Odetta coughed and her cheeks blossomed "That...still comes as a bit of a shock,"
"I don't mean to make you uncomfortable,"
"I am not nervous. Now I'm really craving these shrimp," She reached for a piece and dipped it in gravy chewing down on her nerves. "Tastes like eggs,"
"You're the only one who thinks shrimp tastes like eggs,"
"In other words, I'm a weirdo_" She squealed when he whisked a dipped shrimp at her by accident and they laughed.
"I am not taking this as an accident,"
"I think I'm in bigger trouble than you are,"
He said referring to his clothes.
"I will spare those khakis, your hair doesn't look half-bad, I think I'll do a touch-up with gravy and we'll see how it looks,"
The other customers gaped at them repugnant about their banter when she reached over with gravy.
Jake steadied when a waiter held his shoulders firmly to whisper into his ear.
"I think the staff worries we're a bit uncultured," He said when the waiter left.
"I think not," She said with a haughty stare in mockery and lifted her chin and they clinked glasses again.
Her phone rang, "Hold on," She checked and grimaced at her dad's ID and hesitated at the options. She hardened and took it off. "That'll never happen again," She said and Jake looked concerned.
***
"I think it's the ice cream parlour next time," She giggled gazing at the twilit clouds and stars, walking alongside
Jake.
She wounded her arms around him and regardless of being lower by a feet, Jake kissed her. She smiled against his lips and he slipped her package into her hand.
"You sure you'll be fine?," He said in a raspy voice and a brushed a kiss on her temple.
"I have my purse, I'll walk where the light is and my phone's switched on,"
Her hand curled on his back. "I'm gonna miss you,"
Odetta was walking home and she scratched her hair, she was bummed out about Jake's departure and sighed. The streets were full, she hurried to the shade by the bus sign and one whiffed to a stop.
A bing sound attracted her.
Jake: Miss you already :*
She giggled at the surprise message from him and then saddened at the 53 Missed Calls and distress messages from Dinah.
Her eyes narrowed on her text.
'Don't go anywhere near the shop,'
"Turn it off," A dark voice said.
"Pardon me?"
Click* "I said turn it off!"
She felt something cold under her arm and gasped setting it down quickly. It crashed.
"Just step outside slowly...,"
She froze turning around.
The bus driver passed her a skeptical look, she raised a hand and waved him off. He seemed impatient that she was stepping down and he grimaced driving away.
She was numb at the moment and gasped in the cold night, the man clicked on the safe, she flinched and walked stiffly down the street with him closeby, holding the trigger.
"You're dressed for the occasion. Miss Lawrence. One misstep and it's your funeral," Click*
She swallowed shuddering at that and she never got to see her abductor's face. She had to ask why it happened to her in such an open place. She lost color at every person she passed by each moment, she was losing her opportunity to escape.
She paled at the car that was open.
She searched faces and an old lady grimaced at her when she walked by.
A lump formed in her throat when she was about to enter the car and she shook at the cold gun pressed to her ribs.
"Just get in nice and easy," His voice was soft but there was a cold tinge to it.
She was hesitant and shook getting in, she stumbled inside sobbing.
"No funny business,"
She muffled at the gun one feet away from her head and stayed low. Regretting those missed calls, her hands clutched her purse and the car started to move.
She looked about, there were lights around and she hardened at him driving past the police.
"What do you want from me?" She raised a question after he opened the door to a lit area, an empty street and a dark warehouse.
"It's none of your business,"
He hunkered and she screamed at the gunshots going off inside the building and she ran off.
He gripped her arm firmly and she held both sides at her head screaming at the voices.
She shuddered when he put her up as a shield.
"Who the fuck are you?"
Over his ski mask, he peeked around holding her closeup and he winced at the gun behind his head.
"Who sent you? Start talking," He said.
It took her a moment to register his voice after that rush and she felt a glimpse of hope.
The interrogator was getting impatient and a shot went off.
"Alright! Alright, it's_it's Limelight, okay? She's some Asian chick with a fashion company and she wants us to take out bystanders, alright? That's all I know,"
He gasped and shook so hard, his gun dropped.
He pushed him down and shot him on the knee.
Odetta paled tottering back shakily and he gripped her.
"Get to the car,"
The shooter gripped the car keys from the abductor and he grovelled while the police siren were going off when they arrived.
Odetta had gone pale the moment, the that they brought out the others, they seemed unharmed raising their hands and Detective Josh snorted.
"You did a good job sport, but you'll still be brought in for questioning,"
He looked unrivalled and the cop walked slowly behind him to cuff his hands.
Odetta wheezed in the car and she was met by Dom. "Witness is in shock,"
She was cross examined for injuries.
"Our work is done,"
***
Edward frowned at the news, it felt like a blow to the chest. "How's the witness?"
"She's fine,"
"And Tasha?"
She looked up while the police clutched her arms behind her. Her eyes flickered and he glared at her.
"You're going to jail for a long time,"
"Oh Eddie, are you disappointed?"
"I'm thrilled,"
"Don't forget, I'm still a valid member of Mode, don't forget forget I built it,"
"We'll see about that percentage, if you leave jail,"
"You have the right to a lawyer,"
She laughed manically as they prompted her out of the office under knowing eyes and the whispers escalated.
"I'd hate to see a pretty face go,"
"That's her business, after all that money she hoards, she still tries to steal our lives,"
"What a bitch,"
"A tigress that lady,"
"Poor Edward, why does he have to keep on suffering? He deserves better," A female office worker swooned.
Brooke covered her lips. "I think she needs help,"
"No, she's just trying to scare the hell out of us," He muttered.
"I'm afraid this isn't over,"
"I'm afraid not, we already have all the evidence we need," He said darkly.