Eleven: The Inquiry

Travis 

Silence hang in the car and my hands cautiously on the steering wheel.

From the rearview mirror, I could see Carlos' eyes lock unto mine.

We haven't spoken to each other for that long since the agreement.

I still can't believe I signed a contract with him to be his... 

Ugh! The thought of it freaks me out still.

We stared silently at each other, although part of me didn't lose focus on the road.

I'm sure he has tons of questions as do I? 

None of us felt bold enough to approach each other first.

It's only for a month that this fake relationship will last.

I have to get close to him and get evidence pertaining the murder of my girlfriend.

I still need to find the car he used that night.

The police had withheld it back at the station for a reason.

They knew it was enough prove I guess.

A different thought clouded my mind all of a sudden.

Thoughts about the envelope I found in Carlos' drawer.

The symbol upon it, I still don't know what it meant.

It's a good thing I took a picture of it, my friend Sammy works in the police department. 

I'll let him look into it.

"Travis!" He yelled my name subconsciously.

As I raised my head, a fast approaching car was at a close range, aiming to hit us. I turned the wheels around only brushing out the headlight.

"What the hell man!" Carlos yelled at me, his body pounding heavily that I could almost hear his heartbeat.

His hands were spread across the top of the seat's edges as though that would have saved him from the supposed crash.

I didn't have a word to say, I was also shocked by what had just transpired.

How on earth did I ignore the traffic?

"Are you okay?" Carlos throws another question. He didn't sound concern about me, but rather cautious as to whether I was okay to drive.

I shot my bloody red eyes through the mirror to look at him.

I'd definitely blame him if anything had gone wrong today. Because, it's the thought of him that brings disaster.

He didn't stop breathing heavily for a second.

It's good to know that he fears death this much. This might just be a tool to use against him.

Th car was going smoothly on the expressway.

I drove the car into the parking lot, and settled it in an empty space.

My eyes ran through the other cars in the garage to see if his damaged car would be there, but it wasn't.

I got out of the car and went to get Carlos' door opened as he wouldn't move if I didn't do so.

As he got out of the car, he threw his suitcase to hit my chest, and I immediately caught it from falling.

He began to walk away, aiming for the door that led inside.

Oh great! Now we're back being enemies.

In the office I'm his boyfriend and here, I'm just the bodyguard he wants to torture.

This is a game, and I just have to beat him to it.

I got back into the car and turned it around, driving out of the villa.

I spent an hour or two on the way to go see Sammy in his house.

He told me to meet him there as the station wouldn't be safe to discuss secrets.

Sammy lives closed to the woods, an abandoned house his parents left for him.

I've known Sammy since 4th grade, we both graduated from highschool together. In fact, we both signed for the police academy, but I never got picked.

He has been a close friend ever since.

I drove the car to the front of his apartment. A bungalow with cracked walls and fallen white paints.

The wooden little stairs that led to his veranda had broken at its edge.

Goodness! What is Sammy still doing living here?

Can't his salary fix up the place at least.

The door opened even before I got out of the car.

Sammy walked out of it with his short on his hand, while he exposed his hairy chest and stomach.

"Hey pal!" He greeted while I hit the car's door close.

"They even let you own a car?" He teased.

"I borrowed it." I furrowed, not waiting to hear more jokes because I came for strict business.

"Fucking put your shirt on Sammy, your chest looks like a wolf's ass." I cussed while walking into his house.

"Guess someone's angry today." He whispered.

I sat on his torn sofa, not surprised his living room is a mess.

I look at a magazine with a naked woman's picture on it.

Why kill himself of lust when he can go get a woman out there in a club or bar.

Sammy was once married, only that his marriage didn't last more than a year.

She was the perfect woman for him. Loving, caring and understanding.

They were so in love with one another that Sammy wouldn't even look at another woman.

But then she got pregnant for her boss in the office and Sammy figured out.

He was mad and laid his hands on her accidentally.

It was a day he regretted so much, a day she ran away and never came back.

Its been two years now and Sammy still blames himself everyday.

"So what can I offer you? Wine, juice, water." His voice cut's through my mind.

I nodded sideways and unlocked my phone to show him the picture.

As I stretched my phone to his face, he squints a little to get a detailed look.

"This sign..." He stresses, "I've seen it somewhere."

"Where?" I was quick to ask.

"I can't quite recall. But I think it belongs to a company."

"A company?" I echoed, trying to recall the symbol on The Alvarez company.

The symbol was quite different from this one. It only had a big 'A' with bird wings.

This symbol looks discreet. The seal confirms it that it's personal.

"What if it belongs to a secret society?" I chipped in.

"Hmm! It could be." He scratched his head like he was not sure of his response.

Sometimes I wonder who would have made a better cop, him or me.

"I've forwarded you the image, please look into it for me." I said, standing up from the couch.

"If this is really secret, it could be dangerous Travis. I'll be putting my life at risk."

"I'll send you five hundred dollars for the task and another five hundred once you're done." I said calmly.

"What! Where the hell did you get such crazy amount of money?" He was surprised, eyes widening in shock.

"What can I say, I work for billionaires now." I irked at him.