It Started With Hello

Chap. 117

"So, why do you think your parents signed you up for a therapy appointment today?" the therapist asked Emma. He sat across from her at his desk, wide-brimmed glasses resting on top of his nose.

After Emma broke down crying in front of her parents a few days ago, they thought a therapy appointment would help her feel better and open up a little. They were obviously concerned after everything that had happened, from getting drugged to Reina's death. Emma sighed, fidgeting with the necklace around her neck. She wished Blake could be there with her at the moment, but this was a solo appointment.

"Because my pregnant friend was murdered and I had a breakdown in front of them," Emma said flatly.
The therapist jotted down a few notes, nodding. He looked up, giving her a sorrowful look. Emma sighed again; she was tired of getting that look from everyone. From teachers and students at school to her parents and friends at home, everyone seemed to give her the same sad look.

"Emma, I'm sorry for your loss. Going through that so young must be hard. Everyone passes at some point, and everyone deals with death in different ways. Tell me, how does her death make you feel?" he said, crossing his fingers on top of the desk as he waited for her response.

She licked her lips, looking out the window beside her. It was a bright, sunny day, not a single cloud in the sky. It should have made her happy, but it only made her sadder that she was here to enjoy it and not Reina. "I feel... sad, remorseful, but mostly guilty," she whispered, a hand coming to rest on her chest. The guilt felt as if it was eating her alive. It felt like this was somehow her fault. It couldn't all be a coincidence; first, someone was trying to kill her, and then Reina just suddenly ended up dead.

She had quickly gotten in contact with Ms. O'Connor after finding out about Reina's death. Luckily, she was able to remember her number because she wasn't able to find the paper with her number on it anywhere. She had left the paper right on her desk, but it was gone.

Thank goodness for her good memory, because Ms. O'Connor had confirmed her suspicions about this all probably not being a coincidence. She told Emma she wasn't going to take this to Mr. Gates, that she was investigating it personally and privately and planned to keep all the information she found under lock and key until the right moment.

The therapist nodded before giving her a sad smile. "Well, please understand this isn't your fault, Emma. There was nothing you did to cause this. Do you understand this isn't your fault?"
Emma's gaze outside moved to a butterfly floating by.

She didn't believe a word this therapist was saying. This was all her fault; it had to be. "Yes, I understand," she said. For now, she would say anything to calm his mind, to calm everyone who loved her. But she knew the truth in her pained heart: this was her fault, and she was going to do anything in her power to take the culprit down, no matter how dangerous. If not for herself, then for Reina and that unborn baby.

****

"Sir, if I may be bold..." Ms. O'Connor started as she walked into Mr. Gates's office "No, you may not," he said, not looking up from the paper on his desk before writing something down. She sighed through her nose, trying to calm down her fiery temper, which was always hard to do when it came to Mr. Gates.

He never seemed to treat her as an equal. "I understand you said you searched the scene of the Miller Creek High School murder and found no evidence pointing to a culprit. But I would think more people should look into this," she said quickly, her accent coming out slightly. Her hands balled into fists behind her back. He looked up, squinting his eyes at her. "Do you not trust my judgment, Lieutenant?"

She swallowed at his hard stare, making her look down. She didn't trust a word out of his lying mouth, but she couldn't let him know that. "No, sir, I trust you completely. I was just asking a simple question," she said, looking up again to meet his eyes.

The room was silent for a moment. He gave her a nod before looking back down at the papers. "I suggest you don't go sticking your nose in things that aren't your business. Now why don't you go ahead on your lunch break and not worry about that case? I have it covered."

She nodded, pressing her lips together. He was dismissing her. It only pissed her off more. "Yes, sir," she said before turning and walking out the office door, closing it tightly behind her. She turned her head, glaring at the door. "Eejit," she hissed before turning back forward, stomping out of the police building toward her car.

Once inside she slammed her fists against the steering wheel in frustration. A young girl was dead, but her boss was acting as if it didn't matter at all. A young girl was being stalked and harassed at this very moment, and she seemed to be the only one who gave a damn. Was this really what it meant to be a police officer, always looking the other way?

She sighed, leaning her head down and closing her eyes, her hands tight around the wheel. She didn't come here to look the other way and let more innocent people die; she came here to help the helpless, to defend the defenseless, and to stop anyone who thought they were above the law. That's why she got the job—to help people.

She opened her eyes, looking at the police station. Being here wasn't going to protect Emma Pear or catch the murderer of that young girl. She refused to just go on break and look the other way. "I'm going to get that culprit with or without you. And if you end up being an accomplice, I'll be the one to take your ass down," she said before starting the car and heading toward Miller Creek High School. She was going to look at that crime scene herself, and she was going to protect Emma Pear Mr. Gates be damned.

(Mia note: I love Ms. Mona O'Connor period I think she's my favorite character tbh❤️