Several miles out of Pine Grove, Private Helen Bird reviewed the intel file on sisters Alexi and Nicola Watt.
Lexi and Niccy moved out of their parents' rural property and into just over a year ago. Lexi worked part time in a music instrument store, and Niccy was a barista in an upscale hipster cafe downtown. They lived in a cheap, dated two bedroom apartment close to the downtown commercial district.
At 23, Alexi was the older of the two sisters. She was 5'7, slim, with brown eyes and blond hair that reached just past her shoulders. She'd had a few boyfriends, but lately had been enjoying the freedom that single life afforded her. She had a few friends and was a valued member of her women's soccer team. She jogged to and from work every second day.
Nicola was 20, 5'6, and just as slim as her older sister with the same brown eyes. Her dark brown hair grew halfway down her back, and she usually tied it back in a tight ponytail. She was more outgoing than Alexi, and as a result, had a few more friends, boyfriends and casual hookups. She inherited their father's fast metabolism, so she had no real need or desire to exercise.
Helen scrawled some notes and watched the surveillance feed of the sisters' apartment.
****
Alexi entered the apartment after a hectic day at work. Maybe if she'd come home in a better mood, things may not have happened in the way they did. She kicked off her flats at the door and dumped her shopping bags on the kitchen bench. Nicola was already home, laying on the couch, typing on her phone. The late afternoon sun shone directly into the room from their balcony. Nicola had the old air conditioner on its highest setting, but it did little to lower the sweltering heat in the apartment.
"Hey Lex," Niccy called out, not looking away from the phone. Her makeup was freshly done and she had her emerald stud earrings in. She was wearing one of her many cute summer dresses with a rose pattern. She obviously had a date tonight.
"Howdy howdy," Lexi replied, her voice devoid of any enthusiasm. Of course Niccy had a goddamn date. She'd always been the popular one.
"'sup?"
"Just one of those days. A few people away, busy store, so on." She started unpacking the bags and putting things away.
"Shit, tell me bout it," Niccy agreed.
Alexi pulled the last item out of the bag. "Oh hey, I almost forgot. They were giving these away at the mall today." She held up the cardboard box. It contained an automatic air freshener, promising 'HOURS of Freshness!' "Thought it might help hide that musty, damp smell we get here sometimes," she shrugged.
"Yeah? Cool." Nicola was not as enthused about the prospect of scented bursts of aerosol as her sister.
Alexi ignored Nicola's disinterest and opened the box, liberating the device and its small cartridge that held the scent. She installed the cartridge, switched it on and sat it on the bench, then joined Nicola in the vague lounge room area of their open plan living/dining/kitchen room. They didn't speak, just sat, independently browsing on their phones.
A few minutes passed, and the subtle lavender scent finally hit Alexi's nose. Yes, this was a good decision. Soothing, lovely lavender.
"Oh come on, man. Lavender? Seriously?" Nicola scoffed.
Alexi immediately felt irritated and defensive. "What? Don't tell me, you don't like lavender." She rolled her eyes.
Niccy put her phone down on the couch. "They didn't have, like, berries, or vanilla or caramel or something else instead? Lavender sucks."
"Typical. Just fucking typical."
Nicola put her phone down on the couch and sat up. "What's that supposed to mean?" She could tell Alexi was in a bad mood the second she walked in the door. She had tried to ignore it, but now it looked like the mood had caught. And she had a date in less than two hours.
"Oh, nothing. Just the usual. Niccy always gets her way. Kicks up a stink if she doesn't like something and everyone has to do what she says. Well, too fucking bad. I like lavender, so it's staying on."
Niccy rolled her eyes, then walked to the bench and held the suddenly controversial air freshener in her hand. "This is just a fucking air freshener, Lexi! It's not a metaphor for whatever fucked up resentment you have for me, okay?" Her point made, she slammed it back on the bench.
Alexi felt her fingers trembling with anger. She marched over to her sister and pointed her index finger in her face. "If I had my way, you wouldn't even be living here. I wanted to move out by myself, but oooh no, Lexi can't do that! She's too timid, she can't possibly take care of herself! Better send her spoiled little sister along too! Niccy will take care of her! She's soooo perfect!"
This had gone on too long. Instead of raising her voice to match Alexi's, Nicola sighed and spoke softly but firmly. "Oh, fuck you. I can't deal with this now. I've got a date tonight. Just fuck off to your room and leave me alone." Nicola dismissed her with a hand wave.
Alexi was not done yet. "Suuure, rub that in my face too, why don't you?"
"What?"
Alexi put on a high-pitched, mocking voice. "I'm Nicola and I'm soooooo popular, I go on soooo many dates! The boys always choose me over stupid little Lexi!" She dropped the voice. "Just another example of Niccy the favorite," she added bitterly.
Nicola took the bait, despite her mind screaming at her to walk away. "They like me better because I'm fun, you idiot. You're too busy trying to be 'nice' all the time." Now it was her turn to put on the mocking voice. "Oh, I can't possibly go out at 7pm tonight! It's Wednesday! I have work in the morning!" She blew a raspberry into Lexi's face. "Fucking have some fun. Live a little. Stop being a boring bitch." Now Nicola was done. She started walking towards the short hallway that led to the bedrooms.
