The Shadow

Part 5

"Patrick!" I shook him awake. "It happened again!" He screamed when he finally woke up, then he peered under the bedsheet and hesitantly asked, "Liz, tell me you're wearing clothes?"

"Calm down," I told him. "As far as anyone needs to know I fell asleep in the clothes I was wearing last night, in my own bed, by myself. As did you. Got it?"

He nodded quickly and we both started awkwardly shoving clothes on, until Patrick got up the nerve to break the silence.

"When you say this is the last time this will happen, is it really the last time? I mean, we used to be so great together, and it's not like this is the first time we've 'accidentally' wound up hungover in a bed together since the break up. Would it really be so bad if we were an item again?"

"No, Patrick." I glared at him. "That's not gonna happen. I'm sorry but this was nothing more than a drunken mistake."
"You say that every time but how many times can you make the same mistake without learning a lesson...unless you secretly want to make that mistake. Everyone says when you're blackout drunk you do everything you always want to do when you're sober but avoid due to social conventions. What if this is that?"

"This never happened. Now put your trousers on and get to work for God's sake." I threw them at him and hurried out of his flat.

After that first rocky day, the investigation really kicked off. We video-called most days after work to discuss any suspicions we had, and more importantly learn any new, important information from Sam who would have been investigating all day by that point. We tried to stick to Nina-related conversation, but occasionally we'd unwind. Will, Dima and Janet were great fun, and in a group, things with Patrick were never too awkward. Sally also seemed less stressed out now she could share the burden of losing Nina with the rest of us. Sam was a bit of an oddball but I suppose his job was very serious so he had a harder time relaxing. When we could pull him away from work on the weekends, he could be a bit of a chav. We also planned to make the evenings at the nightclub a regular activity - we would try to meet up at least once a month, provided Sally could get a babysitter. All of us became fast friends.

I checked my watch. 8pm, Tuesday night. Two seconds later my phone rang and the words "Group call: Will Yoled, Janet Beaz, and 4 others" lit up the room.

"Janet, which dress did you end up buying?" I heard Dima asking. "Please say that gorgeous red one - red suits you much more than green, plus the shape was so much nicer!"

Janet mumbled something and glanced behind her at a slim green dress that was hanging up. "This one was so much more comfortable. Honestly, you don't understand how itchy that red one was. Plus more expensive doesn't mean better."

"If you say so..."

"Erm, hi." I said loudly and deliberately. "Shall we get started then? I think everyone's here."

"Yes, of course!" replied Sam. "I haven't been able to find much today - at least nothing useful - but I do need to ask you a few questions, Liz, about when you went to the police with that strange note. Did you maybe notice anything, or did the officer you met mention anything about the crime scene, evidence, or their theories? I know it's a long-shot and it was very early days when you were there, but anything you can remember would be useful."

"What note?" Sally asked.

Shit. I forgot I hadn't told her yet, to spare her feelings.

"Someone left some paper near Nina when I found her. It was a bit aggressive, but then again this person's clearly violent. The note didn't have any information on it, but I thought it was important enough to take to the police. Anyway what were you saying, Sam?" I changed the topic quickly.

"Anything you might have seen or heard at the station, related to the case?"

"Ah yes. I don't remember seeing any possible evidence or notes lying around, but I can't forget that awful policewoman I spoke to. She went to school with me and Nina, and boy can she hold a grudge! She kept implying the case would never be solved and that she'd be putting minimum effort into finding the killer. I'm sure she can't do that but she would never pass up the chance to kick me while I'm down."

"What's she called?"

"Chloe Feltz. High school bitch."

"Interesting... I may have to get to know her a bit better - see if she knows anything since she'll at least know people working on Nina's case, even if she's not helping herself."

2 weeks later I found Sam had been true to his word. By day, he and Chloe were seen everywhere together and by night, or at least in the evening, he told us all the suspicious stuff she was up to. He believed she was not only slowing down the investigation but jeopardising the entire thing.

My phone buzzed - the group was calling again.

"She stole evidence." Sam said immediately. "I considered it for a while but now I'm certain. Chloe knows who killed Nina and now she's covering it up."