Lights were dim and candles were lit

Lights were dim and candles were lit. Rose colored table cloths covered round tables with perfectly placed silverware and clear vases with spotted purple Phalaenopsis orchids. They were placed on the side of each table with the candle right in front. Couples were sitting alone and in groups every where in the room. Tables were placed equally in front of a stage. On stage a man, standing in front of a podium cleared his throat and look once more at the paper in front of him.

''Welcome everyone. My name is Thomas Greener for those who do not know me. We are all gathered here today for the preparations of the Women's FIFA World Cup, International Federation of Association Football. I have invited the managers and coaches of each team to our meeting tonight.'' A women with a clipboard in one hand and a cell phone in the other, whispered to the man behind the podium. '' I have been informed that we are missing the members of the USA team. Is Michelle Bryan and Celine Richond present?'' People in the room started to whisper. The voices got louder but no one of those names showed themselves present.

Thomas Greener told the women with the clipboard and cell phone to go find them. As she walked threw the exit doors, the man calmed everyone down and continued his speech.

The women walked down a hall towards another door when a women, she was guessing was either Celine or Michelle came running towards her crying. She was wearing a black pencil skirt, a cream, silk blouse and she had white and black heels. There were red stains all over her blouse and skin. The women came rushing to her and grabbed her arms and shook her.

''What's going on?'' the clipboard women said.

''It's Michelle,'' She said between sobs '' She's.. She's...'' The women couldn't finish her sentence and tears were pouring out of her eyes.

''Celine, calm down, ok? Now tell me what's wrong. Is she hurt?''

''She's in the men's washroom. I tried to help her.'' Tears were continuing down her face. ''She's dead.''

The women with the clipboard ran to the men's room and saw Michelle lying there; eyes open, starring at her. There was blood all around and over her. She flipped her cell phone open and called the police.

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Police were all over the place. They were taking notes and they were asking question.

''Can I have your name Miss.'' An officer asked the young lady covered in blood.

''Celine Richond.''

''How old are you?''

''I'm turning twenty-eight in a couple of weeks.''

''And where were you when the police were called?''

''I was the one that found her, I tried to help Michelle!''

''Calm down Miss.'' The officer wrote down the last of the details needed then walked off towards another man. Celine guessed that he was the detective on the case. He was talking with the officer then approached Celine. He was wearing a navy blue button down shirt tucked into a pair of black slacks. His hair was a very dark brown and had a curl to it but to short to make a complete loop. He had blue eyes that resembled the blue in the sky. She found him quite handsome, especially when he asked her to confirm her name as Celine Candice Richond. His Fench accent was stunning and quite attractive.

''You have a french last name,'' He continued '' Are you french?''

''I am Canadian french, my parents are too. I can speak it fluently, if that's your conclusion.''

''I was hoping,'' He said giving her a warm smile. ''I am Detective Maxime Desjardin. I read that you were the one that discovered the body, correct?''

''Yes.''

''Could you explain to me how?''

''I play for the USA Women's Soccer Team. I'm captain, I'm coach and I was here with Michelle Wittherson, our manager, for the Women's FIFA World Cup organization. The organization holds this meeting at every World Cup to organize the games and schedules, etc. We only got here this morning and were planning on leaving in a couple days. Anyway, the meeting was starting and Michelle said she had to use the washroom. I waited a couple minutes, still no Michelle. I waited ten minutes and still no Michelle. I finally went looking for her. I checked the women's washroom and didn't see her. I was heading out when I heard a scream and ran out the door and over to the men's washroom. I found her lying on the floor covered in blood...'' Celine had tears slowly rolling down her cheeks. ''I looked for a pulse. I leaned over her body, listening to hear breathing. I didn't know what do. I eventually thought it was best if I got someone to call the police. That's when I ran into the lady who called you guys.'' Celine held back the tears that were left.

''So you heard Michelle scream and you ran right away to the men's washroom, did you see anyone exit the washroom?'' He asked her.

''No, I thought she did it herself.'' Celine had a confused look on her face. Maxime saw it and wrapped an arm around her back and walked her to a chair.

''She had a bullet threw her lung. And we found no gun shot residue around the bullet entrance. This means that she couldn't have killed herself. She would have to have the gone at least three feet away and we found no gun.''

''Oh my gosh. I...'' Tears came rolling back down her cheeks.

''Do you know of anyone who would want to harm Miss Wittherson?''

''No. She was just so great to us. Some of us are really picky with everything and she always got everything right since we hired her. The right size shoes to the preferable restaurant.''

''Are you positive?''

''Yes. I mean, we hired her before firing our old manager... I mean, maybe he didn't her. But I don't' think he would kill her, I mean were not the easiest team to handle.''

''Can I have his name?''

''Cory Thompson. He's in Miami, he's the manager of the Men's Miami Beach Volleyball Team. They play all over the states and its volleyball season so i doubt he's here in France.''

''You can leave that doubt to me. I'm going to have one of my CSI's process you, alright? it will only take ten minutes.''

''I really don't feel like being processed.''

''This is going to help us. Trust me.'' He gave her his hand and she hesitatingly placed her hand on his. It was warm and large. He folded his fingers and pulled her up from her chair. He placed his free arm around her back once more and led her to two men who were opening what seemed like a processing kit to her. It got her nervous and Maxime felt her tense up.

''Relax. They'll take care of you.'' He whispered in her ear. Celine let go of his hand he walked off towards the two men.

''I need a full process on the young lady standing there.'' He told both of them, they nodded and walked towards her. The detective continued his work and asked more people some questions.

''What's your name Miss?'' One of them asked her. He was tall, mocha colored skin. He looked Cuban to her, but not completely. He had short black hair and eyes that resembled chocolate. He was wearing a orange long sleeve shirt with two buttons at the top, both unbutton. He was wearing a pair of black slacks and a brown leather belt.

''Celine Richond.''

The other man wrote down her name on a paper and went looking for something in his kit. He had light brown hair, spiked up with gel. He had hazel eyes that reflected an emerald color in the light and a brown in the dark. He wasn't quite as tall as the other. But he was just as muscular and lean. He was wearing a tight blue t-shirt and a pair of white slacks with a black belt holding them up. They were both handsome men too. They put some good stuff in the water of France. Celine thought.
The man stood up holding a long cue-tip between his fingers.

''This is a swab. I need you to open your mouth so I can take some DNA.'' Celine nodded and she did what he was told.

''You two don't sound from around here.'' Celine said, trying to start some kind of conversation.

''Were actually from the states.'' The Cuban one told her. ''Miami to be more specific.''

''I'm Ryan Wolfe and this is Eric Delko.'' The other man with the white slacks said.

''Really, so am I. Well, our home field is there. We practice and promote there anyway. I'm really from Canada.'' She told them. Ryan was putting away the swab and taking another one out. Eric was turning on a camera.

''Soccer right?'' Eric asked.

''Yeah, that's why were...'' Celine held back her tears but one slipped threw the cracks and rolled down her cheeks and lips to the ground. ''I'm here.'' Ryan stood back up and took a god look at her. She was pretty, even with her hair tied up in a messy bun and with making leaking down her cheeks. Her sadness lingered threw the air. She really did care for the body she found. And he felt bad. She's far from home and she's all alone till they solve the case. No one to comfort her. He took the swab and swiped it across the blood on her blouse and placed it back into his kit.

Eric told her to stand certain ways, place her arms different places. They removed one article of clothing at a time and took pictures.

Her shirt was the first.

''Do I have to?'' Celine asked.

''We need the clothing. It needs to be brought back to the lab to be processed.'' Her face was showing emotions of distress. Ryan whispered to Eric.

''Man, I don't think she's going to slip us a different shirt if we let her change somewhere else less revealing to everyone. One of us can accompany her just to make sure.''

''I don't know Ryan.''

''It wouldn't hurt, because no one will know.''

''Fine, I'll go.'' Eric ended and told her to follow him to another washroom non occupied. Ryan was feeling a little left out, even a little pissed because he kind of liked that girl and Eric was he one getting close to her. But he just ignored his feelings and continued his job.

Five minutes later, Eric came out and was followed my Celine who was now dressed in a big white T-Shirt and a pair of white sweat pants. Eric was holding the brown evidence bag with her clothes and placed in the rest of the evidence pile. Ryan walked over to her.

''Unless you have anythign to say,'' Ryan paused so that Celine had time to speak, but she didn't. ''Heres my card. If you need anything at all, I want you to call me. Understood?'' Celine nodded and thanked him. They both walked off and out the door with all the evidence they found that night.

Detective Maxime Desjardin approached her once more.

''How are you feeling?'' He asked her.

''Alright, I guess.''

''Everything went fine, right?''

''Yeah.'' Maxime wrapped his arm across her back once more and guided her out the door. They ended up outside on the sidewalk.

''Well, do you need a ride to your hotel?'' He asked her. She could tell he wasn't just doing his job. He was being a nice, gentleman for her. He wanted to comfort her and make sure she was going to be alright. She smiled at him.

''No, I'm just going to take a cab. Thank you though.'' She was walking away when a hand slid down her arm and to her hand and left a card. She looked up at the Detective who was smiling.

''Call me, if you think of anything else.''

''Will do.'' She walked off once more and got into a cab. She forgot what hotel she was staying at so the cab driver just drove around till se spotted it. It was an old castle turned into a hotel. Big and antique were the words to describe it. They drove threw the big doors and she was dropped off at the entrance. Inside the building was the complete opposite of the outside. Everything was modern. Marble floors that ran all the way threw a large hallway. All along the right side was the check in desk which went from one end of the hallway to the other. It was a long, black, desk with glass decor and the name of the hotel. On the other side of the hallway were lounging areas. A couple of white and black sofas faced each other. Celine walked towards the end of the hallway and was face to face with the elevator. Celine turned her vision towards a corridor that leads to a room which was too far for her to tell what kind. Out of curiosity, Celine walked towards to room and discovered that it was a lounge and bar. In the center of the room was the bar. Black wood and glass decor just like the front desk. But bottles of different alcohols were lined up everywhere in between both side of the bar. Bartenders on both sides were hard at work making the best of drinks for the rich people that stayed in the luxurious hotel. There were fancy stools against the bar and many sofas and chairs. Some of the lounging furniture were larger square cushions that could sit up to ten people. There were fancy lounging chairs and black coffee tables in between all. She saw many women dressed in cocktail dresses and man in suites or fancy shirts and pants. Celine then realized that she was still was wearing what Eric had given her to change in a couple of hours ago.

She left back towards the elevator and to the fifteenth floor. She was staying in the penthouse with Michelle. Celine had sadness run threw her whole body and sing into her gut the moment she stepped into the room. She felt terrible and couldn't wait to change and get out.

She took a quick shower and put on a black cocktail dress with two thin straps that went from back to chest, over her shoulders. She added a belt, silver heels and dangling earrings. She headed down to the lounge and sat at the bar. One of the waiters came up to her.

''Can I help you, Beautiful?'' He asked her, he had a french accent to but it didn't turn her on like Detective Desjardin's did. In fact his did the total opposite.

''No thank you.'' Celine said trying to give him a polite smile. She took out her cell phone and dialed the number on the card the man gave her earlier.

''Hello?'' The man on the phone answered.

''Hi, it's Celine.''

''Hi, are you ok?''

''Kind of, could you meet me at my hotel?''

''Sure. You're sure that you're alright?''

''I will be.''

''I'll be there soon.'' And he hung up.

A half hour later, Celine looked at her watch and then looked towards the entrance of the lounge and saw the man she called, leaning against the side of the wall. She just watched him and he did the same.

The music playing, a jazz type, suddenly changed as it was midnight and lights dimmed. People started to get up and dance. The song playing as the man walked towards Celine was Scream, by Timbaland.

Intoxicated with desire,

And you're the designated driver, yeah

I'm not afraid, 'cause I'm a rider, yeah

Ain't nothing wrong with feeling right, so won't you

He held out his hand Celine placed hers in his. His soft touch sent shocks threw her arm and across her whole being. He lifted it towards his mouth a kissed it lightly.

I love it babe, got me here doing things Id never do

Can hold me downs, why I'm here making sure, things are up for you

Like a getaway , for the lights go off, you turn on

I love this place, cause I can hear the echo when you make me ah

She smiled and never took her eyes off him. He gave her hand back.