A Year in the Life: Tangled and Dark

“Marie Willson…?!”

Marie looked up from her textbook, her teacher was calling her. No not her teacher, the Dean was unexpectantly standing at the front of the classroom.

“Yes?”

She beckoned to her, Marie glanced at Erica who shrugged, before getting up to follow the Dean from the classroom.

“There are two police detectives here to see you” the woman said, briskly. Marie felt dizzy, “…I didn’t do anything”

“I argued with them that you were a honor student and therefore not the type but they said they just want to talk to you about a friend of yours”

Marie could pretty much guess what ‘friend’ they meant, and she instantly knew she didn’t want to talk to them. They entered the Dean’s office two find two plain clothes officers, a man and woman.

“This is Marie” the Dean said. The two shared a disbelieving glance and Marie struggled not to roll her eyes. She knew just how she looked with her hair in a messy bun and oversized sweatshirt.

“How old are you?” the man asked.

“24”

“Really?”

“Yes” she said, trying not to get an attitude. “I was born in 1991, you can look at my ID if you want”

“That’s not necessary, may we have the room?” the woman asked. The Dean looked like she wanted to protest but instead gave Marie’s arm a squeeze and walked out.

“I’m Detective Marcel and this is Detective Daniels” the woman said showing Marie her badge. “Have a seat”

Marie sat in a chair in front of the Dean’s desk while the two detectives hovered.

“We’ve come to ask you about Macon O’Leary, you know him right?” Daniels began.

“Yes” Marie nodded.

“How well do you know him?”

“We’re sleeping together” she replied, nonchalantly. Again, the detectives shared a glance.

“That…wasn’t what we were asking” Marcel began. “We want to know how well you know his side business”

“He runs a repair shop…” Marie shrugged.

“Cut the crap…!” Daniels barked, leaning over her, “You know what we’re talkin’ about”

“I really don’t” Marie gave him a withering look.

“The drug ring he runs through that little club of his” Daniels hissed.

“Weed, Meth, Coke, Heroin…the list goes on…” Marcel continued.

“I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about” Marie said slowly, “Macon doesn’t tell me much, especially about his club”

“Gang, more like” Daniels scoffed.

“Whatever…! When we’re together…we don’t do much talking”

Marcel changed her tactic, “Would you be willing to wear a wire?”

Marie snorted a laugh, “Oh wait, your serious…”

“Wear a wire, hang out around him and some of his friends…”

“Why the hell would I do that?”

“Look, we can get him on drug charges with your help but that’s not the worst thing he’s done” Marcel said, dropping a manila folder in Marie’s lap. She opened it to several pictures of dead bodies, some horribly mutilated.

“Those are the pretty ones”

She looked up at Daniels, “You’re saying Macon did this?”

“Nothin’ we can pin on ‘im. He always manages to get off on a technicality, evidence tampering, you name it” he scoffed.

“Booking him on drug charges is a start. If we had him in one place…” Marcel went on.

“I’m not helping you” Marie said, handing her back the folder.

“If…you’re scared of him…we can protect you”

“Even if I was, I wouldn’t help you. I love Macon, I’d never do anything to hurt him”

“You love a murderer. And what makes you think he gives a damn about you” Daniels snapped.

“Can I go back to class now?”

“I’m about to arrest you for obstruction…!”

“I’m not obstructing anything…! I don’t know the answers for the questions you’re asking and I’m under no obligation to wear a wire for you” she snapped back. Daniels glared so she looked up at Marcel, “Can I go now?”

The woman hesitated then nodded.

“This ain’t over…!” Daniels called.

Macon looked up as Detective Daniels came striding into his garage like he owned the place.

“Macon O’Leary”

“What can I do for my favorite detective?” he grinned, leaning back in his chair.

“Had a talk with your newest flavor of the month”

The smile fell from Macon’s face, “What about ‘er?”

“Gotta say, she doesn’t seem like your type, sweet little college girl like her. Kinda…mousy, barely an A-cup if I’m not mistaken”

Macon swallow back his rage, “I popped her cherry now she follows me around like a puppy”

“She says she’s loves you”

“Loves my dick more like, let’s me fuck ‘er barebacked and everything” Macon smirked.

Daniels shook his head, “Makes me feel bad for her, being so smart but so naïve at the same time…”

Macon shrugged, “Naïve is what gets me laid”

“Don’t expect that to last for much longer, not after what we told her”

“And what’s that?”

“All the evil shit you’ve done, the drugs, the murders even showed her some pretty pictures”

Macon glared right back, giving nothing away.

“So don’t get too comfy, it’s only a matter of time before she rolls on ya then you’ll be heading back to prison and this time for good” Daniels grinned, leaning over Macon’s desk.

“See I would be worried about that if she actually knew anything about this so called drug ring you think I’m running. I go to her to get off, I let her think I love ‘er so I can continue to get off. Nothin’ more then that” Macon deadpanned.

Daniels glared, his eye twitching but he drew back, turning to go, “Be seein’ ya O’Leary”

Macon went back into the bedroom to find Marie passed out on the bed in her underwear and one of his shirts. Macon let out a relieved sigh, he took off his jacket, curling up against her in the bed.

She stretched whimpering drowsily, “…baby?”

“It’s me” he husked in her ear, pressing a lingering kiss to her neck, breathing in her scent, “God I love you…”

She purred, rolling over in his arms, kissing him softly, “I love you too…”

“Got a visit from a cop today”

“…oh yeah…?” she yawned.

“He said he talked to ya…that he told ya things about me…”

She looked away from him and it just about broke his heart, “Yeah…they said you sold drugs and…killed people…”

Macon didn’t know what to say to her, he wasn’t used to having to explain his actions. But he knew if he said the wrong thing here, he could lose her forever.

“…did you really kill people? Tear them apart like that?”

Macon didn’t hesitate, there was no reason to, “Yeah, I did”

She tilted her head back to look into his eyes, “Would you ever do that to me?”

He squinted at her like she was speaking another language, “No of course not, never…!”

Marie smiled at him, snuggling against his chest, “Then I don’t care what you’ve done. As long as you love me and you’re mine”

Macon fell into a shocked silence, he hadn’t been expecting her to be so open and loving, hell, it was far more then he deserved.

“Marie, I…”

But she snored softly, drooling a little on his shirt. He snorted, pulling her closer, burying his face in her fluffy hair.

“…I love you so much…” he muttered.