Lovers and Lawbreakers

It's An Emergency, I Promise

A week had passed, and today was the day. Today was the day Melanie Moat became Melanie Hecox.

Mari glanced at her watch and gasped. "I have to go," she told David, who was busy explaining the suspects and their ties to the victim.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah, I have to go to the hotel now. My friend's getting married today," Mari said, shuffling to grab her purse.

David sighed and waved his hand. "Sure. Go ahead."

"Don't make any big decisions without me!" Mari called over her shoulder as she ran through the door.

David smiled at the closing door, feeling his hands go numb. A few seconds had passed and he quickly snapped out of the trance, clueless as to what had caused it.

And even though he had told himself and Mari that she didn't matter, that she had no place to be making any decisions, he still couldn't help but wait until Mari got back to continue his work.

*

Mari tapped frantically on the room door. Melanie's mother opened it and smiled.

"Girls, Mari made it!" She called into the room.

Melanie came into sight, not yet in her wedding dress. Her hair was put up in a towel and she sighed when she saw Mari.

Mari walked in and shut the door after her, getting pulled into a hug by the bride.

"If you hadn't made it I would have killed you!" She exclaimed, smiling.

She quickly stopped smiling when she noticed Mari's face drop at the comment.

"Oh my god, Mari, I am so sorry, I didn't mean-"

"No, it's alright," Mari said.

The hotel room had gone quiet, and all eyes were on Melanie and Mari.

"Are you sure?" Melanie asked tentatively.

Mari gave a weak smile and nodded. "Absolutely."

Melanie smiled and turned back to everyone. "Come on, get back to it!"

Mari followed Melanie until they reached a peach colored dress. She gave it to Mari, who thanked her and locked herself in the bathroom.

She came back out with the dress pulled tightly onto her and sat down on the bed as Melanie ran back into the bathroom.

The sound of a hair drier filled the room as the other done-up bridesmaids helped Mari with her hair and makeup.

One, who had shoulder-length blonde hair, asked Mari about what she was doing now that she was evicted.

"Well, I'm staying with a friend of mine named David. I'm actually working with him to find the person who killed Peter. He's a detective."

"Oh, is he that one guy that Anthony calls his best detective?" She asked, pinning up Mari's hair.

"Chief Padilla?" Mari asked.

"Yeah, this guy came to the hospital I work at and set me up with him."

Mari smiled. "Then yes, I think so."

The girl, who Mari later learned was named Kalel, smiled. "He's a looker."

Mari sighed and shook his head. "He has a fiancé, and I already told Mel that I'm not about to have an affair. Besides, I don't have any feelings for him, and I did just get out of a relationship."

Kalel shook her head "you never know!"

The sound of the hair drier clicked off and Mari stood up after her hair and makeup finished.