+25 BONUS
I recalled a colleague mentioning that my boss wasn’t in the best of health, that sometimes she had to go to the hospital.
I didn’t want to waste any more time.
“Thank you again. I hope you recover soon,” I said, ending the call.
By the time I reached the front gate, the building was in chaos. Two police cars were parked nearby, their lights flashing. Yellow tape cordoned off a section of the area.
A group of security guards in dull gray uniforms stood huddled together, murmuring in low voices. Something about their uniforms unsettled me.
I tightened my grip on my friend’s arm and walked closer, trying to steady my nerves.
“I’m the one who asked you to check my car window last night,” I said cautiously to an older guard. “What happened here?”
The man turned to me abruptly, his expression grave. He pulled me aside, lowering his voice. “It’s a good thing you didn’t go out last night.”
A chill ran down my spine. “Why? What happened?”
He glanced back at the police cars, his face shadowed with dread. “There was a murder in the building,” he said A girl living alone was robbed and killed.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. My legs turned to jelly, and I clutched my friend’s arm to keep from collapsing.
If I had opened that door…
I couldn’t finish the thought.
“It’s over now,” my friend said softly, her hand gently patting my back. “You’re safe. I’m here.”
A police officer approached, his expression serious. “You called in the report last night, correct?”
I nodded numbly.
“Please come to the station with us to provide a statement, he said.
2/2
Chapter 6
