chapter 8

Sunday, 04 March 2018.

Emilie’s apartment, Manhattan Upper East Side, New York City.

That night, after what just happened with Barbara Megan, and now every picture and every moment feel really harder to perceive. Life seems so short suddenly. Like everything doesn’t matter anymore. The incident really scares everyone.

And that’s the terrifying feeling that Emilie has to keep up with.

Emilie can’t even sleep peacefully at night. She keeps thinking about her friend’s sudden death. Even though she was never closed to her as a real friend, but still, however, she pities her. How could Barbara die at such a young age like this? And she was just about 26-year-old.

But the rumor in the air has been making her agitated alone. Everyone in the party keeps assuming of how she died. Was it because of a disease? Or was there something in her drink that killed her?

Every dark thought makes Emilie so scared with her own life now. And suddenly, the thought creeps into her head. What if it was her? How will she end up then?

If the horror show keeps creeping her all night, then this won’t be a good thing. She has to find the peace within herself. Because there is still tomorrow.

And tomorrow, she will continue to breath the fresh air again.

*** *** ***

Monday, 05 March 2018.

First thing in the morning, Emilie tries to enjoy a cup of hot coffee in her hand while reading a bunch of group chat on her smartphone.

She rolls her eyes agitatedly every time she sees Sheryl’s name appears on her screen phone. That Beefy Girl is just so annoying that she needs to have her own life to settle in. Sheryl already makes a big fuss in the group chat. It’s because she’s been panicking about what the news media will write about last night’s tragic incident. She’s afraid for her family company’s reputation, and of course, also for her own well-being in the future.

But everyone already feels anxious. No one can feel calm with what just happened. Barbara’s unexpected death leaves so many questions that’s mysteriously hanging in the air. No one knows the cause of her death yet.

And right at the time when Emilie keeps falling in her own restless thought, she receives a direct text message from Sonia. She immediately read it.

Sonia:

Emilie, hey, I’m still in shock. Last night makes me terrified to death.

She quickly replies her message.

You:

Me too. I still have no idea what’s actually happening. Barbara was just fine, and suddenly she died. I’m confused, for real.

And right at that second, when she’s just reading Sonia’s newest message, her phone screen shows the pop-up notification that makes her heart almost skipped a beat.

“OMG, not this again,” she mutters after receiving an alert message from Detective Lee.

She hurriedly tells Sonia about it. And of course, Sonia gets panicked, which frustrates her.

It takes her a moment to gain peace for her mind, and now, with this situation that keeps coming back, of course doesn’t make it any easier.

Sonia:

How the hell he knows your phone number? Emilie! Answers me! ASAP.

“Ugh, God! She’s making me insane. I can already feel my hands trembling now,” she grumbles when reading their messages back and forth.

Unknown Numbers:

Morning, Miss Emilie Roze. I’m Detective Lee Bouchard. We met last night. May I call you now? There’s something important I need to inform you.

Emilie feels tremendously anxious. And when her phone starts ringing, her heart pounds heavily. She has to accept his phone call to know what’s really going on. He says he wants to tell her something. And the dark thoughts of this situation really give her the creeps alone.

And finally, she greets him on the phone, “Hello, Detective Lee…”

“Morning. Sorry that I have to interrupt your time. This will only take a second, I promise,” he says with that same lazy tone like last night. “I need to do the follow up interview, regarding Barbara’s death case. And as I was just informed by our forensic team…”

Emilie’s heart starts racing fast again. She gasps the air for more.

“What is it?” She asks with a terrified feeling.

“We found the sample of methanol poisoning in last night’s tragic party. I guess it’s official now, it’s a murder case, my dear.”

“Wh-what? Poison?” Emilie gets stammering in her own words as she feels a huge amount of restless thought. “What do you mean, Detective? That she was murdered? By who?”

“That’s the question I want to find the answer soon,” he says in such a chill voice.

And thereafter, they talk on the phone for some minutes.

Once he finishes his formal questions regarding this murder case of Barbara Megan, now she can finally hang up his call, and hurriedly send a text to Sonia again.

You:

You won’t believe me! Detective Lee told me that the forensic team found the poison in her wine!

A minute later, Sonia already replies her message.

Sonia:

What the fuck? Poisonous wine? Who would kill the poor Barbara last night? Oh, my God. I can’t believe this! But wait, I think I know. It’s probably that evil bitch! She’s so annoying and all, it was probably her doing!

Emilie breathes heavily for a second. Sonia’s angry text makes her feel more insecure now. But before she can reply to her, she already receives the following message.

Sonia:

It’s absolutely crystal clear. It’s SHERYL CROWD. She makes me sick! She keeps mumbling about her family company’s reputation since this early in the morning already!

“Oh, oh, she’s so mad,” Emilie mutters while quickly typing on her phone keyboard.

You:

Calm down. We don’t know for sure who the culprit is. It’s not that I want to be on her side, but it’s best for us not to think bad…

In no second, Sonia replies her so fast already.

Sonia:

What? Are you suspecting me then? How could you! I’m your best friend! You know who I am, Emilie. I know that I had a bad term with Barbara sometimes, because of my unrequited love for Alec. But it never had crossed my mind that I wanted to kill her. NEVER!

Emilie already feels tired reading her emotional messages, and especially typing on the virtual keyboard for so long like this makes her fingers hurt. Therefore, she has to end this conversation.

You:

Okay, I’ll meet you at Café Chic later. And we need to tell the others about this. Just try to chill, alright? I have to take a shower now. Bye! ~Love, x.o.x.o.

Thereafter, she puts down her phone on the bed, before she goes to the bathroom. She can’t handle Sonia’s temper for now. She needs a peaceful morning to start the day.