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Charged - Chapter 13

The foyer smelled as if an old library was combined with a laundromat, but it was a smell that Loomy had grown to love. Her apartment building held a lot of fond memories and there wasn't anything else Loomy would've liked to come home to after a great day.

Things finally felt like they were falling into place. She 'helped' Luther out today and watched him type up an email to his superior about her promotion, Eve was still healing well, she was finally getting along with her co-workers, and it wasn't raining outside...for once.

The elevator ride up was a quick one, there were only 4 floors, after all, and as Loomy turned the corner to her hallway, her good mood came to an end. She stumbled back quickly, hoping that they hadn't seen her, and pushed the button to shut the elevator doors.

It's okay, you've got this, just stay calm, Loomy. Don't let them ruin your day.

After a few more deep breaths, Lumina allowed the elevator doors open. Once back in the hallway she was met with the creepy grins of Detectives Wilson and Clyde.

"Ah, yes, wonderful timing, Miss Sinclair, we've got a warrant to search the premises." Wilson's voice sent shivers down Lumina's spine, "If you wouldn't mind letting us in, it would save us some trouble."

She let out a breath, trying to remain calm, "That's not a problem officers." The purse hung down by her hip, and Lumina reached down to find her keys. "I would like to go in and check on Eve first, if that's okay. I don't want her getting startled or caught off guard by strange men."

Clyde stepped forward looking as if he were to agree, but was cut off by the sharp voice of the Shepherd "Yeah, I don't think that's going to happen. You see, Lumina, you're being investigated for a murder. I don't think we're going to be giving you opportunities to cover up your tracks."

Clyde shot a glance at his partner, clearly unhappy that the junior officer had overstepped, but didn't say anything to change the decision.

"Officer...Wilson, right?" Lumina stepped closer to ensure she read the badge properly, "I genuinely just want to check on my friend, who was stabbed, and is very emotional about this whole ordeal. I can leave the door open, she is just right inside, probably on the couch. Please."

Clyde and Wilson exchanged a glance, and with a shake of their heads, "Open the door."

Lumina's temper was creeping in, "Okay, seriously?" She eyed them, "Are you fucking dense or something? You are going to scare the living shit out of the ACTUAL victim in all of this if you just barge in there."

"Ma'am, what we're here to do is to determine what happened to another victim in this story. We are just trying to find a murderer." Clyde's thick, rich voice was calm in nature, but did not provide any comfort to the raccoon.

"Who the fuck cares about him?! He stabbed my BEST friend! Almost killed HER. How is he the victim?" Lumina felt the rage course through her. Her face became hot and she lost the ability to control her emotions, "HE FUCKING DESERVED TO DIE." And with a simple sentence, her blood ran cold once more. Her hands flew to her mouth, wishing with every fiber of her being that she could take the words back.

"Loomy?" Eve's voice called out from the doorway, who found herself facing two very shocked officers, "What's going on?"

"Lumina Sinclair, you are under arrest for the murder of Eric Walker... you have the right to remain silent..." It didn't matter what was said, all Lumina could focus on was the absolute terror in her bestie's eyes.

"SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, LET HER GO!!" Eve shot forward, grabbing at anything she could get her hands on.

"Ma'am, I need you to step back or I will be forced to arrest you as well."

"FORCED!??" Eve laughed ironically, "YOU ARE NOT BEING FORCED TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW."

"I highly suggest you go back inside." Clyde stood from behind Lumina, clasping the handcuffs firmly around her wrists.

Lumina, with tears welling in her eyes, spoke up, "Eve, go inside, please. I'll figure this out, I promise."

The calm sound of her friend's voice shook Eve to her core, and her craze came to an end. As reason came flooding back, she nodded at Lumina, "I'll call our lawyer."

***

Lumina wasn't sure if it was the cold chill in the air, the cold, hard floor, or just a general chill that ran down her back as she was escorted into the police station. Soft murmurs seemed to float around her as Clyde pushed her forward. Her wrists were aching behind her back, begging to be released from their tight hold.

"You'll be placed here until your lawyer arrives." Clyde spoke as Wilson unlocked and pulled back the cell door, leading Lumina into her cage. "Unless you'd like to speak to us without them?"

All Lumina did was shake her head, having not found her voice since they left her apartment complex. With a long sigh, Clyde released her wrists from the cuffs. The cell shut with a loud clang and the two cops walked away, their claws clicking against the linoleum flooring.

There wasn't anyone else around, much to Lumina's surprise, and she hoped that her lawyer arrived before that had to change. She was still in her work outfit- a tight dress that made for a very uncomfortable time on the steel bench. She tried to run her hands through her fur, but was met with tangles and matts from her make-up smear and dirt. They could've at least let me change, she thought to herself with an eye roll.

Lumina let her mind wander, not having much other choice, and hoped that her thoughts would keep her distracted from the bullshit that was her life.

***

"I'd like to see my client in private before you begin questioning." The familiar voice echoed down the hallway, pulling Lumina from her thoughts. She, somehow, found herself more nervous than when they were bringing her in.

"We'd really like to begin the questioning, we've already wasted a lot of time waiting for you to arrive."

"Yes, and I'd really like a chance to hear what my client has to say about the events that have occurred. I think, correct me if I'm wrong here, that she has that right, does she not? Should I make a call to my supervisor?"

Lumina couldn't help but smirk, she'd always loved Elaine and her ballsy attitude. Maybe it was because she held some of those same attitudes, maybe it was because it worked, but either way it made her happy.

"That's quite alright, is five minutes enough time to meet with her?"

"That should be sufficient," Elaine nodded, finally within Lumina's line of vision.

The door to her cage was soon opened, and they reattached her beloved silver bracelet before she was joined by Elaine.

The badger turned to look at Clyde and Wilson, ensuring that they made themselves scarce as the two females had a quick conversation. "Alright, I don't need details, don't tell me anything that..." She glanced down the hallway, "...they could use against you, but anything I need to know before we go into that room, you need to tell me right now. This is a lot more serious than our last interaction."

"I said something really dumb in the heat of the moment and they used that to bring me in. They don't have any real evidence against me. I'm..."

Elaine held up a hand, stopping Lumina's words, "I don't want to know if you're innocent or guilty. Let's just worry about getting you home right now."

Lumina nodded, "Okay."

Elaine peeked around the corner once more, motioning for either cop to escort them both into the interrogation room of their choice.

Admittedly, it was a much shorter walk than Lumina expected and she was quickly put into a cold chair facing a wall of glass where she assumed more people sat. They attached her cuffs to a loop on the table that sat in front of her, and Elaine sat down beside her.

"Alright." Clyde started, taking his own seat across the table from the raccoon, "Explain to us, again, what happened on the night of Mr. Walker's death."

"Well.."

***

Eric stumbled, almost missing the button on the wall to call the elevator, and waited, impatiently for it's arrival.

"Stupid fucking cunt, not coming home, I can't stand her." He muttered quietly, pulling the beer bottle in his hand up to his lips.

There came a soft *ding* as the elevator doors finally opened and Eric took his place inside. He swayed back and forth, only able to steady himself by grabbing onto the railing. "Why isn't this damn thing moving?!" He grunted, with a slight kick of his foot, before realizing that he'd never pushed the button.

Floor 4 illuminated and the elevator was sent into motion. It arrived at the top floor within thirty seconds, but the frustrated Bear was still unsatisfied. "Stupid tin can."

He looked around, trying to remember what door it was that Lumina lived in and, without too much time, gave up and began shouting.

"Evelynn I swear if you're in there I'll kill you." Eric's voice boomed down the small hallway.

There was some murmuring from the door on his right and he staggered up to it, taking the final swig out of his beer.

Eve opened the door, almost face to face with Eric as he lingered there.

"How the fuck d-did I know I'd find you here, you said you worked tonight."

"I did. I'll explain everything at home. Let's get outta here." Eve's hand shook as she spoke.

"No." Eric moved across the room, "We're solving this once and for all."

"Eric what does that mean? C'mon you've clearly been drinking."

He stumbled towards the raccoon, "This is all your fault, you whore..." his fist swung high, missing Lumina by a few inches at least. The quick movement caused him to fall forward, landing with a loud thud on the hardwood flooring.

"Baby, what are you doing? This isn't helping. Let's go home." Eve reached for Eric's hand to help him up.

Eric slapped the help away and stood, slowly, on his own, "I'm not going anywhere until I teach her a lesson."

Eve moved to get in front of him, "Baby. I only came here for Kris.."

"I DON'T CARE" The enraged bear pushed Eve to the floor, without so much as

a glance, and reached into his pocket. A few excruciating moments later, Eric pulled a small knife from his pocket, "Eve. I'm doing this for you."

Lumina began to back away from him, no longer at an advantage, "Hey...hey now...she just came to tell me that she wasn't going to see me ever again."

"Would you quit lying?!" Eve stood up from the floor, once again grabbing her fiance's hand, "Lumina it's not helping me by making up stories. Eric deserves to know the truth, not that it's anything bad to begin with!!! Let's go, Eric." She pulled back on Eric, getting him to spin around.

As Eric stood there, the room spun around him, and he swayed back and forth.

"Can you walk?"

"Of course I can!" The bear took a step forward, tripping over his own feet and managed to take Eve down with him with a loud thud. Eve closed her eyes, letting out a loud yelp as they hit the floor. When the room stopped spinning around Eric, he stood up, "Don't get in my way, b-"

"EVE!" Lumina shot forward before shouting orders, "Kris get me some towels!"

"I..I...didn't mean to..." Eric stuttered, rendered useless, "I swear... I didn't mean to..."

Eric's head spun with thoughts, unable to hear anything else as it happened around him.

"I gotta get out of here." Eric said to himself, his eyes wide, "I can't be here if there's going to be cops..." He reached down to grab the knife, and ran out, stumbling as he turned the corner at the door.

Once again, he reached out to call the elevator. When it took more than a few seconds, he gave up and walked past it, coming face to face with a set of stairs.

His first step downwards was steady, and he braced himself against the railing as he went to take his second. Instead of being met with firm concrete, he found himself floating...turning as his world was turned upside down. Instead of his foot, his back found the solid ground... again...and again...and again.

His falling stopped, eventually, but it didn't make a difference to Eric. His world around him continued to spin, becoming a blur of colors as he teetered on the edge of consciousness. He felt a warm liquid pool around him as everything faded away into nothing. The sound of a distant ambulance was the last thing he heard.

The 3rd floor landing of Lumina's apartment housed the initial resting place of Eric Walker.

***

Eve tried her hardest to sit still in the front of the police station, but her anxiety was getting the best of her. Her thoughts raced through worst case scenarios; what if she accidentally admitted to murdering him? What if they're beating her up? What if Elaine was bought out by the cops? What if the police station starts to burn and she safely gets out, but is then in trouble for escaping?

She shook her head, trying to shake away her spiraling thoughts. However, they stuck around, at least until the door opened and she saw a familiar badger and raccoon walking towards her.

"LOOMY!" Eve found it hard to contain herself and ran towards her friend, arms wide open to hug her.

"They're letting me go." Loomy sighed, her eyes showing just how tired she was from this day.

"That's good, right?"

"It's really good. I don't think those guys will be bugging you anymore." Elaine spoke matter of factly, but with a smile on her face.

"Thank you thank you thank you." Eve said, fighting her urge to hug Elaine as well.

"Hey, anytime, defending you two has always proved to be an interesting time" Elaine sent a teasing wink towards Eve. She blushed as she thought back to the night they first needed their Lawyer. Elaine waved as she pushed the door to walk out, "Goodbye girls! Behave."

"Good 'ol Elaine, amiright?" Eve laughed, turning back towards Lumina who managed a small smile.

"Can we go home now?"

Eve nodded, her mood dropping as her heart ached for her friend, "Of course."