Rule 3 - Tobias

COLLECT ALL EVIDENCE OF YOUR CRIMES.

" C reme Br?lée Cappuccino for Tobias!" the barista yelled my order and set my cup on the counter. I stood, pausing to set the envelope I'd received a week prior on my table. Getting my coffee, I returned to the table and stared off into the distance while I waited. I glanced at my watch. I was told to be here at two, and it was five minutes past.

A moment later, the bell above the door dinged and two women came in with loud stomps and shaking to get the thick snow off their boots and coats. She didn't have to remove any of her winter gear for me to know it was her I was waiting for. Even in winter, she wore black, head to toe.

The pair of women hung up their hats and coats and then went to the counter to order themselves something to drink. I watched intently, sipping my drink, as they moved through the line, gushing to each other as if they were just here for a friendly little catch-up.

Hardly.

Neve turned to look around the cafe and spotted me, waving excitedly, as if the mail she'd sent me wasn't straight blackmail.

This town was... quaint. I'd grown up here, but left the week after I graduated high school. I only returned a few times a year to visit my dad, but I hadn't been back since last year, after the tragedy at the mall. Eleven dead in an hour. Four of them right next to the studio I was in all afternoon.

"Tobias, how are you?" Neve and her friend slid into my booth after picking up their steaming cups. "How have you been?"

"Fine," I replied curtly, sipping my coffee. While I hadn't had plans to be in this shop today, my drink was good. "And you?"

We'd attended school together. I wasn't much for friends, but we ran in similar circles. I hadn't hated her then. So when she called me up and pleaded for me to apply for her photography thing, I did it. And, surprisingly, I'd had fun. But that was a year ago, and things had vastly changed. Now, I wasn't interested in being friendly.

Neve slapped her hands on the table and widened her eyes. I took note of her appearance. She'd put a ring through a nostril since I'd seen her last. Her eyes were still the same startling blue, so pale they were almost white. With her pale skin and black makeup, it made them stick out even more.

"Could be better." She laughed loudly, causing people to turn and stare at us curiously. "I mean, my boyfriend is in prison for the murder of eleven people, and my business is in shambles now because they believe my work was what caused his mental break, but hey, it's Christmas."

I remembered the articles and the news. While I didn't stick around afterward, Dad had been obsessed with case. He'd sent me daily updates about every little thing. I vaguely recalled an article about Neve and her photography business. They'd villainized her for "promoting pornography" because of her boudoir photos, and the blind date photoshoot we'd done. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll, were the whole reason Kane, her wannabe rockstar boyfriend, did what he did. Or so the media said.

"This is Ruby, my partner in life and crime." Neve put her arm over Ruby's shoulder. I turned to look at the other woman. She was the total opposite of her girlfriend. Her hair was long, straight, and a ruby-red color. Her makeup was mostly modest, highlighting her brown eyes, except her lips which were a cherry red. Her clothes were very... pumpkin spice, MLM, boss babe-esque. I only knew the words because my last fuck was one just like her. She'd gifted me so many herbal lotions and glitter vitamins.

"Well, one of them, anyways. You're going to be added soon."

"To which one, exactly?" I asked. I looked her up and down. While the goth look was hot normally, my favorite streamer was a goth chick who made tea and cupcakes all day. Neve's appearance did nothing to my dick. Not even one little throb. It never had. "Because I'm not interested in someone who sends me shit like this." I pushed the envelope with the damning photos inside.

"Oh, it was just a little joke. Come on, can't we all use a good laugh after the year we've all had? I'm sure your life isn't all rainbows and sunshine being on the road all the time, doing what you do with all those animals."

My mood turned cold in an instant. I preferred to keep my life private. I didn't exactly welcome her knowing things about me, like my address or career, which, apparently, she did. I doubted she truly knew what I did for a living though. If she did, she wouldn't be so bold.

"Oh, calm down. I saw your dad at the store and we caught up. This town doesn't change much, even with a little murder."

"Can we hurry this up? I'm supposed to be visiting with him for the holidays. Why did you send me these?" I slid the folder across the table. Neve's smile widened, sending a small shiver of uneasiness through me. In a flash, the smile turned into an exaggerated pout.

"I thought you'd want the photos of you and Lumen. That day was pretty memorable."

I nodded. Before the murders, that day had been... something.

I'd never been that instantly attracted to someone. Especially one I couldn't see. Lumen had lived rent free in my head all year. She'd become an obsession I couldn't get rid of. These photos were evidence of that.

"Yes, but why now? You could have given these pictures to?—"

"The police? They did ask for them. But I respect my client's privacy, and as they had Kane on camera in other places around the mall, they didn't need these."

"Are these the only copies?" I asked, knowing they weren't. Neve wasn't stupid. Neither was I.

"They can be. If you help me."

I cocked a curious eyebrow. What did she want?

"I want revenge. It was Lumen's testimony at trial that sent Kane to prison."

"He went on a murder spree," I replied.

"Yes, but he only killed seven people. And we both know who killed the other four, don't we, Tobias?" Her eyes darted to the envelope containing damning evidence. I gulped.

"What are you thinking?"

"Oh, nothing much. It actually took me a bit to track her down. The bitch fled town. Pretty sure she was too scared to show her face after so boldly lying about what she saw."

"Why do you think she was lying?" I'd watched the video of her testimony. She'd told them that she'd seen Kane run past her, covered in blood, and coming from the hall that her family was lying dead in. That was it. She was on the stand for very little of the trial.

"Because Kane never went that way. But someone else did."

She reached for the envelope, and I snatched it. Neve was unhinged. She was going to show these photos to the whole cafe.

"Anyways, she ruined my life. Kane is in jail for life, and my career is completely ruined because she lied. Now, we're going to get her back. She doesn't deserve all that money her family left her. I do."

I looked from her to Ruby. What were they proposing? Ruby rolled her eyes.

"Lumen lives up north, way up north. She's all by herself, and she's got money. We're going to rob her," Ruby rushed.

"And you're going to help." Neve spread her hands across the table. I stared at her, clocking her jerky movements and dilated pupils. She was high on something.

"And why is that?" I snickered. By the looks of her, I could easily do some digging and find the original photos or videos and take care of them. I wouldn't let her go to the police with what she knew. Neve smiled wide again, and I decided then that I would make it my mission to wipe it off her face permanently. But it was her words that pulled the smile from mine.

"Because I know that you're in love with her. If you don't help us, I'll give Lumen the photos showing you killing her entire family."

I glared at her.

"What do you propose exactly?"

Neve dug into her large bag and pulled out a mask. She offered it to me, and I took it gingerly, examining it.[ZM8]

"You're gonna need this."