Countdown Begins

7:00am

I had just returned from a week-long vacation. The door was left unlocked which was not unusual. I made my way in and realized that no one was in.

I sent a text to my boss and she called me back. After the warm greetings, she instructed me to get some vegetables from the Mart; which I did.

 When I returned she was back already. She told me that her husband was supposed to visit and she would be the one to do the cooking.

We were still having the discussion when Mr Trevor arrived. The couple walked into the bedroom and I retired to my room.

I was still settling in when I heard a noise. I ran back into the sitting room and heard the argument. 

Madam was mad. She said something about her father's death. I think she implied that her husband was involved in her father's death and she would get it all in the open.

Mr Trevor became enraged. He struck her hard and bolted out of the house. Madam stormed out right after him. When she met me in the sitting room, she went ballistic and screamed that I should leave. She pushed me out of the house and locked the main door.

She jumped into her car and drove away in pursuit of her husband. 

My cabin was just a few streets away, so l left. 

I was sound asleep when I suddenly woke up. My phone was ringing non-stop. It was my boss. When I picked up she sounded like she was drunk.

She instructed me to come over to her place.

It was past midnight and I was afraid but I couldn't say no. It was windy and the rain was coming. I grabbed an umbrella and my story book and made my way down.

I pushed the door open and I announced my presence. The house was still and the lights were switched off. It was raining already.

I switched the lights on and called out again. When there was no response, I made my way hesitantly towards the bedroom. 

I sniffled as the smell of burnt food permeated the air. The smell was from the kitchenette in the bedroom. I was alarmed. I knocked at the door and when there was no response, I pushed the door open.

That was when I found madam and her husband....

Shane read Esther's testimony repeatedly and took his seat right before her.

"You write really well," Shane said casually. 

"Yes. Boss is a great writer, she taught me." Esther wrote down her response.

"Really?" Shane asked and Esther nodded. She brought up her novel and pointed at it.

 "This is her latest work, she gave me a copy." She wrote it down again.

Shane's forehead burrowed into a frown. "You mean she is Sandy Mills?" Shane asked and Esther nodded vigorously.

Shane was taken aback. He had followed all of Sandy Mills' works and had not realized that the voice behind those words was Nicole Colgate.

"Were you the one that called the police?" Shane asked.

Esther nodded in affirmation. 

"I mean... were you the one that called the police?" Shane repeated and Esther nodded again. 

Shane reclined into to his seat. when he sat up he again, he slammed a pair of handcuffs on the table. Esther jumped on her seat.

 "Giving a false testimony could be your doom! You are the only witness and a possible suspect, it all depends on your testimony. so tell me Esther, who made the call!?" Shane asked heatedly.

Dread flashed through Esther's eyes. She rubbed her palms against each other and looked down.

"I said who made that call!" Shane yelled.

Esther shuddered and pointed to herself.

Shane heaved a sigh and continued the interrogation.

"So you were on a break? Where did you go?" Shane asked.

"My…my…mother," Esther stammered.

"Okay, so you went to visit your mother…Since when have you been working with Trevor and his wife?"

"6 years." Esther showed her fingers to imply 6.

"What is the relationship between your boss and her husband?" Shane asked.

"He doesn't live with us. He comes visiting once in a while and when he does, he always end up fighting with madam," Esther wrote.

"But you said your boss wanted to cook because her husband was visiting…It doesn't add up," Shane mentioned.

"Yes… that is her culture. Though the man would always leave without having a taste." Esther wrote. "Did you resent Trevor?" Shane asked and Esther looked away. "I mean it's normal that you feel something," Shane pressed but Esther gave no response.

"Are there no kids?" Shane asked.

"None," Esther stuttered.

Just then Shane's phone rang. It was Bob. He excused himself and walked out of the interrogation room.

"Hello boss, the woman has been identified. she is Nicole Sawyer and the dead man is her husband; Trevor Sawyer. 

"Nice job," Shane said.

 "Nicole as regained consciousness. She isn't stable but the chief want her in. She is being transported down to the station. Her blood and the deceased's blood were found on the knife. 

Two fingerprints were also found on the knife. One was for the wife while the other was unidentified," Bob said.

"Really? I will be waiting for the results," Shane responded and hung up.

 Just as he turned towards the interrogation room, his phone rang again. It was the police chief.

Shane's thoughts reeled with possibilities as he marched down to the chief's office.

"You have two days to wrap up your investigations," The chief said to Shane. "What!? This is an homicide with barely no clue and you want me to..."

"You have a witness and isn't it obvious? The woman murdered her husband and attempted suicide... Wrap things up in time... do not complicate things," the chief interrupted.

"What if..." 

"Stop. No 'Ifs'! You have just 48 hours. That is what Daniel Sawyer wants, else the case will be transferred. You know what that means…We are talking about Daniel Sawyer here… we can't lose our face, the public is really interested in this case… Nicole will be transported down in any seconds. Go get the job done. Get a confession out of her!" the chief said with finality and waved Shane off.

Shane bolted out angrily. just as he stepped out of the chief's office, a van zoom into the precinct. The van came to an abrupt stop and Nicole was led out of the van. 

Within a twinkle of an eye, the entrance was flooded with broadcasters.

Shane heaved a sigh and made his way stealthily into his office.