---

Driving down the streets of Malibu were never subtle for me and I normally avoided it at all costs, but not with Emelie. She thrived on attention, she wanted me to show her off. We were in a vintage red mustang convertible. The top was down, and the wind was whipping through her thick blonde hair. The sun was setting and cast a pinkish glow over the horizon.

The place we were headed was exclusive she had told me, beaming at the fact she had found somewhere that I would agree to go. Her light green eyes glanced at me occasionally, but only to make sure I was paying attention.

Arriving at a grimier part of town I felt my excitement fading, this looked sketchy at best.

"Come on." She said, giving me a wink as we neared the entrance. There was a slim black door with a small mail slot near the top, just above eye level for Emelie.

Whoever was on the other side slide the slot open but did not say a word. "Twinkle, twinkle little star." The words flowed melodically from Emelie's lips and almost as soon as she'd finished speaking the door opened.

She took my hand and pulled me behind her, the black dress she wore stuck to her skin and left very little to the imagination, not that it was easy to see anything in there. The lights were low, and it smelled of cigarette smoke mingled with alcohol and regret.

"Keep up." Emelie called. Her hand was clutching a thick black curtain that hung from the ceiling, once she pulled it back we were met with a dim lit lounge with deco style tables lining the wall. There was a band on stage, with horns and strings and a tall, slender, African songstress right in the front. Her hands clutched the microphone as she crooned rhythm and blues that would turn anyone on. Emelie and I followed a petite waitress to the corner where a table was set exclusively for us. "Drinks?" The short, brunette waitress whose name tag indicated her name was "Cassie" asked as we situated ourselves.

"Go ahead and bring us a bottle of your best champagne. What would you like babe?" Emelie's piercing eyes looked to me, I knew she intended to drink every drop of that champagne by herself. And I was going to pay for it. "Gin, please." I said giving Cassie a smile.

"Coming right up." She said before turning to walk back to the bar. I looked her over; short curly brunette hair that bounced with each step, a sparkling silver dress decorated her curvy body, and she had on a pair of tall heels that made me worry for her safety. She was beautiful.

"Jesus Kai. Be more obvious?" Emelie called from beside me. You would think, with her being a photographer she would appreciate beauty in everything. She only saw my admiration as a misogynistic longing that males were hard wired with. "Don't start, please." I said while shaking a hand through my hair.

"I know how hard it is. Giving all your attention to your girlfriend. Since you're so fucking high and mighty." She scoffed, she was truly over dramatic. "Please, love." I turned toward her, reaching for her hand.

"There is no one more beautiful than you. My eyes see no others. Do not be confused." I was so used to saying these words, they almost sounded scripted. I meant them though. I was a faithful man, my mother taught me to appreciate and respect a woman. I would never step out on Emelie.

She let out a sigh and then her lips pulled into a smile. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around my neck, kissing my cheek softly as she embraced me. "I'm sorry baby. I'm just a little on edge, you understand?" She batted her long lashes at me, knowing I would take any word she gave me.

I was a sucker.

As the night progressed she grew more intoxicated with each passing moment. The bottle of bubbly was down to the very bottom, her mood had become better though. So, I couldn't be too mad.

We danced tightly together on the dance floor, the slow beats of the music intensifying each touch as she swayed her hips against mine. She was a work of art really. Long blonde hair, plump lips that were slicked with Chanel lip gloss, bright green, almond shaped eyes that resembled a cat. She resembled a cat in so many ways. She was hot and cold, sneaky and abrupt. She could have been a model. Her body was so thin, but her hips were perfectly proportioned to her waist. She could have been a super model.

"Take me home baby..." She breathed into my ear, letting me know what she was ready for. I paid our bill and took her out the side door, my car inconspicuously parked near a private exit so that it would be less visible to the public. She put on some slow reggae beats as we drove through the hills. Smelling the eucalyptus trees mingled with a burning smell from a nearby forest fire that had erupted earlier that week.

"Make love to me baby..." She plead after we had gotten into the condo- the moonlight creeping through the tall Windows as she peeled the dress from her body, tossing it carelessly to the side.

I made love to her, I always give her what she wants.

She manipulates everyone she meets.

I feel perplexed, because you see...

I'm not entirely mad that she's dead.

---

“Blunt force trauma.” The detective stated to her colleague. He was dressed in a cheap button down white shirt and gray trousers. His badge and gun sat on his hip, that he had cocked out as he spoke, looking around the room.

Imagine my surprise when I walked in the door, finding my girlfriend lying in a pool of blood, naked and pale, lying lifeless in our kitchen. Her normally vibrant skin was dull, her bright green eyes glassed over as she stared up at the ceiling. The only thing on her body was a half-strung set of pale pink pearls. There were a few stray pearls in her blood, coated in the gooey liquid as they lost their way.

I rushed to her, kneeling – but careful not to touch anything. I’d seen enough crime t.v. to know that the last thing I wanted was to make myself look guilty. I wanted desperately to reach out and grab her, to take her in my arms and tell her I loved her. It will all be all right.
She didn’t know I was on my way to break up with her, she didn’t know I was finally fed up with the verbal abuse she bestowed upon me daily.

She didn’t know I was finished.

I didn’t know she was finished, in a literal way.

I hadn’t spoken to her in hours, I had no idea what had happened.

“Sir, I’ll need to ask you some questions…” I heard the delicate voice of a female detective approach me. She had long dark hair that was pulled up in a neat pony tail; she wore a green satin button up top and a pair of tight black trousers. She was much more attractive than her partner, but this was no time to appreciate beauty. She sat on the ottoman in front of me, her fair skin glowing in the dim lighting. I had gone into the dining room; I couldn’t be around the crime scene they said.

“You are her boyfriend, correct?” She asked, pulling out a pad and beginning to scribble.
I nodded.

“When did you see her last?” She asked, her words were perfectly articulated, and her tone was soft, yet strong.

I blinked. When did I see her last? I thought

“This morning I guess, before I left to go to the studio. She told me she had a client to meet with around five and wasn’t sure when she would be home.” I told her

The detective, whose name I had not learned yet, wrote diligently. “I’m sorry, miss. I didn’t get your name?” I interjected, wanting to know just who I was speaking to.

“Sorry, I’m detective Makenzie Cooley, I should have introduced myself. Forgive me.” She said with a faint smile, clearly knowing that this was not the time for grins.

I nodded.

“So, you say, she had a client? Do you know who it was? Where they were meeting? Did she possibly have a planner, or maybe a reminder on her phone?” She said it all slowly, giving me prompts perhaps.

I shook my head no, “ Emelie was very quiet about her job. I never knew much, except for when I was the subject.” I answered honestly, I had no clue what she was doing. If I were being completely candid, I’d tell them I didn’t care. I was leaving her.

“Okay, well I’m sure that we’ll find something on her phone. I know how hard this is, Mr. Kane. It is of utmost importance that if you find anything out, you report it immediately.” She said as she closed her tablet, maybe she knew I was useless. Maybe she thought she’d found out enough from me.

I felt numb.

My phone dinged loudly as she was walking away, I pulled it out, “Johnathyn Jennins” flashed across the screen. I slid my finger across the bottom of the screen and placed the phone to my ear.

“Hello” I say glumly.

“Mate, I saw the news. What is going on over there?” Johnathyn’s voice was louder than I was expecting, he sounded much more frantic than I did.

“It’s Emelie, she was murdered.”

“What? You’re serious?” Johnathyn yelled

“Yes. She’s dead. I have to go.” I say

“Kai, where are you going to go? Liam and I are in Los Angeles, come to the hotel.”

“I don’t know, I want to be alone.”

“No, you don’t need to be alone. Come here, as soon as you can. I’ll send a driver.”

“I— “

“No, you’re coming!” Johnathyn exclaims.

Johnathyn hung up, I knew he’d send a car for me. I knew that it was best I be with loved ones. I knew this was hopeless and I was going to be no help to the detective, just get in their way.

I stood and let out a loud sigh, turning on my heel and walking into the living room, I could see yellow tape in the kitchen. They’d taken her body an hour ago, there was nothing left but loose pearls and blood.

No murder weapons.

“Detective Makenzie,” I called as I approached her, I didn’t want to call her a Miss or a Mrs. Because I didn’t know which one to use, I didn’t really care either.

She turned and looked at me with a peculiar arch of the brow. “Yes?”

“I’m going to head out, go to a friends’ for the night. I can’t be here…I can’t…” My voice withered off.

“Go ahead, here…” She reached into her pocket, pulling out a card that had her name, her cell phone, the office number, and other lines I could call for help. “Call if you think of anything, we’ll be in touch with you. I’m very sorry for your loss Mr. Kane.”

I nod and turn once again, grabbing my keys, my wallet, and my coat. I walk outside, breathing in the night air. I hadn’t realized just how stuffy it was in there, in the crime scene.
I saw the car pulling up. I couldn’t wait to get away.

I had very shitty timing.

Notes