It had been over three hours since Aper Koden was at Skyleene's home. After the comment towards her, the only thing he did was sit and watch over her movements. The girl concentrated on her work and did not bother to give him any attention. Her books were still in a mess, her cat was still sleeping, and her brain was still working on finding what was going on with those living bodies.
She read the same book three times in the past two hours. Nothing gave her a clue on what was possible to happen, and then, there was this guy who kept appearing in her mind and in front of her eyes.
She was sitting at her table and turned her head towards him. Their eyes intertwined for the next twelve seconds, trapped in each other's irises. The girl turned her head from him, a question popping in her head: What was he, a condemned human or a condemned soul? She never found the answer to that question when she looked over the files of every man and woman in the city. Their relationship did escalate quickly. The other minute they were arguing, and now they were in the same building without causing a fuss.
Her legs made her get up and go to the window. Yet again, a new question popped in her head: who was the dead guy? He was a living man with a stolen soul and body placed in Condemned City. Why in this city? What did this city have and the other one did not?
As she was reflecting on her thoughts, Mushu came by and placed his paw on her hand. The look in his eyes made her eyebrow raise. He was worried - his eyes rarely showed that.
She remembered Aper's presence, thanks to his burning gaze on her back. Her head turned to him, making eye contact once again.
"This will not help" her voice spoke. "I need to know more about that man. Give me his file."
"What makes you think I will give it to you? I read that file over a million times. If you need information about him, you ask me. I tell you what it is to say."
"Why won't you give it to me? We are supposed to be a team now, you know?"
"I do not trust you. This case was doing just fine in my hands before you came along."
It was clear that he still had a wrong idea about her.
She sighed and went next to him on the bed.
"I don't need his birth or death date. I need a good description of how, where and when."
"This guy was found on the 22nd of September, three weeks before today. His body was in bad shape, just like you saw yesterday when I showed you his body. There was this dust on him that you also saw. I have no idea what it could be - my specialty is not specks of dust or whatever you are doing. All clues lead to you, so can you only surrender for this whole shit to be over in just two minutes."
"Ah-ah-ah! Not so fast! You put me behind bars for unknown reasons before, so please stop it already. I am not quitting this case because I can finally show that you are just an idiot who thinks everything is under his control, and I am innocent."
"Wow, that's all? I thought you would say I am something worse, but I'm not as bad as you say. I believe your mind tells you that this guy" - points at himself – "is better than you, and you can learn something from me."
"How did you come to that conclusion, first of all, and second! I can quit anytime, but you will miss my presence because I hold the answer to your case. You do not want to admit it!"
"Fine then! If you hold the answer, then tell it to me! The case would end, and you will be free to continue ruining my life!" he screamed as his legs carried him to the entrance.
He stopped in his tracks and looked behind at the dumbfounded girl. She did not know what just happened and why he reacted like that, but she wanted to find out more about him and the case. She turned her face to the standing man and saw his face looking at her from the back.
Aper took his glance away and vanished from her house.
❧
In the morning, Skyleene was up pretty early and ready for an office day. She signed that contract, so now she had to go to the agency to get files and do desk work if Aper did not want her to approach the body. Even though she never worked at one before, she had some business clothes, for those days when she had to meet pneuma teachers. Those men helped her in those early days at her job. She took her phone, a small and black purse, her courage and her cat. Outside of her house, a taxi made his presence felt with the sound of the loud horn. It was now or never.
The cab left her right in front of the detectives' agency. Her legs betrayed her - she did not know why - and she walked right in. The men showed her interest, the women jealousy. She walked with her head up, Mushu walking beside her. After reaching the middle of the room, a man approached her suddenly, which made her back up and hit a hard chest. She looked up and met the one she was seeking.
He smiled at her and made a sign with his hand to the man to leave. He then took her hand and walked to the elevator. After the doors closed, their hands remained intertwined while the sound stopped.
When the doors opened, they walked through the corridors, and the whole attention was on them. It seemed like Skyleene's hand was getting slippery because she suddenly let him go. That action got his attention as he looked at her with a raised eyebrow and an amused look. The weird stares from the workers made her feel embarrassed.
"Let's talk in the office, darling" he smiled at her and opened the door.
She looked at him with her eyebrows smashed together, then she gazed at Mushu; he was checking him out as well. Skyleene could swear that she imagined Mushu with a raised eyebrow and a look that could kill, but he as a cat made it just look funny.
She entered the room, followed by the man in the black tuxedo.
"We have to talk, Nique Wollen."