7

"Ughh," I moaned, settling on the sofa with a heavy thud. Going to the station today didn't really answer much of my questions, instead, it might have added new ones to the batch.

Talking to the Chief Officer was also a waste of time, because as Officer Trent had earlier stated, he was oddly pumped about it and didn't really give much insight.

I did manage to sneak a peek at the pictures left by the forensic team, and by sneak a peek, I meant taken without authorization. As office Trent rightly said, her head was gnashed, like something that was roughly smashed against a glass or something.

I silently scrutinized the picture of leather girl – the model – Diana. Was Dom really capable of doing such? I knew he had violent tantrums and tendencies, but this was just too much. Who the hell had he pissed off to land himself in this type of situation? Would she be the only one killed, or was she a promise of more deaths to come? Am I next on that list?

Ughhh. So many unanswered questions. I sighed, rubbing a hand over my tired, overworked eyes.

I was beginning to spot a splitting headache and because I didn't want it to blow out to a full on, mind splitting, sight blinding migraine, I went to the bathroom cabinet and chucked two tablets of painkillers into my mouth, gulping them down with water from the sink.

Then I sluggishly walked to my room and fell face flat on the bed.

***

My hand latches on the handle and I forcefully push open the glass door, stepping into the room.

The weather being somewhat humid made me put on a black turtlenecked gown which accentuated my curves and a warm beige coat over it. I walked straight to my desk, dumping my bags on the table and slumping into my seat exhaustedly.

A stack of files laid on top the desk and once my eyes caught them, I groaned inwardly. Being an accountant was really a piece of work. I'd have to organize, keep and maintain, also adjusting and auditing records and accounts.

It was really tiring. It also left me with migraines because I stared too long at the screen for most part of the day.

I shook my head dispelling any negative thought that crept up. Taking a sip of my coffee which I had carried in, I got the strength needed to start the days work.

***

"Hey, Ria!" A voice called out, startling me and I jumped in my seat, eyes darting to the intruder at the door, only to find out it was one of my close colleagues and friend, Roselle.

"Roselle! You scared the shit out of me!" I exclaimed, placing a hand on my erratic heart.

A small grimace filled her face as she rolled her eyes. "Always so dramatic. I knocked, but you didn't respond," she shrugged, her ruby earring touching her shoulders.

It was my turn to roll my eye, and I do so with a sigh. "What do you want? I'm kinda busy you know," I muttered, eyes locked back on the screen as the tap- tap from my keyboard resonated in the air.

"It's closing time, babe. Apart from the security guards, we're the last ones still in the building," she revealed with a small frown as her drawn brows furrowed together.

"What?" I raised my hand and glanced at my watch, exclaiming loudly when I read it. "Holy shit! It's five already? Damn, time went fast today."

I sighed, cranking my stiffened neck to the side in discomfort. My hands went to my shoulders as I squeezed, slowly massaging them, eyes closed, lost in my own world and completely forgetting about my companion at the door.

"You heading out or not?" Roselle spoke with an exaggerated tone, her face in a frown. I was so lost in myself that her voice made me jump out of my skin for the second time in a span of less than fifteen minutes.

"Jeez... You'll be the death of me, I can swear to that," I grumbled loud enough for her to hear me. She laughed and winked at me. I shook my head, a playful smile on my lips and stood, stretching my limbs a bit.

God... What I'd give for a massage right now.

I packed my stuff, shutting down the system, dumping the empty coffee cup in the trash. With my bag in one hand, and the other linked with Roselles', we walked out opting to taking the elevator to the exit. Today she wore a very corporate attire that hugged her and complemented her skin matching her beached blonde hair.

Her ash coloured skirt clung to her hips and the red camisole inside her ash suit showcased her front assets well. She was an endowed creature, and if I swung for the other team, I'd have tried to woo her.

We stepped into the elevator when it arrived and since we were on the fourth floor, I pressed the down arrow bottom taking us straight to the first. We stood in comfortable silence, with the humming sound of the elevator as it moved downward and the periodic beeping as we passed a floor. That was until I noticed Roselle glancing at me every once in a while. Anytime she met my eyes, she would swiftly turn away, then resume after a while.

I said I wouldn't let it bother me, but it did, so I let out a resigned sigh.

"What's the matter, Ro? You keep giving me side glances which if you didn't notice are kind of weird to receive, no offense there," I grimaced, "what's on your mind?"

She hesitated for a while, flexing her fingers. She cleared her throat, dancing in her legs as she awkwardly shifted from one foot to another.

I raised a brow urging her to speak when I was met with silence for close to five minutes.

"I just wanted to know if you're okay," she confessed. My brows shot up in confusion. "I heard about Dom on the news," she continued and I finally understood her fears, "and you haven't really said anything about him or what the news said about him. I see you spacing out at times, Ria, but I didn't know how to approach you with the matter," she clarified, biting her lips in apprehension.

Realization dawned on me as I understood she thought I and Dominic were still together.

"Yeah, well, it's been tough," I said truthfully. I moved my purse from the left to the right hand, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy. "But I'm okay. I mean, it's not like we're still together, no, we broke up close to a month now, but still... I know it sucks to be in his shoes right now. No one would like to be pegged a murderer," I affirmed and she hummed an agreement in response.

"Just know that I'm here whenever you need me. I can be a shoulder, a pillow, whatever you need at that moment. Okay?" She smiled.

I grinned back at her, "thanks Ro. I appreciate that."

Ten minutes later, the elevator stopped and we both alighted, saying our goodbyes. Roselle entered her car and drove off while I hailed a taxi.

On reaching home, I paid the taxi driver and trugged into the house, shoulders slumped like someone carrying a very, huge weight. I turned on the light switch and the room was flooded with bright light. I laid my stuff on the kitchen counter and took a banana and an orange from the fridge and walked into the living room.

I settled on the sofa in a lying position, my legs stretched out at the end, then tuning the station to Fox as I watched Criminal Minds.

Since the whole stuff going on with Dominic, I found myself viewing more movies in the mystery department.

My ringtone blasted, scaring me a bit. Damn, I need to get a grip. "Hello?" I answered, holding the phone up with my shoulder as I unpeeled the banana.

"Turn to the news channel," he said.

Huh? This is Zack right? "What?" I questioned, my shoulder straining to hold the phone in place.

"Turn to the news channel," he reiterated. I picked my phone glancing at the screen, seeing Zack with a lawyer emoji etched over it.

"How do you even know I'm home right now?" I questioned with my lips quirked in a frown. His stalking abilities are certainly improving, that's for sure.

"'cause I know you," he replied and I snorted, imagining him rolling his eyes at me as I took a bite of my banana, which led to a mini choke.

I obeyed, switching to the news channel, taking another bite of the fruit. The heading read, "KILLER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY." I now fully choked on my banana. My throat constricted as I tried to breath, my eyes watering. After some hard pats on my chest which was sure to leave some marks, I finally got myself, swallowing the killer fruit.

I slowly dropped the little piece remaining on the counter. No more of that for me.

My attention returned back to the twenty four inch screen in my front.

I thought Dom was the killer, who the– what the hell is going on?

"Shocking news as the killer for the death of the model– victim, Diana Levitt turns himself in! That's right, he unexpectedly turned himself in. He– Reese Armstrong, confessed to everything and is currently in the station occupying a cell as we speak." Janis Davis shrilly voice spoke. "I'm pretty sure people, myself included, will sleep a little better knowing that the killer had been caught. This is Janis Rivers, XLV45 news, signing out!"

I have no words to describe how I was feeling.