Author's Note: "I" instead of "he" will be said alot, because it's sort of a narration, him telling his story or something.
Several years ago, before this case, before the Origami Killer.
I had a partner. Her name was Alice.
We had been partners until a few months before the Origami Killer. It wasn't necessarily love at first sight.
In fact, we barely even spoke. We'd talk about the case, give a profiling, then we'd part ways.
We never spoke much, until a homicide case that we investigated. Then she just started opening up to me.
She would talk to me personally, and it's like we were insuperable. Or so I thought. I thought it was all going to be right again.
"Find anything on the case yet?" She asked me, just reading the file. This case was pretty easy. It was sloppy. It confused me. If you're going to murder someone.. why not do a good job at least?
"Heh, yet? There's evidence everywhere!" He chuckled, she laughed too, but it seemed to be forced. As if she tensed up.
"Are you alright..?" I turned my chair. She was beginning to open up. I was beginning to feel like he could count on her when I needed her. Whenever I couldn't solve something, she'd always help me.
"Yeah.. it's just.. Isn't it weird that there's so much evidence yet we still haven't caught to killer..?" She smiled towards me, it looked so real. Perfect thing to cheer me up whenever I needed it.
The room fell silent for a while, but I just nodded my head. "I feel the same way. Maybe we can check the scene again, something we missed."
She nodded lightly and stood up, this is when I knew there was actually something wrong.
We arrived at the crime scene.. well, not the crime scene, but place of interest.
She slid down the wall of the warehouse, her face in her palms and she began to sob.
She had always been there for me, always helped me, and she deserved for me to return the favor.
I kneeled down to her. "Don't say 'nothing', don't make excuses, What's wrong?" I began to feel sorry for her, I felt the same thing once. The silence of the warehouse and then echo of the voice made me feel anxious.
"What's the problem!? I'm a prime suspect! They're going to lock me up Norman! Unless I find the real killer, I-"
"Unless we find the real killer."
"Norman, I'm scared. There's no use. They've left clues everywhere, but we still can't find anything. It's like the clues are all false. Placed to trick us."
"I swear, with all these leads, all this evidence and all these suspects.. I swear, I will help you. Like you help me."
She wiped her tears and stood up. "I'll start looking for evidence." I nodded and walked away.
In the corner, I saw a box.. How did I not see that before..?
I walked towards it. When I opened it, I saw the final piece towards the puzzle, a murder weapon.
"Norman.." I heard a light voice behind me say.
I spun around to see Alice was behind me. "Yeah?"
She walked towards me slowly, my heart pounding quickly with every step she took.
I saw the look in her eyes, complete fear and hopelessness. Something I had well experienced before.
I took a step closer, putting my hand on her cheek. Well expecting rejection. I kissed her softly. Not expecting her to return it.
It was filled with emotion, the best thing I've ever had in my life. A miracle, a few seconds of desire, just a few seconds of complete ecstasy.
I pulled away, even though I wanted it more than I showed. I had to stop, I didn't want to cause her to lose any respect for me, I didn't want her to hate me.
I looked down, I felt the aftermath of the kiss, when I had looked up, she was gone. I had assumed she ran away, went back the the office. I felt so guilty. A few seconds of selfishness, in return for the only one in my life to leave me.
I walked back to the office. Expecting to find her there. To apologize or not. To at least know if I did anything wrong. I wanted to rest my head, resign if I had to.
Once I arrived at the office, I went to check her desk. Maybe she was working on the case and it would all be okay. I'd at least be able to say goodbye. I was already struggling as it is.
She wasn't there. The desk was gone. It's as if she never existed. I rushed over to Lieutenant's office. I felt anxious, sweat droplets falling down my forehead. No, had to stay calm. But to see her leave without me even saying sorry, or goodbye.
I pressed my hand on the doorknob, already feeling the cold feeling on my spine of knowing the answer. Please, please be here. I opened the door and took a deep breath. "Lieutenant, where's Agent Alice?"
"She resigned, Norman. You're on your own on this one. He began looking back down on his papers. Like he didn't care. Like she wasn't even a part of the case.
"You don't think.." I froze up. "She's not the killer!" I barked out defensively. No.. It can't be. I knew her, she'd never do that kind of thing. I know she wouldn't.
"We have evidence against her, Norman. It's everywhere. Did you even look at the evidence..? Did you find the murder weapon yet? That kind of information can put her in longer."
The weapon.. I just had it.. no.. she couldn't. She wouldn't. "No.. I.. don't." He sighed. "You've not been focusing, Norman. Seems like you'll do better without her. Besides, you're usually relieved when solving a case.. What happened..?"
"Nothing.. Lieutenant, I need to go review the evidence." He nodded and I took that as I sign to leave. I put on my ARI and examined the evidence. The watch.. the killer was so untidy, there has to be prints.
I was shocked to see the result. It.. had her DNA on it. Finger prints. It looks like she was either tugging on it or trying to steal it from the wearer. What had she done..? I dialed her number, it had always been in my phone in case she was needed.
She picked up, I was greeted with a rushed voice, and hurried breath. "Norman, I can exp-" I cut her off. I couldn't take it. No excuses. I just needed to know she wasn't the killer.
"No explanation, no lies. Just the truth, please tell me you didn't do it, just tell me you were examining the watch. Anything, please." I was nervous, scared. I wanted the truth, but also didn't want to know she did it.
"I.. I'm going to be honest, Norman.. I did it. I'm sorry. I don't know why. I just got so.. ugh.. Angry. Like I needed to. I'm sorry, please. Forgive me." She was cut off with a rushed voice. A mix between anger, disappointment, betrayal, and the fact he couldn't accept it. You can't accept someone you love did that.
I shuttered. "I can't accept that. I.. after all we've been through.. Why did you have to do this to yourself? Do you know how deep you are in? I thought.." I was silent. I didn't know what to say.
"Norman, I can't stay on for too long.. They're probably tracing me now. I-" The line suddenly cut off. I really wish it didn't have to end like this. The only one I could count on. The one who was always there for me. Was using me.
Lieutenant rushed in the room, without even a simple knock on the door. "Norman!" He shouted. "Alice is on the run. We need you now! At the warehouse! STAT!"
I stood up in a quick rush. Forced to arrest the one I loved. Forced to betray her like she had me. I can't even remember the reason I joined the FBI anymore. I got my gun from my desk and put it in my pocket.
As I drove to the warehouse, my heart rushed. Just as fast as when I kissed her. Strange how two opposite things can make you feel the exact same way. It was a nightmare.
I parked at the warehouse, she was no where to be found. I was the first one to get here. No one else was here but supposedly my ex-partner. And I was the one who had to catch her.
I walked slowly into the warehouse. Pointing my gun forward, holding it with two hands. I took a deep breath and looked for her. She emerged from the corner. I faced my gun towards her, my hand shaking.
"Norman, come on. Don't do this. It was a mistake. I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't know how much I meant to you. I know I probably ruined your life. But just think back, all the things we did together."
I knew she was sincere. I knew she meant it, I did think back.. Vaguely. The times she blamed herself for my mistakes. The times I would hug her. The times I knew I loved her.
She kicked the gun out of my hand, it slid across the room and someone walked in. I ran and rushed to grab the gun, I was faster than her. Despite all her training, all those chases we had. It still wasn't enough.
I quickly grabbed the gun, and FBI rushed in and all pointed at her at once. She looked at me. That look of fear. She meant it, but of course. If I was about to be arrested, I'd kick a gun out of my hands too.
"NORMAN! SHOOT!" I didn't know what to do, my hands began to shake. That look in her eyes. That so obvious look. I had taken psychology before. I knew that look. I knew that painful look. I couldn't take it.
I lowered my gun slowly. "CHRIST SAKE, NORMAN. WHAT ARE YOU DOING. SHOOT HER!" Lieutenant shouted at me. He never felt sorry for anyone. He would never understand. He was so heartless.
"YOU CAN SHOOT HER IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO YOU." I shouted to him at the top of my lungs. Lieutenant made a signal in the air I've known before. A signal to shoot. "NO!"
Three shots. One on her back, one on her left arm, one on her right leg. They rushed towards her towards her to arrest her. I kneeled besides her. "No.. no.." I said with rushed breaths.
"I love you Norman." She said lightly. As much as I loved her back, as much as I wanted to believe her. I couldn't. I couldn't believe her anymore, nor anyone else. The ambulance picked her up and put her into a stretcher. Before she left, she said one last thing.
"How does it feel to be right in front of the killer and lose them just like that..?"
