BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Four

Thereon, Velda slanted against her car outside the ballet building as she waited for the young ballerina to turn up. She set back her cell phone into her jacket's satchel, the blazing midday sun shone relentlessly onto the earth beings, it was a sunny day. Velda brightened up at the time she finally sights the animated ballerina earning her way out of the building excitedly. She was clad already in the set of clothes Velda had placed inside her backpack. She placed a kiss on her temple once she reached before taking possession of her backpack.

"Mum, you remember Lisa?" She suddenly asked caressing her thumb pad against her nose.

"Lisa?" Velda repeated, forehead creased as she tilted her head in contemplation.

"Yes, Lisa. She spoke of her mom getting married, and so she will be having a new dad and a stepbrother" Asteria explained as Velda pulled open the back seat door.

"Oh, that's good news. Lisa is happy, right?" Velda inquired though not quite convinced how to go about the topic even though it came off as one of their frequent dialogue. And that doesn't seal the actuality that she presumably doesn't even recall the Lisa in question. Calmly she ushered the young one into the car. In her twenty-eight years of existence, nothing scares her more than Asteria's outburst when she feels she ain't been listened to during conversations.

"I don't know" She uttered, mindlessly fixing her seat belt "But she says her stepbrother does consume all the leftover cakes her mom baked,"

Velda nodded faintly, she might perhaps have figured out where the topic was ushering them to "So what do you say?" Her lip negligibly pulled taut as she tried to suppress her laugh.

"I don't know" Velda stared at her and then just smiled before shutting the door. Eventually, she settled behind the steering.

"So, mum?"

"So, what?" Velda retorted and narrowly bent to peek at her, though couldn't decipher the look on the younger's face "What? you want a daddy because Lisa got a daddy?" She asked a bit sceptical, except that Astoria started to chuckle.

She looked heavenward finding her mother's words funny "No!" She shouted amusingly.

"Alright" Velda descanted and turned the key but unfortunately, the car failed to respond, not much thought into it she tried a second time, yet the car wasn't having it as it refused to start. She endeavoured several times, but the car seemed to be as stubborn as a mule.

"s**t" She cursed.

Defeatedly she leaned into her seat and took a little moment to shove away those lingering despairs. And again she attempted, but regardless of her multiple attempts the car still wouldn't wake up "Mum?" Asteria's troubled little voice arose from behind.

"Don't worry sweetheart" Velda immediately soothed "I would like you to remain in here, copy?" She veered around to stare at her.

"Copy" Asteria responded and with that, Velda got off the car and proceeded to open the hoods, bits of curse words escaped her mouth. She stood defeatedly in front of the opened hoods, staring cluelessly at the bonnet while her both hands rested on either side of her waist and again another curse word left her mouth. She wasn't even certain where to examine or perhaps what to touch. Yes, she is quite an interesting detective if one may say, but when it comes to mechanics, she was completely ignorant. At the juncture, she couldn't even detect the problem let alone know what next to do.

She hurriedly reopened the car door, took out her cell phone and returned to the front, though was on the verge of ringing Clyde when she glimpsed a black Bentley rolling in her direction and eventually stopped a few distances in front of her car. It was a 2019 Mulsanne speed.

The driver's door extended, and the very man who she had days back spilt an interesting amount of coffee on his shirt emerged. Velda immediately identified him as he merely dressed as simply as their previous encounter "Another horrible cross part" She mumbled solely before giving a weak smile to the man who had just approached her and quickly pocketed her phone and focused on the bonnet as though she had figured out the problem.

"Need help?"

"No. not really" She made a reply and slightly turned to the man who had just brought in the query, feeling a little embarrassed. The man possessed a latent, leonine power and walked with purpose and authority.

"You sure?" He implored a bit concerned.

Frankly, it doesn't hurt to ask for help, though it requires a speck of gutsiness to let down one's pride and appeal for aid when needed, which was her supreme crisis at the beat. Collectively she gazed into the male's face, meeting his eyes, and unexpectedly she found herself analyzing him. There it was, his haircut suiting him so well as if no other could surpass it, not to talk about his bristly eyebrows, and straight nose standing perfectly as it complemented his prominent cheekbones.

The set of grey eyes staring back at her was what she couldn't arrange a word to define, it's like they lacked emotions, just slightly, though turned out to be the most captivating set of eyes she had ever laid her eyes upon, and don't get her started because those titan's shoulders made him look much dishy.

"You were about to say something?" The man whispered fiercely though somehow appeasing, piercing through her thoughts, his voice low yet menacing. It rather wasn't a fair image as even a non-detective could glimpse she was a bit lost a few seconds before.

"Was I?" It certainly not a question, she further narrowed her gaze at the man, her face slightly appeared crinkled in confusion before she turned to spare a glance at her troubled car "Uhm, haa yes a problem, yes, there is a problem actually" Velda mentally cursed herself "My car broke down. Was about to call in a mechanic, before you showed up" She sounded off with a quick smile.

"Perhaps I can help call a closer one" He instigated paying a brief look at the troubled car. Velda's eyes trained quickly at her wristwatch before a subtle worry crept over her face and again the built man instantly caught sight of it "You don't wish for me to call in someone?"

"No. No not that" She muttered barely audible, head tilted in contemplation "Well, If that won't delay you, I would gladly accept"

"Do you have anywhere you were supposed headed to? I can take you. The mechanic will return your car to you once done" Velda's eyes flickered to the man at hearing his words, regardless the male gave her a reassuring nod "If you don't mind" He put in.

"That won't be a problem, thank you. I'm Dashiell, Velda Dashiell, a detective at the N.D.C Sci" She initiated stretching out her hand for a handshake as her countenance swapped to an acknowledgement smile.

"I'm Devyn" The gorgeous man enunciated as he took her long elegant fingers into a handshake. It was brief though in some ways lengthy. Velda didn't bother asking for his last name once their fingers pried away from the unusual greetings since she felt that the man never intended to divulge, although that doesn't quell her desire to learn them, perhaps it might exclusively be because of her discipline.

"Mum?" Asteria summoned upon barely extending the car door which drove Velda to lurch quickly towards her. Velda sealed the door once she was out before they both strolled back to Devyn.

"Uhm, Devyn meet my daughter, Asteria" Velda emitted gesturing at the girl, and then she slightly bent over and muttered to her "Sweetheart, say hi to Mr Devyn"

"Hi" Her sold little voice seemed a bit sharp and enchanting to listen to. Devyn squatted in front of her, with both on the same face level, a quiet smile crept onto his tight lips.

"You know what?" Her eyes lighten up curiously at his question "You have got the most beautiful name I ever heard in a long while, Asteria" Devyn piped up, although there was something distinct in his tone, it hauled a foreign emotion that was blurring to depict or single out. If only Velda had looked a little deeper, she would've caught a glimpse of the evolution in those grey sets of eyes. Asteria beamed at his words and shortly, he raised "Let me take this call, excuse me" he motioned.

"Sure" The detective nodded and Devyn changed course, a few distances away from them before Velda refocused on the young one. "Hey, sweetheart," She hunkered down "Mr Davyn would be giving us both a ride to the office since our car needs a mechanic to work on it, okay?" Tenderly she watched her before Asteria nodded.

"The mechanic will be here in five minutes," Devyn tells upon returning "We only have got to wait to hand him the key first, is that okay by you?" He stared solely at her unravelling a slightly questioning brow.

"Sure, yeah. That's entirely fine by me" Velda assured him with a few quick nods.

"Then, can she hold off in the car? The sun doesn't seem friendly and your car would probably be heated by now" Devyn mentioned.

Velda's gaze traced back to her car "If that wouldn't be a problem" She gave in and proceeded to grab the young one's backpack and iPad from the troubled car before leading Asteria to the Bentley. She was seated in the backseat and given her iPad to get busy with before Velda's cell phone vibrated bringing her attention to it.

"Okay, will be there," She sounded off and hung the call and went further to nest the phone back into her back pocket.

"He's here" Devyn stated "The mechanic" He cited as he signalled at the incoming vehicle which momentarily quelled next to Veldas'. Devyn passed the car key to the machinist and after a few words, they made their way to the Bentley before Devyn swung to the other side of the car.

"I love your car, it's super cool" Asteria's voice orbited the moment they both had their seatbelt on. "Are you my mom's friend?" Excitedly she polled though before he could react to her compliment or the question. "It is required of a friend to help, that's what Amelia said. So you are a friend of my mom, right?" She asked curiously leaning forward.

Devyn bent to glance at her "If you say so miss"

"My mom doesn't call me that" Her response unexpectedly got a reaction from Devyn, in another word he came off as a bit interested in what Velda calls her.

"So, what does she call you if I may?"

"Now, you wouldn't want to disturb the young man, Asteria. Would you?" Velda interrupted narrowing her gaze at Asteria who instantly looked down at her iPad. Devyn's eyes drifted to Velda who gave an awkward smile in return.

"Okay, Detective" He muttered barely audible.

There was something with Devyn's voice, it was always calm but authoritative, and its sound had a bizarre effect on Velda's body. Although one may not glimpse it, she seated a bit tensed on the leather seat, while her eyes focused directly on the tinted window. Though endeavoured to convince herself that the sole reason she was currently in the car was that she ought to get to her office. However, she was a bit irritated as to why she was all of a sudden tensed or nervous. It was only a simple car ride.

She unintentionally stared at the reflection of Devyn's side profile before mentally cursing herself and at that time, she knew this car ride was gonna be longer than it was supposed to be.

Surprisingly enough it wasn't as awkward as Velda had imagined. Asteria seemed unusually comfortable and her, well same. "Mum, can we buy ice cream?" Asteria's voice punctured through the silence.

"No sweetheart, you had said you don't want ice cream, I think..." Her forehead crinkled in an attempt to remember, then she turned to look at her "... exactly six hours thirty-four minutes back. So no ice cream today" Velda let out and then gave her tight lips.

"But mum-" she stared at Velda pleadingly.

"There is no but, sweetheart" She declined and turned to face their route, though a tiny glimpse of worry creased onto Velda's forehead. Sometimes kids can't read the room and learn that their request might inconvenience the young man but explaining it to her right now won't do any of them good, she rather they get to the office and then go grab ice cream later.

"Why don't we get her the ice cream" Devyn suggested taking a quick look at Velda who struggled a bit before nodding and a smile tugged its way onto Asteria's lips.

Velda had expected Devyn to want behind while they quickly grab the ice cream, except on getting into the parking lots, Devyn moreover instantly alighted from the car and proceed to assist the young one as though it was the most normal thing. Devin discreetly took Asteria's palm in his, and she excitedly began chatting away ahead of Velda. It was a new side of Asteria that the detective had just learned as the young one wasn't that much excited about strangers. Velda wandered as she watched the two move to the counter, it was bitterly prominent that she had suddenly become the third wheel.

Velda highlighted from the car as Devyn positioned in front of her office tower, and quickly she moved to open the door for Asteria. Clyde was spotted walking out of the building before he sighted Velda and began walking in their direction. "There's a new case" He cited before turning to Asteria "Hey, what do we have here" He beamed at the young one before they both made a high-five, grinning.

"Clyde, please get Asteria to my office, I will be with you in a few seconds" She urged, leaving no room for any reply and turned to face the car.

"Sure" A glance in Devyn's direction before he tenderly seized Asteria's hand and then, they started up, earning their path into the facility.

"Thank you for the ride, it was terrific, and my apologies about the little stop and for the trouble"

Solely he gazes at her "You need not say all that, Detective. It's only a simple ride and memorable, I do say, I'm a bit too elated to have run into you both" Although there wasn't any difference in his tone, that still didn't hind the actuality that those words caused an unidentified emotion to emerge from the depths of Velda's soul. They were captivating yet fierce in some way.

Devyn extended his hand through the car window "May I have your cell phone?" He requested.

"Sure, sure" Velda responded digging her hand in search of her cell phone and at the long last handed him her phone. Devyn indexed a few digits before passing it back to her.

"I will inform the mechanic to bring the car here once done. Call me when you get your car"

"Will do so"

"Have a nice day, Detective"