โ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ฃ ๐
Dixie
I wake up to the blaring alarm on the nightstand. It reads 5:00 AM. Cameron is already up. Of course he is. I can hear his movement downstairs, and the faint click of gear. That's a firefighter rhythm for you.
He was the head of his fire department. I watched as he built himself up until he made six figures. He easily puts fires to the ground, has an award for saving the most amount of people in a year, and yet still can't save our broken household.
I swing my legs out of bed and start getting dressed. It's the same thing every dayโ styled bun, black pencil skirt with a white undershirt and pink blazer on top. It's easy for habit to take over when emotions don't want to cooperate.
I gather my purse and phone before heading downstairs, into the long hallway. We had got the mansion the day after our wedding night and it's remained quiet ever since that incident.
The incident.
By the time I reach the kitchen, I see him.
There was no denying that Cameron was unfairly attractiveโhe wasโ but we haven't seen face-to-face in such a long time that it's embarrassing to say I've forgotten what he looked like.
All I can remember is that he had great looks and a captivating smile.
He spots me immediately, and there's a heavy pause in the air.
"Morning, Dix." He finally says, breaking the awkward tension.
I don't reply. I never do and he knows that. Instead, I walk towards the counter to where I can open my folder. Today's new case is Justin Deye's. Arson Investigation adjacent. Apparently, Justin set fire to an apartment, and now his landlord wants him tried for seven years in prison.
I hear Cameron walk closer despite my silence. Nothing new.
"Big day?" He asks, fixing the badge on his jacket.
"Everyday is big." I reply, flipping through the pages of the summary.
"True."
I feel him before I see him. His hand comes around my waist, slow and familiar, careful like he's still hoping I won't move away this time. I do. His arms fall almost immediately, like he's disappointed.
He exhales through his nose. "Dix..."
I close the folder. "Please don't."
"Don't what?" He tilts his head.
"Don't start the day like this."
He still stands behind me like he has more to say, but then he walks away. I hear him grab the car key, opening the front door before stopping.
"Bye, baby. Love you."
The words land familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. It feels weird to hear the words I love you come out of his mouth when I'm not even sure I love myself yet. A long minute of silence goes by like he's waiting for me to respond. When I don't say anything, he sighs before turning back.
"Blue car. I'll take the SUV."
"Drive safe." I say automatically. He turns back like he had more to say. Like a whole conversation trapped behind his teeth but nothing comes out. So he just nods before closing the door and leaving.
I glance at the documents one more time before making a move to the garage. Inside it's clean, and spotless. But it feels empty, like someone was missing. I blink the thoughts away before it consumes my mind.
~
He's behind his desk when I walk in. Ted Holmesโ late forties, receding hairline and a sharp eye were all the words to describe him. The kind of man who doesn't raise his voice because there's no need to.
"Dixie," he says immediately, standing. "Good, you're here. Sit."
I slide a chair towards me and plop my butt into it.
He slides a file toward me.
"Justin Deyes," he says.
"I've already started reviewing," I reply.
"I know you have." A pause. Then, softer, almost approving. "That's why he's assigned to you."
I flip the file open. It was the same as the case summary I got, but with more details, and images to go with.
Ted leans back in his chair. "You're the best lawyer in this firm. I don't take that lightly."
I nod.
"Arson incident," he starts off, "He's nervous, which means there's something more. I want everything exposed before opposing counsel even smells it."
"Of course. I'll handle it." I assure him.
"I know you will, what do I have to worry about?"
I point to one of the first sentences I see. "Never paid his bills on time?"
Ted shrugs. "Better get to questioning him."
I nod before I excuse myself to meet the Justin Deyes. Today's got a lot ahead of it. When I get into the interrogation room, he was already sitting down, fidgeting with his hands. I watch as immediately stands up to greet me.
"Mr. Deyes." I set my folder on the table, extending out my hand. "I'm Dixie West. I'll be representing you."
He shakes my hand fast. His grip is surprisingly firm, and uncomfortably sweaty, but it's nothing I'm not used to.
"Thank you," He nods, smiling awkwardly. "I've heard you're good."
"As some might say."
I realize he's still standing even when I've sat down. I gesture towards his seat, confused. "You can sit now, Mr. Deyes."
"Ah! Right. Sorry."
I grab my pen and notepad, writing in the margin to test the ink. "Start from the night of the incident."
"I-I already told the police thisโ"
"No, you told the police a version. I don't want that one."
I watch his body languageโhe's biting his laps, his fingers tighten around the chair, and he's looking everywhere but my direction. Those details matter more than anything he's said so far.
"Tell me what happened the night of the fire," I continue. "From the moment you left wherever you were last seen."
He looks at me then his fingers with a worrisome look on his face. It was clear he was going to keep silent.
"Mr. Deyes," I say, my voice flat, "if you're going to hesitate and not answer me on basic timeline questions, you're going to be thrown in jail before we even step into a courtroom."
I watch as his eyes flick up fast and sudden. He sits up in his chair. Much better.
"I left work at aroundโaround nine. Well, I stopped by a gas station first, then I went home, andโ"
"Which gas station?" I jot his words down.
He blinks. "I don't remember the nameโ"
"Yes, you do," I say.
"I think it was the one onโon Mage Street?"
Mage Street. I write fast. I recognize the gas stationโI used to go there every morning before work to grab myself a fortune cookie, which Cameron always said was dumb and most likely wrong.
"Continue."
He exhales shakily. "I got home. Ate some ramen and watched TV, and then I fell asleep."
"Hm," I exhale. "And no one saw you after nine?"
He shakes his head no.
"No neighbors, texts, calls?"
"No."
I turn a page in the file. "Mr. Deyes, your timeline is a problem."
His shoulders drop slightly before tensing up again. "A problem?"
"Right now, your story is invisible." I say, looking up at him.
"Let me tell you something," I say, leaning forward just slightly now. "In cases like this, if your timeline is invisible, you become replaceable. And if you're replaceable, you don't get the benefit of doubt. You get an assumption."
"I understand."
I scan the files again. There was a witness statement, a security footage gap and too many holes. Everything was set way too perfect, and whoever started that fire must've framed Justin and wanted the easy way out.
"Tell me about your relationship with the property owner." I close the file.
"You mean my landlord?"
"Yes."
"He's not...a nice person. I meanโhe collects my rent. That's probably it."
"Any late payments recently?"
"Yes," he looks down, his ears turning red. "But that was a couple months back."
"Why?"
"Financial issues."
"Be specific, Mr. Deyes." I say without looking up.
"I lost my job a few months before," he states quietly. "I got back on my feet though."
I shake my head. "If I have to pull information out of you like this, opposing counsel won't have to work hard. They'll just watch you do it for them."
He keeps quiet, looking down at his hands.
"Now tell me about the fire."
"I told you I didn't startโ"
I cut him out swiftly. "Mr. Deyes, I didn't ask that."
I watch as he shifts in his seat, looking up at me with wild, unsteady eyes.
"I didn't set the fire," he says again, slower but firm. "But I was there earlier that night. I saw my landlord walking by the pool by the time I came back from work, but I didn't think anything of it."
"Did he say anything to you?" I narrow my eyes.
"He came up to me, started to demand for money...even though we agreed I would pay it to him by the end of the week." He exhales. "I think he was high."
"High?" I repeat.
"Yes, he couldn't walk straight, couldn't talk straight..."
My notepad was full at this point. I had covered all the main points I needed, and the more Justin calmed down the more leads I get. I'm about to go deeper when my pocket vibrates.
I pull my phone out slightly and it's no other than Cameron.
I ignore the texts, hoping it goes away but it doesn't. Two more vibrations go by and Justin looks up at me on the third one.
Justin clears his throat. "You should probably answer that."
"I don't take relationship advice during interrogations," I say.
His cheeks go red. "Sorry. I just meantโit might be important. That's all."
"It's never important," I mutter, mostly to myself. I click my pen and hold out my notepad when my phone rings non stop. I decided to listen to Justin's advice and excuse myself out of the room.
"I need a moment." I say, shutting the door behind me. I swipe accept and press the phone to my ear annoyed and impatient.
"Hey," he says immediately. I can hear movement in the background and he sounds out of breath. Must've finished up something.
"What do you want?" I ask sharp.
He exhales on the other end. "You answering my texts would be nice."
"I'm working." I lean against the wall.
"I know," he says, his voice softer now. "You always are."
I let out a breathy sigh and look down at my shoes.
"You didn't eat, did you?" he asks.
"I'm fine." I lied. Badly. My feet have been aching since I came here.
"That wasn't the question, baby." He says gently.
I close my eyes briefly.
"I don't have time for this, Cameron."
"You never have time for me anymore ."
I raise my eyebrows, shifting in my spot awkwardly. One of the new interns walk down the hall and wave to me. I smile and return back to Cameron.
"I have a client, I'm in a hurry."
"I just wanted to check on you," he adds.
I glance back toward the door to Justin's room. He's looking at the wall in front of him.
I tighten my grip on the phone. "I have to go,"
"Dixieโ"
"I said I have to go. Please don't push it."
There's a small pause from his end. "Okay."
When I walk back into the room, Justin is sitting exactly how I left him. It was time for me to finish this up.