A word of advice

Kate read the forensic report again, her brows knotting into a frown slowly. Hannah had consumed alcohol and the report had mentioned it clearly. It was a party after all and being a host, she must have had a few drinks for the night. What surprised her was that Hannah was on antidepressants and she had consumed a lot of them.

'An overdose.' She thought. 'Was it her or did someone feed her?'

Kate's lips thinned into a straight line in wonder. As she looked at the pictures taken by the police after her death, she examined the slit to her throat and the marks on her shoulders and hands.

Tapping her fingers on the table, she studied each picture, observing every inch in detail. But she couldn't find anything significant even after examining it for a long time and eventually, she gave up.

"Found anything?" Laura threw a question as she continued to type on her laptop, her fingers moving faster than Kate could comprehend.

"No." Kate sighed and closed the file.

"What about you?"

"Well, let's say I did find something interesting." 

Kate moved her chair closer to the laptop and looked at the screen. 

"Hannah received a few phone calls from an unknown number on the day she threw the party and the same number has been traced in seven other people's phones who attended the party. But here's the interesting part." Laura gave Kate a proud glance, igniting her curiosity.

"Oh, cut the suspense," Kate grumbled when she didn't receive any response from her for a long time and Laura's smile widened in delight.

"Aren't you lovely when you're annoyed?" Laura teased and Kate gave her a side eye.

"And aren't you shameless when you are annoying?"

"I know right! It's a unique trait of mine." Laura exclaimed and Kate felt defeated.

"Fine. Don't tell me. I'll find out sooner or later." Kate didn't squabble and moved her chair away from Laura. She ignored her look of shock as she focused on the file before her.

"This is not fair, Kate." Laura cried and pulled Kate's chair by the handle, eliciting a squeak from her in return.

"What's not fair?" Kate gave her a look that said she had no idea what she was referring to. Her innocent expression only made Laura want to roll the file in her hand and smack her. 

"Couldn't you have gone according to the script? Why did you change it?"

"I improvised the scene. Too bad you couldn't keep up with me." Kate gave her a lofty look, enjoying Laura's state of misery.

"Fine. I accept defeat. You great soul, I accept defeat. I can't win against you."

"Good that you did. I'm glad you understood your abilities. You'll live a long, happy life." Kate put on a serious face and said arrogantly and Laura burst out laughing.

"Aren't you hilarious!" She wheezed.

"Inborn talent." Kate winked at her, making Laura chuckle all the more.

"I'm glad you joined the team, Kate," Laura said all of a sudden as she controlled her breathing and Kate quirked her brows, silently prompting her to elucidate. But she didn't receive any explanation from her.

"Let me answer your unasked question." Laura changed the topic suddenly and Kate allowed her to do so. "What's interesting is that I found the same unknown number call records in three of the club workers' phones as well. All incoming."

"Did you find anything about the number?" Kate was not surprised by her discovery. The club workers and the guests must have worked in tandem to help the murderer do his job."

"Nope. Not yet. The number is nonexistent now. So, I'm unable to find anything."

"How about later?" 

"I might be able to do something," Laura replied cryptically and Kate gave her a thumbs up.

"Best of luck!"

"Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, if you girls are done with work, it's time to pack up." Cole entered and sang musically.

"I never realized you've such a good voice," Kate commented, surprised by his tone that was as good as an opera performance.

"I say the same always. Aren't I good?"

"Yep." Kate didn't deny it.

"At least someone appreciates my talent. Some people can't recognize good talent at all." Cole's eyes instantly went to Laura who once again had her focus somewhere else.

Kate stifled a smile and shook her head helplessly. 'Best of luck, mate. You have a long way to go.'

"It's Kate's first day at work. We should all go out and celebrate." Cole stated when Dominic and Bradley entered the room.

"I'd love to. But I have dinner plans with my family. How about tomorrow?"

Kate lied conveniently, pulling her family as her shield. It was already six and she wanted nothing but to go home and sleep. She had not slept a wink the previous night due to her excitement. If she were to go out with them, she would be losing out on her much needed sleep. She had already exhausted herself on her first day at work, she couldn't afford to do so the next day as well. Caffeine wouldn't be of much help for her if she skipped her sleep.

'I'm sorry, guys.' Kate apologized silently in guilt.

"That works. Have fun with your family." Cole shrugged lightly in acceptance and Kate flashed him a smile of gratitude.

Kate picked up her files and returned to her table. Not many people were in the unit and even if there were, it wouldn't matter to her. Locking all the files in the drawer, she then headed out towards Laura and the others who were waiting for her.

"Wow, looks like the situation is a lot worse than I thought," Laura commented as she peeked at the few people who were staring at them. She didn't avoid their stares and held their gazes until they were forced to lower their heads.

"Envy is the root cause of evil. Be careful, Kate." Dominic gave her a piece of advice and Kate nodded at him in return, understanding the severity of the situation from his tone.

"Congratulations on your first day at work." Laura cheered as they stood in the parking lot.

"Thank you." Kate smiled at all of them and she was genuinely grateful for their support. If not for them, she'd be having a hard time coping with the new environment.

"Keep all your thanks and words of gratitude for tomorrow," Cole remarked, eliciting a scowl from Laura.

"Sure. I hope you'll be willing to listen until your ears bleed." Kate was quick with her response.

"Please rethink. I don't want to be a deaf man. I love myself just the way I am."

"Are you sure? A little alteration wouldn't hurt you. Who knows you might become better." Kate teased.

"Oh, I doubt that." Laura shook her head and gave Cole a look that said he was hopeless, rendering the man speechless.

"Now that you've got someone to support you, you're targeting me all the more," Cole complained and Kate's eyes danced with amusement.

"I don't need anyone's support. I alone can defeat you if I want." Laura argued back.

'That's true.' Kate acknowledged for a different reason altogether.

"Laura, being delulu is not good for health," Cole said with concern and how Kate wished she could continue to stay and watch them bicker. It was better than any entertainment she could ever get. 

Too bad. She felt weary and she needed her bed. Sleep was creeping in on her and she had to reach home before she collapsed before everyone.

"I should leave now," Kate said, breaking the couple's argument. "You guys continue."

"Take care, Kate. We'll see you tomorrow." Laura nodded and the others followed suit.

After saying her goodbyes, Kate entered her car and watched the others leave one by one. Stifling a yawn, she started her car. 'Home, here I come.'