You don’t have to get upset, I was just asking.

Well don’t ask. What do you want me to do, quit my job? I don’t need this shit from you, Tina. I am trying to do my work and I don’t need interference from you, Eric says angrily.

But Eric, Tina starts but is stopped mid-sentence by a slap to the face.

Shut up and drop it, Eric yells forcefully and leaves the room. He heads to his home office to think.

Tina holds her hand to the side of the face that she was struck and she thinks to herself; he must be really stressed with the wedding and all. I better give him some space.

***

Hello, Eric says.

Hey, it’s me.

What are you doing calling here? I thought I told you not to contact me.

Hey, I had to let you know that there is a problem. Would you rather not know, Eric?

I don’t need your sarcasm. I am paying you to take care of problems. So don’t call me with your shit.

Look, I am trying to help you out, Eric.

Alright, what is so important that you felt the need to call me here?

Not over the phone, you need to get here and get here now!

I’ll be in town tomorrow, Eric says with cool detachment in his voice.

I need to be the first one that you come and see. I am not kidding Eric. This is important.

Alright, alright, calm down. I will be there first thing. With that, Eric puts down the receiver and heads out of his office in search of his fiancé.

***

Eric leans against the doorframe of the bedroom door. Tina is sitting on the bed with ice on her eye and cheek.

Stop being dramatic Tina, I didn’t hit you that hard, Eric says as he approaches the closet to retrieve his pajamas. Listen, I’m sorry that I hit you, but you have to get over it. I can’t take your nagging. You are going to have to work on that. Eric, puts his pajamas back in the closet and retrieves his suitcase instead.

What are you doing, Tina asks.

Didn’t I just say not to nag me. If you must know instead of leaving in the morning, I am going to head out now.

Eric approaches the bed, roughly kisses Tina on the cheek, and says ‘See ya, I’ll call you in a day or so.’

Alright Eric, I love you.

Yeah, I’ll see you when I get back.

***

Bette, entered her small apartment and headed straight to bed. Without removing her clothing, Bette drops herself into the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Thinking to herself, I don’t know what it is, but I won’t stop until I find something out. I know Eric McBride had something to do with his wife’s death. It just doesn’t make sense that a heart attack killed her. Drifting off to sleep, Bette says out loud to no one ‘I am going to figure this out, Eric, I know you have something to hide.’

***

Hey aren’t you Officer Porter?

Uuuuhhh, yeah, Bette says hesitantly.

I am Shannon. Shannon Oswald, Sherry McBride’s sister.

Oh, hello. I am sorry about your sister.

Thank you so much. It really is hard. A Heart Attack, can you believe that. I guess you never know.

How are the kids holding up?

Pretty well, I think. Eric picked up the kids from my house a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t spoken to him or the kids since then. I have been meaning to call them, but everything is so tough, you know?

Where are Eric and the kids?

They went to Springfield. He told me when he picked them up that he was going to put the house up for sale. He said that he couldn’t bear to live there anymore because of what happened to Sherry there.

Oh, I understand, Bette said trying to put compassion in her voice while keeping the suspicion out of it.

He also said he got a job offer there. He was going to check it out and take the kids with him since they are out of school. I am sure they will be back for the funeral, which is in two days.

Shannon, I’m sorry but I have to get back to work. Again, my condolences about your sister.

Of course Officer and thank you. This is definitely a tough time for me and my family.