~ SHEILA ~
The rests of the day was a long one. Apparently Nick-Tracy's ex was too hostile to answer any question. I couldn't tell if it was from guilt or irritation from the person doing the interrogating. I never liked him and I never hid it. I never liked any of Tracy's boyfriends.
Nick gave very rude and short answers to the questions that were asked. I saw Pete in the associate blue-pen on my way in through the hall but the thought of conducting my first investigation on this case with Pete got me wary. I'd rather not have him there.
Nick on the other hand did not have anything interesting to say to the questions asked rather than a monotonous 'yes' and 'no'. I was getting really irritated. I even got more irritated at the redeeming-talk Pete gave when I finished investigating Nick; the 'If I could reverse it, trust me I would talk!' He could reverse it, he could refuse it by simply keeping his mouth shut and refusing the bet or he could simply park his filthy bags and go to which ever gutter slum he came from but he didn't. Nonetheless, this was our reality and we needed to start working on the case. Whatever the issue was, we will have to halt it for Tracy.
Putting my pride aside, I and Pete ran by through surveillance footage. After watching repetitively, we couldn't get anything. I suspected the second person must have gotten in using the back door. We also ran by other evidence like Tracy's Phone; her call logs, texts messages and so on. We had to send a request for Nick's measurements to match them with the souvenir that bastard left at the crime scene.
…
"You look like hell". Ben glanced at me twice. I actually did look like hell. Ben took a long look at me while fighting to supress a chuckle. So he thinks this is amusing.
"Bad day?"
"You don't wanna know" I placed my purse and other hand items on the table.
"Any leads with the case?" Ben asked.
"Spoke with Nick today. He said; she told me to get the hell out -with an attitude".
"Any other lead?" He said finishing his last bowl of cereal.
"Apparently, he was too angry to talk. He is always angry to talk with me." I couldn't blame him. As I said, I didn't like him neither did he.
"What were you arguing about this time?" I was deliberately obnoxious with my question as I enjoyed watching him glare disgustingly. He was usually very vulgar and rude, not caring about the words he uttered and the things that came out of them-the free spirited types but this room….he was familiar with this room, how it functions and the rules it ran by. One sly remark or display of hostility and he's sorry ass is getting arrested. I enjoyed the feeling that came with having him under control-my control"
"She didn't call you to tell you this time?" He replied with the same energy. I gave him a longing look to make him know this was business and not just any of our unpleasant casual conversations. He understood.
"Fucking around as usual and when I sniffed up on that shit and call her ass out, guess who came buzzing in on her timeline like a bitch...". He cursed exhaling while sinking in his seat.
"You have an idea with whom"?
"That bitch ain't ever snitch up on them? She told me to fuckoff and get the hell out….look-why are we even talking about this shi-. You know more about her fuck buddies than I do". he spat again.
He was anxious throughout most of the interrogation. He tapped his feet vigorously. Why is he so impatient? Where does he need to be?
"If I knew, you think I will be out here dragging you in for this conversation. I certainly don't look forward to making my mornings by talking to you Nick"
"Fuck"! He ran a hand through his scanty blonde hair; this time, fidgeting in his seat. Again with the uneasiness and cursing. He's definingly high.
"Language"! He exhaled, struggling to get relaxed. I gave him a minute to get his shit together while trying to figure out whatever was going on with him. If he was high, that isn't new. He's always high. Was this guilt? Did he know who she was with or was it just the uneasiness of being in a court space? Nick was an ex-felon. He was occasionally in and out of jail. Environments like this was what he was used to, so why the panting?
"The footage shows she kicked you out. Somebody must have come in after she had that call. Did she take it while kicking you out and did you ease-drop on the conversation?"
"You think she spend five hours making me look dump then pick up the call right after to talk to her fuck buddy"? He had a point.
"So you didn't stay back a little while to listen to the call?"
"Did you see me staying back?" he asked in a smug manner.
After exhausting all my questions I allowed him to finally retire.
"Is it only the case making you stare at that plate for five hours or should I rush to MAC to return their burger?" Ben startled me from my thoughts.
"Put in the word for fresh pickles next time". We both chuckled. He sat next to me on the dining.
"What's on your mind-other than the case?" he picked a potato fry from my plate. "Well....it doesn't really matter and honestly, it's not that important." I thought so many times about having a conversation regarding Pete but I found the topic unnecessary. He was my pasts and I'll like to live things that way.
"Ait if you say so, come on now finish up before I get hungry". He woke up to live for bed.
"Is Bran tucked in"?
"Five minutes ago" he stopped at the stair way to answer.
"Alright, we'll join you in a minute. Thank you darling."
"Ait. I'm up"
…
"I thought you said you already ran by this?" honestly, at this point, Pete's constant complaining was beginning to hit a nerve.
"Yeah except one and that was just casual. You take the neighbours facing the front yard. I'll get the back door." I crisscrossed him to start work.
"Have you ever thought maybe her murder has nothing to do with an ex? She could have been murdered by a complete stranger or you know….a burglar?" she paused
"Then there will be some form of force to enter the house. There was none when we checked. Moreover, Burglar is out of the question. Nigga didn't steal shit. He left a souvenir. He was let in"
"Was she threatened to let him in? It's a possibility you know. So she didn't have enemies other than exes?"
"She was a people person Pete. I doubt even the exes wanted to kill her. The amount of time she cheated on them and they didn't have enough. What happened now?"
"Everyone has enemies, people person or not and you don't get to dictate when someone cracks" Him and he's terms. I raised a brow at him
"C…r….a…c…k…s…you know… reaches their breaking point" he ill iterated then continued. "If it's someone she was familiar with, I think we should run by her phone again; Deleted messages, texts, calls, emails. That's our primary evidence. I will need it."
"For what exactly?"
"I know a guy". He grinned mischievously. I recognised that grin...I was very familiar with it...the underlining mystery it conveyed like wait for the results of Pete's charming magic. Memories of a boyish Pete with flamboyant Brown curls and dimples to kill for days suddenly flooded my mind. A smile unconsciously cracked at my lips. It felt nice knowing I still registered pleasant memories of him but that's all it should be, memories….