04

The pounding in my head woke me up a few seconds before my alarm went off. I rolled over to the other side and turned it off before the really loud chorus of Nicki's *pound the alarm* went off.

I sat up recalling the reason for the drilling in my head to be the drinking game I stupidly got involved in with my sister.

I groaned as the memory of me downing the bottle went off in my head,*well there goes my sobriety*. I was about to get out of bed when I turned and saw a bottle with a note on it on my nightstand.

I grabbed the bottle and read out the note "Drink, cure for your hangover and Dr. McKenzie session at 10. Don't be late"

I groaned even more and fell back into bed.

*Just another Tuesday*

**********************************

"Hallé?"

I shifted my eyes from my palms, "Sorry what?"

"I asked when you intend to bury your husband?"

I scoffed "As soon as the police force does their job and apprehend his killer"

"Hmm but don't you think it would be a good thing to do it now? There's a high chance it would give you the peace you're searching for."

I laughed "No offense Dr. McKenzie but I'll never have peace until I know whoever took Michael from me is locked behind bars for the rest of their lives"

"Okay so how are *you* doing?"

"My husband just died and it seems I'm a suspect, how do you think I'm doing"

Dr. McKenzie raised an eyebrow "That's what I asked".

I sighed in response "I'm tired".

She nodded and took down more notes probably putting me down as depressed which admittedly I was.

"And lately any signs from our *protective friend* "

I finnicked, it's been a long time since we've talked about this.

"Are you trying to insinuate that she-*I* did this?"

She stared back at me "I'm not insinuating anything, I'm asking a logical question, your darker personality has been known to come out when she feels you're in distress."

I met her gaze "*No*". She took more notes.

"You said your parents are cutting their trip short and coming back tomorrow?"

I nodded.

"And when was the Last time you've been to church"

"Well with the tour,...Michael and everything...its been a while "

"Okay our session is up but I advice that now that you're in town you get back involved with the church,its always helped before and you spend a lot of time with your parents. During this period it's better that you stay around people that love and support you and not let yourself have too much time alone; interact with people".

I sighed and got up "Thank you Dr. McKenzie". As I walked out the door I thought about her last sentence- interact with people.

*Easier said than done*

***********************************

DETECTIVE GOMEZ

I stared hard at my suspects board, in which only had picture smack in the middle *Hallé*

Now as I focused on the image, despite my actions during the previous interrogation I just couldn't imagine the woman who Michael, my best friend had introduced to me as the love of his life, the woman I went on holiday trips with to be the murderer.

I found myself hoping that intuition was wrong but right now she was the only lead I have and I'd be not only a horrible detective but a terrible friend if I didn't chase it down. I needed to go back to the house.

Just as I stood up to leave, the door of my office was swung open by Chief Adeolu; as she walked in I noticed she had a small feminine creature behind her and I could just picture what this was about.

"*No*" I answered immediately, the teenage girl behind her screamed "intern" and I had too much on my plate already.

She smiled, the smile of a woman who knew that despite my thoughts, I was going to succumb to her wishes; Tall, dark skinned, beautiful and elegant, Chief Adeolu commanded respect and a powerful presence anywhere she went, most couldn't outright refuse her but I was a part of the few who she let owing majorly to the number of high class cases I had successfully solved even at such a young age. I respected her and she respected me *success recognizes success*.

She placed her hands on my desk palm front, staring me down while the skinny light skinned girl behind her just watched us on with a curious smile.

"Gomez, no not this time. I did you a favour by letting you work this case despite knowing how close you were with the victim, because you promised me you would remain calm and objective. Now that stunt you pulled with *his wife*, I'm very tempted to reconsider that decision.

I raised an eyebrow "But?"

She smiled victoriously, she knew she had me "*But* if you do this one favour for me and let my sweet niece shadow you at least just for this one case, I'll just let the bygones be bygones".

I sighed "Fine". She smiled walking away. I turned my attention to the teenage looking girl who was now staring at the picture of my prime suspect with awe. *God just what I needed*

I cleared my throat, and she quickly turned towards me with a shy smile. *never imagined shy was in the chief's blood* "Okay listen up intern, you "shadow", meaning you move when I move, and whatever I want you to do you do. You can ask questions but I can't promise I'll answer them all, so?"

She blinked twice "I just want to say I'm really grateful for this opportunity, I pleaded with my aunt to work with you because you're sort of a legend, solved about 200 cases at the age of 25-"

I laughed "And I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you're practically in love with the star suspect".

She stuttered under her breath.

"Calm down, I'm just messing with you. First lesson toughen up, if you're going to be a detective, you can't let people get to you so easily, don't let them take you for a ride. Especially important for the people we're going to be dealing with on this case, understand?"

She nodded quickly.

"Now my young shadow, let's go see where the love of your life sleeps" I said putting on my jacket, and moving out with her quick on my heels.

***********************************

HALLÉ

As I sat on the bench of the church staring at the podium, I wondered how my life got so complicated. I was so lost in thought I didn't hear Pastor Brown sit next to me, until he grabbed my hand and squeezed. I nearly jumped out of my skin until I realized it was him and relaxed.

He looked at me kindly, and it made me less tense over the years apart from my parents, Pastor Brown had become my other parental figure. I grew up with his Church too, him being the reason I joined the choir, so at moments like this I usually sought solace here.

He finally spoke "Looks like the prodigal daughter has returned home"; I rolled my eyes "Oh stop it pastor brown. I didn't leave, I've just been busy".

He squinted at me "Dr McKenzie send you over?" , I sighed "She thinks at this point in my life it is important for me to be around people that I love and of course she's right".

He released a short breathy laugh, before his expression turned serious "Tell me darling, how do you feel"

I stared back at the podium "Honestly I am so tired, I feel so weak and I...I don't know if I can make it through this"

"No honey, don't say that. You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for, and when has God ever let his children suffer?, You'll get through this. I know you will and I'll always be right here if you need reminding of that".

I looked up at him and released a short laugh "Thank you Unc" feeling myself slip back into that tiny girl with cornrows as I hugged him.

He released a breathy laugh "Alright how about I drive you home?"

************************************

DETECTIVE GOMEZ

"Come on Shadow keep up" I shouted to the young intern who was straggling behind as I crossed under the police tape lines surrounding the previous home of Miss Hallé and now my newest crime scene.

As I threw the door open, my intern finally stepped in line with me, muttering words under her breath which sounded *faintly* English.

"Sorry what was that?" I asked turning around to face her. She sighed and stared at me pointedly "Molly. My name isn't shadow its Molly".

I turned back around with disinterest "Good to know *Shadow*" I replied as I made my way to the Last floor of the house where the bedrooms were said to be located.

As I got of the last step, Shadow finally asked a reasonable question "Why are we here, I thought forensic already went through everything".

I laughed inwardly, *of course she's following the case*. "Yes forensic did go through it but *I* didn't" I replied as I moved towards the room I was familiar with as Michael's.

I stopped in front of the door, checking for any signs of forced entry and just as I expected *none*. "Michael always liked to sleep with the door locked, side effect from attending an all boys boarding school. But there are no signs of forced entry, just like with the doors downstairs". I watched my intern nod along attentively. I continued "the difference here being Michael locked himself *in* so only he could have opened the door".

With that I swung the door open as my shadow jumped in "So he heard a sound, unlocked the door and made his way downstairs".

I smiled and replied "Exactly" as I swept my eyes around the larger than life room, making my way towards a door which resembled that of a closet, and if my suspicions were right not just for one, I pressed down on the door handle "Just as I thought, *dresses, shoes, shirts, suits* ; Michael and Hallé shared a closet".

"Michael locked himself in, which means the killer would have to get past him to get the belt, but there was no forced entry, meaning the killer would have had to knock him out downstairs, to come back here and grab the belt".

I said turning towards my intern who jumped in once again "but there was no other bruisings on his body apart from those caused by the force of the belt, no head wounds, so ...

I finished "So the killer was already in possession of the belt, it wasn't a crime of passion, but one of precision. Michael's murder was already planned out for a while. So its either Hallé is really a manipulative killer who planned for days to murder her husband in cold blood or..

And once again Shadow finishes for me "Someone really close to her is trying hard to make her out as one".