The first thing I saw when I woke up was the swaying flames of the fireplace. The TV hanging above it was replaying Elijah Hamilton's address from earlier in the evening. When I sat up, my phone was blinking red on the coffee table. I immediately reached for it, remembering Laura said she would call me back. But the missed call was from Miguel.

Did she forget? I tried calling her back, but it went straight to voicemail. I couldn't help feeling this had something to do with Spencer. I slipped the phone in my pocket and took the dirty dishes from supper to the kitchen. I slammed the dishwasher door, thinking about him trying to get Laura back.

I closed my eyes, took a few deep breaths and pulled my phone out. "I love you. Please call me back when you get this." I hit send and went to the cupboard over the fridge, grabbed the Grey Goose, poured some in glass and tossed it back. Then I did it again.

"Here's to a bunch of rich assholes," I held the glass up before pouring it down my throat. I exhaled, feeling the vodka burning all the way down. Somehow that always made me feel a little better. I decided to call Miguel back to find out what he wanted.

"Dom, my man. What's up?"

"Hey," I replied, "I'm okay. Just here at the house."

"I figured," Miguel began, "look, I'm down here at the Regent's having a few drinks with Evelyn and some of her friends. You want to come chill for a bit?"

I scanned the empty apartment and stared at the bottle of vodka on the counter.

"Dom? You still there?"

"Yeah, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

"Alright, text me when you're outside," he said, "the line's pretty long. But I can get you in."

"Okay, will do."

I went back to the bedroom, threw on a white V-neck, my navy blazer and a pair of dark wash jeans. After getting ready, I checked my phone one last time. But there was nothing from Laura. I shook my head, slipped the phone in my coat pocket and headed out the front door.

It was a little colder outside than I had anticipated. But I was already feeling the effects of the drinks from earlier, so I felt warmer than I would have without vodka coursing through my bloodstream. I got to the station just as the train was pulling up.

The ride through downtown was pretty typical for a Saturday night. A lot of people dressed for a night out—clearly intoxicated, high or both. I didn't realise I had forgotten my wedding ring until a blonde girl who couldn't have been older than twenty came up to me a few moments before my stop.

"You smell as good as you look," she bit her lip, the smell of beer on her breath.

"I'm flattered," I replied, "but I'm taken."

She looked at my left hand. "No ring."

"I forgot it at home," I said, trying to put some space between us.

She smirked. "I won't tell if you won't."

She was attractive, but I wasn't that drunk. Just then, the train came to a stop, and the doors opened.

I flashed a false frown. "Sorry, but this is me. Take care."

She pouted as I backed off the train.

As I was walking away, something in the last train car caught my eye. Someone was sitting by the window with a hood hiding their face. In their gloved hand, they held a copy of Confessions of a Serial Killer.

But as the train sped up, the figure seemed to vanish. Maybe the vodka was finally hitting me. I shook my head and kept walking, hoping that would steady my mind.

Do you think we will see multiple murders before the investigation is over?

I hope not, but again, I wouldn't be surprised.

The words from that news segment rang in my ears the whole way to Regent's. But as promised, Miguel got me inside. I followed him to the basement, where a Jazz band was playing.

After getting through the crowd, we came to a booth that was off to the side. A guy with blond hair was sitting across from a pretty Asian woman in a tight red dress. Miguel introduced the guy as Stan.

"You must be Evelyn Ono," I shook her hand without waiting for Miguel's introduction.

"And you must be Dominic," she smiled.

"It's nice to finally meet you," I replied. "Miguel has told me a lot about you, and it's good to have a face to go with your name."

"He's told me lots about you too," Evelyn said.

"Good things, I hope."

Evelyn nodded, but before she could respond, Miguel said, "Well, I told her the truth."

"Which is what?" I asked.

"That you're a sore loser and you suck at pool."

"Miguel!" Evelyn said as Stan chuckled.

I smiled. "Then I'm afraid he told you the truth."

Evelyn giggled.

"So, Evelyn," I began, "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"Yes?"

"What do you see in Miguel? Surely someone as attractive as you could find somebody who looks, well, less like Miguel."

"Really, Dom?"

Evelyn chuckled. "Miguel is very handsome," she replied, "and it doesn't hurt that he speaks Spanish either."

"Gracias, Amor," Miguel grinned before kissing her.

We talked for a bit, and I learned Stan and Evelyn used to work at the same company. As the night progressed, Stan managed to convince a girl he danced with to join us at the booth.

I was sipping my Sazerac when Evelyn said, "Harper!" and jumped off of Miguel's lap. I turned around and saw her hugging the tall brunette who had just walked in.

"I thought you weren't coming!" Evelyn exclaimed.

"Changed my mind," she replied.

I held my breath when Harper finally looked up. Save for the short haircut, she could have been Laura's twin, light brown eyes and all.

"Harper, this is Dominic, Miguel's best friend," Evelyn said.

I stood up to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too," she smiled.

Harper took the seat next to me, and Miguel ordered a round of drinks for the table. We chatted about her plans to pursue an MBA before I asked her to dance. I couldn't get over how good she looked in that little black dress. And the way she pressed her body into mine had me wanting to be somewhere more private.

"You're a good dancer," she whispered in my ear.

"Maybe it has something to do with my partner," I whispered back.

At some point, Miguel came over and asked if we wanted to head over to Stan's.

"This place is getting pretty packed," he added.

We nodded and followed him and Evelyn out. I remember getting to Stan's place, having a few more drinks, dancing with Harper again and that's where I blacked out.