Runaway Brain (iZombie/Flash fanfic)

Chapter 3

Clive knocked on the door of Erin Shultz's apartment. After a few moments the door slowly opened and Clive, Liv, and Joe were a little shocked by what they saw. The young woman who opened the door looked like she could be Liv's sister in that she had snow white hair, alabaster skin, and dark rings around her eyes. Liv recognized her as a zombie immediately. Possibly, the cutest zombie she had ever seen. In unison, Clive and Joe looked down at Liv and then back at the woman at the door.

Clive cleared his throat. "Are you Erica?" he asked as he pulled out his badge and held it up for her to see. Erica nodded. "I'm Detective Clive Babineaux of Seattle P.D. These are my associates, Joe West and Liv Moore."

Erica's eyes fell on Liv. She smiled and Liv returned the smile. Then her eyes darted back to Clive. "What's this about detective?" she asked.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your roommate, Erin Shultz has been found dead." One of the things Clive always did in a murder investigation, or possible murder investigation, was to watch people's reactions when they learned of the death of the victim. Sometimes it gave the whole damn case away.

Erica's hand immediately flew to her mouth as she backed away from them. It seemed impossible, but her face became even whiter. "I knew it!" she cried through sobs and then hunched over and nearly threw up. Liv rushed inside, squatting down to assist her.

"Just let it out, sweetie," Liv told Erica.

"I'm alright," Erica said as she composed herself and Liv helped her straighten.

"Let's get you to the living room to sit down," Liv said as she kept an arm around Erica's waist. Erica nodded and Liv led her away from the door.

Clive and Joe looked at each other. "This town has the whitest white folk I have ever seen in my life," Joe said.

"You ain't kidding," Clive replied as he stepped inside the door. Joe followed Clive into the living room where they found Liv sitting on the couch, her arms wrapped around Erica as Erica sobbed into her shoulder.

"May we sit?" Clive asked and Erica looked up at him and nodded. He and Joe selected chairs and sat down, watching as Liv patted Erica and stroked her hair.

"It is alright darling," Liv whispered to her. Erica eventually straightened, wiped her eyes and nose with a tissue, and faced Clive.

"I am very sorry about your roommate," he told her.

Erica nodded as she choked back a sob. "She was more than my roommate. She was my girlfriend. We were planning on getting married some day."

"Oh, you poor, sweet darling," Liv said as she wrapped her arms around Erica once again and squeezed her tight.

"I'm sorry," Clive said. "Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?" Erica pulled away from Liv and nodded wordlessly. Clive glanced at Joe and then back at Erica. "When I first told you about Erin, you said that you knew it. What did you mean?"

Erica looked down at the floor. "Erin has been missing for a week. I've been so afraid that..." she let it trail off. "How did she die?"

"Drug overdose," Clive informed her. "Heroin."

"Drugs?" Erica asked. "No, Erin didn't do drugs. Certainly not after what happened at..." she stopped.

"What happened at what?" Clive asked.

"Well, let's just say I did some utopium at a party not that long ago and...um...it messed me up pretty bad." She turned and looked at Liv who gave her sympathetic and understanding look. "Anyway, Erin didn't do drugs. Someone killed her," she said her voice becoming angry.