Gut always wins! When Kyle and I were pulling out of the parking lot a ranger had just passed us and was making his way into the parking lot. But that was earlier now I sit hear waiting for my room mate to come out of her room to show me if I approve of her outfit for the night. Granted I almost never approve cause generally shows to much of something but it is more of color and look on her she cares. Honestly that is why I say no somethings.

“So what about this? Cheetah lingerie too much?”

“For what exactly? Sleeping or walking down a street?”

“Oh funny little pun in there. I am picking up better on you calling me a prostitute. And neither, trying out this new club and suppose to be trendy and the newest it thing. So cheetah a win?”

“Well cheetah is always in but we are no longer in college so seems slightly desperate-”

“That is something I’m so not-”

“Possibly put on the new dress-”

“I want to be scene for my brains-”

“Or try on that top with those leggings-”

“I have a lot to offer-”

“So maybe cheetah wedges?”

“Yes! I will wear the lacy top, with black tight skirt and heels! They will believ I am trendy, young, innovative, and will talk and I will fill them with my knowledge.”

Before I could even answer she’s hugging me and running and swilling back into her room. Dear Lord what did I just give her and idea for. I put my book down and grab my mug to pour some more tea.

“So how did things go?”

“Go?”

“Umm hello I totally know you were with Kyle earlier!”

“Oh, umm they went.”

“Come on, I need some details. I live for this. Sweet innocent roommate who stays in on her Thursday nigh reading a book and drinking tea, like such a clique of good girl. With the crazy roommate who gets ready and takes shots. Now come on! I will end up meeting a random dude who will be no good for me in about two hours, but I will know you spent time with a good guy today. So when I come home crying later about my mistakes I will remember your story in the taxi at least.”

“Your so twisted.”

“I don’t like to think twisted. More knowing I’m young, I have a right to be stupid so I might as well take advantage. I am turning twenty-six in two weeks so I only have two more weeks of this excuse. After that I am just a reckless person.”

“Oh so twenty-six is time to grow up?”

“Well yes, I would like to be married someday do you find that shocking?”

“Slightly yes. But your reasoning I will just skip over that whole deal.”

“Olivia come on!”

“What?”

“Kyle, story now! It will totally not be as good when I have to go up to Andrew later and ask him what Kyle said. Kyle gives like no detail so it’s a bunch of he said they did this. It was good. Blah, blah, blah! I need to hear about the romance and spark of it all!”

“Haha well cannot see Kyle being the romancer.”

“Don’t laugh! He’s quit the catch-”

“More talker and hoping I hear him while staying silent-”

“You could end up falling for him-”

“Well maybe not silent but more mysterious-”

“He’s a really great guy-”

“No not mysterious, just what is the word-”

“Andrews a great guy too-”

“I can’t put my finger on it-”

“Olivia are you listening?”

“Yes.”

“So you think a double could work?”

“Work for what?”

“You, Kyle, Andrew and I?”

“Do you know what Andrew’s job is?”

“Yeah he works with kids.”

“What kind of kids?”

“I think middle school.”

“Yes and what does he do with these kids?”

“Umm teaches them obviously! Goodness Olivia I’m not an idiot!”

“But what does he teach them.”

“Whatever you learn in middle school.”

“Right, he’s a youth pastor.”

“Okay so he’s-”

“Yep!”

“Whatttt!” And now the freak out begins. “He, he, God, works for, what?! But he goes to the bar. He sees me dressed, God, works for, what?!” Oh maybe shouldn’t have had the big lead in. “He must think I’m satan.” Yep bad idea, no lead in. “I dress, boobs, he has probably, oh man! Oh man!” Looks like my tea shall wait. “I need a drink.” Oy.

Everyone is frozen unable to move. I thought the worse thing of the day would be being late and dealing with everyone telling me how I’m late. Instead I come to find everything destroyed and a crime scene. Chills are running down my back. My feet feel plated to the floor. My bad is wet. Not a sweat wet. I find blood is dripping down the wall my body has found itself pushed against. Whose the one killed? Who could have done this?

“Sir I need you to come with me.” Oh he’s talking to me. All I can do is stair in confusion. He puts his arm on my arm. “Sir you cannot stay here. How did you even manage to get in. We’ve had the building sealed off for the last fifteen minutes.”

“How long?” I’m focused on the time. That is key to me for some reason.

“Fifteen minutes sir.”

“I was in the parking garage. I was sitting in my car.” I hope this is making sense. The scene going on around me is a blur. I see my desk. There is a man there, a bullet in his head. Was that meant for me?

“How long were you in there?”

“Maybe a half hour, maybe longer.”

“Did you see anyone coming in or out you did not recognize?”

“No. Same people as always.” The officer with me pulls a man by in a suit, I don’t recognize him.

“This man may have seen the killer.”

“Okay. I’m lieutenant Bryant. I sure the next few minutes are to be a blur and your wondering what you just came into. As far as we know. People walked in, they did not open fire, simply had one target. The man who is over at the desk belonging to Charlie, Charlie Brooks. Then people who went to use their phone or on their phone began to be targets. They cam up the elevator but went through the window on zip lines.”

“Did you say Charlie Brooks?”

“Yes.”

“I’m Charlie Brooks.” The lieutenant and officer then look at each other. No sure I am standing and talking to them as I have been the man identified as the one killed at my desk.

“Excuse me but you are saying your Charlie Brooks? Works the logistic department here and does data analysis?” The lieutenant is looking at his clipboard for my life records, Hopefully he hasn’t notified my kin that I am dead. Would be a serious sick joke especially since my mother recently called and she said the only time she’ll get a call from me is hearing I’m dead. I should probably call her. I have at least a day or two to call her back.

“Yeah I do other stuff but I guess that is my official title. Your saying they went on a killing spry after killing me?”

“Yes. Though with telephones.”

“Wow, I knew people wanted to kill me but not that badly.”

“You think you know whose done this?”

“Oh I just meant I tend to piss people off. Not exactly a people person per say. Where are we going?”

“We need to get you out of this office so we are taking you back to the station for now to figure out if this was simply a shooting or a bigger plan.” Who knew.

“Lieutenant I’m going back up to get evidence and to correctly identify the victim. Umm, Mr. Brooks you may want to call your mother and wife.”

“Wife?”

“Yes we called your place and a women picked up identifying herself as your wife.”

“I don’t have a wife. I’m only twenty-three, did she at least sound hot.”

“Mr. Brooks then I suggest you call your mother.”

“Ahh she’s fine I can give her a call tomorrow.” The officer looks so shocked by my manor he simply stars while the lieutenant has to pull my arm and guide me out of the building. I guess this was the life I was thinking of this morning. Now if women did not want to get with me before they totally do now, come on I am suppose to be dead but wrong guys killed. I am wanted dead. Just reached totally bad ass points.

Oh goodness listen to myself. Someone is dead. Not just someone many people because of me. Who would want to get with me? I better call my mother.

Monica is walking into the office with more questions going through her head then she thought possible. She goes to the desk to get checked in expecting Tony to be able to bounce these ideas off of but it’s a new person. “Good Morning.”

“Oh hi. Morning I mean, sorry where is Tony?”

“He no longer works here.”

“What do you mean?” The new attendant behind the counter is unsure of what to say.

“He was asked to leave. Something about talking about God in the office.”

“Are you kidding me?!”

“No, I’m sorry miss.”

“Is there anyway I could contact him?”

“I have is number I can give you. It’s such a shame he was the most helpful here. He knew I have been struggling to pay for school and I know he has a big family to pay for but he would offer me hours.” Monica is in awe of thinking she thought this man was simply mean and would pass her by. While she has been the ignorant on and probably is the cause to him losing his job. Monica’s day is a blur. She has no clue what to work on, who to contact, and almost never answered her phone. Mike stopped by to apologize for the previous night and she almost broke down.

“Need to go for a walk?”

“I should do work but I know I wont do any.”

“Come on. I know I don’t seem like a good person to talk to but I am sure I can help.”

“Okay. You’ve gotten a man fired about telling you about God?”

“Just come one. Isn’t there chairs or a park near by?”

“Yeah just out the back entrance.”

“Okay that is where we will wait to talk.” They stay silent through the office, reach the elevators and still silent. Once they reach the air Monica feels more relaxed. “I have not gotten anyone fired from sharing God, however that is why I left my previous job. I have been a Christian my whole life. I never knew what it truly meant till my twenties when I truly needed God in my life.”

“Your a Christian?”

“Yep. Born and raised”

“Then your really blessed to have parents that raised you that way.”

“What about yours?”

“I believe my parents where christians, but they passes away before I could question religion or really come to an age where I knew what God would mean to me and my life.” Monica and Mike continue to sit and take in their surroundings not saying a thing. They get lost in a conversation and Monica asking questions about God and what he means to Mike. Going around debating, not sure what it all means, to before they know it, the sun is setting. Still more that Monica wants to know so they go to dinner together.

“Desiree where have you been?”

“What you mean? I got you juice. Where Zola at?”

“Oh, Zola went home. Why did it take you so long to get juice?”

“Because I had no money on me so had to get my stuff from Dad’s and then get it.” Desiree goes to the kitchen caring her stuff. Throw it all down. “Here’s your juice.” She takes out a small one serving juice.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Now why was papa here earlier?”

“What? When was he here?”

“Oh you were probably still out. I don’t know saw him when I was going for my stuff.”

“You would know better then I would.” Desiree just turn and grabs her bag to head up.

“You know, pa’s not that bad.”

“When did I ever say he was?”

“You don’t have to say it ma’ it’s they way you look at him.”

“Sweetie I may look at him a certain way because I know the man he was. Some days he is still that man. But most of the time he’s this man wanting all the money to make up for the things he’s lost. Did you know your father and I planned this bib move out west to California?”

“No.”

“Well when he found out I was pregnant your father wanted you to have more than we did growing up. He worked harder to try and get promoted in work, had me searching good school systems, we even visited a few houses. We fell in love with this condo. But your fathers company went other without any warning and he didn’t have a job. We was trying to look but hard when having such a specific skill set. So out went dream of moving. Then our cars, and I started working.”

“Ma’ why you telling me this.”

“Because you need to know your father. He wanted everything for you and I. But when a man cannot work for his family and a woman has to. It belittles them. Your father could not handle that I was also making more then what he was. So it drove us apart. I stopped working. Then we had no money and it broke your father and I. Your father just needs to see what I see. That is why I look at him the way I do.” Taisha said her peace, grabbed her juice and went to the front porch and just rocked on the rocking chair.