David O'connell narrating:
I looked at Katie leaning to the side on the desk over the files, she pressed her hands to her cheeks and rolled her eyes that she had fixed on the computer screen.
I felt a chill on the back of my neck even with the precinct heater on, my stomach rumbled, keep staring at Katie's little request still all there, she laughed finally giving in.
— AAA! If you want it, just ask for it, don't stare at it. — She huffed, handing me the toothpicks.
— Sorry, I just didn't mean to be rude. — I took the small pot and started to eat quickly. — Why don't you take a different angle on the recordings, or at least give yourself ten minutes Katie!
— You don't understand, do you? It's an important and mysterious case. — She put her hand on her chin and scratched it, looking at me, lowered the tone of her voice. — Plus, you saw how everyone fought over it, so it's a good thing the captain likes you.
— No, he was trying to cheer me up, but I don't know, I feel like it's also a punishment for saying that I'm quitting the police force?
I shrugged, chewing the noodles and tasting the soy sauce in my mouth, Katie spun on the swivel chair facing me.
— He knows I don't like cases like this, I don't know, I hate talking to the press, and I hate how nosy and stuck-up these rich people can be. I like cases of simple people, like that sign on 10th street.
— Uo, yes, that one was creepy. — She played with the bracelet on her left arm wrist and smiled. - Remember how the witness vomited when she saw so much blood?
— Her reaction was that of a normal person, however, I forget that with so much time working here we forget how immune we are when we see heinous things.
Katie agreed with her head, drinking water from her water bottle with giraffes drawn on it. — Do you think this affects our relationships?
I dug the last pieces of meat out of the pot, nodding my head, I leaned my elbow on the edge of the table.
— I leaned my elbow on the edge of the table. — I replied with my mouth full, making faces. Katie hated this, she patted me on the knee with her feet dangling off the chair, and I laughed. — Is this a new bottle? I hadn't seen it.
— Dom, bought it for me in celebration of my first company affair, and of course I love it.
Katie smiled wide, but not just any smile, that smile when you are in love and talk about your loved one, because of course there were four things Katie loved most, God, her family, Dom, and giraffes.
Like, she was obsessed with those animals, but it was funny to look at my friend there in love, talking about her fiancé, it reminded me that I had forgotten what it was like to smile like that, to have someone like that in my life.
I took a deep breath, swallowing the last piece of meat from Yakhisoba, I looked at the recordings of the day of the victim's murder and asked curiously:
— But, what was the reason for her fame? And why is she canceled by her fans? - I scratched the top of my ear, grabbing the computer mouse. — Also, this afternoon when we talked to the victim's husband, did you sense a tense atmosphere?
— Of course it was David, what did you want? — Katie looked at me frowning, frowning back without understanding, she leaned over and patted the back of my neck. - You really have no idea who these people are, do you? Gee, David there are times I forget how clueless you are.
— You know I don't... Can you please just say it!
I said letting go of the mouse, Katie turned to the computer, typed quickly and put a picture of the five of them together on Google, I looked at the screen leaning my tired back in the chair.
— Ok, they are actors in the Lullaby saga, seven movies and a spin off series, it made millions, the child actors were ten years old when it started, except Ian who was twelve. The story is not important now, what happened is that this, Penelope Castro.
She pointed her index finger to the shorter one, with the beautiful smile, she had one of those smiles that lights you up, I only noticed it in one picture, I don't know if it was because she was wearing a yellow dress, and because of her long straight brown hair, I remembered that she was sitting next to the blonde one on the sofa.
— They fell in love, this is Sebastian!
As she spoke her finger went across the screen indicating who was who, and I narrowed my eyes feeling the heater finally kick in.
— They were the main couple, they started dating at the age of fourteen, in the fourth movie, they were the couple of the moment, but they were still very reserved. When they both turned eighteen they decided to get married, which was kind of received as a bomb by the family, the rumor was that his mother hated Penelope.
— Ok Katie, as much as I am loving all this gossip... — I mocked, wanting to get rid of all this useless information. I hooked my feet around the legs of the chair. — What does our victim have to do with all this?
She rolled her eyes. — I was getting to that... — He raised his cheek on the right side, and spoke again his finger walked on the screen pointing to the victim's face. — Samantha was Penelope's best friend, and was also against the wedding so soon everyone was, but they didn't care and got married anyway...
My fingers were tapping on the edge of the table, impressed with how much it was possible to know about private and embarrassing events in other people's lives, one click and it was all there, she didn't even blink telling the whole story, I kept paying attention to her speech.
— Everything was going well and they were married for two years, until Penelope got involved with drugs, like there were rumors that she had always been a bit of an alcoholic, but things got so bad that she kept going back and forth to rehab. The point is that the second time Penelope went to rehab, she managed to finish and leave early, the point is that when she got home she caught her best friend and her fiancé in bed.
I listened carefully, almost sleepily, but the last part shocked me.
— So, this just might be the betrayal the message was talking about?
I exclaimed, she covered her mouth with her hand, staring with wide eyes, my fingers running through the folders trying to bring something else to my mind, the faster we solve this case, the faster we get back to the cases I felt more comfortable with.
— Exactly! But why would anyone think of doing that now? — Katie put a lock of her hair back. — They got married in January of this year, it's early November.
— I don't know, but at least it makes sense. — I ran my hand across my forehead. — It might indeed have been the same person who sent these messages, we have to ask for images from the security camera of the penthouse where they died, so that we can analyze if there is anything suspicious.
Katie started drumming her fingers on the table in our office, this is how she thought always tapping her hands and restless, my stomach rumbled and I felt tired and exhausted to think more. Then, when she opened her mouth.
— Surely it must have something to do with Penelope's new entrance to the clinic, which say she left this week, but I saw that it was something that made the fans worried. — She started typing on the computer with her left hand resting on her chin.
I stood up from my chair, my mouth curved into a smile. — Who knew that your being a gossip would help us!
She looked at me angrily and rolled her eyes, using both hands to make the noises of the keys intensifying in the room we shared.
— Too soon for sarcastic comments?
— Well, it's never time for your sarcastic remarks. But, look here! I found it. She attempted suicide two months ago, so that only substantiates that whoever killed Samantha is a Penelope fan.
I bent down to the computer screen, looking at the news, and blinked a lot, feeling my eyes dry.
— Not much, but it's something. — I pressed my lips together. — Now, let's go, it's getting late.
Katie took a deep breath getting off the chair, looked at me suspiciously, avoiding looking down because she knew what that puzzled look meant. Nathali.
I grabbed my coat, watching the snow slowly engulf the window, soon it would leave us with no view of the street, soon it would be Christmas and all over again, I took a deep breath stuffing my hands into my coat.
— David...
I let go of her purple purse that was lying on her desk, and let out a breath. — Ok, I love you Katie, and I appreciate what you are trying to do but, I don't want to meet your cousin Nathalie...
— Actually, I wanted to apologize, about my insistence this past week!
She slung her purse over her shoulder, and walked to the door, but didn't open it, she looked at me.
— In talking with Dom, I realized that maybe I had been too hard on her. I know that losing the ones you love hurts, it hurts deep inside. You have the right to have your period of mourning, of suffering, of sadness, and even of isolation. And even if you think I'm right, I apologize, okay?
I raised my bushy brown eyebrows high, impressed that this was Katie knows everything apologizing to me for something she thought was right? She held up her hands showing her palms, and giggled mirthlessly as she reacted to my frown.
I kept quiet, not knowing how to respond to that kind of conversation, scratched the back of my neck, took a step towards her causing her to wave the keys in my pocket.
— So take your time and know that I'm here to help you bandage and suture if you need to as long as you heal and get well again.
— I'll be fine as long as you keep bringing me those delicious yakisobas from your neighborhood and keep accepting that Dom loves me more than he loves you.
She burst out laughing, opening the gray door to the living room. — You don't exist, David.
I smiled, winking at her as we walked to the elevator, and as I got into my car.
All I could think about was how much I missed getting married and hearing about your day, and telling you about mine. Damn, how I miss you Anna.
I get home, after showering I scroll through the news on the tablet screen, blinking a lot feeling my eyes dry.
Thinking that for others it seems so easy. I, on the other hand, get tired just thinking about not having you, or being with someone different. No one is ready for the blows of life, losing you was undoubtedly the worst of them, I love you Ana.
I lay in bed hugging her picture, I couldn't describe the weight of spending my second Christmas without Ana, but, I think she wouldn't want that, so I try to calm myself, dry the cold tears and go to the shower.
I can't describe how heavy it is not having you interrupting my baths and making me correct your students' exams.
Maybe, Katie was right, I should meet new people? All this time I have been thinking, "What would Katie want? You would want me to move on, but it's still hard.
It's not important now," she shook her head, forcing me to think of something else, "I need a fresh start, and little by little I will adjust to this life without you.