SOLD TO MY ARCH ENEMY

CHAPTER THREE

The air was suddenly too chilly as my nostrils flared in response, I was floating despite feeling anchored, or restrained and then I opened my eyes.

For a second a heavy confusion on where I was set in, but I did not panic, and there was no fear and then I knew the medications had not worn off. It has been a long time since I was last sedated. And it felt strange, like I was no longer the girl who had taken them every other day a few years ago.

My eyes adjusted to the darkness, I was in my room and I couldn’t remember coming up and then like the first wave of a volcanic eruption, the memories of the last evening hit.

I needed to speak with officer Nagato, I willed my legs to move and like a wobbly drunken sailor I traced my way to the living room.

It was empty and the TV was turned on, an unfinished glass of wine told me my mum had only left either for the bathroom or my dad’s office. Our house, a depressing version of all it used to be.

“Oh my love!” My mum sighed as she hurried towards me and engulfed me in a hug, my dad came closer and patted me gently on the head.

“How do you feel?” He asked even more gently, like any tilt if his tone might throw me back into the mess I was the night before.

“A little wobbly” I said, my voice sounded borrowed and unlike mine.

“Come and sit.”

My mum led me to the sofa and quickly called in Shera the nanny. In minutes the smell of pancakes and eggs made my tummy ache.

I didn’t know how to ask about the events of last evening without getting shut down immediately, my parents fussed about me with worry written over their actions and inactions.

I wondered if they always fussed about me this way or it was the loss of my brother…i let the thought trail off and shook my head to the side as if to awaken myself…was it the drugs? I wondered to myself.

My parents have always been caring.

Shera walked in with pancakes and a glass of milk, she smiled at me and handed the plate to me with no words. I thanked her and she hurriedly disappeared towards the kitchen. My mum and dad watched my every bite and every gulp. The food tasted like cardboard but I ate on because I knew I needed my strength for all that was ahead of us and my mum would definitely nag till there were no crumbs. “Why suffer twice?” I sighed again.

Immediately I was done and as if on cue Shera came in to collect the plate from me, my mum began to explain. Officer Nagato had been at the house yesterday just after I had fallen asleep. Like I saw on TV, Someone else was shot.

Another man in his thirties with no connection to my brother but the witness had seen the killer and he had confirmed his victim on the phone before the shot. In fact, there’s a suspicion it could be the same suspect.

I did not interrupt my mum, her speech was slow and her eyes squeezed in a focus. I could see she wanted to remember every detail, she wanted to tell it like it was told to her. And then she paused, I waited and when she didn’t say another word I asked.

“Is there any lead on the suspect ?”

“None that the officer mentioned…there could be but he didn’t say.”

“But it’s a sure lead?” I asked again.

“He sounded sure but I couldn’t tell."

Her voice fell, she was disappointed herself, but she was worried I'd be disappointed, I had to speak to someone.

Her phone began to ring and I used it as an excuse…I mumbled some inaudible words as I stood up and walked towards the stairs, I could hear her on the phone but I knew her eyes were fixed on my back as I went up the stairs, a little less wobbly than I did when coming down.

I switched on the light and scanned quickly and there it was, my phone laid beside the clothes I had on last night. I knew it was Shera, when given the chance she takes care of me like she used to when I was a naive, adrenaline pumping, black liner loving pre teen girl. I know she misses it.

Nagato picks at exactly the third ring. He didn’t let me offer pleasantries and his voice was low and conspiratorial.

“Meet me in 10 minutes at the cafe closest to your house.” He breathes into the phone and cuts off the call without a goodbye.

I needed a shower but I hurriedly threw on jeans and a tee. It was Joe's and I could feel the tug again in my heart as I slipped the tee over my. I quickly packed my hair into a bun.

Despite being in a hurry, I tiptoed down the stairs and was relieved when I found that the living room was empty. I hurriedly went out towards the car, then I realized the car keys were on my table.

I couldn’t go back. My mum will forbid me from going out since it was past 8pm and I just gained consciousness so I decided to walk down.

The walk was actually a good idea, I was able to put in a little exercise and get some fresh air. Mercury, the closest cafe, was almost empty. I recognized the part timer and he smiled at me in recognition. The lights were dim and the only other occupants spoke in hushed tones.

I sat facing outside so I could watch the passersby thinking Nagato wouldn’t make it in 10 like I asked. But he walked right in just after I ordered an iced Coffee. He looked glum and pale unlike his usually professional yet cheerful demeanor.

“Sorry for making you come out this late despite yesterday”

“Oh!” The word escaped my lips.I forgot he was at the house yesterday and a sense of embarrassment scaled down my throat.

“It’s okay, ” I added as I tried to regain my composure.

He sits across from me and then leans towards me. If he didn’t look deadly serious I'd have assumed he was flirting.

“There’s a lead jenn, but we’re keeping it under the table so information doesn’t get to the wrong ears”

He paused then continued.

“What do you know about M&M? Was your brother in a gang?”

“A gang?” I was shocked. Joe wasn’t the type to find himself in a gang. A cult? Maybe.

“There have been other deaths that didn’t make it to the news”. He continued in a whisper.

“A rivalry. All the way from Chicago.”

This was definitely a lead. The M&M gang. I will never forget.

“How did Joe get entangled in a gang? Deep enough to get killed all my the way in Japan from Chicago.” I wondered to myself.