(A premeditated homicide story)

The response was a woman's voice, tinged with peril, possibly from injury or assault.



"Please, you have to help me," the woman on the other end whispered urgently, her voice quivering with fear. "He's here, he's come back for me."

"Who's come back? Who are you?" I asked, now fully awake, the fog of sleep rapidly clearing as adrenaline began to pump through my veins.

"I'm Loressa," her voice trembled, "my husband stumbled home drunk, accusing me of having an affair with another man. He's threatening to kill me. Please hurry."


"Loressa, listen to me very carefully," I said, my voice a calm contrast to her panicked whispers. "I need you to find a place to hide, somewhere he wouldn't think to look. Can you do that for me?"

There was a pause, and I could hear her breathing heavily, the sound punctuated by the distant noise of objects being thrown around, doors slamming. "Yes, I think... I can hide in the closet," she replied, her voice barely above a breath.

"Good, go there now. And keep the line open," I instructed as I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my car keys. "I'm on my way."


To be continued...


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