Killing the Unfaithful

4. Jane Unleashed

Liana Ashlie sat quietly in a corner of her dead friend's apartment, applying makeup.

She had nothing else to do. She had gone to her house earlier to freshen up. She could have stayed there longer, but she needed to talk to Michael. She had to tell her about her last meeting with Jane.

That Dean guy had come to talk to her earlier that day. She had managed to stall him by crying. It worked. He had forgotten to ask her anything.

He had come back again when she had come back from her house, probably realising his stupidity.

Not crying anymore, she had no other excuse to dodge his questions. Finally, she had to tell him she will only talk to Michael.

He had looked pissed. He walked away grudgingly. Pissing off a cop is not a great idea, she knew.

But she also knew that he could do nothing. Some people have 'harmless ' written on their face.

It's not everyday a cop happens to be a school friend, she planned to take advantage of that.

She will only talk to Michael, even though she refuses to acknowledge her.

She wasn't really surprised. After all she wasn't very good friends with her at school. She was a quiet girl who sat in the corner and had very few friends.

She wouldn't even have known her if she didn't come in her school bus.

She could never have imagined her becoming a freaking cop and now she regretted not having a better friendship with her.

That's the thing about school you cannot guess what anyone would turn out in future.

She was in these thoughts when someone stood in front of her. She looked up. It was Michael.

"We need to talk," she states. Liana quickly collected her wits. She gave a big warm smile. "Of course, " she shifted to make space beside her and gestured to sit.

Michael wasn't very pleased with the unusually warm welcome. Liana made a mental note to lower it down a notch.

Michael sat down beside her uncertainly. "So how close you were with Jane?" she asks, trying to sound casual.

"My dad is business partners with her husband. We went to college together, Jane, Tristan and me. We were very good friends," she replied.

"Really?" Michael asked. "Like there was no rivalry, no... jealousy?"

A picture of Tristan flashed her eyes. Her cheeks flushed with colour. She said nothing.
"Oh you know what they say about rich people, "Michael continued," that they are never truly friends with each other. There is always competition, hate, envy and a lot of drama like- cheating and stuff."

"What do you mean?" She clenched her fists, hoping her face wasn't as red as it felt.

"Nothing. I just wanted to ask if you know something about Jane's love life you'd like to share."

Oh she's good. Liana thought. Here she had come, planning to tell Michael just enough to help without getting in trouble herself but Michael aimed at the chink in her armour, making her lower her facade so easily.

She didn't know she was so obvious about Tristan, but apparently she was.

"Jane was cheating on Thomas with Tristan," she said.

Michael's eyes were fixed on her, her eyes telling her go on.

"I like Tristan."

Michael looked at her with satisfaction on her face. "Did Jane know?"