Dinner for Two, Death for One

Footage

"The time was 11:50 p.m. You came out of his apartment right at midnight and took the elevator. By our estimation, he died at midnight. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

I clenched my fists, my expression darkening. Then, Felix took out a photo of a bloodstained knife. "You stabbed the victim through the heart right after going into his apartment and fled from the scene of the crime.

"There are only your and his fingerprints on the knife. How do you explain this?"

Felix slammed the table, and I nearly jumped.

However, I took a second to calm down and met his eyes without fear. "Yes, that woman does look like me, but it's also true that I stayed at my friend's place for the night. Cinnamon Garden. There are cams in the front and back entrances. Look it up."

Felix called his men and gave his orders before turning his attention back to me. "We'll be the judge of that. Next question."

The gall! I quickly stopped him, "I've given you an alibi, Captain Chance. That proves I'm not a suspect. You should release me, not question me further!"

He put on a calm, cool smile. "You're the suspect as long as the footage isn't in our hands. Now, answer the question. Shawn was your boyfriend, but you denied it. Why?"

That question struck me like a lightning bolt. I clenched my teeth but eventually told the truth.

"We broke up a month ago. I didn't want to tell the truth because dating him is a stain on my life."

I wanted to break up with Shawn, but he was livid about it. So, he pinned me down and violated me again and again. He said he'd make me regret breaking up with him. The memory alone made my stomach churn.

"No office romance. Company policy, so we kept it a secret. How'd you find out?"

Felix took out a patrol record. "You got in a fight with Shawn at Southwind Avenue a month and a half ago. The fight turned physical, and a spectator called the cops. You both claimed it was a couple's quarrel, and that you two had made up."

The record made me chuckle dryly. "Yes, we did get in a fight. He tore my gown into pieces, and a female officer kindly lent me her clothes so I wouldn't go home naked."

"Every couple fights. Killing your boyfriend over that is a bit much."

"What do you mean, a bit much?"

Felix arched his eyebrow and slid a piece of printed chat history over to me. "We found out about Shawn's continued harassment after the breakup. He consistently sent you threats about kicking you out of the industry.

"He even made up sexual rumors about you and ruined the promotion you should've gotten last month."

The messages were vile, despicable, and hideous. Every word tore my heart apart.

I bit my lip as my throat squeezed up. "I got along with my colleagues better than he did. No one bought his story, so I never let that affect me."

Felix kept his eyes on me as though he could see through me. "You sneakily purchased pepper spray and tasers last month, and your search history included 'How to get away from a harassing ex' and 'Self-defense in extreme situations.' That's proof you planned this murder."