Clue One
1298 Words
“Louis…….”
“I’m here Keith. I’m here darling”
Despite being on the verge of sleep, Louis rushed to Keith’s side. Since he had been hospitalized over a week ago, he was just opening his eyes. His voice was cracky and he looked pale and gaunt but Louis was happy he was alive.
“I was so scared I was going to lose you” Louis sobbed, holding his hands. He had tears at the edges of his eyes, uncertain if they were because his eyes were dry or if he was crying. Neither mattered at the moment.
The doctors came in and took care of him. Hansel, a tall, lanky redhead stood by the door, waiting for her. His brown eyes were soft when he saw her red eyes.
“He’s awake. Please watch over him carefully. I’m going home”
“Yes boss”
It was a weekend yet the hospital was packed with various people. In the reception, there was a grouchy man in cuffs and an officer that looked like he hated his life beside him. This reminded her of the detective.
They say speak of the devil and he would appear. When she walked out, rubbing her itchy eyes, the first thing she saw was him leaning against the pillar of the parking lot entrance. Louis immediately sank into a bad mood.
“Good morning Miss Louis”
“What do you want?”
“I received a message for a delivery yesterday”
Louis eyed him suspiciously and collected the letter from him. After reading, her mood hit rock bottom. It was past 10 already and with little information about Person B, they weren’t sure what was going on.
“Let’s just go first and deal with what comes after next”
Louis could only nod. They got into her Lexus, Louis getting into the driver’s seat. Louis felt his gaze strongly on her as she geared to drive and she returned a glare. She started the engine and they drove off.
The only sound in the car was that of the GPS. Mikhail looked like he wanted to say something but Louis ignored him, refusing to look at him till they arrived at their destination. Louis’s phone vibrated in her pocket and she picked it up to check her message.
[You’re late]
Louis was tempted to block him. Mikhail gave her a look of questioning but all she did was get out of the car. He had no other choice but to follow her. They entered into the broad warehouse which was almost completely empty with the exception of a single brown box in the middle.
They looked at each other, doing a mental challenge to see who would open it first. Eventually, Mikhail brought out a lighter from his pocket and threw it. It hit the side of the box and bounced off. Louis gave him an ‘are you stupid?’ look.
She walked up to the box and opened it. It was filled with CDs and Magazines containing child porn on the covers. There was a logo at the edge of each, showing which company produced it.
“This…… this is Erin Walsh” Mikhail says, picking out a CD from the pile. There was a young girl of maybe 12 on the cover, tied up with multiple ropes, and her mouth gagged. It was hard to see her features but it was easy to assume Mikhail had seen the CD before. Louis ignored this.
“I recognize this logo too. The Seraph……..”
“Seraph Magazines, I know. I’ve worked with them for quite a while” Louis cut in. Louis brought her phone out of her pocket but there was no new message.
“Let’s go to my office so we can go through this”
“Alright”
They walked back to the car with Louis carrying the box. He wanted to offer to carry it but he felt Louis would snap at him if he said anything. She placed the box in the back seat and then got into the driver’s seat to drive.
As she started the engine, she felt a dizzy spell come over her. She had been in the hospital since the previous night and hadn’t eaten dinner nor breakfast. She held her head till her vision cleared.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine”
“You don’t look fine. Have you even had anything to eat?”
“.....” Louis chose not to reply, blinking rapidly. She heard Mikhail sigh.
“Alright, let’s swap, I’ll drive”
It was the second time she gave him the ‘are you stupid?’ look. Still, Mikhail wasn’t deterred.
“What’s the use of all this if we both die because you refused to let someone more capable drive?”
“More capable?”
“I’ve eaten and I’m full of energy. You look like you can fall at any moment. I think that qualifies me as more capable”
Louis was unwilling to let this argument drag back and forth. She alighted from the driver’s seat and walked to the other side. When she got there, Mikhail was already in the driver’s seat. He was grinning too. She raised a brow and said nothing. He started the engine and they drove off.
Aside from the GPS, the sound of Louis’s voice filled the car.
“Yeah, afternoon to you too. Are you at the office?”
“.....mhm okay. Can you get me lunch?”
“......the regular order. Buy for two”
“...... stop being nosy and just do what I say. I’m almost there”
“....... I hope you’re not slacking off. My office must be clean when I get there”
“...... I’ll believe you. Okay, bye”
Roberta, Louis’s main secretary, was nosy. They had worked together for a long time so Roberta was more than familiar with Louis. Louis bringing a man to work on a weekend would certainly not bode well for her.
Accepting her defeat, they pull into the parking lot of the building. Mikhail wanted to walk out front but Louis carrying the box walked towards the back. He followed her, taking the box from her hands.
“I don’t need to be babied”
“I know but until you eat something, I cannot let you stress yourself”
“Don’t try to be chivalrous with me. It’s annoying”
“Yes ma’am”
Opening the outer exit, they see a long hall. At the end is another red exit door. She opens it to reveal an elevator. They enter and the elevator starts going down.
“So it was underground” Mikhail mumbled. Louis didn’t respond, staring at the door until they reached the administrative floor. The doors opened and they entered the reception. There was no one there, given it was a weekend so they just walked in. It also wasn’t busy in the office but there were a few people walking around. They all greeted Louis, wondering who the person with her was.
Roberta was standing in front of Louis’s office. She smiled at them.
“So it was Detective Grisha?”
“Um, hello” Mikhail awkwardly nodded.
“Hi. I’m Roberta, Louis’s personal assistant, and secretary. It’s a pleasure to formally meet you”
“Nice to meet you too”
“Roberta, just hand over the damn food. I don’t have time for this”
“Okay” Roberta says, her smile getting wider. Louis takes the packs from her and enters her office, Mikhail following after.
They were definitely going to be running around when everyone else resumed. Louis just knew it.
- Writer
