The Relationship Between the Murderer and Me

Two months had passed since Charlie disappeared.

His department, frustrated with his unexplained absence, had grown impatient. Unable to fire him due to the strict employment regulations, they reported him to the police in a fit of anger.

Although I had expected this, my heart still skipped a beat the moment the police knocked on my door.

Two officers stood at the entrance. One older, with a calm demeanor and the other younger, his face full of eagerness. The older officer introduced himself as Officer Collins, while the younger one was Officer Kirk.

They flashed their badges and Officer Collins said, "Aren't you going to invite us in?"

I quickly opened the door wide. "Of course, come in. I’m sorry, the place is a bit messy."

Officer Collins said nothing, his eyes scanning the room. He moved with slow precision, every corner falling under his sharp gaze.

I stood by the door, fists clenched, unsure of what to do with my hands.

Officer Kirk broke the silence, his voice light but tinged with judgment. “Sir, this Charlie Lowe must be a scumbag. He probably ran off with his mistress.”

My chest tightened at his words. They had likely spoken to the neighbors before coming here. Charlie’s reputation was not good to begin with. He was often seen bringing home different women while I was out, something that had sparked many whispered warnings from my neighbors.

Although they meant well, I had long hoped that one of those women would finally take him away for good. I had even imagined myself thanking her for that.

Officer Collins’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Was there anything unusual before he disappeared?”

In the face of his sharp and probing gaze, I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my composure. "No, not really,” I stammered, “But he did take a call the night before he left. He seemed happy, though I didn’t know who he was speaking to.”

Officer Collins nodded slowly, his eyes drifting away from me.

His gaze landed the old freezer in the corner of the kitchen. It didn’t match the rest of the room, standing out like a relic of time.

"This freezer,” Officer Collins muttered, stepping toward it, “looks a little out of place.”

I cleared my throat, fighting the panic rising in me. “It’s just an old appliance. I was going to throw it out, but with the price of meat being so cheap recently, I thought I’d keep it to store more food.”

Officer Collins glanced at me, then reached out to open the door of the freezer.

My heart raced in my chest, but I stood frozen in place, not daring to stop him.

Officer Collins peered inside. The sight of frozen meat and chicken wings seemed to ease the tension in his brow. He slowly closed the freezer and turned to me with a half-smile. “No need to stock up so much. Fresh food is healthier, you know.”

I let out a nervous laugh. "My salary doesn’t stretch far, so I save where I can.”

Officer Collins chuckled lightly before his face turned serious again. "He probably called his lover before he ran off. It’s likely that your husband left with his mistress.”

The tension in my chest eased, allowing me a brief moment of relief.

However, Officer Collins’s gaze hardened again. "Of course, we can’t rule out foul play, either. It’s strange that there’s been no trace of him.”

My heart raced again and I feigned disbelief. "Homicide? That’s impossible! He didn’t have enemies. Who would want to harm him?”

Officer Collins’s lips curled into a knowing smile. "Well, if anything unusual comes up, be sure to notify us or call 911 right away.”

After a pause, he spoke, "We may have to come back again. I trust you’ll cooperate with the investigation, right?”

I nodded quickly. “Of course. Thank you for your service, Officer Collins.”

After the officers left, I pressed my ear to the door, listening intently to the fading sound of their footsteps. Only when I was sure they were gone, I grabbed a stool and rushed to the window to peer outside, careful not to make a sound.

Through a narrow slit, I watched them leave. But, as Officer Collins neared the building entrance, he suddenly stopped. His eyes turned toward my window like a hawk spotting its prey.

I gasped and ducked down, my heart pounding in my chest.

I waited, counting the seconds. When I finally dared to look again, the officers were turning the corner, their figures disappearing from view.

I stepped off the stool, my legs shaking beneath me.

My gaze drifted toward the old freezer in the corner. Thoughts races through my mind, but I stood there, unable to move, lost in the stillness of the room.