By the time Jude got back to the house, the sun was fully up. The drive home felt long, even though it was only a few miles. He kept looking in the rearview mirror, afraid he would see more police lights. But the roads were quiet, and the world outside the car seemed peaceful.
When Jude finally parked in front of his house, everything on the street looked perfectly normal. Too normal. Neighbors were already leaving for work, carrying briefcases or lunch bags. A woman walked her dog across the road, the animal sniffing the grass and wagging its tail. Somewhere in the distance, a radio played happy music—some pop song about love and summer. It felt wrong that the world could move on like nothing had happened. Jude stared at the happy people around him and felt like he was watching a movie he didn't belong in anymore.
Jude sat in his car for a long moment before he could make himself open the door. His clothes smelled like sweat, river water, and fear. His head still hurt from the night before, and his mind felt slow, like it was moving through thick fog. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white.
Daniel was with him. Daniel followed him into the house and closed the door behind them. Inside, the air felt heavy and strange. The house was quiet, but not in a comforting way. It was the kind of quiet that makes every small sound seem loud.
"You need to shower," Daniel said, looking Jude up and down. "Change. Try to look normal."
Jude looked at him, his eyes tired and confused. "Normal?" he repeated, almost laughing. He didn't feel normal. He felt like a stranger in his own skin.
Daniel didn't answer that. He just added, "Your fiancée is probably already wondering where you are."
Jude nodded slowly. He knew Daniel was right. He walked to the bathroom on heavy legs, feeling like he was walking underwater. He locked the door, then stood under the shower for a long time. The hot water ran over his face, through his hair, and down his arms. He wanted the water to wash away everything from the night before—the blood, the fear, the guilt. He scrubbed his skin until it turned red, but he still felt dirty inside. No amount of soap could clean his memories.
While he was in the shower, his mind raced. He remembered the woman's face, the fear in Daniel's eyes, the sound of the gunshot, the cold river water, and the weight of the secret they now shared. He wondered how his life had changed so much in just one night.
When Jude came out, he was dressed in clean clothes. He stared at himself in the mirror, barely recognizing the tired, pale face looking back. He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. As soon as he stepped back into his bedroom, he heard his phone buzzing on the bed.
He didn't need to look at the screen to know who it was.
He answered it anyway.
"Where are you?" his fiancée demanded, her voice sharp. She didn't sound playful this time. She sounded worried and annoyed. "You were supposed to be here an hour ago. Everyone is waiting."
"I'm on my way," Jude said, forcing his voice to sound calm. "Something came up."
"Jude, this is our wedding day."
"I know," he said quietly. "I just need a little more time."
There was a pause. The silence felt heavy.
"You're scaring me," she said. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," he lied. "I just need to get dressed."
"Fine," she said, but her voice was cold now. "Don't take forever."
She hung up.
Jude lowered the phone and closed his eyes. He wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn't. He felt a wave of guilt and sadness. He thought of her, waiting in a white dress, surrounded by friends and family who were all expecting the happiest day of their lives. Jude felt like he was ruining everything.
Daniel was waiting in the hallway. He watched Jude carefully, as if he was worried Jude might fall apart.
"Go. Do what you have to do. I'll clean up here," Daniel said.
"Clean up what?" Jude asked, his voice weak.
Daniel didn't answer. He just looked around the house with sharp eyes. "Anything that doesn't need to be seen."
Jude nodded slowly and grabbed his jacket. He tried to take a deep breath, but his chest felt tight. He moved toward the front door, but just as he reached for the handle, someone knocked. The sound made both men freeze where they stood.
Daniel raised his hand, telling Jude to wait. He took careful steps toward the door and opened it just a little, peeking out.
A young woman stood outside. She looked tired, with red eyes like she hadn't slept. Her hair was messy, and she held her phone tightly in her hand. She looked nervous, glancing around as if she was afraid someone might see her.
"Is Jude here?" she asked, her voice shaky.
Jude's stomach tightened. Something about her made him nervous.
"That's me," he said, stepping forward so she could see him.
She looked at him for a long second, studying his face. "My name is Sarah," she said. "I'm looking for my cousin."
Jude felt cold all over. "Your cousin?"
"Yes," Sarah said. "She didn't come home last night."
Daniel spoke calmly, but his eyes were sharp. "Why are you here?"
Sarah lifted her phone and showed it to Daniel and Jude. "Because she told me she met a man at a club. She said she was going to his place. We even did a video call when she got here. This is the address she sent me."
Jude's heart started beating so hard he could hear it in his ears. His mind was racing, trying to remember every detail from the night before. He felt dizzy and scared.
"What's your cousin's name?" Daniel asked.
Sarah told them the name.
Jude felt like the floor was moving under his feet. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He wanted to say it was a mistake, but the truth was right in front of him.
"That's… that's not possible," Jude said quietly. "I mean, I don't know her."
Sarah frowned at him, her eyes searching his face. "You don't?"
She looked past him, into the house, then back at his face. "She told me she finally found someone who treated her well. She was happy. She showed me your living room on video. This place."
Jude opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again. He couldn't think of what to say. His mind felt blank.
Sarah's eyes dropped to his wrist.
She went very still. Her whole body tensed.
"That's her watch," she said.
Jude looked down. He was wearing a watch—one he did not remember putting on.
He hadn't even noticed it until now.
"No," he said quickly. "I mean, I don't know how—"
"She never took it off," Sarah said. Her voice was shaking now. "I bought it for her last year. She told me it was the only gift she really loved."
Daniel stepped in, trying to take control. "Miss, you're upset. Maybe you should go to the police."
Sarah looked at him sharply, her face angry now. "I am going to the police. But first I want to know why her watch is on his wrist."
Jude couldn't breathe. His chest felt tight, and his hands started to shake.
"She was here last night, wasn't she?" Sarah asked, her voice rising. "What did you do to her?"
"I didn't do anything," Jude said quickly. "I swear."
Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "Then where is she?"
Jude had no answer. He stood there, silent and scared, feeling like the whole world was closing in on him. He wished he could disappear.
In the distance, a siren wailed. It was a high, lonely sound that got louder and louder.
And this time, it was coming closer.
Jude felt frozen. He was confused hearing the siren and where it was coming from. Everything he had tried to hide was catching up with him, and he could not run anymore.