The last container of drinks and ice cubes had been placed in the refrigerator, and the movie listing thoroughly checked to determine the perfect show for the night. They had always stuck to themselves when it came to celebrations. Today was no different – it would be just three friends enjoying New Year's day at home.

"All that's left to do is wait for Adrian to arrive and our Triumvirate movie night shall commence," Jay declared, lazily sifting through the popcorn bowl.

"Adrian said he'd be here by 6," Craig replied, shutting the refrigerator. He walked into the living room and dropped into the sofa.

"Even at school, that guy was always the latecomer of the trio."

"Triumvirate," Jay corrected. "We agreed to call ourselves that, because it sounds so much cooler than 'trio', remember?"

"Of course." Craig slapped his friend a high five just before the doorbell rang.

"About time," Jay muttered as he stood up and sauntered to the door. He unlocked it with a grin and was left staring at Adrian on the other side.

"Glad you could make it, A," Jay quipped as Adrian walked into the house. The latter's emotionless expression, however, wiped the grin off his face.

"Adrian?" Jay called, following the man into the living room. Craig stood up and beckoned to the newcomer, but his hands paused mid-air as he glimpsed his friend's state.

Adrian's breathing was ragged and his eyes were bloodshot. The front of his green shirt was stained a dark red. He collapsed into the sofa, muttering incoherently.

"I can't, I just, I can't believe..."  The words tumbled out haphazardly as he wiped his trembling hands on his jeans, streaking them red.

"Adrian, what happened?" Jay's face bore confusion, and Craig frowned in worry as the two tried to find an explanation to their friend's behaviour.

Adrian muttered  to himself in a frenzied manner and couldn't bring himself to meet their eyes, adding to the air of anxiety. He finally looked up at them and broke the silence.

"He's dead."

*****

The clock's monotonous ticking accompanied his restless footsteps as Adrian paced the kitchen floor. Jay sat silent at the dining table, his composure not mirroring his racing thoughts. Craig stood at the kitchen door, fidgeting absentmindedly with his watch.

"How certain are you that you weren't seen?" Jay broke the silence. He looked up at Adrian, whose face betrayed his apprehension.

"Pretty sure," Adrian murmured. "We were at an abandoned bus stop on the outskirts with nobody else." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "And I had my hood on."

"That's what we're concerned about right now?" Craig spoke up incredulously. "We're not worried about the fact that Adrian just killed someone?"

Adrian let out a low growl of frustration. "Tempers were flying and I didn't have time to think!" he countered harshly.

Craig scoffed. "Right. You didn't have to think twice before literally stabbing someone over a small bet you lost."

"It was not a small bet!" Adrian raised his voice. "He was as much to blame as I was. He was the one provoking me," he continued, his fists clenched.

"The guy was asking for it. You wouldn't understand."

"Damn right I wouldn't understand," Craig spat. "I don't have anger management issues."

"You're just too cowardly to stand up to someone for something you believe in!"

"Shut up, both of you!" Jay banged the table, silencing his friends.
He gazed at Adrian, and slowly turned to Craig. He took a deep breath and stood up.

"Someone's been killed, and we need to focus on what the hell we can do about it."

The room elapsed into silence as the three young men were caught in a swirl of thoughts and emotions.

Craig let out a sigh and crossed his arms. He shook his head slowly, reflecting on the severe circumstances.

"The police are going to find out one way or the other," he remarked.

"Not if the tracks are substantially covered," Adrian stated, leaning against the kitchen counter. Jay walked over to the window to draw the curtains. He glanced at the two and shrugged.

"We've got to start with alibis," Jay declared. "You weren't at the bus stop this evening, and were on your way to meet us, as planned."

Craig opened his mouth in disbelief, but words seemed to fail him.
He took a deep breath and shook his head.

"You're actually going to defend him?"

Craig switched his gaze from the man at the kitchen table to the one leaning against the counter.

"Jay. Adrian's committed a murder for a reason that does not justify his actions. You're actually going to defend him?"

Jay rested his hand on the chair in front of him. "I'm not defending his actions," he replied calmly. His eyes flickered over to Adrian for a second.

"His actions were uncalled for, and could've certainly been handled a lot better." Jay paused as Adrian rolled his eyes.

"But we can't let things be. We've got to find a way to cover our tracks."

"Our tracks? We didn't murder someone in cold blood!" Craig yelled, his jaw clenched. "Since when did this involve all of us?"

"Since we formed our Triumvirate ten years ago," Jay replied. He locked eyes with Craig and took a step towards him.

"You remember our code, Craig. Always together – no matter what. No matter where," Jay began with a meaningful nod.

"No matter why?" Craig cut him off.  "However gruesome the crime, whatever the circumstance?"

He chuckled sarcastically. "I don't think so."

Adrian looked up from the kitchen floor and rested his eyes on his friend, noting the latter's apprehension.

"Craig, we swore it," he spoke up softly. "You know I'd do the same for you."

"Would you?" the man remarked as Adrian detected the slightest tremble in Craig's voice.

"Or would you just draw out your blade, Adrian?"

Craig turned his head and gazed at Jay, who stood motionless by the window.

"Today, it was a colleague from work who fell prey to his temper. What if it's one us tomorrow?"

Jay shook his head, unsure of how to react.

"You're overreacting, Craig. I don't think Adrian–"

"You're missing the damn point," Craig stated in annoyance, crossing his arms. "I came here to meet my friends, not defend a murderer."

Adrian's face was awash with fury but he remained silent.

"I'm not going to get dragged into this mess, especially after the police start interrogating us for knowing Adrian," Craig continued, taking a step back.

Jay held up his hand in an attempt to calm his friend down.

"The police don't have to find out if we get Adrian an alibi, for which we are key witnesses," he stated. Craig shook his head and took another step backwards.

"I'm not a part of it."

Adrian straightened up and shifted his gaze from Jay to Craig, locking eyes with him.

"Don't tell me you plan to tell the police yourself." Adrian's voice came out as a low growl.

Jay's head whipped to face Craig, whose hand was withdrawing his phone from his pocket.

"Craig," Jay spoke up warningly as his eyes darted towards the man's phone. Craig remained silent as he stepped out of the kitchen and took a step back to the living room.

"You can't break the Triumvirate Code," Jay continued, his voice unusually calm as he stepped into the living room and faced Craig.

His friend placed a hand on the front door and paused at Jay's words.

"Then I quit the Triumvirate."

The door slammed open as Craig swiftly stepped out, leaving behind an ominous silence in his wake.

Jay was left standing in the living room, speechless. Things were going to get bad. Very bad.

"I can't believe it," Adrian muttered, his breathing shallow as he emerged from the kitchen. He collapsed onto the sofa and looked up at Jay, his eyes marked with consternation.

"He's actually going to do it," he mused quietly. "He's going to break our Code."

Jay didn't respond, and continued staring at the door. His mind was racing with a million possibilities.
He finally settled on one.

"He's not going to break the Triumvirate Code," he remarked quietly, turning to Adrian. His friend laughed, almost hysterically.

"And how do you plan to stop him?"

Jay remained silent for a minute, before walking slowly towards the door. He turned to glance at Adrian one last time before heading out.

"If in protecting a murderer, I become one myself, so be it."

As the door shut after Jay, Adrian thought he glimpsed a flash of silver in his friend's hand.

*****

The woman gazed at the man in front of her, who was looking at his reflection on the silver handcuffs binding his wrists. He didn't seem too perturbed for a man having been convicted of homicide. But maybe it was only because he didn't care, or because he'd have to celebrate the New Year in a prison cell.

"So, you murdered your best friend... In order to protect your other friend," the officer stated, not taking her eyes off the man. He tilted his head in consideration.

"That would sum it up," he replied nonchalantly.

"And you were willing to be imprisoned for your friend," the lady continued. "That's either impressive loyalty or extreme stupidity."

Jay smirked. "The Italians called it omertà. We called it the Triumvirate Code. I did what I had to."

The officer raised an eyebrow in mock fascination.

"Commendable. I have to give you that credit though," she admitted, gazing at Jay.

"You hid your tracks well. Took us almost a year to find you. However, it looks like you'll be spending this New Year's celebration within the confines of grey walls."

Jay looked at her silently, his face bearing no emotion at her remark. The officer, however, thought she detected a hint of triumph in the smug smile that appeared on his face a moment later.

"You'll never find him," Jay said softly before looking down at his handcuffs. The woman leaned forward, her steely eyes focussed on him.

"We found you, Mr Moore. It's only a matter of time until we find Adrian Rein."

The smug look did not waver from Jay's face at her remark. He knew Adrian wouldn't be found. He'd seen to it that his friend had a valid alibi and was now out of harm's way. He'd do anything to maintain the Triumvirate Code –
To be there for each other. No matter what, no matter when.

The officer stood up. She casually paced the cell, her footsteps echoing against the walls just like Adrian's had when he paced the kitchen floor all those months ago.

The lady turned to face Jay, her face betraying the amusement in her thoughts as she wondered what would make someone willing to get arrested for a murder, just to protect their friend.

With the dawn of the next day, an entire year would have elapsed since the crime had been committed, but she felt that the incident was still fresh in the man's mind. Jay continued to gaze at his reflection in the smooth metal surface of his handcuffs.

The inspector noted the time on the wall clock. 11: 23 pm.
She walked slowly towards the door after one last glance at the criminal, and opened the door. Her hand paused on the door handle as she deliberated for a moment. Letting the door close, she turned towards Jay.

"Killing Craig Vaugn twelve months ago was a choice you made. A choice that determined your life today," she said softly, taking a step towards the table at which the man was seated. He did not reply.

"Things could have ended very differently, but it was ultimately your choice," she continued, in a last attempt to gauge the man's thoughts.

"Do you regret it?"

Jay looked up from the reflection in his handcuffs and met the lady's gaze. He held the gaze for a moment, before flashing her a crafty smile.

Did he regret killing his best friend? Did he regret standing by the Triumvirate Code?

"No."