Thirty Five

Thirty Five.

Juana rushed straight to the house. It was 7.25pm. She looked as though she had just seen a ghost. The party was over. Juana's eyes went around the living room, there lying on the couch was Selena's bag. So she was still around? Nobody was in the living room but granny was in the kitchen, and she saw her while rushing in. She turned towards her but Juana had already entered her room before she could catch up with her.

"Sweetheart did you see a ghost?" She asked the door.

"Mama, I'm fine. I'll talk to you later please" So her grandmother left the door, in a confused state. Her granddaughter needed privacy and she'd not invade in her privacy. 

As soon as she was sure her grandmother had left her door, she dialed Colin's number. He picked it at the first ring and sounded lik.e he was just getting up from bed.

Juana began to shout at him and he couldn't get any of her words right. She was literally stuttering and yelling into the phone. Colin hung up before his eardrums got blocked.

"Oh really? Colin hung up on me?" She said to herself, walking around the room. She wondered how much things Jason would have damaged in his studio because of his anger. She wondered what would have happened if she had stayed two minutes later in his house. Could he have harmed her? She thought. Now Juana was really frightened by him. She was scared that her life is in danger. She remembered the stranger she saw by her door that day, before Colin came to her rescue. Could it be him? How dangerous was this guy? She thought. She was mad at Colin for almost putting her in trouble, so much for wanting to protect her! She tried to recollect when they hugged last, how did he manage to put a camera in her hair? Would he ever listen? 

Oh yeah! It was while I was leaving during the games! Colin thinks he's smart! She said to herself fuming. Jason, sorry Michael? Whatever, that guy was a killer even if he no longer killed people, but he still had the record that he has killed people in the past. What business have I with him? How could I be so bold as to visit him and stay with him for a long time? He could kill me! Maybe that was why he trusted me with his secrets. He might have thought if I fumbled, he'd murder me too. Maybe he actually killed Helen and was lying that he didn't? Is he as safe as he looks? But this guy looked repentant and depressed? My instincts make me feel safe with him? Or maybe I'm indeed taking risks like Colin said? Maybe my instinct is wrong this time? But the bishop said miracles happen? Like a murderer repenting from his sins, isn't that one miracle?

"Should I bring dinner to you sweetheart?" Granny's voice broke into her thoughts. She was standing by her door again.

"No mama. Don't worry about me"

"Will you tell me what's happening later?" She asked again

"Maybe" No further questions.

She waited for her granny to leave before continuing her thoughts. She tried calling Colin back but his phone had been switched off.

Five minutes later, granny was at her door again.

"Sweetheart" she began

"Granny I'm not hungry. I'll eat tomorrow, I..."

"I'm here for something different. Someone's at the front door looking for you" she said quietly

Juana's heart did a leap. "Who's that?"

"Colin. Will you come out to meet him?" 

"No I don't want to see him. Send him away" she said but was relieved it was only Colin and not some stranger. "I over think right?" She asked herself and sighed.

"I can't send him away. He has something important to say to you"

"I'll not come out of this room to see anyone, I'm not in a good mood" she shouted back. Granny didn't say anything.

"Granny? Are you there?" No response. Maybe she left.

In few seconds, there was a knock on her door again. 

"Granny, I need some time to myself. Please I really..." She suddenly got up and opened the door, and there was Colin who rushed in before she could slam the door in his face. He cupped her head in his hands and asked several times, "Are you okay honey? Did he hurt you? Huh?" He massaged her wrist and touched her hair. Juana's heart melted. He looked really worried. So he knew about it already.

"Did he do anything to you?" He looked like he'd cry.

"Colin, I'm okay. Why are you fidgeting? And what are you talking about?" She found her voice, and it was as calm as anything.

"You went to Jason's right?" He said sitting on her bed. Juana joined him.

"Yes how did you know? Oh never mind, the camera..."

"I had to put it there, you wouldn't tell me where you were going to"

"Colin, it almost led me into trouble. I mean he saw the camera and got angry. So angry that I ran out of his house" 

"Did he hit you?"

"No I left before he could"

"Why's he angry about a camera?"

"Colin, I need to open up to you, coz I'm scared as it is right now" she sighed. Colin rubbed her cheeks and asked her to go on talking.

And then Juana told him everything. She told him that Jason knew something about his best friend who was killed.

"So Jason is Helen's boyfriend! Helen's boyfriend was called Michael not Jason, how come?"

"He changed his name" she muttered

"You must not go to his house anymore. I'll have him arrested soon"

"Colin, you can't do that to him. Do you have any evidence that he killed her?" Colin looked angry.

"I know he killed her. She's not the first girl he killed. He rapes them before killing them, according to what I heard"

"Please Colin, don't do anything yet. This is dangerous. I actually do not believe he killed her. He sounds like he loved her so much, he kept her pictures and talks about her everyday. He even said I looked so much like her"

"Why do you believe him this much? You don't even know him"

"Colin, my instincts says he's innocent. Don't do anything you'll regret"

"I promised Helen to fight for her, and have her killer brought to justice. This is the moment I have been waiting for"

"Nooo, you find out who the killer is first, the fact that Jason has killed people in the past doesn't mean he killed your Helen. Come to think of it, she was his girlfriend! How could he kill the innocent girl? For what?"

"Serial killers are not considerate"

"Colin, you need to listen to his past, he's suffered emotional abuse too many times. He's miserable, he lives alone. He's depressed. Don't punish him for an offence he didn't commit. Don't use your pain to hurt the innocent. Please"

Colin was silent. He looked sad. 

"Dr Paul asked me to see him today in the morning. So I have to go back home now so I'll sleep early" he stood up. He was changing the topic.

"Who's doctor Paul?"

"The man that saved your dad from alcohol poisoning"

"Oh I don't even know his name. Can I go with you in the morning?"

"Okay" he said and walked out of the room.