LOGIN"Make sure to say hi to Danielle for me." Melissa yelled as she waved us off to the boarding gates."We will." I waved back, my jaw aching from the extended duration I had to wear a fake smile."Damn, you look like your jaw hinges are made of rusted metal." Kaila whispered.I let out a deep breath as our plane took off without incident, gently gripping my jaw to massage it in circular motions. It truly felt like my hinges had been rusted out."I'm at least glad to be on the plane and on my way out of here." I mumbled.Bryan had left two days before us, checking into a hotel not far from my sister and her husband's place. After spending a night with my sister and her family, we would join up with Bryan and head for the Gerno tribe's village."Are you at least excited to meet your niece and nephew?" She asked with a sigh.A small smile crossed my lips as I recalled the picture Danielle had shown me when she came to Lindin.Brandon's freckled-faced, wild curly hair, and that energetic lo
"Are you sure you are okay going home alone?" Jason asked as I was about to leave the bar."Yeah, I'll be fine." I nodded, waved him off.I took a cab straight to Bryan's place rather than the station. Not that there was anything to be done at the station."You are back early." Kaila chuckled as she opened the door, her smile falling when her eyes met mine."I'll explain inside." I stated before she could ask.The living room air was filled with the scent of toast and syrup, Bryan must have done something right again in the kitchen. No doubt thanks to Kaila's company."Kaila, who is it?" Bryan yelled from the kitchen."It's Eiran, hurry up and join us in the living room." Kaila yelled back.I collapsed on the largest couch, kicking my boots off recklessly. The conversation between Jason and Melissa played over in my head. Was Melissa ever even my friend?"What's up?" Bryan popped into the living room, wiping his palms with a hand towel."Melissa is going to help me get the approval fo
It pained me to admit it, but after the little humane conversation with Malik, it took some effort to bring myself to punch him in the face twice before Melissa arrived in front of the cell."Where's Charlie?" I yelled, pretending I was interrogating him for Charlie's location.From the corner of my eye, I could see the initial panic on her face morph into false concern. She stepped into the cell, grabbing the throwing arm as u raised it for a third punch."Eiran, please stop it." She cooed.I pretended to struggle with the choice for a moment before dropping my hand, breathing heavily to sell the act.She stepped between Malik and me, her arms holding me in a hug."I'm sorry." I muttered."It's fine, Eiran. I understand you are getting desperate." She soothed, but I wasn't talking to her.Malik nodded subtly, silently acknowledging my words as he wiped the blood dripping from his nose with his shirt, letting out subtle coughs like he was gravely affected."Wipe your fists on his shir
I kept my findings from Kaila and Bryan, pending the time I confirmed what was truth and what wasn't.There was no point confusing them the same way I was confused. I only told them how Melissa what Melissa had told me when I asked about the phone."Of all the dumb excuses in the world, blood got on the circuits?" Bryan hissed.Kaila said nothing, just sitting in her chair, tapping her feet against the floor."So, what are you going to do?" Bryan asked, walking towards the kitchen."I'll let her believe she's still having her way while I try finding an opportunity for our trip." I shrugged."Can't you just call in sick?" Kaila inquired."Melissa would most likely turn up in front of the house with brown soup every day until I am supposedly better." I turned down the idea."Emergency save-the-planet trip?" Bryan yelled from the kitchen."Are you even trying?" I yelled back."But, he might be onto something." Kaila noted, the tapping of her feet coming to an end."He is?" I asked with r
"Just because we are having disagreements doesn't mean you can just drive a wedge in our friendship, you know?" I scoffed, feeling slightly out of breath.It felt like my entire body was burning up again, this time not from anger, but pure panic. His words couldn't be true, not even in the slightest. I mean it's Jason, everything he has said and done has been to pull me away from those who love me. He was just saying these things to derail my friendship with Melissa permanently, but then why hadn't I shot up from my seat and left the bar?"It's fine if you don't believe me, she's your closest friend after all." He sighed, waving over the bartender."We are both detectives, Jason." I mumbled."Yeah, you're partners as well." He paused to hand his card over to the waiter. "And I'm just the obsessive guy who stalked your house.""That's not what I meant, I need proof to completely believe what you are saying." I said, running my hands through my hair."You look cute when you do that." H
The next day, I stopped by the office after dropping Kaila off at Bryan's place. Bryan had been so eager to start planning the trip even though we hadn't decided on a date yet.There wasn't actually anything urgent to do at the office, but the weekend was over and I had to go to work, even though I was still pissed at Melissa. We still hadn't spoken to each other and I didn't really have any problems with that. I would sit in the office for a couple of hours. If she showed up, I would give her the phone. If she didn't show up, I'd leave it on her table and head on out to Bryan's place.As fate would have it, I bumped into Jason on the stairs. He seemed to be on his way somewhere when I first saw him, but did a 180° and followed me back upstairs."Hi Eiran, your face has been scarce recently." He greeted with his usual creepy grin."Yeah, I lost a loved one...not Charlie though, so don't get any ideas." I replied, flashing him a warning glare."Oh, sorry for your loss. You know you co
The last thing I recalled before falling asleep was trying to memorise the final line in the book. Something about one of the greatest achievements a detective could attain was being able to solve a case without harm coming to anyone who doesn't deserve it.Theron had woken up much earlier than I h
What exactly was she on about? I didn't know and I didn't really care. I turned to Theron who had taken his hand away from my face the moment she barged in."Stupid lady." I mumbled, but she didn't hear it."What are you in about, Cynthia?" Theron sighed, sounding tired."He, you, I saw-""You saw
I wish Jacob had mentioned how much that drink cost before sending me off to the store. Between it and the lavender I bought, I almost didn't have enough for a taxi to the hospital "Hopefully he's awake." I muttered to myself as I walked the hallway to his Ward.The nurse at the reception greeted
Suddenly, I couldn't feel the cold autumn wind any longer; my hands hung frozen around him. He seemed really worked up all of a sudden making me wonder what happened. I couldn't tell if I should hug him back or push him away, though; a larger part of me wanted the former.Slowly, he peeked up at m







