Here I am again. I should be on my honeymoon. Lying on a beach somewhere, enjoying the tropical sunshine. Instead the boys at the precinct tell me the psycho that killed my sister, Ronnie Razor we call him, is at it again.

Ronnie had been a thorn in my side for twenty long years. When I was ten years old, I came home from a sleepover at a friend’s house to find police in my living room. Someone had carved up my sister and left her for dead on the kitchen floor.They could never find enough evidence to make murder charges stick.

I came out my flashback to never of the officers asking for my opinion on the crime scene. “ It’s our boy alright.” All of the hallmarks were there. The victim was facedown spread-eagle in the middle of the bed. Her throat, wrists, every major artery in her body had been sliced with a straight razor. The blood was everywhere. I briefly looked at the rookie in the corner tossing his cookies into a trash can. “ Buck up, Junior. We’re gonna be here for a while.”

I made the customary orders on autopilot. Evidence collection, body removal, the works. I was tired of this SOB taking all of the joy from my life. The day of my graduation from the academy, he left me a gift in the form of one of my classmates sliced up in the girl’s locker room. My wedding day, he left one of my bridesmaids bleeding out on the floor of the coat check room. He somehow was directly targeting me and those close to me.

I met the forensic guys back at the station. “ Please,” I told them, “Tell me have something to help me find this guy.” I needed a win so bad I could taste it. Jamie, my personal favorite, smiled ear to ear, “ I think we got him this time. I was checking several unidentified blood samples not from our victim. We got a hit. This next bit is going to be a bit hard for you to take. The DNA in the samples match 100% to a man that just presented at the emergency room with a stab wound to the thigh. It seems our victim fought back before she bit it. Caught him with a metal nail file.” What part of any of this is hard for me to take?” “Well,” he replied, “ the sample matched to you father.”

I stared at him for several minutes, “I think I must have something in my ears. I think I just heard you say that the serial killer I have been chasing for most of my life is the man who walked me down the aisle yesterday afternoon.” “I know,” he said, “I haven’t worked out the logistics just yet, but forensics don’t lie. I have checked the results a half dozen times.” “Alright, I‘ll get a warrant issued and then go arrest my father.”

I stood outside the door of my childhood home, wondering how I was going to put cuffs on a man that not ten hours before had given me away at my wedding. None of this made sense. How long had he been doing this? Why did he kill Mariah? There was only one way I was gonna get any of those answered. I sighed, checked my sidearm, then walked up to the door.

I walked into the living room and saw another flash from my past. My dad in his favorite arm chair, football on the TV. The only difference this time was the large white bandage wrapping his left thigh. He looked up with a puzzled face, “What you doin’ here, Peaches? You should be well on your way through several Mai Tais by now.” I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Some interesting developments came up at work so I am delaying my trip for a bit.” “Anything I can help with, Sport? I used to be quite handy around the lab in my old days.” I do have one question that you can help me answer. How can a man who butchered his daughter look her sister in the face everyday?”

“What kind of question is that, Peanut? Sounds like a real whack job.” I looked down at my shoes, “I’m talking about you, Pop. We found unknown blood samples at the scene a pretty artistic crime scene this morning. Our lab guys did their magic and, Poof, turns out my old man is a killer. Now are you gonna come quiet, or are you gonna cause a scene in front of the neighbors?” My dad stood up, tall and proud. “Good work, Jennifer. This case will make your career. You could even make chief someday” I choked on the feeling of indignation, “Are you saying you committed cold blooded murder to give me a leg-up at work? Do you know how psychotic that sounds? Never mind. Let’s go so you can enjoy the short time you have left to live behind bars.” As a courtesy to my family, I didn’t cuff him. We walked out the door, down the driveway, and got in the squad car.

A month later, I was finally enjoying the beach vacation I deserved. My wonderful husband, Matthew, had luckily been able to change all of the travel arrangements. I looked over at him sitting next to me, “Sorry our marriage started on such a sour note, Baby.” He took my hand and brought it to his lips, “No worries, Gorgeous. We promised for better or for worse, remember? Hate to bring a dark cloud, but are you gonna go to the execution when we get back?” I looked up at the clear sky above us, “I don’t think so. I got closure for Mariah. That and you by my side are all I need.”