Split [ONC 2024]

8. Crystal

"Just so you know, Anika and I used to fight a lot," I say. "And not in an escalating manner. She's been a bitch to me ever since she came into this firm."

"So you were the senior employee?"

"Older employee. She was my supervisor."

"How come?"

I know why they care, but this conversation is exhausting. I don't care to recount all this because I know I didn't do it. They can't find anything if I'm not guilty. And seeing Steve's reaction that morning, I think he might just back me up this time. The coroner placed the time of death between nine p.m. and midnight. I was asleep in my bed then.

"I don't want to get into office gossip."

The man gives me a blank stare. "Mrs. Romney, this is the one time you should get into office gossip."

I want to roll my eyes. I never like office gossip even if the associates lived and breathed by it. I actually liked my job and did it for the clients, despite the toxic work environment. "Let's just say she knelt under the right desks."

"I see..."

I am definitely not fond of this man and no longer want to talk to him. Fortunately, Detective Trevor seems to sense that because he walks towards us. It's so strange to see him in jeans and a t-shirt as well. This way, his holster is visible, as is how flat his stomach is and the size of his biceps.

"Did Mrs. Romney identify the body?" he asks the moment he reaches us.

"She said it's wearing what her former boss did yesterday."

"There's one thing I don't understand. How am I the last person to see Anika alive? I left at three p.m. and she died at nine. I doubt she didn't even go to the bathroom during that time, and she'd have to walk across the open space to get there."

The man shrugs. "The other employees claim she locked herself in her office for a string of meetings and didn't come out until they left."

This is unbelievable. "And they all left at six?"

"They claimed they did."

"That's obviously a lie. We all work overtime. Every damn day."

"I think we should go," Detective Trevor says. "You're obviously distraught."

I open my mouth to point out that I'm really not, but catch myself. Instead, I nod. Maybe I am in shock. I should care at least a little.

Detective Trevor puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me out. I shiver at his touch, but don't pull away. After all, it is comforting.

We are silent on the ride down in the elevator, and then as he leads me to a café across the street. I wait at the table as he purchases coffee and croissants and then sits across the table from me. I immediately sip my coffee. The café is not great, but this morning, maybe I really need caffeine, because it tastes better. 

"This doesn't look good," Detective Trevor says.

"I know what you're thinking, but I didn't hate Anika enough to kill her. We'd all be psychopaths if we gave in to our impulses." I bite into the croissant and hum with pleasure. Their stuff is unexpectedly good today. Maybe it's a weekend thing and without the throng of customers, they actually have time to do this right.

"Eva, it's not as easy as what I think. You know this."

I wonder if it's more to his words than just the police procedural manual. "Detective, look..."

"You can call me Daniel."

His request catches me off guard, but as I glance into his blue eyes, I like it. "Isn't that a little informal?"