1 Chapter 1

I woke up to a loud sound at 5am and had this weird feeling in my stomach, I couldn't say what it was or why I was awake but something was wrong. "was it the sushi from last night or the alcohol?" I was startled when I heard a noise down the hall. My thoughts were everywhere, "could that be my roommate?" Oh crap I stay alone, "a burglar?"

"I should call the police" I thought then I remembered my line was disconnected so I grabbed a club and walked towards the direction the noise was coming from. Tiptoed down the stairs of the mansion my parents left me and right there in the kitchen stood a really gorgeous bare chested Eric.

Eric has been my next door neighbor since I inherited the mansion but we've been friends before that, not to mention he is married and I had an unhealthy crush on him.

I stood there at the door to my parents' kitchen drooling over someone else's man, I should be mad that he was making so much noise so early but "You scared me" was all I could get out.

"You're up" Eric said walking towards me, he held my hands and looked me straight in the eye, The kind of look that could give you shivers. "How did I get here" was all I could think, how are my so inlove with him.

"What are you doing here Eric?"

"It's so early in the morning, how did you get in Mr" I could see concern written all over his face.

"Are you fine Sophie?" he asked.

You've been through a lot these

few days and I came running the minute I got your message and then it all came back, the murder!

* * *

Friday, March 25

9:00am

One of the pros of owning a vintage clothing store in Dallas is I get to dress in outfits from my store. Let me introduce myself. I'm Sophie Algoretti, the only child of my parents. I run Sophie vintage Clothing in Oak Cliff, Dallas and today I have on something from the '40s, with a couple of reasons. In my line of business, advertising comes to mind first plus it's fun playing dress dress up's.

I admired myself in front of my Victorian full-length mirror, I had on an elegant floral dress with a wide sailor-style collar, elegant short sleeves, hidden buttons down the bodice and a matching waist-defining belt. A perfect spring dress for a beautiful spring day. Adorned with a clutch purse so small only my keys could fit and then I headed out the door to the grey Honda parked in my driveway.

It was a 20 minutes drive from my house to my store, a two storey building where I occupied the ground floor. I walked to the door of my store after some minutes of searching for a perfect parking space and few steps away from me stood this weary looking man.

"Can I help you?" I asked but he just stood there staring at me. Abit panicked, I searched frantically for my keys that shouldn't have been a problem finding.

"Gotcha"

I tried to unlock the door but was shocked when it gave way so easily.

"Why is my door unlocked?"

I had thoughts running through my head, I rushed in thinking I had been robbed but everything seemed to be in place and then something caught my eyes. A lifeless figure laid on my floor. I couldn't make out what it was, was it an animaI? I was sure it wasn't but hoped it was then I stepped closer.

Oh my God! It was a man.

Nausea welled up in me and I could feel my throat burning.

Call Eric was all I could think, I had him on speed dial, I heard it ring twice and he came on.

Eric, there is a dead man in my store,

I'm scared…