Challenge Accepted

Drop me a line and send me a new challenge – or share one you’ve done yourself.

The newest challenge is from Blake – “Love website and story! My challenge is cantaloupe, lawyer, and clock!”

Tik – Tik – Tik… The hands on the wall clock inch their way towards another hour. Another hour where I’ve been trapped inside this interrogation room with my wrists handcuffed to a metal bar.

There’s a faint knock on the door and a snort escapes through my nose at the absurdity. Why in the hell would they knock? This isn’t an exam room in my gynecologist office – it’s a police station for crap-sakes. There is no privacy here.

Once a homicide detective myself, I’ve used this room many times. I can’t help but wonder if the criminals I put in here thought the same thing. Privacy. It’s almost laughable.

I don’t have long to ponder the notion before my lawyer; a dashingly handsome man dressed in a three-piece suit enters the room. And trailing in behind him is my former partner, Detective Oscar Warren. A man who once cared for me and fought at my side… is now a man who hates my guts.

I suppose I can’t blame him. I mean… murder is murder, after all.

My attorney greets me with a bleak smile and pulls a chair out across the table from me. “Morning, Heather,” he says.

I smile coyly, and bat my eyelashes at the jerk I’m paying top dollar to defend me. Deep down, I want nothing more than to puke the cantaloupe I ate for breakfast this morning all over his thousand-dollar suit.

That would be a wretched smell though. To keep the contents of my stomach where they are, I avert my gaze and allow it to travel to where Oscar remains standing by the door.

His brow is furrowed and he’s gnawing on the inside of his cheek. I know he’s hot under the collar and dying to come at me. Dying to question me about my sins.

I even know what he’s going to ask. They’re the same rudimentary questions I’ve asked countless killers myself.

Why did you do it? How did you do it? And how many people did you do it to?

But that’s not what he really wants to know.

No… the questions he wants answered are the ones he’s asking himself. Questions I know have been eating away at him ever since he found me standing over a dead body; covered in the victim’s blood and the murder weapon still in my hand.

They’re the same questions everyone asks themselves after being fooled by someone like me.

How did I not see this coming? How could I be so close to a monster and not know?

The truth is… when a monster is as talented as I am, you’ll never know. At least not unless I want you to.

Deciding I’ve had enough of the silence I tilt my head to the side and lift my chin towards the coffee cup in Oscar’s hand. “Is that for me?”

In a normal interrogation, Oscar uses his viking-like size and stature to intimidate a suspect. But he knows that won’t work with me. I admit, I’m more than mildly curious how he’ll proceed.

He slowly walks towards the table, bringing me the coffee. I’m thinking he’s going for nostalgia. You know, the good-old-days approach. But he surprises me. And instead of handing me the cup of coffee he knows I’m dying to drink, the crafty bastard lifts the lid and spits inside the cup.

I can’t help but laugh out loud at his theatrics. And while part of me wishes he’d left the coffee out of this little game of his, a larger part of me couldn’t be more proud of him.

“So much for innocent until proven guilty,” I say, reaching for the cup.

He readily hands it over and I hold the cup up to my lips where I blow on the hot liquid before taking a sip.

My lawyer grimaces and then gags. But Oscar… Oscar’s eyes crease into slits. He’s waiting for me to swallow, and I oblige.

“Was that your idea of a double-dare-ya?” I joke and take another sip. “Come on Osc. You gotta come up with something better than that. We’ve shared spit before.”

His right eyebrow twitches… a clear sign that I’m getting to him. Is he remembering the steamy night I’m referring to? I know I am.

The urge to caress my still flat stomach is overwhelming, and I’m thankful the handcuffs are in place to stop me.

“While I hate to disrupt whatever the hell it is you two are doing here,” my lawyer says with disgust. “I want to remind Detective Warren that you are here at my client’s request. Something…” he says, turning to me. “I’ve advised my client against doing.”

I chuckle at the disapproving glare I receive from my idiot lawyer. While I enjoy toying with the prick, I have to admit; he is right. Oscar shouldn’t be the one interrogating me. It’s clearly a conflict of interest, but I don’t care. I want him inside this room with me.

Oscar’s eyes remain locked with mine, but he nods his head in agreement.

“You look mad, Osc.” I giggle. I’m having fun taunting him. “Are you upset with me about something? I ask.

Before he can answer me, the overpaid prick of a lawyer sighs loudly and rolls his eyes. “Can we please begin?”

Begin? Oh… I can’t wait to begin. I’ve waited such a long time for this moment and I’m prepared to reveal all of my secrets – even the ones I’m least proud of.

There is one secret in particular I’m eager to share… And I can’t wait to see the expression on Oscar’s face when I do.