Midnight Murder

One of the stories from the What If? #3 Anthology

What if you think the known world isn’t strange enough? Embark on a journey that pushes the boundaries, challenges your perception, and questions reason, logic, and established beliefs.

Emma finished her patient notes and gave her report to the evening shift nurse before changing clothes and rushing to the garage. For once, she would be able to leave work on time. She thought back to days when she had to pull double shifts or when the chaos of the ER made it nearly impossible to finish her paperwork in a timely fashion. As she drove home, Emma called her husband.

"Are you working overtime again?" Paul asked with a laugh.

"No, for once I'll even have time to cook dinner," Emma replied.

"Wow, that's rare," Paul chuckled, knowing how often he had to work late at his law firm and rarely had time to finish his work before 5 pm. "Do you mind if I invite Steve over for dinner? He has an investment proposal and I'd rather discuss it at home than in the office."

"Of course, darling," Emma said with a bright, cheery tone. "Then I'll defrost the lasagna and take out the German cherry cake from the freezer that I picked up last week. It will give me time to tidy up before you arrive home."

"That sounds perfect, sweetheart! We'll be home by six."

On her way home, Emma couldn't resist stopping at a charming farmstand she passed by. She carefully selected fresh lettuce, crisp radishes, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cucumbers to create a delicious salad.

As the food thawed, Emma tackled some light cleaning tasks around the house. She ran the vacuum over the carpets, dusted the surfaces, and even managed to squeeze in a quick shower before five o'clock rolled around. As she dried her hair, she tried to recall Steve's face. She had only met Paul's business manager once at a party nearly a year ago, and their exchange was brief and polite. Despite not knowing much about him, he seemed like a decent person and Paul had never said anything negative about him. The firm was successful and catered to affluent clients, a fact that Emma knew from casual conversations with her husband. Curiosity piqued as she wondered what kind of proposal Steve might have in store for them. Since their marriage three years ago, Emma made a conscious effort not to pry into Paul's work life and only knew snippets of information that he shared with her voluntarily.

Shortly after six, they arrived, but as soon as she looked at her husband’s face, Emma knew something was wrong. The slight frown on his handsome features was a rare display of emotion for him, but Emma had learned to read his subtle signs over the years. His tense posture and the way he shot a quick glance at their guest, Steve, told her that something was very wrong. She raised her eyebrows in question but remained quiet and followed Paul's lead as they ushered Steve into the living room.

Paul expertly mixed cocktails for them all, but Emma could sense the tension in the air. As they sat down, Paul turned to Steve with a calm yet controlled demeanor. "Before you tell me about your investment plans, let me ask you something," he said in a low voice.

Emma watched with growing alarm as her husband's jaw tightened, signaling his underlying anger. She couldn't imagine what would come next. It must be something very serious. She thought. Otherwise, he would talk about business after dinner, as he usually does.

"Tell me about the two hundred thousand dollars," Paul's voice rose slightly, revealing his true emotions towards their guest.

Steve's hand shook and he jolted in his seat, spilling a few drops of his drink onto his lap. His eyes widened in surprise as Paul confronted him about missing money.

"Why are you asking me?" Steve stammered, trying to compose himself.

"Because the accountant called me just before we left to ask about one of our bank accounts," Paul explained. "He said he couldn't find the statement for the interest we had been paid on that account. I didn't want to cause a scene in the office, so I'm asking you now. Where is the money?"

"I had nothing to do with it!" Steve exclaimed, his face turning red with anger as he stood up. "Are you accusing me of something?"

"Yes!" Paul fumed; his frustration evident. "I checked with the bank, and they informed me that the account we had 210 thousand dollars in now only has eight thousand. What did you do with the missing money?"

“I… I’m leaving! You can’t just accuse me of something I didn’t do,” Steve mumbled, putting his glass on the coffee table.

“You’re not going anywhere until you answer my question!”

Paul's voice echoed through the room, loud and forceful as he jumped up to block Steve's path toward the door. Emma shrunk back into the far corner of the sofa, her heart racing as she watched them. Paul, usually calm and collected, now had a fiery rage burning in his eyes. She had never seen him like this before.

​Emma grew accustomed to Paul arriving home late each night. She knew he was filling in for Steve's job until a replacement could be found, so she accepted his long hours with understanding. She had become accustomed to eating dinner alone and going to bed alone in their silent apartment.

But one night, her peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. Bleary-eyed and disoriented, she squinted at the caller ID and recognized it as Clarice's number. The two had been best friends since childhood and Clarice lived in the building next door. Still half-asleep, Emma fumbled and managed to hit the accept button with shaking fingers. "He's dead!" She was jolted awake by Clarice's frantic scream on the other end of the line.

"What? Who?" Emma croaked out, sitting up in bed and swinging her feet to the floor. "Where are you?"

"I... I'm on the street," Clarice stammered, panic evident in her voice. "I called the police. He's dead!"

Emma's heart raced as she struggled to make sense of Clarice's words. "Who is dead?" she asked in terror, as images of everyone she knew flashed through her mind. Quickly pulling on her slippers and yanking up her jeans, Emma braced herself for whatever awaited her on the other side of her apartment door.

“Hurry!” Clarice moaned and choked up, her sobs echoing through the phone. Emma's heart raced as she listened to her best friend's distraught voice. Without a second thought, she ran out of her second-floor apartment, slamming the door behind her in haste. Her chestnut hair flew wildly behind her as she took the steps two at a time, determined to reach Clarice as quickly as possible.

As she burst into the lobby and rushed towards the front door, Emma could hear Clarice's cries growing louder. "Stay with me, Clarice! I'm coming," she shouted into the phone, hoping her words would provide some comfort to her friend.

But as Emma swung open the front door and stepped outside, she froze in shock. Police cars screeched to a halt in front of the building, their flashing blue and red lights casting an eerie glow over the usually tranquil neighborhood.

The normally peaceful sidewalk was now filled with chaos. Her best friend, Clarice, knelt by a seemingly lifeless body, her hands covered in blood. Emma's eyes widened in disbelief as she noticed a long blade bloody knife resting on the ground by Clarice's knee.

Her mind raced as she tried to process what could have possibly led to this gruesome scene. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she looked at Clarice's tear-stained face and then down at the lifeless body. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks - Clarice had killed Brian.

"What...how did...what did you do?" Emma stuttered, unable to believe what she was seeing. As if in slow motion, Clarice turned to look at Emma with haunted eyes and whispered, “I didn’t! I swear! How could you think I did?” Clarice looked up at her with deep betrayal and hurt flashing in her eyes.
​
“It’s Paul!” Emma cried out when she recognized the man with a bloody wound in the middle of his chest and dropped to her knees. She hugged her husband’s still body to her chest. “It’s Paul! How did he get here?” Emma sobbed hysterically, knowing that her husband always used the elevator from the garage to go up to their apartment. “This is not happening!” she screamed.
​
Read the full story in the What If? #3 Anthology

What If? #3 Anthology

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Read lots of amazing stories written by the GBBPub authors

The stories in the book

Midnight Murder by Erika M Szabo
Emma’s trust in her psychic abilities solidified and she learned an important lesson about blind trust – even in those who she thought were closest to her.

Unexpected Trip by Lorraine Carey
A teacher faints at an Egyptian exhibit and has a vivid dream in Pompeii during the volcanic eruption. Was it a dream or did she travel through time?

Thy Sister’s Blood by David W. Thompson
Friends on a haunted creek uncover ancient relations. Magic and mystery drive this journey of self-discovery with the enduring power of family.

The Ominous Sound of Stiletto Heels by Erika M Szabo
The sound of Madame Chloe’s red stiletto heels in the hallways would quiet the students and teachers. When she walked by, an icy chill filled the air.

The Way to a Man’s Heart by Shebat Legion
A Siren demonstrates her full vocal range, much to the dismay of a man caught in a trap of his own design.

Shadowman by Erika M Szabo
Their ultimate goal is a brighter future for all humanity. A world free of destruction and chaos.

Careful What You Wish For by David W. Thompson
At last, Victor finds his dream girl! But is it a match made in heaven or a far darker place? Love conquers all... or the dream becomes a nightmare.

Happily Ever After, and After by Shebat Legion
A woman revisits memories that are all too real, or are they? What makes a memory real?

I Love You Forever by Martha Perez
Can their love endure? Nicole, battling cancer, finds hope with Noah. Will they overcome life's challenges and keep their vow to love forever?

Jimmy’s Clown by David W. Thompson
Brothers stick together, and childhood pranks are soon forgotten. But old grudges can fade slowly or swell with age like the nose of a clown.

Eye of the Jaguar by Robert Allen Lupton
An explorer falls onto an altar stone. He wakes to an ancient nightmare of Mayan jaguar worship. Can he save his humanity and return to modern times?

Unsung Heroes y Erika M Szabo
If people knew what the biker gang did and were not expecting any reward or recognition, these unsung heroes would be celebrated by many.
​
The Prodigal Daughter by R.A. “Doc” Correa
Cassandra Lynn Anderson, a haunted young woman, learns the terrifying truth of her origin.