Chapter 14

Before Gail was able to stop Traci she was already on her way to greet Holly as they saw her walking in the hallway. Traci gave the brunette a quick hug.

"Oh my gosh, Holly Stewart. I can't believe it's you!"

"Oh it's me alright. Your doctor dead back at your service. How are you?"

Gail watched the exchange. Unlike her, Holly is a total social butterfly when she wanted to be. That's why winning her friends' affection wasn't a struggle. In fact she just floated over it and then the next thing she knew, they already love her and are crazy about her. "She's great you know!" "Oh my god, can I be friends with Holly? She's so cool!" "You're lucky Gail. Holly's a keeper" and so on. Soon enough she was finding her friends getting closer to the only person she has ever felt such strong feelings for.

That's why she couldn't help but feel jealous on how Traci was able to hug her and have a decent conversation with her for the first 3 seconds of the reunion.

"Okay detectives, as much as I would want to catch up, but I'm really keen to show you the body on your case. I have been swamped this morning. There seem to have a killing spree. 3 bodies have already arrived during my first 2 hours."

"Yes, sure! Let's do it." Gail said sounding more enthusiastic than she wanted to be.

"Wow so it's exactly the same as the first body?"

"Yes. The profile, the toxicology, the injuries. It's like a carbon copy of the last one"

"Serial killer, it seems" Traci suggested.

"Mr. Mills' wife told me that she waited for him up till around 1 in the morning. She said it's not a usual thing that he goes home that late." For some reasons Gail has decided to randomly share that bit of information.

"Aww, lucky guy. Someone waiting for him. Those kind of people are getting harder and harder to find nowadays yet they are still very under appreciated." Holly's tone was painted with bitterness.

"Yeah, so he has been held off. Or maybe he already was in trouble. It doesn't mean that he's not appreciating those efforts" Gail felt the need to defend whatever the point that Holly is going on against.

"I'm just saying that he is lucky. Those people who wait around for that important person like a sick puppy always turns out to be the one getting hurt."

"Yeah? But who is the one on your table, having you examine his cold body?" Gail was quick to reply.

"Who is the one crying now because of her loss?" Holly countered.

"Okayyy… we're talking about the case here right?" Traci finally spoke up.

Holly looked up to her. "Of course. Anyway, I have started examining him. I will have the report forwarded to you by the end of the day."

"This is my case, Traci is just helping out" Okay, Gail had to bite herself for being too egoistic, especially in front of Traci, who has been one of the top detectives in their division. That and the fact that Traci is now shooting piercing stares at her direction.

Holly's brown eyes shifted on hers with a heavy weight.

"I will be forwarding it to you then, detective Peck."

The coldness in her eyes was gone as quickly as it came when Holly regarded the two people in front of her then allowed her self a slight sigh.

"Any questions?" she tried a smile.

"I think that's all for now. We'll call you if anything comes up" Traci offered.

"I do." Before Gail could chicken out, the words were already out.

"Can we talk?"