''The one who made the phone call and gave the tip was your friend, Ray Jackson''
Leo looked at Nicole for a while before busting into a hearty laughter. In fact, he felt like he hadn't laughed that much in ages.
''You are joking, right?'' he finally calmed down and asked her, but Nicole's face remained neutral.
''I am not laughing'' Nicole said to him and he frowned.
''Do you know what you are saying? Ray is my best friend. He is someone I have known all my life and he was like a brother to Lizzy. Nicole, I know that looking for the killers of Lizzy has taken a toll on you but, you are mistaken. Ray is the last person to… no, I don't even want to think of something so absurd as this one. I'm just going to pretend that you didn't say such a thing and send you home. We will talk after you've rested enough tomorrow''
Leo didn't give her the chance to talk again and started driving the car away. The car became silent as Nicole kept quiet.
''He didn't believe her, what are you going to do now, Lizzy?'' Candy asked looking at Lizzy.
''Even I don't want to believe that Ray had a hand in my death. We were so close. He cared about me a lot and always supported me in everything I did''
''Usually the people close to you are the ones who harm you when you least expect it'' Candy phrased and sighed.
….
The car pulled over and Nicole turned to face Leo, ''you know; this was what she was afraid of. You trusted Ray more than Lizzy even though you loved her''
''What?'' Leo furrowed his brows and chuckled, ''do you know that you are been ridiculous right now?''
''That is funny coming from you, Leo''
''Are you also blaming me for Lizzy's death?'' Leo looked at her.
''Yes, I'm blaming you for not taking proper care of my best friend and trusting the very person who killed her instead''
''What? How dare you?''
''Nicole, don't say anymore'' Lizzy tapped Nicole's shoulder.
''I'm sorry Lizzy but I need to speak my mind. You were so busy working that, even when she needed you to accompany her, you didn't answer her call. What happened next then? She was shot''
''How dare you? Do you know how much I loved Lizzy?''
''Stop it. that's enough, Nicole. can't you see that your words are hurting Leo?'' Lizzy snapped at Nicole and the latter chuckled.
''Really? You seem to care so much about him'' Nicole said to Lizzy but Leo mistaken her statement and replied.
''Shut up. You don't know what happened, so just shut up'' Leo shouted at her.
''I know what happened. You are just a scare bee who don't have the guts to find out the truth about your girlfriend's death. Thank God I'm over you. You're not even man enough to fight for a woman''
''What about you? You think you have the right to blame me right now when you're the one who abandoned her first?''
''What? I abandoned Lizzy?'' Nicole chuckled, finding his accusation ridiculous.
''How do I even believe you? How sure am I that, you are not doing this because you still love me? Are you sure you are really with me because Lizzy asked you to? Why haven't I seen her?''
''You're so delusional'' Nicole scoffed.
''Listen to me, Nicole. I don't want to see you ever again. get out of my car''
''Well, same goes for you too, coward''
''Crazy bitch'' Leo drove the car away furiously and Nicole rushed into her apartment. She threw her bag away and went to get a glass of water.
''Crazy bitch? The nerve of this man to call me a bitch'' Nicole was so angry and felt her shook shaking. She didn't bother to pour the water and drunk it straight from the jug.
''Calm down, Nikki'' Candy said.
''You shouldn't have spoken that way to Leo'' Lizzy suddenly spoke and Nicole looked at her with a frown.
''What did you just say?'' She asked Lizzy as if she didn't hear her the first time.
''Leo is a sensitive person; you didn't have to go that far''
''Really?'' Nicole placed the jug on the kitchen counter and walked closer to Lizzy, ''what about me? Don't my feelings count? Didn't you hear what he said to me?''
''You started it first. we don't even know whether Ray was the one who killed me or not''
''What did you just say? I was trying to make him come out of his shell and you blame me now? Wow! I must be crazy to think you would take sides with me. I can't believe I'm going through this pain again because of you''
''I was harsh, what about him? He called me a crazy bitch and you dare support him? How could you?''
''Lizzy, don't go too far with your words'' Candy said.
''The bond between the three of them is so strong. Even I could never drive them apart''
''Is that so?'' Nicole chuckled and lifted her hands in the air, ''You know what, I quit'' Nicole screamed at Lizzy.
''What do you quit?'' Granny appeared in front of them.
''Granny, you are finally here. I don't know what is wrong with these two'' Candy said clinging unto Granny.
''You stay aside, I came to deal with you but that can wait'' the old woman turned to Lizzy and Nicole, ''what is the fighting for?''
''I was arrested a few hours ago in front of my apartment because someone framed me up by placing her wrist watch that her beloved Leo bought for her into my bag. Thanks to her, I became a murder suspect overnight and then we found out that her beloved fiancé's best friend was the one who called to report the case of the missing wrist watch, I wanted to tell her fiancé and he didn't believe me. But, you know the funny part, after being called crazy bitch by her fiancé, I just got called out for being insensitive. I am now not just a crazy bitch, but also an insensitive bitch. All thanks to her, whom I am helping out'' Nicole said and breath out heavily.
''Lizzy, it's that true?'' Granny turned to look at Lizzy.
''I just wanted her to speak in a nice way to Leo''
''That's it, I am done here. I don't want to see you or do anything for your sake again. Granny, I can't do this anymore'' Nicole picked her bag and left the house again.
''Come back here Nicole'' Lizzy shouted.
''You really went overboard Lizzy'' Candy said.
''Lizzy'' Granny called and Lizzy shook her head.
''I want to be alone, granny'' Lizzy said and also left the apartment.
''Why is everyone acting like they are on their period?'' Candy said and turned to see Granny glaring at her.
''Let's talk about you. Why did you cast a spell at the police station?''
''I just wanted to help''
''You wanted to help, even when you knew the consequences of your actions?''
''I'm sorry''
''You are grounded. You are not allowed to leave this place until I say so. If you leave this place, that detective Gail will catch you. he must have seen it already is looking for you''
''That's scary. I don't want to meet that man''
''Nicole's place is the safest for you for the time being''
''But, granny. Those two, will they be alright?''
''They will come around'' Granny said and sighed.
…..
Nick's apartment.
Nicole kept knocking on the door until Nick opened up. He looked sleepy while looking at Nicole who barged in and he closed the door.
''Nikki, it is 3:30AM, what are you doing here?'' Nick asked.
''Let's talk tomorrow'' Nicole pushed him aside and went to the guestroom she always slept in.
Nick yawned and also went back to his room to sleep.
….
''Are you not thinking of going home again?'' Nick asked as they ate the breakfast he made that morning.
''No, I'm not going home'' Nicole answered.
''Do you plan on freeloading here?''
''Yes''
''For how long?''
''Forever''
''You've finally lost your mind?''
''En, I think I've lost it completely this time, so don't ask me to leave. I don't have any place to go''
''What happened this time?''
''I don't want to go back to that apartment. I want to sell it and go on a tour''
''You can't come and impose on me, okay?''
''You are my only relative''
''Are you out of money? I plan to reload the credit card today''
''Money isn't the problem right now''
''Then what is the problem?''
''I want to live here, Nick. This is more like an SOS case for me''
Nick sighed, ''you are making me get goosebumps, Nikki. Are you my sister or did some ghost take over you?''
''Is me, okay?''
''Then why are you here? Don't tell me you are avoiding some ghost or something?''
Nicole placed her cutlery down and looked at Nick with a serious expression, ''how did you know that?''