“Bro I promise you, this one is the one.”

I looked onto the room, yellow and black tapes all over the floor, officers walking back and forth with officious zeal, as if this was just another work day. I looked st the blood-stained marble, the black chalk outline - the only memento he left behind.

I should’ve realised the first time he introduced me to her. He can be so… so lovestruck, so blinded by the irrelevancies of love, of caring for other people; how could you not have seen?

Why did he not listen to me?

“Sargeant,” someone’s voice brought me back from my train of thoughts, “The detectives have arrived now. They’d like some time without the officers in the building.”

“I already said we didn’t need them; I know who did this.”

“As true as that maybe, Ma’am, it’s their job.”

“… Fine. Call all units to stand down around the perimiter. I want this place on lockdown; no one goes in, no one goes out.”

Begrudgingly, I paced out of the house, catching myself shooting a look at one of the detectives that came in. I know it’s their job — I know — but where do they get off kicking me out of my own home?

What bull.

I sit inside my car, the rain decorating this melancholy I feel. I catch myself looking at the raindrops on my window, watching out for which one would overtake which, like we used to do when we were kids.

“I’m telling you, she’s not who she says she is.”

Why am I remembering that now? I was right — and now he’s dead. I should’ve acted, but he looked so happy, so fulfilled in life; who was I to rob him of such joy?

Then, a shadow from the basement, a light flickering, movement.

Without a second thought, engine roaring, I gave chase.