With fingerprint in hand, Sara stared at her computer screen. How could her fiancé’s name have come up in the database search of criminals? She knew there could be mistakes in matching, but this was ridiculous.

Thinking back, she remembered the fun times they’d shared. But she also remembered him going through her drawers and staying out late at night without explanations. The question was, would she be strong enough to do the right thing?

Suddenly her partner entered the room. “We bagged the culprit. Here, take a look.”

Sara shuddered as he handed her a mug shot of the accused. But it was not Aryan! Sara’s mobile rang. She answered mechanically.

“Honey, I have a confession. Since we’re getting married tomorrow, just wanted to tell you about some trouble I got in with the police when I was young. Can we meet tonight for dinner before the big day?”

Sara, crying with relief, blew kisses into the phone. “Of course, Aryan. I love you, and I’m sorry too - I’ll explain when we meet.”

Aryan hung up and smiled to himself. He wiped the bloody knife carefully with a cloth, stepped over the body, and turned out the lights.

Uttara Talapatra, from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India is a retail professional and interested in fiction and writing. Talapatra is looking at avenues to showcase her talent and wants to take up serious writing.

© 2008 Uttara Talapatra. Original for CCF (Talapatra grants CCF first electronic rights for one month; CCF may archive the material indefinitely and include it in an eBook anthology).