Nathan closes his office door after he steps inside. Miles looks up then goes back to scrolling through his phone. Nathan stands by the door because Miles is in his chair. He puts his hands in his coat pockets. Something he always does when he is getting comfortable for a lengthy conversation.
''Jayla told me to inform you that she is going home,'' he places the notebook that Jayla gave him on the desk in front of Miles.
''So you have a partner now?'' he asks as he observes his expression.
''You sound surprised.'' Miles's face gives off nothing.
''Oh, Please, you remember when you worked at that sheriff department? You and your partner fought so much he ended up resigning? you two were partners for about five hours...''
''It wasn't my fault, that guy had some serious personal issues, he wasn't even useful if you ask me, a worthless-''
''Your last partner pulled his gun to your head because of your behavior,'' it is no secret that Miles cannot keep a partner for too long.
''He asked me to bring coffee like I was his send out bitch or something.''
''I still don't believe your side of the story.''
''Then don't.''
''Ronny was your best partner. I hope Jayla would be similar to him.''
''Ms. Glasgow is Ms. Glasgow, and Ronny is Ronny, never compare those two.''
The room goes silent.
Nathan sighs tiredly. Not only did the incident affect Miles, but it also affects him. He misses his old best friend but now that Miles is long gone, replaced with an emotionless man with a bitter attitude. A Miles who sees the world through a broken lens, a lens that cannot repair. A hole in his heart that nothing could ever fill but the truth, but he will always be by his side. After all, he is the only one he has left.
''So, what do you think of her?''
''She okay, how's your wife and child?'' he changes the subject. Nathan smirks.
''Ah, Tilda and Natalie, they are fine, they even prepared a pie for you when they heard that you are coming here.''
''Talking about coming here,'' Miles frowns then places his phone on the desk, so his full attention is on Nathan, ''Why are you here, Dan?''
''Your uncle sent me an email a few weeks ago saying he needs the best in the field. I saw the pay. I got to say it is impressive. My team accepted the offer, then I heard that you are working here also,'' he scratches his head, ''it is kind of suspicious now thinking about it, this is a small town, why would you want a forensic team, the crime rate here is lower than your patience. That is saying something.''
First, it was city Detectives, then pathologists and a forensic team. Usually, if a homicide happens in a small town like Groover, the evidence is sent to the forensic lab in the city. Not to mention Captain Hodder pulled his son out of college just so that he could work for the department. Captain Hodder isn't that type of parent, which shows that he must be very desperate. Miles seems to can't grasp anything around his brain at that moment. He feels as if he's missing the bigger picture. The tingles are still there from the panic attack he had earlier.
Miles yawns then stretch.
''You need to sleep, Meyers. You want any?'' He asks, referring to the sleeping pills Miles always takes to fall asleep when he witnesses a violent crime scene.
''No, I am going home to change. I need to start plotting against that bastard.
''You need to sleep, Myers, or you are going to look older than you are,'' Nathan says seriously.
He watches him stand up and pulls his jacket over his shoulder. ''Where are you going?''
''I'm going to drop my partner home and change. I'll be back in an hour.''
''Miles!-''
''Later, Dan.''
*
Jayla covers herself as much as she can from the harsh wind as she sits on the cold metal bench outside the police department, the sounds of cars whizzing by surrounds her. The last time she had checked her phone, the Uber should have arrived ten minutes ago, but now her phone is out of battery, so she is left staring out onto the road, waiting.
Rain starts to fall lightly, there isn't any shelter other than the department, but the Uber wouldn't know that she is over there, so she decides to stay in the rain.
Jayla sighs as she wipes a few droplets off from her phone screen. She tucks the phone into her now wet blazer. She is just about to give up, as the rain starts to pour a little harder when a car stops near to her. The headlights cause her to squint through the brightness. The headlights went out, and the inner car light turns on, illuminating a bored-looking Miles.
He raises an eyebrow, Jayla mimics him.
He honks the horn impatiently. Jayla scowls and walks over to his window.
''What the hell M-miles,?'' She shivers as the temperature drops.
''Just get in.''
He didn't have to say twice. Jayla went around the car and go into the front passenger seat. She sighs in satisfaction as the warm air from the inside surrounds her. Miles starts to drive.
After a long moment of silence, Jayla breaks the silence.
''You are not upset about me getting your seat wet. That's weird you are even driving at regular speed, was all that reckless behavior earlier a sign of food-deprived Miles-''
'Please stop talking. I'm driving.''
''Thank you,'' Jayla says after another long silence.
''What's the address?''
After she tells him the address, she feels an urge to pee. She squeezes her thighs together. She looks outside and realizes that they are on Goodwin's road, a road that runs through a forest and then onto Naiver, the neighborhood for the wealthy. The nearest rest stop is about an hour away. There is no way she can hold it in so long.
''Uh, I want to pee.''
Miles stops the car on the side of the road.
''Then go.''
She looks outside the window, complete and utter darkness. The moon is out but not strong enough to make it through the thick canopy of trees. To Jayla, the scene outside looks like something from a horror movie. She shivers in fear. Jayla looks back at Miles, who is playing a game on his phone. He looks at her.
''You are still here?''
''B-but it's creepy out there, what if there is some killer or g-ghost.'' Her voice cracks.
''Keep yourself together then, I live near.''
She raises an eyebrow. It's rare to find houses on Goodwin. The place is a forest. It's known for the few amount of private mansions only accessible by private roads.
''Near as in Naiver or Goodwin?''
''Goodwin.''
A few minutes later, the car turns off onto his private road, but unlike the main road, there are bright lights in the trees that make the forest look less scary. They come across a high steel gate. Miles unlocks his phone and enters the password. The gates automatically open then closes after the car.
Jayla stares in awe as the house comes into view. It was not like what she was thinking, not a mansion but a large house.
The lawn is large and covered in grass that is cut low. Two fountain statues are on either side facing the house. Miles drives straight to a garage that automatically opens.
Inside the garage is another car. Jayla quickly exited the car and went straight towards the only door in the garage; she waits on Miles' direction as she quickly pulls off her shoes. He opens the door with a simple turn of the knob, they both steps inside onto the polished laminated wooden floor. The lights automatically turn on.
''Go straight, the first opening and the first door to the right, I'll be in my room changing if you want anything just talk.''
She didn't even wait until he finishes. She rushes into the hall and opens the first door she sees.
After entering, she forgets all the directions. She now faces four different doors.
''Which is the bathroom!?''
''The door to your right,'' a robotic female voice answer from the ceiling.
She follows the direction and enters a bathroom the size of a bedroom.
''Oh, Miles, how much do they really pay a detective?''
*
Meanwhile, Miles enters his room and throws his jacket and phone on his bed. He throws his shirt in a wooden laundry basket and washes his face. He runs his hands through his head as he stares at his reflection in the mirror. His
He quickly brushes his teeth and strips for a shower. As he takes his shower, the speaker in his bathroom crackles and Jayla's voice comes on.
''Woah, this house is breathtaking, look at this kitchen! Hello? Talking voice, can you hear me? Wait, I sound stupid. I wonder if Miles can hear me.''
''Yes, Ms. Glasgow, I can hear you,'' he replies softly, as he washes his hair, ''What is the problem?''
''Just before you start judging–.''
''Just get to the point.''
''Soooo, I was just walking around, minding my business when this cake, this slice of dark forest cake just appeared in front of me, well not appeared, but you get me- can I just take a small piece it's so tempting.''
''Just take it. I thought you were in the bathroom.''
''I am in the kitchen now. I got lost, I think.''
''Yeah, you got lost in my fridge. I'll be there soon. I'm getting dressed, break anything if you can afford it.''
He steps out of the shower and dries his hair. He puts on his sweat pants, a feeling of unease washes over him. Walking over to his window, he peers through the transparent glass into his dense forested backyard. Seeing nothing out of place, he pulls his curtains.
Two pairs of eyes hidden by a thicket watches his movements.
He went to the drawer where he keeps his files and checks them. They are still in perfect order as to how he had left them before.
He checks if the strands of hair are still intact, there are absent. He curses under his breath, and he searches through the desk, but nothing is missing.
He pulls on a white T-shirt and his neon green crocs and makes his way towards the door when the robotic voice of his smart house stops him in his tracks.
''Back so soon, Mr. Meyers?''
''Back so soon? The last time I was here was 6.'' Frowning, Miles asks, ''Give me my timeline for today.''
First Departure, garage door at 6:46 am
Returns, the front door at 8:32 pm with an unidentified guest
Second Departure, Unavailable
Returns, garage door at 10:23 pm with an unidentified guest
Miles tenses and walks over to his phone and checks the time.
10:58 pm.
There is also a message from Zayn.
Zayn: Yo! I just saw the message that your house sent. Someone tried to hack it. I'm unsure if they succeeded or not because the computer crashed. I told dad he is sending a squad.
Someone was in his house.