Officer Lianna Gomez pulled the car into the parking lot. It didn’t look like a crime scene. The media was not plugging up the street with their presence. There were not any onlookers of any kind. It was calm, other than the rain. Had a murder really taken place in this quiet place? She looked up at the sky cursing the rain for destroying precious evidence. Walking to the open door of the warehouse she peeked inside to see Nero lying in Lilia’s arms, and Ren looming over the two. Quickly she rushed inside the building. “Excuse me, Police.”

Lilia looked up with a sense of doom looming over her face like a veil. “Finally. We called for an ambulance already. You guys sure know how to take your time.” Ren said standing tall. “If it wasn’t for Ms. Angelov there would have been two dead people.”

“Ren give her a break.” Nero’s lips were dry, and his throat was hoarse. He desperately wanted to sleep. Between the pain in his stomach and the blood loss, he could hardly manage to speak.

“But sir?”

“Enough!” Lilia screamed. “It doesn’t matter. We need to get him to a hospital now.” Her arms were shaking as she looked at Officer Lianna Gomez. “He’ll die if we don’t.”

“This is Officer Gomaz calling for a bus at ten-sixty-nine off Highway fifteen. One down and another seriously injured. Call for backup.”

Sirens wailed in the distance. Officer Timothy Thomson’s heart was beating out of control. “Unit four-twenty in route.” Nero’s family had been good to his family. His father had even sent him to college. He couldn’t let anything happen to Nero. His imagination ran wild thinking about all that could have happened. “Can’t you go any faster!”

“Look Thomson, I understand you’re invested in this case, but we shouldn’t cause more trouble by getting into an accident.” Officer Dail Tever said as he concentrated on the road.

Thomson sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just. I’ve known him since high school. I can’t imagine anything bad happening to him.”

“Look see we're here. Let’s do our job. It’s the best thing we can do for him.” Officer Dail said as he pulled into the parking lot. “You don’t want to get pulled off the case. Remain calm and do your job.”

“You’re right.” Thomson tried to calm down as sweat gathered around his brow. He slowly walked toward the warehouse taking in all he could as the rain pounded on his umbrella. “We need to get this place contained. How long until backup arrives?”

“I’d say about six minutes or so.” Officer Dail looked down at his watch. “I’ll walk the perimeter. Start setting up.”

“No. I should do that. I need you to interview Officer Gomez and separate the witnesses.”

“Of course, I just thought…”

“No, I shouldn’t do any heavy lifting. You take the lead.” Thomson said walking away from the building. “I’ll walk the perimeter. You just take care of everything else.”

“Yes sir, partner. I’ll go inside then and secure the scene.” Officer Dail walked toward the door of the warehouse, where he could hear Officer Gomez trying to calm down the occupants.

“Sir, please. I need both of you to back away.”

“I’m not going anywhere! I need to keep pressure on his wounds. I’m a doctor just let me do my job.”

“Ma’am I understand that, but this is a crime scene and all of you are suspects. I need you to separate so that I can do my job.”

“There is nothing for you to do. It was clearly self-defense.” Ren said, stepping between Gomez and Lilia.

“I shot him! He was going to kill Ne—” She couldn’t keep herself composed any longer. The stress of the situation had boiled over and she bursts back into tears.

“Now look what you did.” Ren leaned down and placed his hand on her shoulder. “You’re going to be okay. Everything is okay. You didn’t have a choice.”

“Don’t make promises—”

“Officer Gomez, I’ll take it from here. If you’ll kindly step aside.” Officer Dail said stepping in. “I’m sorry if this is insensitive, but I need you to step aside, Ren. Officer Gomez can apply pressure to the wound while the two of you are separated. It’s protocol. I know that you’re just lookin’ out for him, but we need to do our job to determine the truth about what happened.” He pulled Ren to the side. “If you’ll move over there, I would be ever so grateful.”

“But—”

“But nothing. The fact is that we have a dead man and the three of you. I need to figure out which of you is telling the truth.”

“I did it. He shot Nero! I had…” Lilia paused to look down at Nero, who was fighting the urge to sleep. “I can’t let him die. Please.”

“Don’t worry miss. You’ve done a good job. The ambulance is on the way, and he’ll be fine. I’m sure he’ll be in good hands. Just have a little faith.”

“…” There was nothing she could say. Nero himself had told her the same thing. She gently kissed his forehead. “You better not die! We’re not finished yet!”

A weak smile formed on Nero’s lips. “Of course not.”

“Good. Now if you’ll please follow me.” Dail reached out his hand. Lilia grabbed it as he helped her to her feet. “We’ll just be right over here. That way you can still see him. An officer will be right with you,” Dail said pulling out a handkerchief.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Lilia nodded, taking the handkerchief. “Thank you.” She wiped her eyes and nose.

Dail nodded and walked away toward Officer Gomez. “So, I need to understand what happened once you got here, but that can wait for the moment. I need you to keep Mr. Duranta stable. I know you have training as a nurse.” More sirens blared in the distance getting closer and closer. Dail walked outside as Thomson walked up. “How’s it look outside, Thomson?”

“I’ve looked around and see nothing that really catches my eye. There are no other footprints. Nothing out of the ordinary. Cigarette butts out back, there’s also no way to get in through the back. There are no cuts in the fence, no reason to suspect somebody climbed over.” Thomson pulls out a small, laminated notebook. “There are two ways into this lot. The loading entrance and through the parking lot. I’ve spotted several cameras on the outside, we’d have to look at the footage to see if there are any blind spots.”

“Is there any reason to believe somebody left the premises?”

“I saw no signs of any other vehicle, but this rain could have washed away the evidence.”

“Okay, so backup is almost here. I want you to brief them. Send in two officers when to deal with the suspect and witness.”

“Who’s a suspect?” Thomson leaned in closer to Dail.

“A woman says she killed the vic. Not sure if that’s true or not, but we need to keep them from talking to each other.” Dail stepped out into the rain a little and leaned in closer to Thomson. “If I’m honest I think this is a setup.”

“Why do you think that?” Thomson said puzzled.

“Just a hunch.”

“Okay, well I’ll send them in when they arrive.”

Nero lay flat on the cold floor of the warehouse, “Sir? Sir!?” Nero barely moved his body. His body was getting cold, and he was starting to go numb. “Sir, I need you to stay with me. Can you talk to me?”

“Mmm.” Nero groaned.

“This way!” Thomson said leading the EMTs to the warehouse.

They rushed in, “Ma’am, I need you to step aside.” Officer Gomez moved out of the way quickly. “Sir? Can you hear me?”

“Mmm”

The EMTs hooked up a heart monitor and tried to get his blood pressure. “Did you do this?” Officer Gomez shook her head and pointed to Lilia. Minutes passed as Lilia watched the EMTs work on Nero. She looked on in horror as they lifted Nero away.

“Ma’am. I need you to answer my questions.” The officer said sternly. “Ma’am!”

“What?” She looked confused as she just noticed the officer standing next to her. “I’m sorry.”

“I need you to tell me what happened. Can you tell me?”

“We were meeting one of Nero’s co-workers. He said he had a wedding gift for us. So, we met him here. Then we got into a fight, and he tried to shoot me. That’s when…” Lilia looked down at her trembling hands and took a deep breath closing her eyes. “That’s when Nero pushed me back and stood in front of me. He saved me. Nick, Nero’s co-worker, laughed and said something about not being better than him and he pulled the trigger again.” Lilia took some deep breaths fighting her nerves. “That’s when I saw the gun on Ren’s belt. I pulled the trigger. Next thing I know Nick was on the ground.”

“What does this Nick do?”

“I’m not sure about their relationship. I thought they were pretty close though, but apparently, I was wrong.”

“So, you’re telling me that you shot him.”

Lilia’s face dropped, “Yes. I had to save him. I couldn’t let him die.”

“I’m going to have to arrest you.”

“I understand. I killed somebody.” Her face paled. She tried to take some deep breaths, but she couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

“Ma’am.” The officer touched her shoulder. “I understand the shock you must be going through, but you need to calm down.” Lilia held her breath. “Let it out. I need you to look at me. You’re okay. Just breath. In and out.”

Lilia’s breathing finally calmed down. “Thank you.”

“Yes, ma’am. Now I’m going to place you under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you…” The officer handcuffed Lilia and walked her outside. Inside, the EMTs try to stabilize Nero. Ren follows the EMTs to the ambulance.

“I’m sorry sir, but you can’t get in. You’ll need to meet us at the hospital.” One of the EMTs said holding out a hand.

“But—”

“No, buts, and you are needed at the police station anyway. You can’t follow until later.” Officer Dail said calmly. “Follow me please.”

“I can’t just leave him!” Ren said in a raised voice.

“I’m sorry, but we need you down at the station.”

Nero did not move, but said weakly, “Go…Lil…”

“Sir!?” Ren nearly jumped into the back of the ambulance, but Officer Dail grabbed him and pulled him away.

“They need to get him to a hospital.”

“I need—”

“Do you want him to die!?” Dail shouted.

Ren looked into Dail’s eyes and sighed, “No.”

“Then let them do their job. Everybody is doing the best they can right now. We all have a job to do. And it’s obvious that he wants you to be with that girl.”

Ren looked at Lilia sitting in the back of the police car. She was calmer, but she looked completely defeated. His eyes fell to the ground knowing what Nero would say in that moment. “Fine, but I’ll need updates on his condition.”

“And you’ll have them. You just need to have some patience. I know it's hard.” Dail pushed Ren toward the car. “Now let’s get you on your way. I’ll be expecting to see you there.”

“Of course. I know what to do. I will meet you there. You have my word.” Ren started taking out a card from his wallet. “Call this number and tell them Nero’s fiancé requires council.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

Ren sighed, “Why not!?”

“Because I am needed here. You’ll have to arrange things for her yourself.”

“Fine. But you had better tell the others that her lawyer is on the way and not talk to her until then.”

“I’m sure they know the law. Just let everybody work.”

Ren pulled out his phone as he sat in the car and dialed a number.

Lilia sat in a cold room at the police station. How was she going to tell them what happened? Her mind was reeling, and she did not know what she was going to do. Now that she had time to think and calm down, she realized just how much trouble they were in. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and a woman stood in the doorway. Her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore a skin-tight woman’s suit with black heels.

“Thank you, Captain. You can leave us now.” The woman sat down in the seat across from Lilia. Lilia’s eyes went wide. She had no clue who this woman was or why she was there. “Hello, Mrs. Duranta. My name is Coline Minwell. I am going to be representing you.”

“You’re a lawyer!” Lilia said, her voice a bit higher than normal.

“That is correct. Nero sent me—”

“Nero, is he okay!?” Lilia pushed herself onto her feet. It had been hours and she still had not heard anything about Nero’s condition.

“Unfortunately, he is still in surgery. Ren called on his behalf. Apparently, his last words to Ren was to take care of you. So, here I am.” The woman moved her hands into the air as though she was something amazing.

“I don’t need a—”

“Trust me dear, you do. I am here to brief you on how things work. How they will brutalize you into telling them whatever they want to know. And dear, by the looks of it. You’re ready to tell them everything.” Lilia stared at Coline trying to figure her out.

“You want me to lie?” Lilia said, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course not… entirely. You must not mention Nero’s… other business ventures.”

“You mean!” Lilia covered her mouth in shock. How did this woman know about that?

“You should try to relax a bit. I’m here to keep you and Nero safe. I will do most of the heavy lifting, but they are going to push you. Hard.” Coline leaned in closer, crossing her legs. “It won’t be easy. You will have to remain calm enough that you won’t say anything that will affect Nero. I promise you… If you do, I will make your life hell.” Coline’s face turned stern and cold. It sent shivers up Lilia’s spine.