It is a normal, boring day at work...who am I kidding? My boss and head of the entire investigation unit in New York City degraded me again for looking into a case that wasn't mine. Truth be told, it was my case to begin with until Regina Muller decided it was a case for the SNI to handle. The only person I know who has any idea what SNI even stood for, was my best friend, Mir. In her defence, she was forced to join.
I exhale as I finish my report on our team's most recent case. It was a simple robbery case, and everyone in my building knew it. I am one of three women and four men that worked in CSI. We are the smallest division and we all knew each other from college. We shared the same classes for most of those years. There were completely different classes for NCIS, FBI, and SNI. Even so, almost everyone in the New York district knew each other from Baruch College. Most of us passed with top honors. Even Muller with a Bachelor of Science in criminology. We love our jobs, but on days like this, I wish I had chosen a different field. I know I can't though, I am doing this to find out what happened to my parents.
"You're thinking too hard again, Lily. You have been staring at your paperwork for the past ten minutes, and I know you're not rereading over what you wrote." I look up in surprise to see Mir. She smiles slightly. Her short, straight, black green hair is pulled behind her ear. It wasn't in front of her left eye like it normally is. Her light gray green eyes looked slightly dull compared to her darker skin. She was wearing a dull zombie green shirt, and I swear she was the only one in the office that could make that color look good. "You're too smart for that, it will make you second guess yourself."
I giggle, shaking my head as I get up, and put the finished paperwork in its file. "You know how my mind tends to wander when I have nothing to do," I say with a small shrug. "Are you going to the gettogether this evening for all the different divisions of the investigation departments?"
"Only if you come . . . and I have to be there." She pulls me along. She may be slightly shorter and lighter than the average girl our age, but she was strong when she chose to be, which happens to be very rare, seeing as she hated most physical work. That's why she worked in the forensic lab. That, and she didn't have to be around people 24/7. How we became friends is still lost to both of us. Something in college, I think.
"Very well, but I will not interact with the likes of Regina Muller, or the director if I can help it. Both of them keep on getting on to me for doing my job!" I complain as I let her guide me out the door and into the parking lot.
"Just be glad you don't have to work with them like I do. They are the worst, always asking for everything immediately. I might be quick when needed, but I can't handle everything simultaneously," Mir uttered. We parted ways, and I started the walk home. It didn't take me long as my apartment was only a block or so down the road. I stopped at the gas station next door and got myself some chips before climbing the steps to the third floor where I lived. I put the key in with one hand and ate one of my Pringles with the other.
Once I was inside I headed to the bedroom. I take my cap and glasses off and pull my hair out of its ponytail. My dark auburn hair tumbles out over my shoulders and down my back like it always did. It needed to be trimmed again, I noticed. I shower and get on my dress for tonight. It is a simple short sleeved black dress with a dark blue belt.
I sigh and go into the living room to read on my phone while I wait. Mir had sent me the first draft of her 'Night' book earlier that morning. Mir is a good writer, but she always wants me to read her books before she moves on to the next stage. She acts like I was the only fantasy reader that she knew, but then again I have never heard her talk about any of her other friends. I decided it is probably best just to read the story; it is currently the only interesting thing to do. And she wanted the review done by the end of the month, so she can work on the next chapter. I think it's more interesting to review Mir's books than I do my job, not that it matters.
A knock on my door makes me jump. I had been so lost in reading I didn't notice the time pass. I get up quickly, fix my dress, and go to the door to find it was Mir. I spent so much time thinking and reading that I didn't realize the time passed. I smiled as I opened the door only for her to grab my hand and pull me behind her. I only have enough time to lock my door before she drags me down the steps. We were at the party before I knew it. The music is loud, drinks are flowing and everyone, other than me, is having a blast. We both stay far away from the drinks table. Mir was allergic to most types of alcohol, and I always have the worst hangovers.
I feel like I am back in college again. My roommate loved parties and would host them in our shared room. I let her as long as she cleaned up afterward, which rarely happened and I would normally have to get the dorm mom. I would stay in my room and read if I wasn't asleep from my head hitting my pillow. Thinking of my pillows, I wish my head was laying on one right now instead of being here. Mir had left me behind about three minutes ago and if she wasn't back in two, I was going to bolt for it. She should know by now that if she leaves me alone too long, I am going to leave without her.
"I didn't expect you to be here, Ms. Lily. You don't seem like the social type." Carl, my boss, snarled from behind me. I might have jumped, if I hadn't expected something like this to happen, that is. This happens every time Mir leaves me alone for too long at any gathering, that's why I always try to withdraw beforehand. I wasn't sure why men always seemed to get in my way right as I was about to leave. It hadn't been five minutes yet!
I turned on my heel to face him, putting on my best smile. His blond hair was down for once, which was different from his normal hairstyle. Even so, his light blue eyes were as intimidating as ever. "I didn't either, sir. I was literally dragged here by a friend of mine. She currently has a minute and a half before I leave without her. Now is there something you need from me sir, or can I leave?" I tried to keep the annoyed tone out of my voice but doubted that it was working. This is one of the few times I DON'T have to deal with him breathing down my neck.
"If you would be talking about Ms. Mirlande, then I doubt she is far. Knowing her, I'd say that she is trying to find a drink that isn't spiked. Against my better judgment, I let Ms. Muller convince me that having alcohol here was a good idea. Now you and your friend are the only other people that currently aren't drunk, or at least not trying to get drunk." He angrily said as he looked past me. I turned to see some guys chugging down another beer and trying not to look Carl in the eye. I am glad his anger is no longer directed at me. I wanted to keep my job, even if I don't act like it sometimes. "I would like you and Ms. Mirlande to work tomorrow, as I fear you two will be the only ones that can do so. You will get paid extra at the end of the month, of course. If you or Ms. Mirlande do not get the extra, please come to me."
I knew that we wouldn't be paid extra, and that if we do goto his office, he would act like he did pay us more even if the money didn't show up in my paycheck. "Of course, sir. Now, I should leave so that I am not tired tomorrow." I smiled, walked past him, and headed to the door.
I am almost at the door when someone decided to block my path. "What do you want, Muller?" I asked. She looks at me like she is about to say something rude before stopping with her mouth open. "Too drunk to think of a comeback? This is why I don't drink. It makes people act more stupid than they already do." I say under my breath and go to move around her only to be stopped again, this time by Mir's hand on my shoulder. I let out a breath and turn around to face her. She hands me what looked like water, but you could never tell. She gave me a you-are-not-going-to-leave-now look. I roll my eyes and head back to the dance floor just as the song Homecoming Queen started to play. I truly smile as we dance while we avoid boys, rivals, and anything that will bring down our mood.
At 8:30, I help Mir back into her car. She is half asleep so I have to drive. It is a thirty minute drive. I don't understand why they couldn't have had the party at the office instead of halfway across town. I hate driving, we both do, not that Mir would ever admit it to anyone other than me. That's why we both live so close to work. She lived on the northern side of our office, so it is easy for me to drop her off at her house and then walk home. I look up at the night sky, looking for any stars that I could find. The only reason I dislike this city, because there is too much light pollution. I can't see the stars, no matter how dark the night is. I could barely even see the moon most nights. I stop at the gas station again, I did not have dinner and I am starving. Not really, but still. If I was going to work tomorrow, I needed all the strength I could muster. I bought a small dinner and sat down at one of their tables. It is only a simple salami sandwich, but it is enough for me.
When I was done, I got my water and headed out of the gas station. I had not drank the 'water' Mir found. I would trust her with my life, but I didn't trust her when it came to drinks or secrets. Once she left our drinks at the bar when she noticed some high school friends. She went over to talk to them, leaving our drinks behind, and someone added poison to our drinks. I walked over and got mine. I was about to drink it when I noticed a fly on the other cup died. Though it was a fly, it would probably take longer for the poison to work on a normal human.
I yawned before chugging down the rest of the water in my water bottle. I look both ways before crossing the street. It was annoying when the recycling was on the other side of the road. I thought I saw some shadows move, but chalked it up to being half asleep. Who would be out this late on a Thursday night? That is why the boss thought it was a perfect night to have the party. I sighed and put the bottle in the recycling. I was walking past an alleyway when everything went dark.