Criminal » mnz

2: Security Camera Footage

      "This, Ms. Ziegler, is the night before Kalani was pronounced dead."

      He pressed play and the video started, it was just Kalani leaving her house. She walked with her curled brown hair, falling effortlessly at her shoulders, adorned with her black trench coat and black leggings, looking like a model with every step she took. Her black Chanel purse was slung over her shoulder, gold chain and gold Chanel logo plastered on the front. She was a living goddess.

      "Do you know where she's going?"

      "If I knew, I would tell you." I said, tears filling my eyes, watching my brunette best friend strut across the street, back when she was breathing.

The camera switched to another camera, where she kept walking. Then, we switched to the camera after that, and she was gone. Vanished.

"She can't just disappear like that!" I slammed my hands against the table.

"That is what we call a 'blind spot,' Miss Ziegler. We were waiting for you so we could check it out together. Since you are Ms. Hilliker's emergency contact after we arrested Mr. and Mrs. Hilliker for the abuse of their child."

          "Let's go then, what are we waiting for?" I picked up my purse and car keys, shoving them into my purse.

           -

The 'blind spot' was a bar, which I had been to plenty of times with anyone and everyone. Kalani and I used to hangout here, but after a few months of hangovers and mistakes, we decided to stop.

"This is Kendall's favorite bar," I said, examining its roomy, comfortable interior, yet strong exterior. "The Red Leaf." I examined the brass leaves outlining the corners of the windows, outlooking onto the street. "And there she is, not even the slightest bit sober." I scoffed, remembering the days I wasted trying to break Kendall out of her addiction, hiding her alcohol, throwing it all out. And for what? For her to return to her old ways.

"Ms. Ziegler, is everything okay? Why the scoff?"

I explained the whole story of how I tried to be her own portable rehab, and how it all went crashing down.

"We need a status of Kendall Vertes the night before Ms. Hilliker." He says into his walkie-talkie.

            "Wow, didn't know you guys still used those." I chuckled slightly, wiping a tear from my eye.

             "We do." The officer smiled slightly himself. "So, you say she was always drunk?"

             "Yes. She is almost never sober," I frowned. "It started when her mother died."

              "Ah, yes. The murder of Mrs. Vertes." The officer murmured.

              "Oh! Um, I'm sorry, murder? Kendall always told me it was a car accident." I said, taken aback.

"Yes. It was a murder and we never found the killer."

"Do you think it was-"

"Possibly. Maybe Kendall knew, and just wouldn't tell anyone, then took revenge."