He couldn't hurt her

Chicago Police Department

USA 

8:00 AM

The quiet environment of the police station was being distorted by detective Silvia and DCI (detector chief inspector) Mark. Silvia already had her pale face red in anger, trying her best to get her message across, but the mark wasn't giving her the attention she needed. 

"Her DNA was found on the bedsheets Silvia. What more do you want?" Mark said without turning to look at her already frustrated self. "They both had sex and she ran off the next morning with the murder weapon. That's the story" 

"I know that, but you know her DNA wasn't the only one found on Hardy"

"Then who's is it?"

" We don't know yet, but the CLA (Crime Laboratory Analyst) said it wasn't only her DNA. The other person was just smart. In fact too smart. Only an experienced killer can be as swift as that"

"And what if they were accomplices?" Mark stood hands akimbo. He finally stopped walking and Silvia was grateful for that because she had been practically chasing him around the building, begging for listening ears. 

"Then both of them should be experienced as hell right?"

"Silvia what exactly are you implying," Mark asked already losing his patience

"Let's say the two were accomplices. What are the chances of one being so inexperienced and amateurish, leaving DNA samples all over the place while the other left too little to work with?" She asked. "Look all I'm saying is, that girl might have been framed by the actual person who did it. we should look into this more Mark. Let's not conclude yet"

"well until then, I'm declaring her wanted " he stared firmly, pointing his index finger at her before walking away. 

Silvia rested her back against the counter, breathing out sharply. She brushed her black hair away from her forehead to have a have a clearer view. Mark was just too difficult to work with. Maybe because she was Asian and was seen as not competent enough, racist motherfucker. She thought inwardly 

"I think his mind is already made up" she heard from behind the counter and turned to look at pudgy-looking Gary who had a grin on his face. She hated it_ the way he always stared at her like she was some sumptuous meal ready to be devoured.

"Why do you care anyway?" he asked again, curiously, resting his chubby self on the cold counter 

"Hardy is a powerful figure. I can't let the wrong person take the fall for something someone else did"

"You're relentless," he remarked. "But too desperate" he added, taking her off guard. "I think you should take yourself as far away from this case as possible. That look on Mark's face" he pointed at the direction Mark took. "That is the look he always has when his hands are tied" 

"So there's more to this right? " She moved closer, hoping to get more information.

"There is always more to things like this" he paused. "What would an office worker gain from Killing someone as influentially as Hardy? Even if she had it in mind, she would have been more professional with it"

"So you think it wasn't her too"

"Absolutely," Gary said. At least she wasn't the only one who thought something big was missing in this case

"What of his brother? He hasn't said anything since" 

"He is in grief, you don't expect to go on interviews at this crucial point"

"I want to meet with him" Silvia blurted out desperately.

"Silvia you need to leave this case. Let's just go with Rachael as the culprit" Gary implied worriedly. He already worried about her safety. If the actual people involved in this find out about her obdurate determination, they wouldn't hesitate in ending her just as they did to Hardy.

"Gary you said it yourself, you don't think she did it. This is my job and I have to find out what happened" her voice held determination. Gary knew he couldn't convince her.

                   *************

"You have 3 seconds to tell me who sent you," he said coldly

"3 ......2 ..........1........" The door opened immediately and Xavier lowered his gun. 

"God" Rachael cried out with shaky lips as she shuddered, her head still down, not daring to lift it out of fear as tears dropped from her eyes down to her lap.

"What is it Peter" Xavier bellowed out and she shuddered at the authority his voice held. She wasn't a Christian, but she prayed to heaven. If she made it out of this alive, she would become one.

"A detective is here sir" Peter replied.

Rachael immediately raised her head as she gazed at the both of them with widened eyes. Her gaze finally landed on Xavier and she began to sov again. " Please" she begged relentlessly. Something flashed in his eyes, but it was too fast to be deciphered.

"I swear I had nothing to do with his death. Don't hand me over to the police" 

"Let's go Peter" he called out, leaving the room while Rachael cried inside. It was strange how his heart ached at the sight of her tears. He had never been a soft-hearted person, but the case seemed different with her. The gun almost fell off his hand when he placed it on her head. He just couldn't do it. 

"Detective Silvia sir" Silvia stood up for a handshake, but Xavier didn't honor her one. He offered her a seat instead while he sat opposite her.

Silvia went further in bringing out her card Incase he had his doubt. A head nod from him signaled approval as she placed the card back in her purse.

"I wasn't given a memo that a detective was coming" 

"Sorry about that" she drew herself to the edge of the couch to get herself closer to Xavier. "I just have a few questions that's all" 

"where's your boss Mark," Xavier asked already irritated. The last thing he wanted was questions while he was grieving.

"He is not here at the moment. I'm the only one here"

"Carry on"

"Well your brother's murder is such a painful one, my condolences" she paused. "But don't you think it's would be better if you get justice for your brother by putting the right person behind bars"

"What do you mean?" 

"What I mean is don't think Rachael was the one who killed your brother" 

Xavier scoffed "what are you saying? The proofs are all there. Mark assured.....

"Mark doesn't know much about this case and he doesn't care to find out more. For all I know, he is just after your money, that's all. I know this is insane, but hear me out. Why would an office worker kill your brother when she was aware of how powerful he is? Her DNA was everywhere. Now that's too unprofessional if at all she was a hired killer"

"She took the murder weapon and ran off" Xavier pointed out impatiently. 

"look we don't know that. The murder weapon might not even be with her. Probably the real culprit took it to distort investigation"

Xavier leaned back in his seat. Just like he had thought, this was useless. "Get out" he stated coldly and Silvia was taken aback by his sudden deviation. This wasn't what she expected at all.

"Sir you don't .. "

"You heard me, get out" How could she know the culprit when she couldn't even make out the actual person that took the murder weapon?

"Sir you don't understand. You might press charges on the wrong person and Mark is going to declare her wanted today"

"Good luck to him" he already had what he wanted. So basically, he didn't care what the police did with the case. 

"Fine" Silvia scoffed. With that look of rage in his eyes, Silvia considered it gnarly to even make a solid point to him. The death of his brother had already hardened his heart

 "Remember no one is a criminal until proven guilty" with that said, she grabbed her purse and exited the sitting room

Xavier puffed out air from his lips, easing his distressed self. He stood and walked over to the drink stand to grab a drink. Tequila was strong enough to make him forget even if it was for a brief while. He took a long gulp as he heard footsteps by his side. It was Peter.

"You are going to allow them to declare her wanted?"

Xavier lowered the bottle."I don't care what they do"

"Why don't you just turn her over to the police?"

"No," Xavier said plainly. He wanted the honor of killing who killed his brother. 

Peter hesitated momentarily"Do you really think she did it? " 

"Fuck! You too peter?"Xavier shouted angrily at him, brushing past him. He didn't have it in him to entertain it. What the detective implied or what Peter believed? It was all bullshit. The idea of not being in front of it all, made it harder for him to breathe.  

He had the girl already, but he could do nothing to her. He initially planned to make her suffer just like his brother did, but one look at those brown eyes of hers made him feel chickened-hearted. He couldn't hurt her nor could he kill her.