An M.O. Investigation
By Alice L
Chapter 1 How Did This Happen?
"Fucking shit. God fucking damn it". Here I am, with a bullet in my arm, bleeding on the cold stone floor of an abandoned church, in a forgotten town in the middle of nowhere.
I look up at the ceiling. The full moon shines brightly in the sky, beaming moonlight into the church from the many holes in its roof. A small pool of blood forms from my arm. I can't even move it without experiencing a sharp jolting pain from where the bullet entered. "Argh mother fucker". I've been shot before, hazards of the job, but it's not exactly something a person can get used to.
Banging sounds can be heard from the church doors. My assailants, trying to break in. They'd be here by now if I didn't block the entrance with a podium and a bunch of chairs. It won't hold them back forever though. I check my gun to see how many bullets I have, one. I look up and see a large statue of Jesus crucified, hanging from the wall. "One bullet, just for me huh? Well fat chance." I get up off the ground and look around the room for a way out. I could smash the stained glass windows but my attackers will hear it. The back exit. Nah, they've probably got it covered. Well then, time to get creative. I point my gun to the window and stand by the back door. I pull the trigger.
My name's Amanda Orson. I'm thirty two years old. I'm 5ft 9 with short black hair and brown eyes. I'm a private investigator. This is my story.
A few days ago.
I wake up in someone else's bed from another night of drinking and sex. My partner for the night is still asleep next to me. Some blonde college student who claims I've fucked her friend once. She met me at my favourite bar and said she wants me to fuck her like I did to her friend. No idea who she's talking about, honestly, I've lost track of the people I've been with, but she wanted it and I'm definitely not going to turn her down. All I remember from last night is eating this girl's pussy and making her squirt on my face. From the look of her naked body, my black lipstick has marked her all over. From the angle she's laying down in, I can see I went to town on her large boobs. In hindsight, they are probably why I said I'd fuck her. I'm a boob girl, give me a pair to play with, no matter what size, and I'm happy, and from the smile on her face, she was well satisfied. Best I leave before she wakes up. I get out of bed and look around the room. It's definitely what you'd expect. Posters litter the walls, boy bands and romance films. Her bed is completely pink, blanket, pillows, all of it. So are her walls, her floor however was brown hardwood. Our clothes were scattered everywhere. I take my bra off her floor and my panties. I put them on and find my shoes, plain white t-shirt and black jeans in a pile by the girl's bedroom door. Once I'm dressed I check my pockets for my phone, keys and wallet. 'Good. All there'. I have one last look at the girl, still sleeping soundly, and leave her room. I head downstairs to her front door but before I make my exit, my luck runs out.
"Excuse me. Who are you and what are you doing in our house?" I turn around to see the girl's parents standing behind me.
'Urgh. Why did I think the girl lived alone? Fuck me'.
"I'm nobody. Just someone your daughter took home from the bar last night. Best you ask her when she wakes up though. Bye." I say quickly as I make my escape before the parents say another word. The dad tries to go after me but when he opens the door, I'm already gone. In truth I'm hiding behind a car but he doesn't spot me. He goes back inside and I walk away. "Sorry kid. You snooze ya lose...wait. Where the fuck am I?" I find a street sign a few blocks away and call an uber to come pick me up. Turns out I'm miles away from home. I live in the city, I'm currently in some town twelve miles away from the city limits. I take the uber to the local train station and take the train back to New York. After nearly one hour, I arrive back in the city. The morning sunshine glaring down at me as I leave the station, agitating my headache even more. "Fuck, I drank too much last night". I head off back to my apartment.
After walking for half an hour I arrive at my street. Ah, home shit home. From the rundown buildings to the broken cars and littered road. At least my building is still standing, for now anyway. I walk inside and head upstairs. Apartment 5, my home. Unlike other apartments, mine has the words 'M.O. Investigations' written on the door. Everyone who knows me, knows I run a private investigation business out of my own home. It's good work, especially when I get thanked for my efforts, which admittedly doesn't happen much. My job is to uncover secrets after all. Most people don't like their secrets brought to the public eye. I walk inside and grab a slice of pizza from my fridge. I head into my bathroom and look into the mirror. My short black hair is a mess, no surprise there. My makeup is completely smeared on my pale face and I have a hickey on my neck. "Fucking damn it". I strip naked and climb into my shower. After I'm satisfied with my cleanliness I walk into my bedroom, still naked and dripping water on the floor. I grab a black button shirt and blue jeans from my wardrobe and open my bedside draw and grab a pair of matching white panties and bra. I start to get dressed when I hear my front door open. I quickly put my clothes on and grab my pistol from underneath my pillow. I enter my living room/office and point my gun at the intruder. "Stop right there. NYPD!"
"Ahhh" The intruder screams and drops a briefcase on the floor and sticks her hands up. "Oh for fuck sake. God damn it Mandy. Please don't scare me like that."
"Urgh fuck me. Sorry Tiff. I thought you were an intruder." My assistant and best friend, Tiffany Ives. A short, skinny, twenty year old black girl with long dark curly hair and green eyes. I helped her once on a case. Her abusive ex boyfriend went too far and I ended up saving her life. She's like the sister I no longer have. Ever since I saved her, she's been attached to me like a lost puppy. I like it though. She's a fantastic assistant, amazing friend and great cook. She wants to be a private investigator like me one day. I hope not though. I have way too much drama in my life, though I guess she does too.
"It's fine. I'm used to it by now. I'm guessing you drank last night."
"Yeah. A little too much I'd say"
"You should cut back. I see you and I never want to drink again". She sits down at the desk in the back of the room by the window and opens her briefcase. She pulls out a bunch of files, cases we are currently working on. "Oh and Mandy, you're not with the police anymore. Stop yelling NYPD every time you pull your gun out."
"Sorry Tiff, force of habit." I used to work for the New York police department until about a year ago when I got fired for assault. Luckily it only cost me my job, wife and home. A guy was beating up young women and raping them. Because of me, he's now in prison but with two broken legs and a fear of the dark. I went a little overboard but he deserved far worse. Ever since I got fired I used my remaining money to start up my P.I. business. Tiff's idea. It's a slow start but as I said before, I like it. "Alright Tiff, what have we got today?"
"Well.." Tiffany goes through our case files. "We've got Mr Trent. His car is still missing. Miss Lighter is still calling every day about her missing garden gnome. And you have an email here from Emily". Tiffany says as she goes through our emails on the computer on the desk.
"What does she want this time?" I ask as I head over to the desk. I stand behind Tiffany and look down at the computer screen.
"It says a bird got a worm".
"Fucking Emily. Why does she have to be so cryptic all the time? I doubt it's a secret she's giving us information. Sophie is probably using her to keep an eye on me after all". Emily is the best computer genius the NYPD has to offer. She's a friend but I'm not sure where her loyalties really lie. To her friends or herself. "Where to Tiff?"
"Clayton art gallery. Do you need an address?"
"Text it to me and please stay here. This might get messy".
"No worries. I don't want to see you and Sophie 'chatting' again. Last time was very loud and rude."
I grab my coat, check my pockets for everything I need and head out. "Time to go bird watching."