PREYS AND PREDATORS

Chapter 10

"Steve?"I was yet confounded since he broke the news on me.

Steve who had been observing me couldn't stifle his laughter any longer and he guffawed."It's a prank!"

That came as a relief at the start then a wonder, because it was a little incredible he had plans to prank me. To the public we could be regarded as friends but we weren't so close so I suspected he was yet glad about the recent breakthrough."I should have known better."

His laugh came to a stop but he was still smiling."You looked like you just saw a ghost. Please sit."

I only had the intention to stop by so I refused.

Since Steve saw that I was resolute in my conclusion to stay on my feet he stood up as though in defense but didn't beat me in our height contest.

He was a black american, kind of brief,and balding. He had bloodshot eyes and bags beneath them. I suspected he had been putting his nose to the grindstone. Well in any case, the criminal, Del did cost him a lot of time and stress. He was on the brawny side giving him a admirable look in his uniform. To finalise it all he had a badge."Are you sure you don't want to sit?"

Seeing that he wanted certainty I forced a smile."Yes, I'm fine this way."

But his was noticeably genuine."Alright. I wanted to thank you."

I pointed out."You've done that already, Steve."

I wasn't a bit terror-stricken that I mentioned his name,after all he wanted me, regardless of his rank in the police force, to call him by his name."But I appreciate you too for letting me help."

As soon as I was done speaking he nodded with a satisfied smile and reached for a swollen white envelope to offer it to me. Instinctively I knew what was in it and for a reason didn't like it that way so I spoke up."Um sir, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to reject this."

He pulled a face."What? Why? You deserve it. Because of you Del is right where he belongs,in the slam. You should take it, is it too small?"

I cleared the air nervously."Not at all. And the cops did most of the job, I just played smart a little. What I meant is I think also supporting me in the future is better than..than the token. Don't get me wrong I'd love to have it but...yeah."

Steve looked dead at me like my refusal wouldn't let him rest well. At a point I thought our friendship was ending that very moment.

Lets face it. My demand wasn't unbearable. I suspected I might ache for his help possibly in the near future and returning the favour would come in handy. That was fair enough for me so why the glare? Probably he wasn't one to take kindly to debts. The way he drew back the hand with the money, dropped the token back on the table and sat again almost snobbishly made me feel like a golddigger.

He shrugged."Well I'm hoping I get to return the favour real soon. Once again, thank you."

At least we concorded on that."I think it's time I left your office, sir."

As soon as I shut the door outside after leaving his presence Wick's message popped on my phone's screen and I read it forthwith. Although the diminutives were plenty the text was understandable.

There was a case on ground. I had notifications from my i********: account concerning the recent follows I had acquired over a few days and paid no attention to it. As a matter of fact it happened to be a everyday sort of thing now.

Gone are those days when I'd rack my head desperately seeking for methods to up my fans. Many sleepless nights spent in cogitation. I downloaded various apps I thought might have the breakthrough I pined for and apparently ended up filling my storage with them.

In the end, amusing enough it got to be boom! The usual ten followers that I supplicated with for two months before they had compassion and clicked on the follow button. Just to click was like a massive burden and I, Adex Berry a unpopular rapper detested such sort of ignorance.

In any case, I was over it now. No more Adex Berry. Literally I couldn't recall the last time I had rap to a beat. Rather I had opened a novel account now and gained six thousand followers in just four months. Last time I checked it had surpassed a hundred thousand. I could crave for more but I was contented.

Being just a detective and sometimes novelist with such amount of fans was satisfactory. I guess it turned out that I didn't run out of luck on that part.

My brief plan was only to hop into my Mercedes Benz and zip away yet the aroma from the baker's shop changed my decision right away. The old man must have begun his thing. I sheered to the right tracking the sweet smell with my nose. It was around that time I beheld the beauty of the baker's daughter.

She came out to dispose some trash and wore an apron with stripes which didn't succeed in concealing her discernible hips. It wasn't what she was disposing that had me gawking. As a matter of fact I paid it no mind and let myself get fascinated by her elegance.

Her brunette hair stopped at her shoulders,fine and glossy. Like her face. Moreover,she was brown-eyed, with swollen cheeks. I intentionally didn't avoid her eyes and caught a glimpse of her cheeks turning red after she saw me admiring her. She must've noticed that she attracted me.

Like I hadn't had enough I was about scrutinizing her behind as she turned to return into the shop when I bumped into someone. The hit wasn't so agonizing to me for the person happened to be someone succulent however we cringed in some pain leaving space in the middle to have better views of ourselves.

On my part,I came to realise it was a woman. I was only looking apologetically at her. But little did I know that I just bumped into destiny.

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