Empty Heart by Laura Rise

Author:Laura Rise [Rise, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Laura Rise
Published: 2024-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

***

Afternoon broke with the promise of clarity, the sun's rays piercing through the nebulous veil of Bree's unrest. She met it with steely resolve, her exhaustion buried beneath layers of determination. Sleep had been a stranger, but the rest of the day's agenda was a familiar companion.

Standing outside Marcus Vaughn's office building, Bree felt the weight of the structure loom overhead, its façade a blend of glass and steel that reached toward the sky with cold ambition. The city’s streets were bustling with life, yet this place held an ominous stillness, as if holding its breath.

Mike was already there, leaning against his car, a travel mug in hand. His eyes found hers, a silent nod acknowledging the shared insomnia that likely plagued them both. They approached the building together, their footsteps echoing in the concrete caverns of the financial district.

"Ready?" he asked. He sounded anything but, and Bree couldn’t help but notice the dark circles beneath his eyes.

"Let's do this," Bree replied, her voice betraying none of the fatigue that clung to her bones. They entered the lobby, a sterile expanse of marble and muted colors, the air tinged with the antiseptic scent of industry.

The insurance office where Vaughn worked was just ahead, its polished plaque glinting with an impersonal shine. As they neared, Bree’s heart pounded with a rhythm that matched the ticking of her wristwatch, each second a step closer to answers or further entanglement.

They paused before the entrance, collecting themselves for what lay beyond. Bree took a deep breath, feeling the coolness of the air-conditioned hallway fill her lungs, bracing herself for the unknown.

Bree’s fingers curled around the cool brass handle of Marcus Vaughn’s office door, her knuckles whitening with anticipation. Her heart raced as she stepped over the threshold, her gaze immediately canvassing the small reception area. Beige walls closed in on them, adorned with generic paintings of sailboats and lighthouses. A secretary looked up from her post behind a cluttered desk, her eyes flickering between Bree and Mike, a silent question forming in her gaze.

"I’m Investigator Noble with the LAFD," Bree introduced herself, flashing her badge. "And this is my partner, Inspector Hanley. We need to speak with Mr. Vaughn."

The secretary's eyes narrowed for a split second before she nodded, reaching for her phone with a practiced air of neutrality. She punched in a number with mechanical precision, her voice threaded with an artificial sweetness as she spoke into the receiver. "Mr. Vaughn, there are two officers here to see you."

Bree watched the woman closely, searching for any telltale sign of duplicity or nervousness, but found none. The secretary hung up the phone and motioned towards the hallway with a manicured hand. "He'll see you now. Second door on your left."

"Thank you," Bree said, her voice steady despite the drumming of her pulse in her ears.

They advanced down the corridor, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet that seemed to absorb sound and light alike, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

When they reached Vaughn's door, Bree rapped sharply on the wood.

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