Murder

2

"Good morning, love", I heard Reece's voice through the phone. "Have you slept well?"

"Yeah, I have", I answered with a little laugh. "I'm currently making breakfast."

"Stop making it sound so fancy, we both know you're just pouring cereal in a bowl", Reece teased me.

"Yeah", I said, dragging out the word. "I don't want to go to work today", I whined into my phone while pouring milk into the bowl and grabbing a spoon.

"Do you think I want to?", he laughed.

"Oh come on, Reecey. You're doing what you dreamed off. Although it's still a little weird to think you're a police officer. Or are becoming one" I walked to the table with my bowl, starting to eat.

"Really? You just can't imagine me in uniform." He laughed, and I smiled. I loved hearing his laugh.

"I can." I continued eating before adding: "Bet you look good."

Once again, he laughed. "I do. But noone ever looks as good as you, remember that."

"Oh shut it", I smiled.

"No I won't. Now have fun eating and going to work after. I'll text you. And I'll call you tonight." There's a short moment of silence. "I love you."

"I love you too. Stay safe", I answered. Then the phone call ended, and I knew I had to wait a while to hear from him again.

But that was not how it went. About two hours later, when I was at work, my phone rang, showing Reece's name. I picked up with a little frown.

"Reece?", I asked.

"Hey", he whispered.

"Why are you calling now?", I wanted to know.

"Charlie", he choked out.

"What's with her?", I said, a bit confused. Charlie was a good friend of mine, and I wasn't too sure what Reece wanted now.

"I'm on operation today", he said, his voice a bit calmer now. "George, there was a murder. Charlie is dead."

I dropped my phone, jumping at the sound of it hitting the ground. At least we had carpet where I worked.

"George?", I heard Reece's voice. I picked up my phone.

"Oh god", I mumbled. "For real?

"I need your help. I've told my colleagues that I knew her, but not that well. I need her full name, and a family contact."

My hands were shaking. "I can't believe it", I whispered.

"Believe me, I'm not having an easy time either. I've met her like twice, but she was such a sunshine." He sighed.

"Charlize McKaden. 21 years old. Lives- Lived in Southern London. Her parents aren't together, she hated her dad. I'll send you her mum's address", I whispered into the phone.

"I'm sorry baby. Thank you. Love you", he said.

"Bye love", I gave back and stared at my phone feeling devastated. Who would kill Charlie? She was a sunshine, as Reece said. Always positive, kind to everyone. Even when we became friends in elementary school she tried to talk to everyone, she tried to involve the lonely kids. She was a good person. She always supported me. Why would someone murder her?

The screen of my computer was blending me. I couldn't concentrate. After about half an hour I called my supervisor, telling him I received bad news and wasn't feeling too well now. He told me it was okay, I could go home for the rest of the day. I thanked him as I started packing up my things.

I said goodbye to my colleagues as I walked by them. My legs were shaky as well as I walked my way to the underground station. I texted Reece but I know he wouldn't see it until he had a free minute, and that could be in either ten minutes or three hours.

A woman in the underground gave me weird looks so I closed my eyes to shut the world around me off. I almost missed my station because of it, but I noticed on time to rush out. When I finally reached my home, I sank down on the stairs, sitting there and just breathing in and out.

"Fuck", I whispered, staring at my hands who were shaking more again. I was scared. It was as if I knew that this was only the start.

After a good ten minutes I went inside and made myself a cup of tea. My parents were still working, so I was home alone. I changed out of my work clothes, getting into something more comfortable. I laid down on the sofa, staring at the white ceiling for a moment before tucking up my legs and rolling up to be as little as I could be.

I must've fallen asleep due to being exhausted, because I was woken up by voices. I stretched, wondering why I had fallen asleep on the couch, but then it hit me. I jumped up like a scalded cat.

"That's horrifying", I heard mum say in the kitchen. The coffee machine was on, making loud noises.

Charlie was dead.

I grabbed the empty cup of tea I had made earlier, walking over to the kitchen, stopping in my tracks when I saw Reece sitting there. He turned around when he heard my steps, sending me a soft smile.

I put the cup into the sink before walking over to him. He stood up, wrapping his arms around me. I let myself fall against him.

"Hey love", he whispered into my ear. I hide my face in the crook of his neck. He held me, and he kept holding on.

"Was it bad?", I asked, my voice cracking, merely a whisper.

"It always is."

I closed my eyes, trying to feel his arms around me, to feel the safety he provided me.

"Why her?"

Reece shrugged. "We don't know anything yet. So far, we couldn't make out anyone who could've done this to her. Maybe she just was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"She never did anything wrong", I whispered with a sob.

"Yeah. Don't worry. We'll find whoever did this. I promise."

We stood in silence until I could let go,  drying the tears off my cheeks with my sleeve. "She was like a sister to me."

"I know", Reece simply said. "It's not easy, losing loved ones." I looked up to him, also seeing tears in his eyes.

"Reece", I whispered, pulling him closer again.

"I had to go with Jim when he went to tell her mother", he murmured. "The pain she must've felt..."

And suddenly Reece and I are holding onto each other again like it's the only thing left to do.