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I t had been two weeks since Marcy or Sage had heard from Hans.

“Maybe he changed his mind,” Sage said in a slightly worried tone.

Something still felt off .

Sage never expressed her concerns with enough emotion that led Marcy to believe that Sage was truly worried.

“Something feels off,” Marcy suggested but Sage continued to brush it off.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A loud pounding came from the door of Marcy’s apartment, startling both women.

“Maybe that’s him!” Sage seemed a little too positive as she filled her teapot with water and set it on the stove to heat up. When Marcy opened the front door, two police officers stood before her.

“Good afternoon ma’am. I’m Officer Stewart and this is Officer Dawn. Is there someone living here by the name Gretta, or perhaps you know her best as Sage?”

Marcy invited the officers in, offering them each a bottle of water.

“Sage,” Marcy called, unsure why she had suddenly chosen to perform a disappearing act at that moment. Finding herself momentarily hoping Sage hasn't escaped out the bedroom window.

“Yeah?” She came out of the bedroom, with a curious look on her face.

“Sage, these officers are here to speak with you. Do you have any idea why?”

“I’m not sure.” Sage tilted her head, confused as she stared knowingly at Marcy. “But I am sure you do.”

“Ma’am, I’m going to need you to stop right there,” Officer Dawn placed her hand on her gun, which was still resting in the holster, as Sage started walking towards them.

Sage reluctantly obliged and Marcy felt a tinge of relief that she wasn’t about to witness her girlfriend's murder in the confines of her own home.

“Sage, you are under arrest for the suspected murder of-”

Marcy zoned out, listening to the overwhelming list of names as the officers read each of the names off.

“-the murder of Alana Garrison, Marco Salvatore, Charles Billings, and finally-”

Marcy braced herself against the back of the chair, preparing for what they were about to say.

“The murder of Detective Hans McGee.”

Marcy cried out as the officer read off Hans’ name, she had suspected he was dead but hearing the reality still hit her hard.

“You have the right to remain silent,” Officer Dawn began reading Sage her Miranda rights as she put her in handcuffs and escorted Sage out the door.

Officer Stewart handed Marcy an envelope containing money. “It's all there, just like we agreed.”

Marcy had worked with the police department previously, so when they had reached out to her about the murders to help with autopsies she agreed to assist. Once she began to suspect the deeper details of the case, she didn’t hesitate to offer Officer Stewart the details, especially not after being left with a broken heart.

The last few weeks didn’t erase the past…

“Thanks.” Marcy paused. “But did Hans have to die for this to work?” Marcy was suspicious.

“We had nothing to do with that,” Officer Stewart responded quickly.

“What happened? Hans was fine when we left.” Marcy and Officer Stewart had become close friends since they had first run into each other at a bookstore in town.

“I shouldn’t say anything,” Officer Stewart leaned in closer.

“Hans was in a car accident, just outside Brighton Forest. His toxicology report showed vast amounts of poison and the detectives found a satchel of loose tea leaves in his trash can that read ‘mors per socolatam’ which was roughly translated to mean death by chocolate. Her prints were all over it and it was almost identical to Alana’s accident. ”

Marcy let out a gasp.

“You’re lucky, Marcy,” Officer Stewart gently placed her hand on Marcy’s shoulder. “You could have been next.”

Marcy gulped, the reality sinking in. “Will she get the death penalty?”

“The death penalty hasn’t been a thing here for a long time. However she will definitely rot in prison, if found guilty.”

The scream of the teapot interrupted their conversation and Marcy rushed over to pull it off the burner.

“ If found guilty?” Marcy inquired. “So, there’s a chance she may be found innocent?”

“Unfortunately, I’ve already said too much. I really can’t discuss this with you any further..”

“I understand. Can I get you some tea to go?” Marcy offered as she reached up into the cabinet and pulled down a basket that held a variety of flavored tea bags before pausing.

“Was it a satchel like this?” Marcy held up one of the tea bags that Sage had made, it contained the same label that created Hans’ demise.

Officer Stewart walked over, put on a pair of gloves and took the satchel from Marcy, placing it in an evidence bag. “I’ll have it tested. If it is positive for the same poison that was in Hans' system, it will further strengthen the case against her.”

“You can take them all.” Marcy found herself having trouble standing, feeling as if she had almost come close to meeting death herself. “It’s hard knowing who you can trust these days. You showing up today may have saved my life.”

“I’m so sorry about all of this, Marcy. I know it’s going to hurt like hell, but we truly appreciate your help in closing this case.”

Officer Stewart walked across the room, exiting Marcy’s apartment and closing the door behind her. Marcy walked toward the window and separated the blinds watching the officer enter her vehicle where Sage and Officer Dawn were waiting.

“I always did enjoy playing with fire.” Marcy closed the blinds and went back into the kitchen digging through the cabinet hoping for an untainted teabag but instead she found a pouch of hot cocoa. “I just wish Sage wouldn't have been the fuel needed to make everything burn.”

She reminisced on the good times they had had as she poured the hot water into a cup and mixed in the powder.

???

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Officer Grey began the interrogation while Detective Harris stood behind the one-way glass.

“I will, but I'm feeling parched. Could I get some hot water for my tea?”

Officer Grey looked back in the direction of the Detective, as if looking for guidance if that was okay.

“Go ahead,” Harris sighed into the microphone. “Then maybe she will actually speak.”

Officer Grey got up, returning a few minutes later with a Styrofoam cup full of piping hot water.

“Can you please get the teabag from my jacket pocket?” Sage smiled sweetly as she gestured to where it was hanging. The officer obliged, getting the tea and setting it on the table so she could open it.

Grey looked annoyed as Sage dunked the tea bag a few times before letting it steep. “Now, I held up my end of the deal, your turn.”

“You're right. What would you like to know?” She smiled sweetly.

“Why don't you start at the beginning?” The officer stated. “I'll take notes and ask the questions from there.”

Sage held the cup in her hand and took a sip. “But what about my attorney?” She continued to drink. Annoyed, the officer got up and exited to room to go speak with the Detective.

“Of course she wants an attorney,” Grey bitched at Harris.

“She does have a right to one,” Harris responded, holding his hand up to prevent Grey from speaking. “Is she behaving strangely to you?” Both officers stared through the glass observing Sage.

“Don't worry Hans, we will be together again soon.” They heard her say through the speaker as she laid her head down on the table.

Just then, Officer Stewart came in. “All of her tea came back positive for the poison.”

Both Officer Grey and Detective Harris looked at each other and back where Sage had laid her head.

“Fuck.”

Sage always had ways of making sure she didn't get caught, down to the last moments of her very existence in that room.

They rushed into the interrogation room but Sage had already slipped away, only a note remained.

The phoenix is weighed down by the rubble, unable to rise. While the crow finds only ashes, its treasure lost.