After many rewrites, I finally bring you chapter two! I hope you're enjoying this story as we start to get into things here - there's definitely a lot more to come! Thank you for all the feedback and support - it keeps me motivated and I appreciate every word. Please check out my other stories if you're liking this one. :D

Chapter Two

Serena woke the next morning, head pounding and muscles sore. She struggled to piece together patchy memories of flashing lights and sweaty bodies. The blonde groaned as the sunlight trickled through the slatted windows to assault her vision. She rubbed her eyes, and massaged her temples in an attempt to wake, stretching her arms over her head and pointing her toes. With a cumbersome sigh, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. The balls of her feet hit the plush floor, and she momentarily teetered on the edge, debating whether or not she wanted to get up.

Ding dong. The doorbell wailed through the halls, yet Serena could not will herself to move.

Ding dong. She heard Mina growl as she slammed her bedroom door and stomped down the hallway. Mumbled conversation drifted through the apartment and Serena strained to listen, frowning at her inability to make out the contents of the dialogue. She stretched her legs once more and forced herself to stand, if only to satisfy her curiosity.

"Serena?" Mina knocked lightly on the door, before turning the handle and gently pushing it open.

"Who was it?" she asked groggily, shuffling towards her friend.

"I think you should come to the door," the blonde replied, face pale and lips tight.

"Mina, who is it?" Serena repeated, feeling her stomach churn.

"It's the police," she whispered, voice shaky.

"What?" Serena gasped, grabbing her robe and tying it tightly around her waist. She glanced quickly in the mirror, cringing at the dark smudges last night's makeup had left around her eyes. She licked the tip of her finger, and tried in vain to rub some of the blackness off before following Mina down the hall.

The girls entered the living room to find two officers, both clad in navy pants and matching crisp shirts, sitting patiently on their couch. The shorter of the two officers stood and extended his arm.

"Good morning. I'm Detective Hansford." He cordially shook each girl's hand, smiling warmly. "And this is my partner, Detective Shields." He motioned to an ebony hair man seated in one of their armchairs, who dipped his chin.

"You said you wanted to ask us some questions?" Mina said, swallowing the lump in her throat. The detective motioned towards the couch, and both girls sat, poised nervously on the edge of the cushion.

"Yes, we're here regarding a homicide investigation." His brow raised as he looked at Mina – something about her was familiar.

"Homicide?" they chimed, mouths agape and faces paling. The hair on the back of Serena's neck stood on end, her breath hitching in her throat.

"The gentleman who drove you home last night was found dead this morning," Detective Hansford explained.

"Like, murdered?" Mina asked incredulously, posture straightening.

"We believe so," Detective Shields replied, watching as Serena's fingers toyed with the pendant on her necklace. He pulled a small notepad from his back pocket, flipped it open and clicked on the pen before nodding at his partner to continue.

"Could we get your names for the record?"

"I'm Mina Aino," she introduced herself, pressing her palm against her chest. Detective Hansford sighed, his head bobbing as he mentally answered his unasked question.

"Serena Tsukino." The blonde chewed the inside of her cheek, trying to fight the heartbeat that echoed through her ears. Detective Shields wrote their names on his pad.

"Miss Aino has already confirmed that you both took a taxi home last night." Serena nodded to confirm that the statement true. "Do either of you remember around what time that was?"

"Around two?" Serena guessed, forehead crinkling. She pulled her robe tighter, suddenly aware of the detective's cool gaze studying her features.

"Yeah, I think we left shortly after DJ Jack was done his set," Mina agreed – that sounded about right. "We were just downtown at Astéri – my friend and I co-own it," she added, running her fingers through her hair. Serena rolled her eyes; of course Mina would flirt with the handsome policemen. Catching Serena's expression, Detective Shields stifled a chuckle.

"I'll have to stop by there sometime when I'm off duty," Hansford said, sitting back slightly in his seat as he flashed a charming grin. His partner cleared his throat, warning him to stay on track. "Did anything stand out to you about the driver?"

Serena and Mina paused to think, mouths twitching and eyes narrowed in thought. They retraced their steps from the night before, neither clearly remembering anything about him. Serena frowned, as a touch of guilt swelled in her stomach – the man was dead, and she could hardly picture his face.

"Not really." Serena shook her head. "He did help us into the building," she offered, her attention catching on the tall heels strewn by the door that had teetered home in only hours before.

"We might have had a little too much to drink," Mina admitted.

"So you were intoxicated," Detective Shields said, jotting something down. Mina craned her neck to see, but her line of sight fell short.

"We didn't do anything wrong," Serena stated, offended by the detective's tone – was he actually judging them? Shields opened his mouth to respond, but was quickly cut off.

"We're not saying you did," Detective Hansford intervened. "We just want to get a clear picture of how the victim's night went. So, he helped you into the building?" he prompted, hoping they would produce something helpful.

"Just to the elevator," Serena said, stealing glimpses of Detective Shields and chastising herself for being inappropriate – a man had died.

"We managed to get into the apartment, and just crashed." Mina frowned, absentmindedly picking off her bright orange nail polish.

"Did you notice anyone outside or in the foyer?" the detective pressed, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees.

"Not that I remember." She shook her head, and looked at Serena.

"Me either," she said. "I'm sorry we couldn't be more helpful." The officers both nodded, and Detective Shields flipped his notepad closed.

"You've given us a good start." The men rose, and made their way across the living to the front door, both girls padding behind. "Thank you for your time, ladies."

"If you remember anything else that you think could be useful, please call." Detective Shields slid a card from his back pocket, and handed it pointedly to Serena. She blushed under his gaze, and murmured a quiet thank you, pressing the corner of the card into her thumb.

"Detectives?" Serena called, standing in the doorway.

"Yes?"

"I'm sure it's nothing, and maybe it was just my imagination, but he was… " The words died in her throat, her mouth running dry.

"He was what?" Detective Shields asked, brow wrinkling.

"He was a little…" she paused and bit her lip, unsure whether or not she wanted to continue. "He was a little touchy-feely," she whispered, face hot with embarrassment.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked, stormy eyes inspecting exposed skin for any sign of foul play.

"No, not like that." She shook her head vehemently. "It wasn't anything too serious," she said, attempting to brush it off with the wave of her hand. "I probably shouldn't have even mentioned it."

"It's good that you did, really. Any little detail is helpful," Detective Hansford said earnestly. Serena released a controlled breath, wondering if she had done the right thing – did it even matter?

"Thanks again for your time." Detective Shields smiled at the girl, hoping to ease some of the anxiety so present on her face.

"Anytime." Mina winked, Serena rolled her eyes, and the officers bowed politely before taking their leave.

"Well, that was kind of a bust." Detective Hansford sighed as the elevator door closed behind them. "Hot girls, though," he added, leaning against the wall as he watched the lights count down the floors.

"Andrew," Detective Shields scolded, undecided as to whether or not he admired his partner's friendly and carefree approach.

"Darien," he mocked, "I saw you staring."

"She just looked familiar."

"Yeah, her poster is on the subway." They walked out to their squad car, and Detective Shields climbed into the driver's seat.

"No, the other one," he said, pulling out the notepad and tossing it on his partner's lap for review. "Either way, I doubt two intoxicated girls, especially of their size, could have overpowered the victim." He rubbed his face; they had been following up leads for the past six hours straight, and still hadn't found much to go on.

Darien paused as he put the key into the ignition, brow creasing and lips pursing. "What is it?" Andrew asked.

"Do you know what's kind of strange?" His partner's eyes widened, imploring him to continue. "Well, Ms. Tsukino mentioned that the guy was hands-on, right?"

"Yeah…"

"According to the coroner's report –"

"Shit," Andrew cursed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You think it's a coincidence?"

Back in the apartment the two girls reluctantly prepared for the day, cleansing the previous night's makeup from their faces as they waited for the coffee to brew. Mina chattered on about how attractive the two officers were, already having planed the entirety of their joint wedding.

"That Detective Shields was totally staring at you the whole time," she teased, grinning at the pink hue on her roommate's face.

"A man died, Mina." Serena scowled, scrubbing furiously at the stubborn mascara.

"Yeah." She shrugged, and made her way to the kitchen. "I feel bad and all, but it's not like we knew him," she called, as she slid two pieces of bread into the toaster. Mina glanced at the door upon hearing a light tap from the other side. Hoping it was the detectives, she ran to the entrance, fixing her hair before she answered.

"Hey, Serena?" she yelled over her shoulder, finding nothing but a basket wrapped with cellophane and silver bow. She squatted down to get a better look, flattening the folds to see what was inside.

"Yeah?" Serena emerged from the bathroom, face fresh and hair brushed.

"Did you tell any of those guys last night where we lived?" Mina wondered, poking at the plastic. Finding a card attached to the bow, she flipped it over to read the inscription on the back.

"No… why? Did you?"

"Not that I remember." She shook her head, and grabbed the basket from the bottom, bringing it inside the apartment.

"What is that?" Serena asked, watching as Mina teetered to the counter and set it down.

"I have no idea. It has your name on it, Serenity Moon." She flashed the card at Serena, who turned it over in her hand.

"It doesn't say who it's from." The blonde felt a wave of uneasiness roll through her stomach, as she carefully undid the bow. Mina watched with mute interest as her roommate pulled out the contents: aspirin, bottles of expensive mineral water and ginger ale, chamomile tea, a fluffy, white, stuffed rabbit, and a sleeping mask filled with lavender.

"I can't decide if this is sweet or creepy," Mina said, pouring herself a cup of coffee, and settling on a stool.

"It's creepy, Mina." Serena's nose wrinkled, and she moved the basket to the front door – maybe it would be useful at work.

"It's probably just a joke from one of the girls." Mina dismissed the gift with the flick of her hand as she grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV.

"Yeah," Serena mumbled, unconvinced. Something about it whole thing sent a shiver up her spine. She stood on the tips of her toes and peered through the peephole, half expecting the person who left it to be still waiting around.

"Hey, the murder is already on the news." She rushed over to Mina's side, both pairs of eyes glued on the screen.

'... driver found dead in his taxi early this morning. The police have released a statement vaguely detailing the murder, mentioning that the victim's hands were brutally severed and still remain missing.'