“Just do as I ask!”
“Okay. I’m calling the police now.” He picked up the phone at his desk and dialed. “Deep breaths,” he said. “I’m sure Ms. Carlson is fine. Hello? Yes, this is Jeff, security officer down at Flux Pharmaceuticals…”
Faith paced around the hall. She couldn’t wait any longer. She ran out of the building and hailed a cab, giving the driver Courtney’s address. She buckled her seatbelt and dialed nine-one-one. She explained what happened and asked for an ambulance to be sent to Courtney’s place.
The cab driver glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide. Faith repeated Courtney’s address to the operator and hung up; she couldn’t think straight anymore. The world spun around her and she leaned over her lap, breathing deeply with her head between her knees.
“We’re here,” the cab driver said. He pointed at the row of police cars and an ambulance, with their lights flashing in blinding patterns in the dark.
Faith threw money over the front seat and jumped out of the car. She ran for the building’s entrance but was blocked by an officer.
“This is a crime scene, ma’am,” the officer said. “You’ll have to stay back for now.”
“My friend Courtney lives here,” Faith said. “She was robbed. She called me. I heard…”
“Courtney Carlson, apartment 304?”
“Yes!” Faith said. “That’s her! Have the paramedics got to her in time? Is she alright? Can I see her?” The words rushed out of her. Her knees felt weak.
“I’ll have my superior answer all of your questions,” the policeman said, pointing Faith to another officer speaking with a paramedic.
“Excuse me.” Faith interrupted the officer and the paramedic. “Courtney is my friend. Is she okay? Can I see her?”
The paramedic shook his head. “I’m sorry ma’am. She didn’t make it.”
Faith gasped, tears flowing down her cheeks. “I heard the gun shot on the phone.”
“You were on the phone with her at the time of the murder?” the officer asked. He beckoned her away from the paramedic. “Tell me everything you know.”
“She called me because someone had broken into her apartment,” Faith said. “He was on her computer looking at her research files. When she arrived unexpectedly, he jumped out the window with her laptop.”
The officer jotted everything on a notepad. “What kind of research?”
Faith explained their work on the Chorivirus vaccine and Courtney’s news appearance yesterday.
“Courtney said they might break into my house too.”
The officer stopped writing. “You’ve worked together on this research?”
“Yes, we were partners.”
“What’s your name?”
“Faith Williams.”
“Hey, Roberts.” He beckoned another officer over. “I need you to escort Faith to her home. There’s a possibility she’s been robbed by the same guy who’s committed the murder. If not, she may be his next target. Go check it out.”
“Understood. Follow me, ma’am.”
* * *
Officer Roberts droveFaith back to her building and followed her up the stairs.
“I’ll go in first,” he said, letting her unlock the door. He twisted the knob and drew his gun, inspecting the house. A moment later, he pulled the door open and called her in. “Looks like they’ve already been here. I’ll call this in,” he said.
Faith couldn’t believe it. Things were thrown everywhere. Books were on the floor, drawers hung open, and clothes had been dumped on the ground. She went straight for her desk.
“Some of my files are gone,” she said.
