Chapter 9

The night came and went without a worry in the world. Jennifer didn't wake from her sleep at all during the night, not even for a second to readjust her position. Max stayed by her side the entire time and provided her the security and comfort that a justice seeking serial killer on the run needed.

Derrick ate the dinner, flank steak marinated in a custom spicy sauce and jumbo shrimp breaded with beer battered deliciousness, he prepared for Jennifer and himself. Both portions were large in size but he had little trouble downing both of them in a single sitting. Each bit gave him chills; he was a true food aficionado.

During the night, Jennifer's cell vibrated out, sending a humming sound through the exceptionally quiet condominium. Derrick took it upon himself to attempt to locate Jennifer's charger but it wasn't to be found. Her go bag was lacking that crucial piece of equipment and it wasn't anywhere near or on her person.

Derrick did sense she was cold even though the temperature modulated between seventy-two and seventy-six throughout the night depending on the outside chilliness. He grabbed a cashmere blanket, moved Max's head slightly, and covered the sleeping Jennifer with it. Not once did he touch Jennifer, nor did he think about it. He was actually a caring, loving person and was truly happy with himself for helping the Christmas Darling in remaining hidden and safe.

Jennifer awoke to a slobber cover pair of jeans courtesy of Max. She laughed, "Well, it's better than wine I suppose." Max lifted his head and smiled a lovely dog smile at her. He hadn't slept out of his kennel for years. This was exactly what they both needed, freedom and security.

The Christmas holiday was steadily approaching, meaning Jennifer had to make a decision about which course of action she was going to take. With all that was happening in her life at the moment, it seemed as if this season's balancing kill wouldn't be taking place. The police were up her rear end, her Mother requested her to come home to see her Father for his final Christmas, and she was on the run living with essentially a stranger and his dog.

Derrick popped his head around the corner as the sun painted the condo with streaks of yellow, orange, and pink. The glass leading to the sun rise graciously accepted the sunlight and converted it into a rainbow of relaxation, "Good morning Jennifer. Did you sleep alright?" His hair was slicked down and prepared for a long stressful day of saving lives.

With a prolonged but much needed stretch, "Literally the best night's sleep I've had in years, possibly my entire life." She patted Max as he was not ready to start his day.

With a quick glance in the mirror and a clearing of his throat, "Well, I've got first shift. I won't be back until the sun goes back down." He brushed some dandruff from his uniform shoulder and continued to maintain a locked eye on the mirror, "You'll be on your own. I left you a key and the alarm code. Also, your phone was getting notifications all night long. I took the liberty of charging it for you, couldn't find your charger though."

Jennifer peered over at the glass side table. A piece of torn paper, a key, and a large glass of orange juice waited for her awakening. The glass was sweating as if it had never held this quantity of fluids before. The pool it made on the remarkably clean glass table top sent Jennifer into a reminiscent state.

She's in her front yard, back in Virginia, her Mother keeping a watchful eye on her as she splashed around in a vibrant blue kiddie pool covered with cartoon elephants and lions. Jennifer remembers slipping and going under the water only to be lovingly yanked up by her arm and rescued by her Mother.

That basically made her mind up right there on the spot sitting on a paramedic's couch petting his dog. She had to go home to see her family, to see her Father for his last Christmas. The kill would have to wait until next year. Your parents only die once.

Breaking her daze as gently as possible, "Jennifer, are you going to be okay here? I want to ask you something but I don't want to upset you."

Derrick leaned down, tearing himself from the mirror and got on Jennifer's level, "That night, the night you claimed you were the Christmas Darling; you also mentioned a name...Dobbins. That wouldn't happen to be Jeffrey James Dobbins, would it?"

This question was violating every rule in the book for her but there was no reason to distrust Derrick now. He had every opportunity to turn her in, blackmail her, kill her, take advantage of her helplessness, "Derrick, I am the Christmas Darling. My next target is Dobbins; however, for the first time in nine years I am going to miss my chance to remove that monster from this planet. Granted, the trial isn't over and he may very well get convicted but..."

With a quick interjection, "Oh no, you haven't heard? I'm sorry Jennifer. Dobbins's case was thrown out yesterday. Some technicality with racial discrimination and a hidden recording of an officer on the scene of his arrest making comments about his wife, she's African American."

Mr. Dobbins was a Caucasian male, a criminal that married an easily corruptible African American woman. Apparently, some mouthy cop had an issue with interracial marriages. That's all it took to take a case with material evidence and toss it to the gutter for the deprived to pick at as they stumbled by.

Jennifer's eyes welled up, boiling over in a tsunami of regret and despair. She knew it was her duty to remove this man from the world. Her life was only worth living because of her creed to balance the scales, "Well, that is upsetting. He needs to be taken by me. I need the world to know the Christmas Darling is doing the right thing. I have the postcard filled out and everything already. I...I have to go home to Virginia. My Father...he's dying. I'm leaving tomorrow. The ticket is already bought and in my possession."

The displeasure was uncanny, Derrick's mind launched an attack of epic proportions, rolling him over with emotions, "Jesus. Well, I learned a long time ago the hard way. Family first. The bad will get theirs. You can rest assured of that fact."

The day went by quickly. It was one of those days where you have so much to do that you end up accomplishing nothing. Jennifer did check her phone, the notifications were about Dobbins, all except one. It screamed 'Mom'!

Jennifer dialed her Mother; it was almost old people bed time in Virginia. When the ringing stopped, "Mother? Are you there?"

With a cracked voice, sleepy and unenergetic, "Yes love, it's me. How are you? Are you okay?"

A reassuring laugh rang through the receiver, "I'm fantastic Mother. I have some good news."

With a rejuvenated inflection, "I love good news Jenny. What is it?" Her Father could be heard sawing some serious wood in the background. He was knocked out before seven o'clock. He must have really been going through the ringer with all the Cancer treatments.

A nervous hesitation crept from Jennifer's throat, "Well, I'm going to come home for Christmas. I'll be there the day after tomorrow. I'm coming home Mom." Jennifer's mind attacked her. She was immediately entering a state of withdrawals, when the depression meds make you feel so good that you decide you don't need them anymore sort of withdrawals.

Sobbing bellowed through the phone. It had been eight, almost nine years since her Mother had seen her, "That's fantastic Jenny. We'll get a room together for you, love."

It was spoken into the universe. Jennifer would be going home for Christmas. The rights and wrongs of this world would be left to their own bidding for this Christmas. Jennifer fought a deep melancholy state, it consumed her, slowly slicing through her brain and resting deep in her heart. The tradition, her tradition was over.

There was little doubt now that she would be caught. The case would rely on literally no evidence and more than likely result in her freedom but the tradition would die with that freedom. It had to. The Christmas Darling would have to put a stop to her very pronounced killings. Switching to a different less publicized style would only make the moments grow tedious and tiresome.

The Christmas Darling was being forced into an early retirement but for all the right reasons. Derrick was right, family first, even if you had abandoned them eight years ago and washed yourself clean from their loving grasp. Jeffrey James Dobbins would get his, that was for certain, but it wouldn't be at the hands and blade of Jennifer.