** Date: 08.06.1029 PNT // Saturday **

** Time: 10:12 // 10:12 AM **

** Location: Ecosystem Mika // Habitat Melissa // District 6 // Sector 3 // Malis Street 14 **

 

 

Against her own better judgment, she decided to meet up with Gordon. It was their usual cafe on Malis Street. They used to come here a lot. They met here, too. It was a small corner cafe. Nothing special, it didn’t have any neon signs, much advertising, or many patrons. Just enough to keep themselves afloat. The owner and his wife had owned it and had it running for three decades. It was decorated in the style of the early 2000s AD. Wooden tables, chairs, some plants, and flowers here and there. Kelly chose a place in the outside area. Besides her was just one other man. Lately there were fewer customers than usual.

 

“Haven’t seen you in a while.” Jenna, the elderly wife of the owner, tapped Kelly on the shoulder. Her skin was clear and dark like polished ember, her eyes golden like honey, and grey cloudy hair. “How are you, sweetie?” She glanced at Kelly's scar but did not want to say anything.

 

“You know, as always.” She looked at her phone. “Going to meet with Gordon.”

 

“Oh really, are you two getting back together?” Jenna asked with a smile.

 

“No.” Kelly looked down at the table. “He just wanted to talk because he is worried about me. I think he just feels bad.”

 

“Good, as he should!” Jenna sat on the chair in front of her. “You reek of alcohol.”

 

“I know, I already started drinking.” She looked up, smiling. “But it wasn’t getting sad drunk. Had a drink with my neighbor. This young girl. She is very sweet, but also very unlucky.”

 

“Kind of like you.” Jenna giggled. “Did he tell you exactly what he wants from meeting you?”

 

“No, he didn’t.” Kelly rolled her eyes. “He probably just wants to make sure I haven’t killed myself or plan to yet.” She shook her head. “Last time he actually asked about that. What an asshole! Who do you think you are?”

 

“Ha, as if you would do that because of him.” Jenna laughed. “He ain’t worth it. He always thought he was such a prize.” They both laughed. “So how about work?”

 

“Don’t even ask. I have this case. I mean…” She lit a cigarette. “It is interesting, but I am not getting closer to the killer. He was sloppy at first, but he became a little genius, Hannibal. Not leaving a trace of evidence. At this point he has killed five people, and honestly it could be more, but we have not connected them yet.”

 

“Oh dear…”

 

“I am sorry; I shouldn’t talk about this stuff with you.”

 

“Oh, it’s okay, sweetie.” Jenna stood up. “Let me get you something to drink, and probably something to eat as well. So the usual?”

 

“Yes, please!”

 

Jenna got her the usual iced cappuccino with a cheesecake. Which she finished before Gordon even arrived. He was, as always, fifteen minutes late. A blonde man, skinny and tall. He wore a suit. And when he finally arrived, he went for a hug. But Kelly refused silently.

 

“So, what do you want?”

 

“Just checking up on you. Seeing how you are doing.” He sat down. “What happened to your head?”

 

“None of your business.” She stared him down. “I am still alive and not planning on killing myself.” She kept staring, not even blinking. “Something else?”

 

“How is work going?”

 

“Why are you suddenly so interested?” She turned away. “When we were together, you always complained.”

 

“I am just trying to make small talk.”

 

“Interesting, because you always told me how much you hated small talk.”

 

“You smell of alcohol.”

 

“And you smell off dick.” She stared him down again. “Why are you wearing a suit?”

 

“Going to a job interview.”

 

“You got fired again?” she asked with a smirk. “So, is that all? Just a general suicide checkup?” He went quiet. “Well then, I already had my cake and coffee. You are paying.” She stood and was about to leave.

 

“It was not my fault.” He muttered.

 

“Oh, so it was mine?!” Kelly got louder.

 

“That is not what I am saying.” He looked up to her. “I just don’t understand why you blame me.”

 

“I don’t blame you for what has happened.” Her voice was trembling, and her eyes were bloodshot. “I blame you for how you reacted. You should have been there for me. You should have been with me. Instead, you just left me.” She wiped her eyes. “And I had to deal with this shit on my own.”

 

“Do you think it was easy for me?” He stood up as well. “I wanted us to be a family. I wanted to have a nice, comfortable, and normal life.”

 

“And you found it.” She crossed her arms. Gordon was about to say something as Kelly got a message on her work phone. “Shit, I gotta go.”

 

“Oh, that fits; run away.”

 

“Run away?” She turned back towards him. “Not everything is about you, you narcissistic piece of shit. Unlike you, I have a job to do.” She walked away.

 

 

** Date: 08.06.1029 PNT // Saturday **

** Time: 11:33 // 11:33 AM **

** Location: Ecosystem Mika // Habitat Melissa // District 7 // Sector 1 // Elizabeth Park **

 

 

When she arrived at Elizabeth Park, it was flooded with bystanders who could not hide their curiosity. The crime scene was surrounded by at least thirty people who had nothing to do with the whole thing. “I need everyone to get out of my way.” She pushed some drunk guys out of her way, showed her badge to the peacekeepers, and went straight to the corpse.

 

“Kelly, been a long time!” Redric Gibbons, a Paladin from District 5. Those two worked together on a case a while back. He looked different in casual clothing. “What are you doing here? Aren't you working on the whole serial killer thing?”

 

“Yeah, I am.” She shook his hand. “I got a message about this and thought it might have been connected.” She lit a cigarette and offered Redric one.

 

He took the cigarette, and Kelly lit it up for him. “I can tell you it is not.” The paladin turned to the corpse. “This is just some drunk guy who froze to death.” He tilted his head. “Well, not just a guy. Some big shot; the details are on this stick if you are really interested. But no signs of murder. He got drunk, fell asleep in the park, and froze to death.”

 

“Froze to death?” She looked at him with a smirk, her eyebrows way up. “You don’t believe that shit yourself, do you?”

 

“No, I do not.” He laughed. “It was definitely murder, but there was no murder weapon or any sign of violence. But freezing to death? Very unlikely.”

 

“Very unlikely; otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent you here.” She paused. “Any witnesses?”

 

“Three students found him here.” He finished his cigarette. “We have already talked to them, also on the stick.” He let out a sigh and rubbed his eyes. “Gotta warn you, though. One of them he…” He looked at Kelly, and it seemed like his soul was sucked out. He looked defeated. “He was such a dick.”

 

She smiled. “They usually are. Did they at least give you anything useful?”

 

“Nope, and honestly some of their statements cannot be trusted.” He held the stick in front of Kelly. “All three of them were very drunk, high, and probably on other drugs as well.” He rolled his eyes. “And we are still working on the statements from the staff of the club and other people who had been around him.”

 

Kelly scanned the stick. “Thank you. So you also believe that this might be connected to my case?”

 

“I don’t know what to believe anymore. But I trust you. You are good at your job.” He put on a wide grin. “Also, at least invite me next time if you are doing some day drinking.”

 

“You couldn’t even keep up with me.” She smiled.

 

Redric laughed. “Probably not.” He smiled and pointed at her forehead. “But it seems like you can’t even keep up with yourself.”

 

Kelly touched her scar. “Yeah, it seems that way.”

 

“Maybe take a break once in a while.” He smiled. “You have been through a lot. And you have kept working through all of that.” His smile faded away. “You should really take some time off.”

 

“Maybe...”