Page 58 of Shadowed Obsession

Deirdre will have a backup plan and a career even if she loses this expansion opportunity, but if I lose my private investigator license, I don’t have an alternative at the ready to ensure my family will be taken care of.

That’s reason enough to distance myself in preparation for the end of whatever this is.

23/

washed & dried

Deirdre

6:32 a.m. | ‘the fifth incident’

The first three days of my period are the exception to my beliefs around murder and violence. I can overlook a lot of things when I’m on my cycle.

Might even volunteer to do shakedowns as a way to blow off steamifI participated in that side of the family business. Unfortunately, due to my moral high ground, I settle for being bitchy instead.

Scar

Good morning, Doe.

It isnota good morning, more like terrible. I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a semi-truck that backed up and ran over me enough times that I became one with the pavement.

“Fuck,” I grunt.

I could hardly get comfortable and spent most of the night tossing and turning. Not too long after I’d finally fallen asleep, I woke up before my alarm to discover that my period came a few days early. All over my white sheets.

Love that for me.

After a slew of curses, I clean myself up, strip the bed, and toss everything into a giant pile on the floor. I scoop up the pile and start for the laundry room, nearly tumbling down the stairs with all the bed linens.

Fuck this.

I chuck the bundle of linens at the foot of the stairs, leaving it for later. Thankfully, Flora is off today, so I don’t have to worry about her stumbling upon it. I’d prefer to clean up my own mess and plan to, just not now.

Begrudgingly, I stomp back to my room, make the bed with fresh linens and climb in, wrapping myself in the blankets. My head is pounding, my back is in excruciating pain, and the cramps feel as if I am being clawed from the inside out.

I slept so wild that I have no idea where my bonnet is, and I hope it isn’t wrapped in that pile waiting downstairs. I doze off, later awakened by my blaring alarm, reminding me it’s time to start my day. My hands fumble around for the phone and the sound is coming from under my bed.

Lovely.

I flick on my bedside lamp and crawl out of bed, following the sound to discover my bonnet lying right beside it. My finger taps the screen to shut off the alarm, and darkness absorbs the room when I switch off the light before securing my bonnet onto my head.

Welp. I guess I’m up now.

As much as I hate to do it, I have no choice. My team will live, and I will too if I start giving myself a break. Nobody should have to be around my miserable ass today. I am calling off.

Alert the media.

I pull up my text thread with my assistant, informing him I won’t be in today and that he’ll need to lead the meeting in myplace. As expected, he’s concerned, and I assure him I will be fine and am taking a day or two to catch up on rest.

Then I fire off a text to my brother, so my absence is recorded. He responds immediately.

Dare

Period or you sick?

It’s none of your business, boss.

Dare

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