Chapter 5: “A Series of Events”

Planning. Everything in our lives requires a plan. We plan tomorrow, we plan our futures, we plan the present, and we look for flaws in our plans of the past.

That was what one man was doing – planning. However, he wasn’t planning what he wanted to eat for dinner that night, and neither was he making plans to see a movie. No, he was planning a murder.

Sitting on a bench beside a tree in the park, Rick Masters looked like any normal person just spending a sunny day outside. No one would’ve guessed that this handsome, dark-haired man had very dark secrets. Adorned in black jeans and a black full-sleeved shirt, he looked like a well-off man spending a few minutes off from his busy life. Yes, he did have a busy life…just not the one anyone expected him to have.

Rick’s emotionless grey eyes were fixed on a young blonde woman reading a magazine on the other side of the park. As if sensing his gaze on her, she glanced his way and her full pink lips broke into a perfect smile. Rick raised an eyebrow and smirked. The woman batted her eyelashes and returned to her magazine.

Rick breathed in deeply and smiled. His smile was of a man who had just smelt victory in the air. And for Rick, he knew that victory was not far away. Just a few more victims…

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He waited almost nonchalantly for her in the dark alleyway. With a cigarette between his lips, he was leaning against the wall as his eyes were fixed on the small figure approaching from the other side of the alley. When she was near, she gasped as she noticed him. Her body stiffened at first, but then relaxed.

“Hello, I didn’t know you were waiting for me,” she said softly, smiling warmly at him.

He smiled. “It’s not safe for a beautiful woman such as yourself to walk alone at night,” he commented.

She blushed. “Why, of course, how thoughtless of me. But, I believe that a strong man such as yourself will walk me home?” she replied as she batted her eyelashes at him.

He offered his arm. “Of course.”

James stopped writing as he took a sip of beer. Scratching his head with the end of his pen, he sighed and walked towards the window of his small apartment, overlooking the city illuminated by bright lights. The city lights made the stars in the night sky look insignificant. A cool breeze ruffled James’ dark hair and he closed his eyes as he breathed in the cold, night air.

James bit his lip as he glanced at the notepad on his table. Something was not right. He felt like he was forgetting something. Something important. He glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes past seven. What was he forgetting?

Sighing heavily, James took his black jacket and walked outside.

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Laura was not happy.

Tapping her foot on the carpet of her living room, she frowned and glanced at the clock. Seven-thirty. He was late. Very late. Why did he offer to have dinner if he was reluctant on showing up? Why did he give her mixed signals if he forgot about her? Why did he –

Riinnnnggg.

“Finally!” exclaimed Laura as she went towards her door and opened it.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” chanted Richard as soon as he walked inside the apartment.

A smile tug on her lips, but she crossed her arms. “You’re late,” she informed him in a grim voice.

“I know, and I know you hate it and I know I should’ve been early, and -”

To his amazement, Laura started laughing as he flushed and stopped talking. She stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss on his lips.

“Richard, you’re acting like a schoolboy,” she teased as she hung her arms around his neck.

“You make me act like a schoolboy,” he replied as he gazed into her hazel eyes.

It was Laura’s turn to blush as she let go of him. “Well? Where are we going?”

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Alexa woke up with a smile on her lips. She yawned and stretched her arms, pulling the blanket closer to her body. The smile wiped off as she realised that the space beside her was empty.

Frowning, she glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Seven-thirty.

She shook her head to clear her mind. Seven thirty! I slept that long! Why didn’t Adam wake me?

Grumbling to herself, Alexa sat up and noticed a note under the clock.

Have some work. Had to go. You looked so peaceful that I didn’t wake you.
Love,
Adam.

Rolling her eyes, Alexa walked towards Adam’s bathroom. Peaceful, my arse. He probably went to some fortune-teller or something to talk about the painting. Why is he so damn superstitious? she thought.

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“Detective Jones?”

“Yes?”

“There’s been another homicide.”