It all happened with such swiftness that it took me a few seconds to fully comprehend what the man just said. Blazing, however, was quick to react. In an instant, he went up to him and guided him to sit down on a chair. He was just about to close the door when another gentleman, younger than Michael but not as young as me or Blazing entered the room. He was dressed in police uniform and appeared to be out of breath after climbing, or rather, running up so many stairs.

'I would prefer it if you didn't keep running away every now and then, sir. You know I have been given strict instructions. If you can't control yourself, I will have no choice but to restrain you, not to mention, it makes you look more suspicious.', the man said.

'Yes, yes, I know. I'm sorry but I just couldn't delay meeting with Steven. I'll control myself next time. ', replied Michael, embarrassed.

' I'm sorry, I don't recognize you.', said Blazing, looking at the man with a questioning glance.

'This is Detective Adrian Walker. He is in charge of investigating this case. I am glad its him, because if it was someone I didn't know, I doubt I would be sitting in front of you right now.'

'And that is why I hope you will not take advantage of the situation, sir. Both of us will be in deep trouble, and you really don't need any more of that right now.'

'Please have a seat, Detective Walker.', said Blazing, signalling a chair.

I handed both men a glass of water. They thanked me.

'Now, everyone calm down. Michael, tell me the entire incident.', suggested Blazing.

'Well, I...', said Michael and then hesitated, looking at me doubtfully.

'Oh, I'm so sorry. Charlie, this is Assistant commissioner Michael Turner. Michael, this is Charlie Bolt, he's my friend and colleague.', said Blazing, introducing us.

Friend and colleague?

' I'm sorry, I wasn't aware.', admitted Michael sheepishly.

'That's alright, Mr. Turner. Now can you please narrate the entire incident in detail?', I said with pride, at being Blazing's colleague.

Steven Blazing shot me a look which meant, 'Don't try to be smart, you nincompoop.'

Rude colleague.

'Yes, so as I was saying... Yesterday evening at 6 p.m, my wife called me and asked me how much longer I would be, since she was heading home. I told her some issue had come up, that I'll be late, probably midnight. I returned at precisely midnight, only to find the house dark. Naturally, I found it strange. I tried the front door to find it unlocked. Entering, I looked for Cassie, called her name, even shouted, but there was no answer. I was having a little trouble navigating through the dark house, but I still reached the living room. And there, I saw a horrific sight. It was unmistakable that a person was lying on the floor, but I could not ascertain who. I switched on the light to find... my Cassie, my dear Cassie...'

Michael's voice started to choke, and he was soon sobbing. Steven Blazing kept a hand on his shoulder.

'Keep going, Michael.', he said, gently.

'I saw Cassie lying on the floor with a knife wound on her chest. I rushed towards her to take her pulse. She was... gone.', said Michael, fighting back tears, 'I screamed, unable to believe my eyes. I looked around to find a bloody knife close to her right shoulder. And that was when our neighbor Ms.Sanders burst into the house, and started screaming as well.'

'Then I presume it is she who called the cops?', asked Steven Blazing, looking at Walker.

Walker nodded and said, 'Not just that, she also said that Mr.Turner threatened her. Poor woman was so scared, she ran back to her house, called the cops and wouldn't open the door until we had to almost beg her.'

Blazing looked back at Turner.

'Yes, its true, but I was so scared. She was screaming "You killed her! I'm calling the police!" I became so frightened and nervous at that, I shouted back,"I swear I didn't do anything. Don't you dare call anyone!". And then she ran away.', said Michael Turner, sighing.

'What next?'

'The cops came, apprehended me. Detective Walker came a few hours later.'

'Detective Walker, can I talk to you in private? Bolt, come with us.'

Walker hesitated, looking at Turner.

'Go ahead, I won't run. Like you said, I'm in deep shit as it is.', said Turner, massaging his eyes.

The three of us retreated to Steven's bedroom. He closed the door.

'Now tell me, what are your reasons to take him in as prime suspect?'

'Well, firstly, he was at the crime scene itself, in close proximity to the victim. Secondly, his prints were on the bloody knife, even though he swears he did not touch the murder weapon.'

'Did Ms.Sanders agree on that?'

'Ms.Sanders agreed that he did not have the knife in his hand when she came into the house,but that doesn't prove anything. He could have thrown it away when he heard her entering, right?'

'What else?'

'Lastly, we called Cassie's parents. They said that Cassie and Michael were having a big fight about something from the past few weeks, but that Cassie felt ashamed to even "explain the reason to anyone".'

'So they don't what the fight was about?'

'No.'

'Have you found any motive as to why he might want to kill his wife?'

'Nothing apart from Life Insurance money at this point, although finding the reason for the fight might prove helpful, but Michael won't talk about that.'

'How much was the Life Insurance package of?'

Adrian Walker lowered his voice and said, '1 million dollars.'

I whistled. 1 million dollars, huh? That's A LOT OF MONEY.

'Interesting. Thank you, that is all. We can go back now.'

We went back to our sitting room. Blazing went to the window at the farthest end of the room, and looking outside, said:

'Michael, tell us how you met your wife, the entire story, the events leading up to you two meeting, the events which occurred after, everything.'

'But why? You already know all that. I shared all that with you already when we dined out several times.'

'Yes, back then it was just to make conversation, not because you needed to save your life. Give me every detail.'

'Well, there isn't really much. I met my wife in Sophomore year of University. We were both pursuing our Bachelor's degree in Law enforcement.'

'Which subject?'

'Criminology. She then went on to become a Crime scene investigator, and me, after years of stress, an Assistant Commissioner.'

'Its admirable that the two of you managed to keep your relationship alive under such circumstances.', I said, impressed.

'Yes, we were really in love.', he smiled.

Steven Blazing, however, did not care for love.

'What next?'

'Well, soon after getting our degrees, we got married. Its been 15 years now.'

'Okay, now tell me about your pasts, namely, exes.'

'Well, I had just one, in freshman year.'

'What went wrong?'

'The usual, she was too needy and manipulative, asking for commitment too soon, which I wasn't ready for. '

'Where is she now?'

'After we broke up, she had once told me she would be going back to her parents' home after graduating, in Portland, Oregon. I don't know whether she did. '

'What about your wife?'

'My wife had 2 exes, one in high school, and one in freshman year, like me.'

'What went wrong?'

'The high school romance died out soon after they graduated, and the university boyfriend was a complete psycho, very weird and scary. She felt very uncomfortable around him.'

'Why? Was he very abusive or demanding?'

'No, nothing like that... I really can't explain... I met him once, he gave me chills too. You won't understand unless you meet him.'

'I would love to. Where are they now?'

'I don't know. Neither does Cassie.'

Steven Blazing then closed the window, and with his back still turned, asked:

'What were you and your wife fighting about, Michael, since the last few days?'

Michael became very uncomfortable and didn't speak. Blazing spoke again:

'You do realize that if you can't tell me everything, I can't help you?'

Michael sighed.

'Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag. The thing is, I found out my wife was cheating on me.'

'Interesting. How?'

'Well, my wife often came home late, sometimes left home without a word. But... one day, after she left, I heard the doorbell ring. Even before I could answer it, an envelope slipped in from under the door. It contained...'

'Did you check outside to see who slipped it in?', Blazing interrupted him.

'Yes, but I could find no one.'

'What was in the envelope?'

'Pictures... of my wife... with another man.'

'Who?'

I saw Michael clench his fists in anger and disgust. His face wrinkled up.

'That bloody high school boyfriend of hers.'

'What did your wife have to say?'

'She completely denied infidelity. And hence, our relationship became shaky, both suspecting the other.'

'Anything else?'

'No, this is the entire story. I have nothing more to say.'

It was then that Steven Blazing closed all the windows in the room, and even drew all the curtains. The room turned quite dark, even though it was morning. He took a chair and sat exactly opposite to Michael, facing him. He kept his gaze fixed on Michael.

'Michael, you know we are both men who love justice, and that means that we should not expect justice to be lenient when fingers are pointed at us. So I am going to help you. But before I do, I will ask you just one question. If you lie, you know I will find out, and the consequences will be severe. '

I noticed profuse perspiration on Michael's part.

'I understand. Ask me.'

Steven Blazing shifted forward, his piercing emerald eyes fixed on Michael, completely motionless. After 10 seconds, Steven Blazing asked the million dollar question :

'Did you kill her?'

Michael was shaking uncontrollably, sweating even more now. He was scared, no doubt, but still his gaze was fixed on Blazing's eyes, and vice-versa.

Don't lower your eyes, Michael, please.

Me and Walker were just observing this extremely stressful interrogation, extremely tensed.

After about 20 seconds of silence, Michael Turner opened his mouth to speak, closed it again, dropped his eyes, and uttered a monosyllable.

'No.'

Uh oh.

WHAT!? IS MICHAEL TURNER LYING? IS THIS ALL JUST A CASE OF AN UNFAITHFUL WIFE AND A VENGEFUL HUSBAND? WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

Hey, and yes, I know.. Chapter 3 was very late, but believe me, this chapter wasn't easy to write. I literally had Writer's Block for the past few days and had to almost fight with myself to come out of it.

I really hope you liked the outcome and that you can't wait for the next chapters as well.

Please support me by voting and commenting on the chapters, and read the next ones too. Thanks!

You guys already know about the Instagram dialogue, right? (so not gonna repeat that.)

The story will resume again soon(hopefully)! Till then, Happy... Killing?

-S. B.