My tummy feels like it’s about to pop. The server keeps filling my glass with water and each time, I’m pressured to drink it. I hope they didn’t find me weird the entire dinner.
Muscle man knocked on my door earlier saying that it’s dinner time. I’m confused when I saw that they set up a table on the driveway just for us to eat. I was not ready for the dinner at all so I improvised my jokes and stories.
Luckily, Mr. Bartley’s a happy man and he always laughed at my jokes. Muscle man gave me about thirty to I don’t know how many scoffs to the point that I want to stab him in the eye.
“So, Jess. Tell me how you and my Kathy met.” I’m about to puke when he claimed Kathy in his sentence. We are still sitting, giving ourselves rest after eating a lot of food.
I smiled at him. “Oh, how can I forgot that story. Well, in her first day, she showed up on my door holding a cake. I invited her inside, and the next thing you know is I am referring her to my boss.”
Muscle man doesn’t care about what I’m saying at all. He’s just watching the gates. He’s very dedicated to his job.
“Yes. She likes to bake a lot. Very friendly too.” We giggle. After that, we’re quite for two straight minutes. We joined Rufus on guarding the gates.
Luckily, Old man breaks the ice. “So, uh— how’s your boyfriend?” He looks at Rufus who is now shows interest. “What’s his name again? Jonathan, Archer, uh—“
“Jaxton Archer, sir.” Muscle man said.
Old man looks at me. “How is Detective Archer?” He ask.
“Oh, yes. He’s good. Very very healthy.” I gulped, hoping that I won’t burp.
“Why is he not here with you? You should call him and I will send a car.” He ate the last slice of pancake I didn’t notice he had. Pancakes now? Okay fine, I won’t judge.
“He’s very busy now. I don’t think he’s got time for a vacation.” I pick a grape on the fruit plate and tosses it right in my mouth.
“What case is he holding right now?” He pick a grape too.
“Robbery, series of vandalism, uhm— nothing more?” If you can see my smile, you’ll die of awkwardness. I don’t even know what my boyfriend is doing. Why? Because I left him only a note before running away here.
“Those can wait. Rufus, will you arrange the car?”
I kicked Muscle man under the table and gave him a pleasing look. “Do something.” I mouthed.
Is he nervous? What is he doing looking back and forth between me and Mr. Bartley? “Uhm, let me check if he’s really busy.” He walked away.
He really left me here alone with Old man. “I think he’s still handling Kathy’s case. It’s really better if we don’t disturb him.” I’m trying to convince him, and I am so desperate. I’m not sure if Muscle man got my back with this.
“He said that there is no progress. It can wait.” He’s treating me like I’m one of his guys by talking to me with his authority attitude. What if I drag him to the Island and let the kids beat him up?
But what if those kids love him, and they beat me up instead? Come on, Jess. What are you thinking?
Instead of defending my point, I waited for muscle man to come back. I need to endure Old man’s attitude if I want to survive. He is my best chance to avoid Denise’s scary obsession, and investigate Kathy’s death if I ever survive. Two birds, one stone.
Finally, muscle man is here. He wave his phone. “That’s Detective Sanchez. They are going back to brush Kathy’s investigation again. Media people went by their office asking them about progress.”
Old man scoffs. “I don’t know what’s the issue they can’t find something about Kathy’s death.” Come on, just say that you want to benefit in the investigation. “They will never be good like their Dads.” My mouth opens because of shock. “No offense.”
My mouth clicked. “No, it’s alright.”
Muscle man’s phone rings so he gets up to answer it. He came back after a minute. “They are almost here, sir.” Who’s here?
Old man gets up. “That is why I hired a professional to investigate the case. Maybe he’ll find something good.” Then he just went inside.
“Get up. Let’s get you in your room.” Instead of reaching for his hand, I grabbed the fruit plate and went to my room. “Why are you here? Leave me alone.” I said.
“Can’t. Old man said I should stay with you.”
“Looks like you got someone important, they might need you downstairs.”
“No. The meeting is ultimately private. Old man trust no one.” He steals my fruit plate and pulled a chair. He observes the gate from my window.
“Seriously, Rufus.”
“Rufus? Not muscle man? Are you going to call me using my real name when you got something serious to say?” He tosses me an apple.
“I guess. That’s good so you’ll know when to stop being sarcastic, Rufus.” I emphasize his name.
He shrugs his shoulder then ignores me.
“Can’t you find out what they are talking about?” I ask him.
“No.”
“Come on. Just go, okay?”
“Quit the tone. You are not my boss.” He gets up.
“Where are you going?” I ask him. He gave me the fruit plate that is almost empty.
“I’m commanding myself to go and find out what they are talking about.” He slammed the door.
I was left surprised with his attitude. Don’t know how long I can tolerate his attitude.
RUFUS
For the love of the Creator, why do they need to meet on the room before the secret tunnel? Mr. Bartley is so paranoid with his secrets.
I can see them inside.
“Did you get me every information I need?”
“Yes, sir. It’s all in here.” He gave a folder that contains a lot of paper.
Mr. Bartley reads the first page. “You found out more in a week than the Police in months.” Based on his looks, he’s very impressed.
“That girl. She’s the Detective’s girlfriend, eh? The younger Detective?” His question doesn’t seem like a question. It’s more of confirmation.
“Yes, she is. Kathy’s friend too.” Mr. Bartley’s flipping the pages fast.
The investigator nods, like he already know it. Of course, she going to brush Jess’ life too. She’s the closest friend Kathy had that I know of.
Mr. Bartley closes the folder. “Thank you, Anton. You’re just like your father.” He smiled.
“It’s my pleasure sir. See you around.” I squeezed in the corner to hide myself.
My heart jumped when my phone rings. “Sh*t.”
“Rufus, are you there?” Mr. Bartley shouted.
I bumped my head on the wall before walking inside.
“What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay with Jess?”
“Sir, I—“ I licked my lips. “I thought that I need to escort the visitor out.”
“He knows his way out.” He handed me the copy of the folder. “Sit. Let’s start.”
“Start what, sir?” I flipped the first page.
“That’s the answer to Kathy’s death, my boy.” He pats my back. He trust no one, but he sometimes treats me as his own son.
My Father and him once had a good relationship. But he took them away from me and stole my Dad’s business.
If I have enough chance to turn old man’s life around, I’ll do it in a beat.
“This can’t be right.” When I look at him, he’s already on the Middle page.
“What’s not right, sir?” I flipped the page to find what’s he talking about.
He’s shaking his head in surprise. “What a small world. A very small world.” He threw the folder on the table. “Paper 18.”
I flipped the page to 18. “What the f*ck.” That is very unprofessional to say in front of my boss but he just said “I know, right?”
How can I not see this? It’s very obvious that this person killed her.
“We live in such a small world, you must know your enemies.” He taps his cane on the floor to get up.
“A very small world indeed.”