Wild Flower

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

It was Saturday and it was sunny outside with a cool breeze, the perfect weather for relaxing. Scarlet was in her blush ruffle bar-dot romper paired it with nude sandals and her hair in a messy bun. She was sitting behind the counter at the front desk of the store. It was normal for her to be in the front desk as opposed to being in the basement. She still attends to her customers from time to time not just to keep face but because the store was her passion.

The store had shelves after shelves filled with electronics from cell phones to television sets. She not only fixes them but she also sells new ones. She was currently attending to the customer that had crashed their phone.

“It seems like the damage is only external. Lucky, right? This means that I’ll only be replacing the screen and I’ll also recommend the screen protector and maybe a cover to protect the edges.” She said assembling back the parts. The customer who was a college student watching in awe at how fast she was moving her hands.

After she was done she placed the phone inside a plastic bag. She sighed then gazed at the customer, “I’ll give you a call in the next forty eight hours so that you’ll come and collect it. It is an easy job but I also have others waiting for me. That’ll be it... if you could just fill in your details please.” She handed him the information card where he has to fill in his details so that she can contact him once she is done and his phone is ready.

He filled in his details and handed it over to her. She placed it in the plastic bag together with his phone. He grinned at her, “I guess I’ll be seeing you.” He was heading out but turned around to her once again. He was startled by her beauty and finally built up the courage to approach her.

She was busy putting his information on the computer to notice that he had come back. She heard someone clear their throat. She raised her head but was confused to see him again, “Is something the matter?” she raised her eyebrow at him and he found himself nervously chuckling.

He had mustered all the courage but it seems to dissipate the moment her beautiful grey eyes met his. “I- uh... I w-was... uh wondering if... dinner tonight.” He found himself stuttering. All his life he has always been confident and especially when it comes to girls. She looked younger than him yet there was this inner maturity she possessed which may as well be the reason why he is losing his cool.

She smiled at him, “Oh diner and tonight? Well too bad I already have plans tonight. In fact I don’t think that dinner will ever happen. Listen kid I get that you might like me but I am off limits.” Her smile grew as she politely declined his proposal. Sarcastically anyway.

His face fell at the rejection but he quickly recovered. He smiled before finally leaving. His ego was a little bruised but he knew it was better to leave with his head held high and he knew if he staying a little longer the rejection would have been the last of his worries. He had seen in her eyes that she was only trying to be polite because he was a customer and if he had insisted then she would have forgot that he was one.

After the college student left Scarlet shook her hand and went back to her work. The bell at the door rang indicating that the customer has entered. She raised her head automatically and was met by a very familiar face. She smiled at him as he approached the counter, “Detective Jones it’s been a while. What brings you here after all these years.” She walked over the counter to meet him in a hug.

He hugged her back but he felt a pang of guilt. Little did he know that she was aware of his visit but he didn’t need to know that. He pulled away from the hug and averted his gaze away from her.

She feigned innocence, “Seeing as you didn’t come here alone I’m guessing this is not a social visit?” She got a nod from him. She sighed, “So what is the issue? Did someone steal something and you’re thinking they may have come to my place? This is the first time but if you could tell me what was stolen then I can quickly look into my computer because we have details of everyone who comes here for our help.” She said as she made her way back to the counter.

Seeing her oblivion he felt even guiltier. “Scarlet wait!” he stopped her and she turned around sporting her confused look. If she was a nominee at the Oscar she would have won. Most of the time her innocent look has always been a curse but now she was thankful for them. “I have a warrant to search your store. Apparently you have been hacking the US Navy Seal’s defense systems and we’re here investigating. As FBI it is our duty to do the investigation before it goes internal.” He watched as her face fell but the confusion was still.

“So you’re after me... interesting. So what’s with the FBI, US defense systems? I don’t understand what it all means.” She feigned innocence once again and she watched as her companion sighed.

“There is a witness that says that you hacked into the US Navy Seal’s defense system and we also have an email which the witness had requested your assistant to hack and forge illegal tender. Apparently your hacking alias is Lizard.” He watched her breaking into laughter.

She laughed hard even clutching her stomach, “Your joking right?” she stopped when she saw their serious faces. She sighed before breaking into a serious expression of her own, “I am guessing you have confirmation from the US embassy or wherever I apparently hacked into, that indeed their defense systems were hacked into. Not to mention that the IP address that the email went into led you here.” She looked dead in their eyes and like she predicted they have nothing on her.

Detective Jones rubbed the back of his neck as he realized that she has a valid point. He had found it weird that a warrant was issued with just the witness statement and an email that has no trace IP address. He shook his head and for the first time in his career he felt embarrassed.

Scarlet sighed, “It doesn’t matter because you already have a warrant. Mark!” she called for Mark who is a high school student that comes in on the weekends and holidays. He came from the storage room, “Show these men around. The keys are behind the counter.” She sighed and looked at detective Jones before going back to her seat and to her job.

The officers start their search while Scarlet is acting like they are not even there. Detective Jones walks over to her, “Look Scarlet I’m ju---” she raises her hand to stop him.

“I understand. You’re just doing your job and you can go ahead and proceed... wait, don’t tell me I need to stop what I’m doing.” She stopped typing and locked gazes with him. She got off the chair when she sees the guilt written on his face. She crossed her hands on her chest and watched as the officers searched the entire store.

The customers that were in had already left as the search continued. She rolled her eyes as she saw them even searching through small gadgets like earpieces.

What could they possibly hope to get there? She thought to herself.

**********

Hours later the search finally came to an end and they found nothing. Not even a small suspicious piece. The place was clean and not even the so called basement was found. The storage and her office were also clean. This is the first thorough search that their precinct has ever performed but still nothing, even the sniffer dogs could not sniff a secret compartment nothing.

Detective Jones was the first to break the silence, “Your store is clean so we’re going to proceed to do the search at your place.”

“Be my guest. Here is my key to the apartment. Do you know where it is or do you need the address?” she said taking out her keys out of her bag.

“You can’t be serious! Aren’t you coming with us?” one of the officers asked in astonishment.

“Well yeah! Someone’s gonna have to clean the mess you guys made. Mark will come with. If you find something and you have to arrest me, you’ll find me here.” She turned around and began with picking up the files that were on the floor.

One of the officers wanted to object but detective Jones stopped him and they went out heading to her apartment with Mark in-tow.

As soon as they took off Scarlet took out her phone and dialed Seth’s number. He picked it up on the forth ring, “Boss?” he said over the phone.

“Come and clean the mess that Jones and his men made.” Without waiting for a reply she hung up. Her mood was foul and she started contemplating how she would get back at Villabos while finding a way to get the police off her trail because one thing she is sure of is that Jones was never going to let this lie down.

**********

“Uh boss... you have a visitor.” Seth said as he enters the store office. He bowed his head due to his anxiety.

Scarlet raised her head and found him bowing down, “What have you done this time? Please tell me whatever it is you’ve done is not going to be a problem cause right now I have way too many problems on my plate.” She knew whenever Seth is like this he has done something she won’t like at all.

“It’s Miss Wilson.” He didn’t raise his head when he answered and that was enough for her to catch on.

“By Miss Wilson you mean Claire Wilson.” She stated before sighing, “Let her in.”

That caught Seth’s attention as he raised his head and stared at her in disbelief, “You mean... oh Ok.” He couldn’t believe his ears. He thought she would throw one of her fits and send the poor women back. Without wasting time he went out to let Claire in. He didn’t wish to break whatever spell she was in.

Claire Wilson, a thirty one year old Psychologist entered the office. She was surprised to see Scarlet looking as young as ever. She remembers her eight years ago and she still looks as she did back there.

“Miss Wilson is so nice to see you after all these years. Please have a seat.” She directed her to one of the seat at her office.

“Scarlet Evans... it’s been a while hasn’t it? My you still look so young!” she smiled taking the seat. She watched as she got off her chair and went to lie on the chaise. She was taken aback as she remembered the seventeen year old that was once so stubborn and rebellious, conforming to no one’s rules but her own.

“So what did Seth call you to do? What made him call you and now?” she kept her gaze on the ceiling and she had a feeling of nostalgia when her mind drifted off to the day she was sitting at a chaise with the woman across from her. All of a sudden she was melancholy, a feeling that she had buried deep down and had vowed to never allow to swallow her rose.

Claire seeing Scarlet’s submission fixed her seat making sure she is fully facing her so that she can note every single detail of her behavior. She took out her notebook and pen before putting on her glasses. “Seth told me you recently had an episode and I’m her to find the cause and possibly find the cure.”

Scarlet chuckled. As much as she was different from the girl back then she also noted that Claire has also changed from the woman she was back then; the women who couldn’t help her heal or at least give her hope.