The other room was well set up for Haily and Jan. Each had their own desk with computers. A bookshelf held office files and investigation records. A small sofa sat in the corner for resting.
The kitchen held medical kits for emergencies.
Victoria had designed it all. Jan and Haily loved it.
When Victoria entered the compartment, Jan wasn't there as usual. Haily greeted her warmly and prepared coffee. Victoria settled into her office chair, rested her head back, and closed her eyes.
The bell rang.
She thought it was Jan, but then Haily knocked on her door.
"Sister Victoria, a guest is here for you. Her name is Briana."
Victoria opened her eyes. "Briana? Are you sure?"
"Yes. She said she has something to tell you."
Victoria straightened. "I'm coming. Serve her something."
Haily nodded and left.
Victoria sat still for a moment, mind racing. Briana. It had been over three years since they last met. She'd thought they would never see each other again.
She adjusted her clothes and walked out in her high heels.
Briana sat on the couch, restless. Her eyes were red.
The moment she saw Victoria, she stood, anxious and trembling. Victoria approached, placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her.
"What happened? Why are you so anxious?"
But Briana suddenly hugged her.
Victoria froze.
After a long moment, she spoke again. "What happened? Why are you acting like this?"
She tried to pull away, but Briana held tighter.
"Something... something happened to her."
Victoria went still.
A cold glint flashed through her eyes. The hall fell into eerie silence. The coldness radiating from Victoria seemed to reach Haily in the kitchen - she shuddered without knowing why.
Victoria's tired face hardened. Became something almost frightening.
"What happened?" Her voice was calm. Too calm. The kind of calm that comes before destruction.
Briana shivered. This Victoria was foreign to her - three years had changed her into someone cold, unrecognizable. She wondered what could have done this.
"I'm asking you what happened." The words came again, empty, and therefore more terrifying.
Briana's voice trembled. "He... he got bail from jail. And he took his revenge on her."
Tears fell from her eyes.
Victoria remained still. "What did he do to her?"
"He wanted to force himself on her. He didn't know we were together. When she told him, he got furious. Said horrible things. Beat her up." Briana's voice broke. "She called me. By the time I reached, he was gone. She warned me he'd come for me next. Then she fainted. She's in the hospital now. I came as soon as I could."
"Which hospital?"
"The Glory hospital."
Victoria turned and walked into her office. She grabbed her coat, slipped it over her shoulders, and picked up her car keys.
Briana stared, stunned, then hurried after her.
At the door, Victoria paused. "Haily. Don't open the door without checking who it is. Take care. Go home if I'm not back by six. Or sleep here if you want. Don't wait for me."
Before Haily could respond, the door closed behind her.