Killed by My Best Friend

At the police station, a police officer, Rory Huffman, began questioning us about what happened. Shaun fumed, "It's all her fault! She kept asking my wife to hang out with her all the time. She asked her out again today, and now my wife's still not home at this hour! She's not even answering my phone. How am I supposed to stay calm like this?

"So I went to ask her about it, and she told me my wife was at the café below her apartment. I went there, but my wife was nowhere to be seen. I went to her house to ask her, and she refused to tell me. How can I not be furious?"

Rory turned to me. I spread my hands. "I thought he was playing a joke on me. His wife told me that she was going to the café downstairs for some coffee. How would I know where she actually went?"

I showed Rory my chat history with Cindy. Her message was clear.

"Rainey, if my husband asks, just say I went to get some coffee. He's so controlling. He doesn't even let me go grab something nice to eat. I can't stand him. I'm heading out on my own today. Don't tell him!"

Shaun's expression soured when he saw his. He looked at me in disbelief. Rory was looking at him.

"That's impossible," Shaun said. "You must have faked this!"

I laughed and scrolled up further, showing them the entire chat history.

There had been several times when Cindy had asked me to lie for her, but I hadn't agreed.

But she'd complained extensively about how she wasn't allowed to do anything or go anywhere after getting pregnant and that she was bored out of her mind. Out of pity, I agreed to help her this time.

Little did I know she'd badmouth me behind my back.

In my previous life, I'd also shown the world my chat history, but Cindy had hired Internet trolls to accuse me of forgery.

I hadn't even had the chance to get the police to prove that they were real when she was found to have STD.

Once again, she pushed me under the bus, leading to my tragic end.

But now, I was at the police station. Rory verified that my chat history was untampered with and could be used as evidence.

At that, Shaun began to waver.

I looked over at him. "We were classmates back in school too, Shaun. You know I don't drink coffee. So, let's see. You stormed into my house and attacked me. Let's calculate the damages."

"You attacked me too!" Elizabeth raised her bandaged hand. "See! You slashed at me with a knife!"

"You brought that on to yourself. I was acting in self-defense. Besides, you guys were slandering me; you'll have to face legal consequences for that too!"

Rory nodded. "You're right. You two were too rash. How could you resort to violence so casually? Besides, isn't this your wife's fault? Why was she lying?"

Shaun had nothing to say to that. He glared at me. I folded my arms and looked back at him calmly.

"I will be taking legal action on this," I told him. "If you can't give me a satisfactory explanation, I will see you at court. I will not settle for anything less!"

I had surveillance footage backing me up. Besides, the neighbors were witnesses; Shaun had no defense.

Hearing my firm tone, he realized that I was serious. "Even… even so, then what about the previous times? Rainey, you're manipulative. You just got lucky today!"

I looked at Rory. "He's being terribly uncooperative. I will not be settling with him. I'm filing a report against them for unlawful breaking and entering, attacking me, and causing property damage. Here's the damages that were incurred; I will be speaking to a lawyer."

I had called my lawyer on the way to the police station. I would not let any of them off easily this time.

Hearing this, Shaun gritted his teeth and snarled, "Fine. You win. I'm sorry. Is that enough?"

"No. I do not accept your apology," I rejected him outright.

His apology didn't account for the attack I'd suffered.