Kill Me Softly

Chapter 5

Ezra continues to dance to the blasted music as he walks to his supply cabinet fishing around for a ribbon of some sort. He shuffles through the paint, brushes, pastels, looking up and down till he comes upon a white ribbon. He grins in satisfaction as he goes to wrap the corner of the painting. Once he ties it up he carefully grabs the painting and places it into the flat rectangular box beside him.

He hums along to The Beatles as he covers the box with its top looking for some wrapping paper to seal the box with. He walks around to his cabinets again looking for some wrapping tissue put finds nothing. He smiles as the idea comes to him, he grabs a paintbrush and looks for Lola's favorite blue and paints the box with it. About an hour later Ezra finally puts the brush down and looks at the poem he wrote on top of the box fully painted turquoise. Lola loves literature so he chose the poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning called "How Do I Love Thee."

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight. For the ends of being an Ideal Grace I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by the sun and candlelight I love thee freely, as men strive Right I love thee purely, as they turn from praise I love with a passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints-I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life!- and if God choose I shall but love thee better after death.

He picks his cell in his pocket checking to see any missed calls or texts. He groans when he sees his wallpaper of him and Lola at their favorite park with no missed call or text. He sighs and shoves it into his back pocket.

He takes the gift in his arms causing him to see nothing in front of him, so he begins to walk towards the stairs sideways. As he takes a couple of steps he steps on something sharp causing him to bleed. He shakes his foot rapidly trying to get the sharp piece off his foot and finally hears it drop to the floor. He tries to look down and around the box to see what it was but he is blocked by Lola's gift in his arms. He takes a big step forward trying to step away from whatever else may be there and continues towards the door. He sets the gift down by his feet as he reaches the steps. He puts his hand on the black button and the music pauses.

"Leaving studio, music off," he commands.

The intercom replies, "Yes, Mr. Hale." The music stays silent and the lights to the studio shut down. Ezra grabs the gift and walks up the steps opening the door with great struggle. He hisses at the poking pain in his feet. Stupid piece of glass he thinks. As he walks in he hears the door rings and he grins at Lola's arrival at last. He gently places the painting by the studio's door as he closes it and punches in the security code as excitement exhilarates him. He rushes to pick the box up, going in to the kitchen to hide it behind the counter. The doorbell rings again, and he runs to it quickly stopping in front of a mirror to fix his ruffled hair.

He reaches the door and yanks it open screaming, "Hey their sexy creature!"

Ezra's body goes stiff when he sees two policemen standing in front of him, their eyes full of glum.

"Excuse me, I had mistaken you as my wife," Ezra says slowly wondering why they are here.

The one on the left clears his throat as he says, "It's quite all right but we have some urgent information we need." Ezra nods slowly encouraging them to continue. "There seems to have been a terrible accident by your house and... we believe your..." the officer stops unable to say anymore. Ezra's heart begins to pound becoming unsure whether he wants to know what they have to say.

The officer on the right continues for him, "We believe your partner was the victim of the accident. We need you to come to the hospital right away to verify the body."