"Is that a smile?-"
"Shut up, shut up, get prepared for your confession. I'll give you a minute."
Victor chuckled, but I avoided mocking his laugh since I was scanning the police report. It was covered in coffee stains but nonetheless mostly legible. I heard him clear his throat, which told me he was ready. Pulling out my small sized recorder, I placed it on the table between us. Taking one last look at the report before placing it too the side.
"So, where do you want me to start?"
Pressing the start button on the recorder, I said.
"At the beginning, or whatever works for you."
I could tell Victor wasn't expecting that response from me, but he continued anyway. Telling me about his wife, first date, and secrets she would keep. It wasn't ever brought out in the open, but he knew something was up. It was their anniversary that she was raped and murdered, and from his perspective though drunk, he found her like that.
"That's everything I know."
"Okay."
I said pressing the stop button on the recorder, scratching my head some. It was in the silence from Victor that told me not to dig. But something about his wife keeping secrets just felt off. Locking eyes with him, I saw it again, tears pricking his eyes this time though. A dark sea of grief and possibly anger by the way his fist is clenched.
"You...you have this look on your face like I killed her-"
"Don't assume for me, you should know that by now. And no I don't think you killed your wife, the evidence stacked against you so cleanly just seems..."
"Seems like what?"
"Strange, like someone really wanted to frame you, someone with revenge or motive. You said you're wife had secrets right?"
"Right, why?"
"Those secrets might be why she died."
"Are you saying she was a drug dealer or murderer? Like she dealt or something?"
Grief has a tendency to get violent very quickly, though I'll never back down, not really in a position for it.
"No, I don't make assumptions until I have all the data."
Then cursed under my breath.
"John was my illegal hacker for this stuff and I blew up on him today."
"Wait at your job? Is he the one that did this to you?"
"No I fell down the steps and faceplanted, but he did punch in my windows to my Buick. So I kinda roasted him in front of everyone maced him in the eyes, kicked him in the balls, and drove off."
"Kinda?-"
"Don't okay? I know it's going to bite me in the ass..."
Lightly sighing, I held my face in my hands, before lifting my head and spoke.
"Listen if you really didn't kill your wife someone else did, so that means at your anniversary party someone could have done it. Do you have any leads?"
"No no I don't, everyone loved Cecile, she was a sweetheart."
"Okay um...is there anyone who you met, if only for a moment, expressed disagreement."
"I cant remember too well-"
"Maybe that's the problem."
"What do you mean by that?"
As I stood up starting to pace.
"You can't remember, are you a blackout drunk?"
"No never have been-"
"Exactly, exactly so someone might have roofied you, then preceded to kill your wife."
"Or someone who wasn't at the party at all..."
Victor had a look, so I stepped over and sat next to him.
"I know you don't want to think it, but who do you see right now."
"My brother, Kyle, he always was jealous of my achievements. He wasn't at the anniversary until the last few minutes, a lot of people were leaving then, that's when I started to drink."
"Then go tell the police right now."
I said throwing his jacket on him, I grabbed mine too, starting to open the door. But Victor slammed it back closed, towering over me, he said.
"I don't want my brother in jail, but I can't get it out of my head he might of done it..."
He was starting to cry, slamming his hand over my head which made me flinch.
"Why would he do this? He could've asked me for anything!"
"Victor..."
At the sound of his name, Victor looked down at me.
"He could be after you too, you already know too much-"
"No shut up, shut up, you don't know him you don't know me."
Victor said pointing at my chest, glaring directly in my eyes.
"Who are you again? Oh right Tris the man eater. Yes I know you, I know enough. All you want is a story from me, feeding off my weakness. John wasn't at fault, it was you, it's always you. Such a perfect life, no wonder you're always alone."
I couldn't speak, so I just swallowed slowly.
"That's right, so do me a favor and stay the hell away from me, and the police station. If I ever see you again..."
Victor gripped my shirt, turning my head up to his.
"It won't just be a hit and run."
Victor shoved me out of the way, before opening and slamming my door closed, hearing his receding steps. Placing my hands on the kitchen counter. I took a shaky breath, feeling suddenly cold, I shook my head to gain focus. Checking the clock it's Tuesday, 6:00pm on the dot. So I locked my door, grabbed some food, and continued to scan the police report on the couch with a new found perspective. Pulling out my computer, for media insight.
"Childish bastard..."
So suddenly you're brothers all high and mighty because you love him? Yeah okay, we're done.
