BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Twenty-two

The two stared at each other with slight smiles on their faces. Devyn was more than happy to know she was making him something for dinner. He knew how fortunate he was. Velda was amazing in every way, and Devyn wondered how far their closeness will hold.

"You sure took less time than I had expected," Velda remarked.

Devyn's smile relaxed.

"I've my way with Asteria"

"I can see that" Velda admitted and then crooked her attention to cooking the rice. "Take a sit. I'll bring you your food"

Devyn went to sit and his phone suddenly beeped. He pulled out his phone to read a message from Milo "She's out" That was all it read and soon a picture popped up. Devyn's eyes rose to check Velda and then they returned to the screen. Devyn was lost to his cell phone when Velda finally brought the warm dinner and placed it on the table.

"I see you're busy"

"I was only trying not to get too ravenous"

Devyn settled his cell phone on the table and took his attention to the food.

"Nandos chicken and rice," Velda told him. "Wine?" She rose a brow.

"Two glasses"

Velda nodded slowly. She was about to go for the wine when Devyn's cell phone went off. He again pulled out his phone, and seeing the caller, he made a hand gesture and rose from the seat. Devyn answered the call and carry out a few steps, distancing himself a little from Velda, presenting her his back. And Velda didn't pay attention or rather forced herself not to pay attention to him.

In the little space her mind could catch to think, Velda realized that she knew nothing about this man. It was something that never happened to her since her first incident. She tried changing her mind by moving to obtain the wine she was supposed to fetch. Eventually, she placed the two glasses on the dining table and then the wine.

After another long second passed, Devyn turned and took a few steps back to the dining. Velda decided to push her luck to learn more about him, her gaze travelled up to his reluctantly before Devyn slid into the seat.

"Business call?"

Devyn lifted a brow at the question and then set his phone aside. "Close" He responded nonchalantly with a slight head gesture.

Velda hummed and took a seat. Even though she didn't manifest it, Velda was indeed dying to know more about the grey-eyed man in front of her. The verity that she knew zero of this man except for his name. Not even his last name, his home, family rendered her feel a little ashamed of her career as a detective.

"Now, if you wouldn't mind sharing with us a logical explanation of why you're lost in thought, detective" A faint grin appeared on Devyn's inexplicable face which suddenly attenuated this dangerous coldness in his eyes. "What are you so eager to know?" He motioned his head at her.

"It bothers me that I know nothing about you"

He expected that line. Devyn did, and he knew it the moment those words left her mouth. Ignoring the question, he reached for the wine and soon began to pour it into the glasses, and when he was done, he turned to Velda with a faint smirk.

"Come on. All that detective skills and this is the best you could do?" Devyn uttered in an almost reprimanded tone.

Velda opened her mouth slightly, but nothing came out and then she closed it immediately. Velda and Devyn locked eyes, and their somewhat complex expressions faded to start making room for their typical game of stare.

"I told you to let's get acquainted, but you wanted it your way. I was beginning to wonder when you would be done with your investigation about me to accept my proposal" Devyn said with that usual tone.

A timid feeble smile crossed Velda's lips and she looked away "You might not have asked ethically" She hinted and then sipped from the glass. Devyn stared at her carefully, seeming to record every word for Velda and then he shrugged nonchalantly. If he was affected by Velda's words, he didn't show it.

"What can you answer that won't break my heart if I had asked ethically as you demand"

"Since when are you all soft with a heart that could break?"

"Since always. With you"

"There's a lot of personalities here, isn't there?

"You say that, but you have a personality I'm quite trying to comprehend. You had a fun way of showing it to me twice now"

Velda opened her mouth to retaliate but closed it as quickly as she opened it. The explicit image of their two occasional kisses erupted in her head. She tried maintaining a cold unbothered front, but the reality was that Velda was yet to understand why she suddenly wanted him that much.

"Thursday night"

Her words brought a smirk she seemed to be witnessing for the first time on Devyn's lips. Devyn sipped more wine, dropping the glass he glanced at Velda with an enigmatic expression that made Velda feel like the man was thinking and was somewhere else. As if he was finally aware of something.

The case of Captain Leek's family murderer led Velda to diverse ends. With some documents she fetched from Leek's apartment before the police took charge granted her some knowledge of the gang she was investigating on. Still, Velda had come upon a shirt button while again going through the crime scene, odd perhaps that the investigators never came across the supposed evidence.

Through a certain coding on one of the documents she had come upon, she discovered another of Leek's witnesses. Eventually, Velda located him in a slump area nearly away from the city. He was subjected as a member of the mob's gunmen after his sister was forcefully taken away by them. The information she got yet did not satisfy Velda as the young man wasn't truly open, in fear of the sister's life.

Velda stood before her case board, her eyes travelling from one photo, following the thread to another, a few pin-down notes and then she defeatedly leaned on the desk behind her. She only wants to get her captain off yet the case appeared more involved. She grabbed the tablet on the desk and went through the picture and prints Carter had earlier sent to her before a weak breath escaped her mouth.

"What are you thinking about?"

Velda's eyes rose from the tablet to the man by the entrance of her home office, Devyn, meeting his worried gaze. Devyn's voice had sounded like an inaudible murmur, concerned, she may define it. By the stress of the unsolved case before her, Velda had ended up almost forgetting about Devyn's presence in the house. Although he had been with Asteria, taking on to grasp the choreography the little one needed him to learn.

"Mm?"

Devyn exhaled sharply through his nostrils, a half-amused smile exhibited.

"What got you lost in the silence of these walls?"

Velda lowered her tablet. "It's a case I'm working on"

Devyn slowly took a few steps into the room "What is it about, detective?" He lowered his palms to rest on the desk as he slanted leaned over.

Velda roughly combed her hair with her fingers.

"My ex-captain was framed for the murder of his wife and six years son, making him guilty of a crime he never committed. I know he wanted me out of the case, but I just can't sit and watch him suffer in the prison" She impatiently folded her arms across her chest and then released them to lean on the desk, opposite Devyn.

Velda sighed gently. If only the case was that simple. She was unhappy with herself for being unable to pin down any confidential information, maybe the man might have wanted her out of the case, but she was certain he needed her help. Devyn will comprehend completely and wouldn't judge her at all, but that didn't erase the shame that she is yet to find a key.

"The case involves so many crises and I'm yet to find a key. It's a dangerous case, I can feel it"

"Yes, I suppose it is" Devyn murmured, his eyes hanging on the desk.

"And why do you think that's the case?"

"Well, I don't know, detective. You tell me" Devyn rose dramatically. His eyes toured the board against the opposite wall. "He asked you to stay away from the case for a reason you may not know until it's too late"

"None of the chiefs knows I'm working on the case. It's solo not to bring others' attention. They won't even know what's coming until it hits them"

"You don't even have backups, detective. It's stupid for you to go out there alone. You take too many risks, as smart as you are, they are gonna catch up with you"

And something inside Velda told her that Devyn might be right. That is the near future, one of them would hit the end. Either her or the gangs, it's only one. But she wasn't going to be the one, she still has control and an advantage over them.

"Devyn, I'm not afraid you got to stop treating me like I am"

Devyn didn't stimulate any reaction concerning the detective's words. "Okay. Though you should be cautious" he said with a thoughtful air.

His voice rang out calmly but authoritatively. His grey eyes shifted to Velda and their eyes collided. Devyn moved closer to her, watching her carefully like he was struggling to counsel his fears. And then a reluctant smile swiped his face.

"I will pick you up tomorrow" He whispered watching her and going over every emotion her eyes had to offer.

"Good night, detective" Devyn passed her, the neutral expression on his face trying to compete with his indescribable beauty. Though his eyes still held an aura that was known to the detective. Devyn stared at her one last time before exiting the room.