The KILLER (1)

JANICE

The door to their house was open so I just walked in. I don't think Thomas would mind.

"Thomas?"

There was no answer.

I walked forward.

There was someone in Hillary's room.

I walked to see Thomas sitting on her bed, holding her phone.

"Thomas?"

He immediately switched it off and got up.

"Hi.... what are you doing here?"

"I just came to visit... I didn't know what to do."

He didn't say anything.

"So, are there any clues on Hillary's phone? Did you find anything?"

"I don't think... no.... no.... nothing- nothing important..."

"Let me see... maybe you missed something.."

He shook his head leading me outside. Any small hint would help. I walked towards the bed. Thomas jerked his head towards me, I grabbed the phone.

Once I turned it on I saw what was going on... Eliza. Hillary met Eliza. Eliza. Does that mean it was her who did this? But the tablets were in Thomas's room... It didn't make sense... but this was important

"Thomas. Why didn't you show this to me?"

" I.. I didn't think it... I just... just w

saw it and... I didn't think it was impo-"

"You didn't think this was important?! Thomas, this is the most important clue we found! And you are still covering it up. What is wrong with you?! Didn't you hurt her enough?!"

"Who?"

"HILLARY!! You broke her heart, Thomas! And now.... even when she's gone, you are still defending her. How sick is that?! "

"I'm not... I never meant to.... I was going to tell you but... I would have told you, really... I would have"

I stared at him. He wouldn't have told me... but still, maybe even he was still processing this. I let him get away with this now.

"We have to show this to the police."

"I know. "

"I'll hold on to this till then. I will inform the police."

"Ok"

" Thomas, if you find anything else, please tell me. We need to find out who did this. Okay? Hillary died. She is not there anymore, and whoever is at fault needs to get what they deserve. So we need to find out who it is. Whoever it is. For Hillary. Do you get me?"

"Okay. Okay....." The tears were welling up in his eyes faster and faster. I did feel bad for him... but he made mistakes, he can't make anymore.

"Bye Thomas"

"Bye," He whispered, under his breath.

I walked out and shut the door behind me.

I walked home slowly, taking heavy steps. It was really windy today. The air seemed... I don't know... negative.

I dialled up the police as soon as I reached And asked them to send over officer Michael as soon as possible.

The doorbell rang. I grasped the handle and pulled it open.

"Hello again, Ms Hunter."

"Thank you for coming officer, there was something I needed to show you... on Hillary's phone... I found it this morning when I went to Thomas's house." I handed it over to him with the chat opened up. I didn't think I should mention the fact that Thomas was the one who actually found it and didn't tell me. That would certainly complicate things.

"Okay... this... this is big"

I nodded

"This makes Eliza the most probable answer... since she is the only one with a motive..."

"I know" I agreed again.

He looked at me with a weird expression. My eyebrows raised in response.

"Thank you for this information. We will need to interrogate her before anybody else. Take care"

I nodded and led him to the door.

"Listen, I uh... could you tell me what she says after the interrogation.."

"Okay"

He walked outside and I shut the door.

Was Thomas really trying to defend her?

Maybe... but how could he?

I remember that day, the day that changed Hillary's life.

I called Hillary that afternoon, for... I don't remember exactly, but she answered crying, all her words followed by heavy breaths. She told me everything... How Thomas wasn't at work, how she... she... well, everything... and she cried to me for about an hour. I don't doubt that it bothered her every day. How could it not?

He could have loved Hillary... but he ruined her. All of this time I have been nothing but sympathetic towards him... but suddenly I hated him and what he did to her. It might have just been one mistake..... but if that's what cost her life...