Gym Junkie

I’m happy. I… I… I just don’t know how I feel about this.

I’m so shocked.

This is the absolute last thing I ever expected to hear. It doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, though, does it?

God, wait until Simon’s parents find out. A baby out of wedlock. I wish I could be there when he tells them.

I make the trip to my car, and with every step I get closer to it, a little bit more excitement fills me.

Simon has something to live for, something that isn’t me, and I could feel that he and Penny have a connection.

I close my eyes as I wait for the elevator.

Please let them fall in love.

Please let him have the happy ever after that he deserves.

A baby… it’s so much motivation to give him the will to live.

I stare at the ceiling above me as I hear the clock tick over again.

I don’t remember driving home. I don’t remember walking up to my apartment, getting in the shower, or going to bed.

All I remember is the sound of a huge chapter of my life closing.

I’m happy that this has happened, but strangely enough, I’m a little sad.

It’s bittersweet.

I sacrificed Brock… for what?

Where does this leave me?

“Hello, hello.” I laugh as I grab Rourke in an embrace.

He laughs out loud and spins me around. “Thank fuck you’re back,” he teases.

I nod as I pull out of his arms. “I am so back, and I am not going anywhere ever again.” I smile.

It’s my first day back at work in a month. Who knew I would miss the place so much?

“What’s been happening?” I smile. “What do you want me to do today?”

“We have lots to do.” Rourke sits down at his desk and puts his finger to his lips, looking around to make sure no one can hear us.

I frown. “Huh?”

He writes down on a piece of paper.

We need to talk.

I scowl and look back up at him.

“Let’s go and get a coffee,” he says.

Rourke doesn’t even like coffee. “Okay.” He links his arm with mine before he practically runs me out of the building.

We break out through the front doors. “What the heck is going on?” I ask.

“F-fuck, fuck, fuck,” he stammers. “Something is going on in the lab.”

“What do you mean?” I frown as we walk towards the coffee shop.

“Evidence is being moved at night.”

“What?”

“You know that hair sample I thought I lost? The one we thought had been signed out a couple of weeks ago?”

“Yeah.”

“It turned up.”

“What do you mean it turned up?”

“Just that. It was just there one day, but I know I checked that very spot. Somebody had put it there overnight.”

I frown. “You think it was tampered with?”

“I know it was.”

My eyes widen. “By who?”

“Fuck knows, but it got me thinking, so I’ve been testing a few things, and I think the lab is bugged.”

“Bugged?” I shriek. “By who?”

“Shh.” He looks around nervously. “Keep your voice down.”

“Who would bug the lab?” I whisper.

“Somebody who is up to no fucking good is my guess,” he whispers.

“Why would they do that?” I shake my head as I try to think clearly. “I’m so confused.”

“I don’t know, but the other night I told Angela where I was putting another DNA sample that had just came in from another murder victim. I told her I hadn’t tested it and I was going to work on it in the morning, so I was leaving it in the drawer. Not the drawer it was supposed to be in, but another drawer.”

I listen.

“Then I booby trapped the sample.”

I frown. “Booby trapped it, how?”

“I put a piece of my own hair into the bag and hid the real sample.”

My eyes widen in horror. “Fuck, Rourke. You could lose your job for tampering with evidence. What the heck are you thinking?” I whisper angrily.

“Get this. In the morning, the hair in the bag… it wasn’t mine.”

“What?” I gasp. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. The only way this could have happened is if the lab is bugged. They knew where the evidence was, and then it was switched overnight.”

I put my hand over my mouth. “Oh my God.” I think for a moment. “So… who? Who do we think is responsible?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. It could be a cleaner or someone from downstairs.”

“Did you tell anyone?” I ask.

“No. The only people who can come up here undetected is management.”

“You think this is someone in management?” I frown.

“Fuck knows. I’ve been waiting for you to get back so we can come up with a plan. If they are tampering with evidence, it means they are the ones who killed these girls. It also means that they have the means to kill me.”

I put my head into my hands. “Fucking hell. What do we do?” I whisper.

“Just don’t say anything out loud until we work something out, and be vigilant. Be aware of everyone who comes into the lab. We have to work out who we can trust.”