Arabella

Chapter 11

        Ara heard Jake get up, but didn’t bother stopping. She didn’t like the security company that Mr. Blue was using. What happened with Mr. Blue was the first major blemish on record. There had been small incidents, but all of them ended in the company saving the day by helping the police catch the criminal. She just  couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. And what kind of name was Robbers Beware! for a security company? Way too corny. She wanted to dig deeper, but she needed better computer skills for that. Not even her “specialized” software was helping. She rubbed her eyes and stared at the screen and decided to make an appointment with the security company in the morning, posing as a perspective client to get a look around. Luckily, with this company everything was done online. Confirming an appointment for the morning, she leaned back in the chair. Maybe she could get Lily to help. She shook her head of that thought.That was just asking for trouble. Yesterday had been bad at Blue’s house. She heaved a sigh and headed into the kitchen toward the sound of running water.  

        He was standing at the kitchen counter, staring into his coffee cup. He looked up when he heard her footsteps and handed her a cup off the counter. Extra creamy, extra sweet. She took a long sip and slid onto a stool. “So, you want to  know what I found out?” 

        Jake nodded his head and took a seat across from Arabella. She waited for him to get comfortable and took another sip of her coffee. She took a breath and started.

“So… Mr. Blue’s security system was off at the time of death. His throat was cut and his house ransacked. From what I could tell, someone was looking for something.”

“Why would you think that?” Jake interrupted.

        Arabella glared and continued on. “The time frame of the cameras with his death doesn’t match. Either the time of death is wrong or the cameras were cut earlier because they needed time to look for something. When they couldn’t find it, they went to Blue and when he refused to tell them, they killed him.”

    “So you think this was not only done by multiple people, but they were searching for something and want it bad enough to kill someone for it?”

    “Yes.”

    Jake took a sip of his coffee to hide his surprise. She figured out more than he thought. 

    “Hire me. As a private citizen, not my boss.” Arabella looked at Jake and waited. This was a test of sorts. She decided that if he hired her, then she would do everything to prove his innocence. If not, then he was hiding more than she thought and wanted nothing to do with it. She hoped if she kept telling herself that, it would be true. Even if he didn’t hire her, she would still look into this case. She wouldn't be able to let it go. Especially not with Jake involved. She knew they had an unusual relationship and… she trusted him. If it turned out that he was involved in a cold-blooded murder, she didn’t even want to think how she would feel. Even if the guy killed was a soulless bastard. 

    Jake walked around the counter and sat on a stool next to her. He went to take a sip of coffee and thought better of it. He’d never get to sleep. He forced a smile and looked at Arabella. She had a glint in her eyes and her jaw was set. Her hair was falling loose from her bun and he couldn’t help but glance at her lips. Even though she was mad, they looked soft and inviting. He felt a stirring from somewhere he never had for her before. He shook his head yes. He couldn’t bring himself to say the word. He got off the chair and grabbed his cup off the counter and placed in it the sink. “You mind if I jump into the shower?” He turned to Arabella but she was already back at her computer. He turned and headed in the direction of the bathroom. 

                                                                                        ***

    Arabella heard the shower turn on and decided to call it a night. It was after four and she had a ten-thirty appointment with the security company and a few hours sleep would help clear her head. She went into her bedroom and grabbed an extra blanket and pillow out of the closet. She tossed them onto the couch for Jake and turned to go back into her room. She set an alarm for nine AM and crawled under the covers. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.