[Music: Goodbye By Apparat, Soap&Skin]
Stasia.
Stasia.
Stasia.
Stasia.
I heard voices, and they grew louder and louder every second. My bag slipped from my grip and dropped to the floor as I concealed my ears with my hands and squeezed my eyes shut.
"S-Stop..." I murmured, shaking my head as the whispers hastened.
Breathing heavily, I buried my hands in my hair and gripped tightly, pulling until my scalp ached.
"M-Make it stop. P-Please make it stop." I sobbed.
A sharp turn took over, everything swaying so fast I couldn’t follow.
"Please."
A hand gripped my arm, and I turned sharply, driven into attack mode as I screamed and hit as hard as I could until my wrists were seized in an iron hold.
That was when I realized the person who came up behind me was...
"Z-Zade..." My voice broke, and the moment he pulled me into his arms, I dissolved into tears.
I felt his chest expand briefly as he wrapped his big, strong arms around me. Warmth flushed through me; the voices and the sense of danger were gone as I was locked in his protective cocoon.
"I’m here, kitten. I’m here." He kissed the top of my head, and I sobbed harder.
I clutched his leather jacket until I could feel my knuckles ache. I moved my teary eyes to the wall, shaken once again as I saw the name.
Zade pulled away from me, gently brushing my hair away from my face, and then using his thumb to wipe my tears even when more spilled.
"Shhh..." he coaxed when my sobs had yet to cease. "It’s okay."
The sudden whirring sirens pulled our attention to the window. Judging by Zade’s perplexed expression, I’m guessing he wasn’t expecting the cops to be here.
"Listen to me, darling. Whatever you do, don’t talk to them. Understand?" He darted his eyes back to me. "I’ll handle everything."
I responded with a nod before I glanced over my shoulder to see my father’s corpse, his eyes still open and staring right at me.
But Zade redirected me, shielding me away from the scene, and I buried my face in his chest for comfort.
~☆~
An hour later, the whole place was crawling with the authorities, and the study’s entrance was crossed with the crime scene tape.
From my line of vision, everything went impossibly slow. I watched as the body bag was zipped closed and strapped to the stretcher.
I was pulled back to reality when the flashes flickered. Pictures were taken, and the entire office was combed through. The forensic team collected whatever evidence they could find.
I pulled Zade’s jacket tighter around me, finding his scent the only thing keeping my mind sane and not descending into chaos.
It took a while before I calmed down and I was glad I finally did. However, the moment my eyes pinned on the wall, a trembling cold swamp over me so I forced my attention elsewhere before I dived into that spiral again.
I focused on Zade talking to one of the detectives.
"Anastasia."
I turned toward the voice and met with a man with dark hair and light hazel eyes walking toward me.
A smile curled on his lips. "I never thought I’d see you again."
"R-Rick?"
His smile broadened before it fell flat. "I’m sorry for your loss."
I could only nod in reply. "I-I thought you were transferred."
"I was reassigned." He checked something one of the uniformed officers showed him, then nodded for him to proceed.
"You’re in charge of this case," I mumbled.
This felt like Déjà vu all over again. But this was one I remembered.
"Yeah. First case since I came back, and it brought me right back to you." He paused. "Aside from the circumstances, I’m really glad to see you again. You look well."
"Y-Yeah, it’s been two years."
"Yes," he said softly, eyes lowering briefly to my ring. "Seems like a lot of things have changed since then."
I subconsciously rubbed a finger against it. "Haven’t you?"
"I wish I could say the same but... here I am now." He cleared his throat. "I hope you don’t mind if I ask you some questions. I know you’re shaken, but I’m gonna need you to tell me what happened. I heard you’re the one who found your father."
"A-Actually, Rick, my h-husband is already talking to the detective. So..."
"I’m aware," he replied stiffly. "Mr. Salvero, right?"
"Yes."
"I did see the news and everything, but I was hoping that it was a different Anastasia who married Zayden Salvero."
"No one else, just me."
"Yeah," he chuckled lightly. "The same one who said I was hot."
"N-Now’s... not the time..."
"I made you smile, and it’s worth it." His expression softened. "Once again, I’m sorry about your father."
"Stop being sorry," I stated as I watched the body bag being wheeled away.
I don’t feel a thing.
"Anastasia?"
I snapped my eyes back to him, but then he glanced behind. That was when I felt a hand on my waist bringing me close to a solid frame, and I couldn’t resist leaning into him as though he was the only comfort I could find.
"I thought I made it clear that no one should ask my wife any questions," Zade said, keeping his eyes on me as he tugged some loose strands behind my ear. "Is he bothering you?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but I got interrupted.
"I’m Rick Conner. Detective Conner," Rick introduced himself as he stuck out his hand. "And I wasn’t bothering Anastasia. We were just talking."
Zade didn’t extend his hand out or even recognize it, so Rick retreated but still kept his cool.
"Anastasia and I go way back."
"I don’t recall asking who you were or how you met my wife."
"R-Rick Conner was the detective who came to see me after my car accident," I voiced out quickly, sensing a tension in the air.
Zade snapped his eyes to me.
"He’s a friend."
"I was in charge of the case then. Though it wasn’t much of a case."
I narrowed my eyes at his words.
"Please, Mr. Salvero. I hope we can cooperate. The sooner we catch the killer, the better."
"And I believe I’ve already spoken with your partner," Zade countered coolly. "We’re done here."
Rick nodded, scratching the bridge of his nose. "I assure you, Anastasia, we’ll get to the bottom of this. We’ll find whoever did this."
I know who did this. However, I don’t say that.
"You still have my number, right?"
"I-I think so..."
I really wished he didn’t ask that.
Because right now, Zade looked like he wanted to pull out a gun and shoot him. He didn’t have one on him, did he? God, I hoped not.
"Excuse me."
"A friend," Zade said the moment he left. "And you have his number."
"R-Rick is a good man and a good detective. He’s just doing his job."
Zade didn’t look pleased by my words, but I wasn’t trying to rattle him; I only spoke facts.
"Let’s see how much of a good detective he is then."
"I-If they investigate this further, then they are gonna find out who did this," I changed the topic.
This roused Zade’s attention.
"I-I know who did this. There’s only one person who can come in and out of this manor without being found."
Zade passed a slow look around to make sure no one was listening.
"Stasia..." I said in a quivering voice. "The name on the wall—"
"Pardon me..." Rick was back.
"Aren’t we done, Detective Conner?" Zade said in annoyance.
"This is just protocol, Mr. Salvero." He looked at me. "I’m sorry, Anastasia, but I have to ask. The name on the wall, do you know who that is? Does the name Stasia mean anything to you?"
"No," I replied.
He nodded, writing something down, but I couldn’t tell if he believed me or not.
"There are two vehicles parked outside. The car is yours?"
"Yes."
"Then I assume the bike belongs to you, Mr. Salvero." His gaze shifted to Zade. "So you two didn’t arrive together."
"No."
It was Zade who replied.
Rick’s brows furrowed. "You told my partner you found the body together, along with the other two men, yet you didn’t arrive together."
"Conner!" A voice cut through the tension as a man with a full beard wearing a hat came into view, hands brushing his jacket behind as he set them on his waist.
"What are you doing? I already did the questioning."
"Just making sure I get their story straight, that’s all."
"You..." he trailed before looking over to us, and a big smile formed on his lips. "Forgive my partner here. He’s been on fire ever since he got back. Had too many energy drinks, if you ask me. You know, trying to meet that record."
"As any good detective should," Zade said, amused, but I knew he was simply mocking.
Rick sensed this and forced a smile only.
"Oh, Mrs. Salvero, I’m Marcus Clark. Lovely to meet you."
I replied only with a brief smile.
"For the last time, we’re done here. My wife is still shaken up, and I don’t want her to stay here any longer." Zade’s irritation was becoming visible.
"Of course, Mr. Salvero. Sorry we took your time. I’ll be sure to give you an update."
"I still have more questions for Mr, Salvero," Rick intoned. "Perhaps you should come down to the station later? If it’s not too much trouble. Protocol."