She opened her eyes to see the worried receptionist and who else, Tristan, looking just as concerned.
-Is everything ok? he asked her.
She instantly felt her cheeks burn up and was thankful she could blame it the cold outside.
-Um, I called Mr. Jackson and the sheriff here to help me… I found a body in the shower.
Just like the mayor, Trishtan's jaw dropped slightly and he looked surprised. It was obvious he was trying to hold it back and not look too shocked or horrified.
-Wow, this I didn't imagine…
Mika nodded in a "neither did I" way and looked down like everyone else in the room. There was a stone cold silence and the atmosphere could be cut with a knife.
-Ok, we've got a job we came here to do, now let's get over with it! said the sheriff impatiently, who was the only person in the room not to be affected by the gloom in the air.
-Right, said Mika, it's this way.
She walked towards the room with the mayor, the sheriff, Trishtan and the reception guy following her. She thought the scene must be really funny and almost slipped into a smile, but when she got in front of the door, any positive feeling was washed away.
-It's here, she said trying to maintain her voice from breaking.
The sheriff stepped in front and pushed the door open. Mika and the rest followed him in.
-Where about?
She pointed towards the bathroom. They all went there, the sheriff in front of them. Walking into the tiny room it was impossible to ignore the bloody mess in the corner. The shower curtain was still pulled aside from before revealing the horrific sight. She had to look away to stop any tears forming. Who could have done something so terrible? And in her room? How did they get in?
That's when she started thinking of something that hadn't occurred to her before; it could have been her. What if someone had broken in, found him in the room and killed him? Then, if she had been in the room she would have been killed. But then again, what the hell was HE doing in the room?
Suddenly she felt very unsafe. Not only had a murder taken place in her room, but two people that shouldn't have been in it had somehow gotten there. Worst part is, she didn't understand how, she didn't notice any signs of forced entry.
-Ok, I'll call some help to get rid of the body and investigate the murder. I need to talk to everyone that was in this hotel from yesterday afternoon and anyone that may know something. No one leave the hotel, she heard the sheriff's voice.
Mika got out of the bathroom the instant she had a chance. Trying to keep herself together, she walked towards her bed and started gathering her belongings. The rest eventually evacuated the bathroom, all of them pretty shaken up. They were talking loudly and were sounding a bit panicked, but Mika couldn't hear them, too lost in her thoughts to care.
-Are you ok? Trishtan asked.
She felt his hand on her shoulder comforting her.
-I don't know…I need to go…
-Where?
-Home.
She looked him in the eyes trying hard not to let tears slip out of her own.
-I don't know what to think anymore. How something like this could have happened. It's just…
-Mika Ishida? the sheriff called, I've got some questions, please follow me into the office. The rest of you, out, it's a crime scene here!
She followed the sheriff to a room behind the reception desk, a room she wasn't aware of its presence before. Its wooden door blended in perfectly with the rest of the wall. He opened it and motioned for her to enter.
-Ladies first.
The room was tiny and very cramped, the furniture seemed to be piled in it. There was barely room to breathe, never mind move. There were two chairs, one behind the desk and one in front of it. Behind the first chair was a large, especially considering the size of the room, bookcase which reached up to the ceiling and was stuffed with books, so many it looked as if it may burst. The desk, barely visible under the piles of paper and rubbish on it, not to mention the dust, was made of a dark wood which along with the rest of the furniture in the room, made the windowless room appear darker. Its only source of light was a light bulb that hung of the ceiling and didn't seem to be in a very good shape.
The sheriff struggled to get his belly past the desk to sit in the big chair and after what seemed like an eternity to Mika, he made it, raising the question of how he would get out. He motioned for her to sit.
-So, he said while looking at his papers, you are the lady who found the body correct?
-Yes, she replied so lowly it almost sounded like a whisper.
-Well, tell me what happened.
She took a deep breath.
-I returned to the hotel after been outside and….
-And?
-I went to have a shower but the body was there..
The sheriff had his eyes fixed on the paper.
-About what time did you return?
-Umm, 4 in the morning I think.
-Where had you been when you where out?
-At the saloon. The waitress there can verify it, she said a bit annoyed that she was being interrogated like she was a possible suspect.
-Ok. Ok, do you know anything about the victim? Had you seen him before?
She immediately had a flash back.
-Yes.
The sheriff was now looking at her rather than the papers. He gave her a "go on" nod.
-At the saloon, he was drunk and he hit on me. He then passed out and that's when I met Kaylen.
-Kaylen?
-The waitress I told you about.
-Oh, he said as he sorted out his papers. Do you know anything else that might be useful?
-No.
-Alright, give us a call if you remember anything, he said as he got up and tried to squeeze past the desk again. You are free to go now.
Mika got up and left. She saw the sheriff from the corner of her eye wiggling hard to get through the small passage, but after a while he gave up and shouted:
-Next!