A Dangerous Game

Chapter 6

I'm leaning back in my chair, my fingers pressed together and my nose resting upon their tips, when the apartment door opens. I let my eyes flicker quickly to the newcomers, taking in the extra person. I hold back a sigh, returning my gaze to the screen as they make their way over.

Louis leans down, his head floating just above my shoulder. "What is it?" He's slightly out of breath, and I can feel heat radiating from his skin. They must have hurried over, jogging through the streets just to learn what I have to tell. I can feel him fidgeting beside me, his knee bouncing and softly knocking against the chair, sending a slight tremor up the back of it.

I stay quiet for a moment longer, collecting my thoughts, and I feel him grow more and more impatient beside me. Then Emily shifts, reaching out and resting a reassuring hand on his arm. He shakes his head, and the bouncing stops. I bite the inside of my cheek, hoping my annoyance doesn't show. It seems the two have already made up.

"So," I start slowly. They both lean forward expectantly. "I might have found something."

"Great!" says Emily enthusiastically. I give her a look and her smile fades a bit. "Sorry, sorry. Please continue."

I can feel Louis' glare on my back but I just nod, moving the recording back a good twenty seconds. "While I did give you a list of all the women who know me, a lot of them could not possibly have been the actual murderer, giving the assailants' size and maneuverability. For example, Gene never would have been able to stay in a tunnel all night, stalk me without being seen, or run with as much agility. Plus, her aim is quite bad, given that she has only managed to hit me with anything she has thrown once."

They nod, Louis chuckling softly while Emily stands with a look of shock. "She threw things at you?"

"Yeah. Nothing too bad, though one time she found a rather heavy book to hurl. But we're getting off topic. The point is that there are actually a select few who fit the description well enough, which is who I looked at first." I finally play the video. Louis walks slowly up a stone path, his fist reaching up to knock sharply on the cheery white door. My friend Charlotte answers, her familiar blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders as she opens the door, her thick lips stretching into a smile that makes her eyes crinkle in the way I've always loved. Once again, I feel a sharp pang of loss at the sight of her. It's been so long since we've talked...

"Hi! What can I help you with?" She's just as bubbly as I remember. Louis clears his throat, shifting his feet on the purple doormat.

"Hey love! I actually have a few questions for you, if you don't mind."

"Oh, not at all! Pray come in, it's starting to get cold." He follows her inside, and there's static as he slips the list into his pocket before sitting down, at her command, in a vintage looking chair by the fire.

"So, what do you want to know?" She crosses one leg over the other. As Louis starts to talk, her lips purse. I stop the video.

"See that?" I ask. Louis leans in closer, squinting at the screen. "First sign that she's uncomfortable. Here you're asking her about seeing me lately. She sucks in her lips, meaning the conversation is bothering her. And here-" I point to the area between her eyes. "She's drawn her brows together, creating wrinkles. Same with her forehead. But here-" I quickly unpause the video, and like magic, her face relaxes completely.

I spin around to face them, but both of them give me blank looks. "Don't you see?" I urge, but it's clear they don't understand. "Ugh, fine. The point is that she noticed these behaviors, and she tried to hide them. The question is, why? That's what's suspicious."

Emily still frowns, pointing at the freeze frame. "Yeah, she even pulls her fingers apart. They were laced together quite stiffly before." She leans over me, showcasing what she means with a jabbing finger. I don't admit my surprise that she even noticed the small detail.