Dead Breath. Melody Jade Allen

only the beginning of the road.

      Casino-Hotel Domiani Grand Plaza included a lot of slot machines, gaming tables and other gambling entertainment on each of the floors. Standing in front of it, Adrianna was talking to someone from the staff; Mireya was inspecting the streets that were saturated with the smell of hot asphalt and stuffy air. Tourists, police, entertainment… Everything seemed like some kind of game like in an epic action movie about casino players who arranged this beautiful life around themselves.

      A few minutes later, Adrianna and Mireya got on the 31st floor of the Domiani Grand Plaza, where Leandra lived on. Her room 31-18 was just next to the rooms of Adrianna and Mireya.

      “I’ll see you in the morning, when I get a search warrant.” Adrianna said and handed Mireya a key with number 31-20.

      Las Vegas had a special reputation as a “city of gambling” and was kept afloat by an endless flow of tourists, so that’s why the local police agreed to cooperate with Adrianna even though it wasn’t about her jurisdiction.

      Mireya entered her room and switched on the light; she felt the shivers covered her skin – a two-story room in gold and red colours, huge royal bed, kitchen, spacious dining room, and expensive furniture were in front of her, welcoming with brilliance and order, also showing a dazzling appearance on the city. For a moment, Mireya forgot herself, feeling like a princess in a fairy-tale castle. She thought it odd that Adrianna would allow her to accompany her on the investigation – too much was allowed for the prime suspect, given her private hotel room and lack of 24/7 surveillance – but she wanted to believe there was a good reason for that.

      Her senses were distracted by the mobile phone, which began to vibrate in her pocket. Reluctantly, she pulled it out and looked at the caller’s name – Leandra.

      Mireya retreated. Leandra’s mobile phone wasn’t found in her hotel room in Los Angeles, perhaps that the killer is contacting her? Feeling that she almost pressed the button of the nuclear bomb, Mireya decided to press the green button. “Hello?” She said to someone at the other end of the line.

      “Mireya! I’m so glad to hear you; we have not seen each other for so long!” Leandra said from the other end of the tube.

      Mireya’s hands trembled. “Who the hell are you?”

      “You’re asking the wrong question, dear. But you need to find the right one. He’s still here.” Leandra coquettishly said.

      “What?” Mireya put her hand to her forehead. “Who?”

      “His name is Tom. He will like you!”

      “Who are you?”

      “Take care of yourself.”

      A knock at the door made Mireya jump up because of her own surprise, she looked at the display again – the call was interrupted.

      “Mireya, are you all right?” Adrianna said behind the door.

      Mireya opened it, still trembling.

      “What happened to you?” Adrianna looked at her, entering and closing the door. “You look like a ghost.”

      “I think I just talked to this one.” Mireya exhaled. “Someone called me on her behalf.”

      For a couple of minutes, Adrianna listened to the repeat of the last call from Mireya’s phone, analysing the details and thinking about the theories. She already asked her colleagues to track the call.

      “So what do you think?” Mireya asked, sitting in a wide soft armchair.

      Adrianna spread her hands. “Of course, this is not Leandra. All the rest can be the result of excellent computer skills.”

      “What you mean?”

      “There are programs, Mireya, that are able to copy someone’s voice, replacing them with your own. Whoever it is, he or she certainly wants to either confuse us or frighten you.”

      “Me?” Mireya giggled. “Well… Yes, that’s just a problem – it’s unlikely that someone from Leandra’s friends knew about me. And who is Tom?”

      “If it’s her friend or maybe a boyfriend, we’ll find him. But if it’s just a random name, then it’s unlikely that it will give us a result.” Adrianna looked at her wristwatch. “It’s too late night already. See you in the morning?”

      Mireya nodded.

      The morning will have even more questions.

      Through the huge window, Las Vegas lights lit up the bedroom that was filled with the silent ticking of the outdoor clock and serene tranquillity. Mireya slept on a soft airy bed, covered with a warm blanket. Her dream was always sensitive, and when she heard something approaching, she opened her eyes… Something made her rise abruptly; sitting on the bed and covering herself with a blanket up to her face, Mireya examined the darkness breathing heavily. Nothing strange… probably it was just a nightmare.

      “Please don’t be afraid.” A man’s voice said from somewhere.

      Mireya froze.

      The bathroom door was opened. A young guy with brown dark hair went out with his hands. “I will not hurt you.”

      Without knowing the reasons, Mireya did not feel fear. She stared at him. “Who are you?” She noticed some Rock band badge on his black leather jacket.

      “My name is Tom. Tom Walt.”

      “Oh…” Mireya shuddered a little. “How do you know me?”

      “I worked with Leandra Ray. She was a girlfriend of my brother, they broke up a few weeks ago, but she said she needed help. She asked if she did not contact me until tonight, I would have to find you. She gave me information about you.” He smiled a little. “Don’t be scared, there are just your full name, phone number and address of your work.”

      “Well… It’s impressive.” Mireya hesitated. All this was quite unexpected, but she must cope with it. “Did you call me?”

      “No. I thought it would be too strange to come out of the phone.” Tom ran a hand through his hair. “My friend tracked your name in the bases of airlines and even railways. I thought I would have to fly to California, but… you’re here. What happened?”

      “Wait… you don’t know?”

      Tom shook his head.

      “Leandra was killed.” Mireya told him the whole story, which began with Leandra’s phone call.

      Tom nodded understandingly and fell in his own thoughts, he walked around the room. “Then I don’t understand… why did she ask me to meet you? She… she knew what would happen?”

      “Maybe she suspected so?” Mireya pulled up the blanket; she wore a transparent pink shirt. “Could it be related to her work?”

      Tom sighed loudly. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, she didn’t do such serious things. She wasn’t even involved in reading other people’s messages or e-mails, although many people think so. She only tracked phone calls and operations on bank cards. Although… even if there is a danger… Our employer never communicates with dangerous people; it could create problems with his illegal business. And if Leandra did something, Mireya… It was something out of the picture.”

      “Tom…” Mireya appreciated his gaze, being still not sure she could trust him. But she decided. “Can you at least just guess who could have done it to her?”

      Tom spread his hands. “No, unfortunately. I wasn’t even close to her, Mireya. By the way, what do you think about that? You are her friend, are not you?”

      “Well, I’m some kind of.” Mireya lowered her eyes. “We stopped talking soon after she moved to Las Vegas. And actually, I was one of the last one who saw her alive and because of that, the police didn’t find other people, who could see her before her murder… Tom, I’m the main suspect right now. I need to prove my innocence, even though the police don’t have enough evidence to arrest me. I just want all of that to end, and her killer be punished… at least for the sake of what we had before.”

      “I