited almost the whole squad. They all gave her hugs and kissed her cheek. She watched as Kane tried to hide his jealousy. When she finally made it to Kane he picked her up, kissing her deeply. After a few deep coughs, he broke the kiss, setting her back on her feet. Kissney blushed and she hated doing that.
“Happy Birthday, baby,” Kane told her then went to one knee in front of her. She felt the tears start to build in her eyes as she watched him pull out a little red box. “Kissney, I have loved you since we were in high school. When you didn’t have a woman’s body and sure the hell didn’t know how to kiss. That aside, I have wanted to have you in my heart and in my life for the rest of our lives. I look into your eyes and see forever, my heart beats for you and you alone. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Kissney couldn’t see him because of the tears. All she could do was watch the faces around her. When her eyes fell on Levi, she felt a part of her break. Did she love Kane? The simple answer was yes she did love him. Could she live with him and be his wife? Yes she could do that as well, but she worried about Levi.
“Kissney?”
She looked back down to him with a bright smile on her face. The tears still streaming down her face as she finally found her voice to answer him.
“Yes! I love you, Kane.”
Kane stood putting the ring on her finger. She was engaged to Kane, she felt the world spinning around her. Kane picked her up, kissing her deeply. Kissney put her arms around his neck kissing him back with all the passion that lived in her. She was sure she heard the door slam, when she looked around she noticed Levi had left. She felt horrible. Why couldn’t life be easier?
Kissney felt her mom come up to her looking at the ring. It was perfect for her. A simple princess cut diamond with two small blue stones on either side. He knew her life was all about being a cop. The band was gold, which made her smile again.
“Oh, baby, we have a wedding to plan.”
“Mom, I don’t want a big wedding, something small and simple. We don’t even have a date yet.”
“Kissney Rose Shaw, you will have a wedding. None of this going to the Justice of the Peace.”
“Mom, I will do what I want, I’m a grown woman.”
She could see the tears in her mother’s eyes. Kissney didn’t want to upset her mom, but she didn’t like the girly stuff. Kane came up behind her holding the cake. Kissney laughed at the Tweety Bird sitting on her cake.
“Make a wish, baby.”
Kissney thought about it and knew what she wanted more than anything else. She wanted to catch The Rembrandt Ripper. When she blew out the candles, she knew she would catch him and soon. The evening went well and Kissney loved that Kane had thrown her a birthday/engagement party. The night had been a whirlwind of people congratulating her and giving her birthday gifts. Kissney couldn’t help but smile the whole time, but she missed Levi being there with her. Why did he have to leave like that?
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“Levi left, I think he’s really hurt by this.”
“I know, baby, he loves you.”
“I think I love him too, but I love you more.”
Kane gave a big smile that seemed to light up the room. Kissney wanted to see that smile all the time. They had trouble from time to time but he didn’t smile like that. Tonight he smiled so much she was sure his cheeks hurt. When everyone was gone, Kissney lay on the couch thinking about what had happened. When the doorbell rang she sighed. Kane was in the kitchen cleaning something up. She moved to the door to see Levi standing there. Kissney stepped outside to talk to him.
“Levi, why did you leave?”
“I was pissed, but I wanted to bring you the gift I got you.”
“Okay.”
Kissney didn’t understand why he would leave then come back. Why not give her the gift then leave the party. The fact he loved her might have been the answer but she didn’t like the way he was acting.
Levi pulled out a small blue box and Kissney felt her heart stop beating. He handed it to her and she was scared to open it. When she did she found a Tweety Bird on a chain. Tweety was in a cage hanging from the gold chain. She smiled up at him then hugged him close.
“Happy Birthday, Kiss.”
“Thanks, Levi! See you at work?”
“Yes, but we have the weekend off remember.”
“Okay, then see you Monday.”
Levi gave her a sad smile, leaned down and kissed her cheek, then left in a cab, she’d forgotten that he’d ridden with her. Would they get to enjoy the whole weekend off? Kissney didn’t know but she knew she’d enjoy the time she had. No killer would stop her from having a life with the man she loved.