Sam, November 2020
Preparations for our wedding were in full swing, we'd set a date in May next year, two months after our daughter was due, we'd secured a venue, tasted so many cake samples and looked at a million different designs for our invitations. I never thought I'd get a kick out of looking up colour themes and matching it with flower arrangements but I loved being a part of planning our big day, I'd waited so long for this, as had Veronica and I needed it to be perfect for her.
"I love that blue and white arrangement." Veronica says, pointing to the picture in front of us on the coffee table. "My only worry is that it will clash with the blue dresses that the bridesmaids will be wearing."
"What if you keep the blue in your bouquet but leave the girls with just white flowers?" Bridget suggests to Veronica, placing the picture of the white Lillies next to the other picture, so that we can get a visual of how it would look.
Bridget was in charge of styling the whole wedding but she made sure to run everything by us first. I guess I never really considered what actually went into organising a wedding, it's a lot of work and with Veronica nearing her third trimester and me taking the coaching job at Claremont High, we realised we needed the little bit of extra help from Bridget, the expert in all things wedding.
"Yes, I love that." Roni exclaims, one puzzle solved among the thousands more we had to yet take. "What would I do without you Bridgy?"
"Elope." Bridget jokes, not realising how close I'd come to suggesting that so many times already.
"Well if the virus has another outbreak and we're placed back into lockdown then that might be our only option." Veronica points out, looking at me glumly. "I'd marry you right here, right now my bear but I also want to celebrate our love for each other with our family and friends."
"Let's just hope for the best and deal with a lockdown if and when it happens." I tell her, taking her hand in mine. We'd put off getting married for so long, it would be just our luck that the pandemic destroys our plans.
Bridget's phone chirps to indicate she has a message and when she picks it up to read the message her eyes go wide and she looks completely stunned.
"Quick, put the news on." She demands and I switch on the TV just as the news is beginning, whatever this is it must be pretty big.
"Our top story tonight is that breaking news out of London where veteran journalist Terrance McGuff was found, by his daughter, deceased in his home this morning." The news anchor announces over live footage outside Terrance's Chelsea home, which is now littered with reporters and paparazzi, angling to get the scoop on the story. "Terrance's death has been marked as suspicious by the police investigating the crime scene after it was reported that he inflicted multiple stab wounds to his back."
"Oh my goodness, Terrence." Veronica cries out, her hand covering her mouth in shock. "Who would want to kill him?"
"I can think of a few people he's pissed off throughout his career, maybe even one of his wives who caught him cheating." I ponder out loud. Terrance was far from being a saint, you don't rise to the top of your field by being everyone's friend and he was well known for his hard hitting interview style, exposing fraudsters to get to the truth.
It was also well established that he fancied himself as a ladies man, never satisfied with just one woman. He'd racked up more divorces in his lifetime because of his wandering eye and playboy antics but all of that seemed to have settled down once he had retired and stepped away from the spotlight.
There was a loud knock at the front door, pulling our attention away from the television screen. I get up to answer it, expecting it to be Lucas, doing a random drop by as he often does but when I open the door I'm confronted by a male police officer, not that much younger than I am, standing on our porch.
"Samual Lions?" The officer asks me in a very polite yet stern tone.
"Yes, that's me, what can I help you with officer?" I ask the man, racking my brain for an indication of what I could have done that would warrant a police visit.
"My name is detective Warren, may I come in and have a talk with you and miss Veronica Kreslin?" He asks me, keeping it all formal.
"Yes, of course." I hold the door open for him to come inside. Veronica switches the television off as soon as she sees the officer, looking at me nervously, trying to figure out what either of us are in for.
"Come sit down." Veronica tells the detective and Bridget stands up to give him her seat. "Have we done something wrong?"
"No Miss Kreslin, not at all." Detective Warren says, his facial features softening when he reads the room of our three worried faces. "I'm here in regards to the car accident you we're involved in back in March."
"The hit and run?" I correct him, wanting to make it clear that Veronica was in no way at fault for that accident. "Have you found the other driver?"
It had been months without any word from the police, even though I was constantly calling them, wanting the to find the other driver, it felt like I'd hit a dead end and they'd pretty much had given up on finding whoever was responsible.
"We have, a man was arrested in relation to the accident yesterday morning and was formally charged with reckless and dangerous driving." Detective Warren tells us, even cracking a small smile which I'm sure for a man as stony as he is, would be a feat.
"Oh thank fuck it's over." I exclaim, I hated the idea that that dick just got away with what he did to my girl, he could have killed her.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news Mr Lions but unfortunately it looks like this whole situation may be far from over." The detective warns me grimly, all trace of happiness now gone from his face.
"What do you mean?" Veronica asks him, just as confused as I am, they got the guy who hit her, throw the book at him and be done with it so we can get back to living our lives.
"Do you have any enemies Miss Krelsin, anyone you can think of who would be out to get you at all?" The detective asks Veronica and she shakes her head, unsure.
"Not that I can think of but my memory has been a bit fuzzy since the accident." Veronica says, looking scared.
"Roni has retrograde amnesia." I explain to the detective. "She's slowly getting her memories of the past back."
"I see." The detective says. "Well if you think of anyone please give me a call on this number." The detective tells Veronica, pulling a business card from his shirt pocket and handing it to her.
"What's going on?" I demand to know, if my girl is in danger then it's my job to protect her. The detective lets out a loud sigh as he squares me up, something's happened and we deserve to know the truth.
"The man we arrested this morning claims he was offered a large sum of money to kill Veronica. The detective admits. My heart feels like it's stopped beating the moment it heard the word kill. This wasn't just some accident, he had intent to hurt her. "Look, it could just be some crazed fan, lying to build a story around himself, I've seen this before, people desperate for fame."
"Or it could be someone who was hired to kill my sister." Bridget cries, placing a hand on Veronica's shoulder as the truth seeps in.
"I promise you that whatever the reason, we're going to find out who was behind this and bring them to justice." The officer promises Veronica and she gives a little nod of recognition, unable to find her voice among her fear. "In the meantime I suggest you hire some security."
Who would want to kill Veronica?
