BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Eighteen

It was dark when Velda pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley before she and Louisa clambered out of the car and made their way into the building. Carter and Clyde were already at the bowling alley when the two arrived. Even though Louisa was the ultimate reason Velda had planned the bowling night, it was still a good opportunity for the team, just to have a good time with each other.

"How long have you guys been here?" Louisa asked

"Long enough to rearrange the deck chairs of the titanic, if you should know" Clyde chirped.

"And why wasn't it on the news?" Louisa threw back at him earning slight mocking laughs from the others.

The team split into two. Carter and Clyde while Velda is with Louisa. After Velda had tightened her shoes accordingly, she grabbed a few bowling balls, one at a time, and placed them on the ball rack. She was moments away from her first throw in a decade. Carter's team went first, and one may say, it was an almost perfect throw Carter had made as his ball knocked down the pins with only two left standing and he triumphantly turned and high five Clyde. Louisa finally approached the lane after Clyde threw his. She grabbed the ball and stared down the lane a bit longer.

"Come on, Loui. You can do it. Just relax" Velda encouraged her. She was unsure of her approach, and where exactly she was aiming and could feel the jitters in her hands, though she was determined to get her team a point. She took a few long steps forward, swung her ball backwards in preparation for the epic throw down the lane and upon the next step launched the ball directly into the left gutter.

And there it was, the undeniably brief awkward silence before Carter began to clap. "There you go... You had me there, for a moment I thought we were gonna pay for some furniture" He jested "I did burst the lane my first time and had to pay with my savings. Trust me, it wasn't a good experience" He told her with a wink and she let out a sudden chuckle.

"You needn't worry, Carter. But we still won't be losing to your team" She said with a mischievous grin plastered on her face.

"I bet you won't"

And then she turned to Velda "You better don't disappoint me" She told her with a forced glare.

"You caused our failure and now it's on me to make it right?" Velda raised a brow and then relaxed "Well" She began with a cautious approach "I got a confession to make" She sounded off touching different balls.

"Wrong tree, I'm afraid. You better get the shot or I'm using your head as my next ball" She threatened. Velda grinned then grabbed her lucky ball and rolled it down the path like a speed force, knocking down every one of the pins on its way. "Yes!" Louisa exclaimed, "I knew I could trust you!" She excitedly smacked Velda's upper back. "Who is the loser now, friends?" She turned, throwing a questioning glare at Clyde and Carter.

"You both still got some pins short of, so we're still leading" Carter defended.

"Watch how that goes" She dramatically turned to face the lane. "Quick, now. You two smellfungus milksop" Velda couldn't stiffen her choking laughter anymore as she began to grin uncontrollably. Maybe that wasn't the only reason she was grinning that way, but she was happy to watch the Louisa she knew back to herself. Velda likely had learnt most of her slurs from her.

Just as Velda had wished, it was the perfect place for her, knowing the fact she was enjoying every bit of the fun, only owning to the fact their team kept losing because of her. She wasn't quite good at bowling but that didn't change the room air. It was impossible to not watch the bowlers surrounding them while gearing up. Velda had tried her best to show her the techniques of bowling and for some unsure reasons, she think the younger should be good with her next.

Louisa grabbed the ball, she knew that she could do it, there was some confidence displayed in her expression, a little nervous but still, it was like she got what it takes. She cautiously took some steps forward with much determination in her eyes while the three men watched her every move. The air seemed to be tough like one in a real match, but screw it, they were her colleague, not some dumb referee.

"Go for it, Loui" And she oddly tossed the ball that it began to move like a snail.

Clyde cracked out a sudden chuckle and immediately stifled it and twisted it into an unconvincing cough when Velda glared at him. They kept watching as the ball sluggishly went down and path and surprisingly, it gradually knocked down the entire pin and in a spark, the sound of her excitement wafted the space.

Clyde stiffened his lips as he watched her wander with excitement. "Time to gulp down some drink" Louisa let out turning to face him.

"You got through a throw doesn't mean you're experienced already"

"You rather stay here, no need to hinder the air" She throwback knotting her hair.

Velda picked up her leather jacket "That's enough you both" She hissed.

"He does this to me all the time even though I'm the godmother to his child" She upheld while Clyde grunted.

Through the windows, the city lights shone in the serenity of eventide. They poured their drinks into the tall glasses before cheering. Velda's attention was drawn by the sound of her cell phone. A message from Devyn, surprised as it was unmistakably the first time he was sending her a message, though the snapping of the loud cheering startled her from the reverie.

"It looks like you set off for a bit, is something wrong?" Clyde asked.

"No, no" Velda maintained with a brief smile and reached to pick up the glass cup, sniffing the content, the familiar smell of lemonade masked by the clearly large dose of alcohol inside it abruptly reached her nostrils. She took a sip before dropping the glass back on the table "I hate the taste" She tells.

"It's something that happens once in a while" Louisa replied. Clyde Snorts before taking a sip of the drink, wincing at its bitterness before taking in more. Velda's gaze switched to her phone screen as she went over the line "Stay sober" That was all it says.

"It's to your disadvantage" Clyde scuffed "cos you do probably get drunk, and so does Carter" he smirked pouring some drink into his glass.

"No cause for alarm" Louisa spoke "we're capable" She gave a nonchalant shrug before roughly dropping her hand on Carter's shoulder.

Clyde peeked at Velda who was yet focused on her phone "So, by the way, the new case, the other detective seems to be sceptical about it, don't you think there might be something he's not telling?"Carter asked, both of his elbows resting on the table with his glass cup swaying in his right hand.

"He has been assigned to handle the case, no need to worry yourself about it" Louisa chirped.

"Well, he seemed cautious about the case, it sure is one of them cases," Clyde remarked "Is everything alright?" He whispered to Velda.

"Uh, no"

"You barely took your drink?" He noted motioning at the glass before her.

Velda's gaze trained on the nearly filled glass "Wouldn't wish to get tipsy" She shrugs nesting her phone into her jacket.

Louisa gulps "But a glass won't get you drunk" She singled out.

"I'm aware, that's why I'm taking my time"

"I thought this was supposed to be our team fun night? Why all the allian?" Louisa question a bit aggressively before pouring some drink into her glass "Enjoy the moment, Captain" She urged.

"You heard her" Clyde added.

Velda grinned "Oddly, it is the first time you both agree to a thing" She let out reaching for her glass. "Only tonight" She reminded Louisa before gulping down the drink.

A few minutes after nine when the team steered out of the bar into the cold breeze of the night. Louisa was helped into Carter's truck as he was meant to drive her home. "Good night, captain" Clyde passed before slumping into the back seat of the cab he had called in.

"Be on time tomorrow" Velda told him before the cab steered down the path. She had only turned in the direction of her car when she sighted Devyn by his car. Forehead creased as she tried to take in the fact that he was indeed standing there, a little puff escaped as she began to make her way to the gentle-looking man though rather seemed enraged but he was quite handling it in an ideal manner.

"It's becoming a habit to unexpectedly come upon you in my daily life, don't you think so?" Velda muttered before him.

"It's a thing I'm quite good at" Devyn upheld "I'll drive you home" He spoke out authorizing no room for further dialogue. "Key" He demanded, although Velda was about to utter a word, she ceased, handing over the key to Devyn.

The drive was engulfed in an intense stillness, Devyn even though appeared angry never attempted to begin any sort of conversation, his gaze solely fixed on the road ahead. "Are you going to remain mad at me?" She muttered piercing the silence.

"What made you believe I am?" His deep bass voice vibrates the air, yet somehow it was calm and collected.

"Perhaps I saw it wrong" She exhales and began to take off her jacket "It feels hot in here" She mumbles tossing the jacket to the back seat, Devyn calmly reaches to boost the air-conditioner.

"How would you return?" Velda asked as she highlights from the car. Her gaze followed Devyn until he was before her, unhurriedly he brought forward a mini shopping bag.

"For you," He tells and motions for her to take the brown mini bag. A smile crossed her face as she took the mini paper bag. Velda only glimpsed through before her eyes rose back to Devyn, slowly she moved closer, her eyes asking to feel Devyn's warmth, but Devyn only watched her, he understood the change in those eyes but instead chose to do nothing. Warmth blossomed in Velda's chest, sparks igniting as she leaned in close, lips brushing together, tentatively, for the first time. The smell of his perfume, of the peachy scent of his conditioner, was dizzying, butterflies dancing in her stomach. But warmth consumed her as he leaned into the kiss, Devyn's lips impossibly soft against her own.

And in no time they parted. Quickly she pushed back her hair, tugging it behind her ear "Good night, Devyn"