Page 106 of The Tattoo Artist

His baby blue eyes catch mine.

“Can I help you?” I ask, offering a friendly smile.

“Sure, I’m looking for a book called ‘How to Get Away with Murder?’” He says, and I chuckle.

“Doing something you shouldn’t?” I tease, grabbing my badge from the desk.

“Never,” he replies with a grin.

“Follow me,” I say, leading him down the non-fiction aisle. I reach the section and guide him inside. “Check out this aisle. If you need anything else, let me know.”

“I sure will, the names Luca,” he says, extending his hand for a shake. I shake his hand firmly.

“Alexandra,” I introduce myself.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alexandra,”

“Are you new to this library?”

“I am, indeed, new to the area, just moved a couple days ago.” He slides a book out, and my eyes travel down to see a cross necklace wrapped around his neck.

“Welcome to Cane Town then, if you need anything let me know.”

“I will indeed.”

I walk away, glancing back at him as he watches me tread. Something didn’t feel right about that man. He is very off. And weird. I shrug of the feeling, my finger trailing down the shelves before I reach a certain book. Death Do. Oh yes, he will love this one. I look around the library to see him in his corner of the library, still finishing of the book I gave him before. I walk back to the counter, before a slamming book catches my attention.

How on earth did he get here? He was just in the corner a moment ago.

“If you ever give me a sad book again, I will kill you!” I glance at the cover and shake the smile away from my face. “This is not a smiling matter; she was a good person!”

“I told you you’d like it.”

“Mhm, and as always I will never admit you are right.” I let out a soft snicker, stacking the rest of the library books on top of one another before shifting them onto the trolley. I peep at the time; we’re closing in ten minutes. “Also, did Ares tell you that I’m making dinner next week. Come over.”

“He must have forgotten; I’d love to Joey.” He smiles.

“Joey Nicolaides! I am going to kill you!” Both our head snap to the door to see his wife storming in, Joey whistles and salutes me goodbye. I wave at him before his wife grabs onto his ears and pulls him to the exit. “You left the cleaning to me! To read-” Their voices die down as they exit.

My body falls onto the leather chair, my fingers rush through the locks of my hair. I have yet submit my final project, and mostly it is because I don’t want to. I do not want to go to Seattle and leave Ares. Leave everything behind, I do not want to do that. I’ve just started gathering my life together, and I have been so much happier-so much better. Ares and I, we’re in a good position- one I do not want to ruin any time soon because of this stupid submission. There are universities here, I’ll just go to one of those.

My watch beeps, and I realise it is closing time.

The library begins to empty as the readers take their leave, I gather my things together and pull on my coat. I reach the front of the library doors, switching off the lights before locking up. Ares should be here already, and I am right. A familiar car is parked just further into the car park, I walk towards it-throwing my hood over my head.

The closer I get, the more my heart sinks.

This isn’t Ares’ car.

This is Maxines car.

As I drew closer, the sickening truth unfolded before me like a nightmare come to life. A figure lay crumpled on the ground beside the driver’s door, a dark pool of blood spreading outwards like a sinister omen.

There she rests.

On the ground.

Bleeding out.

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