CECELIA'S POV.
" I got a lead." I hear my Father say as I watch him munch on the hamburger I just made him.
" Oh! That's good news I guess." I respond and rinse my plate off the sink, placing it back where it belongs.
" Hmm hmm." He hums.
" Umm Dad." I say after a while.
" Yes Princess." He replied and roses his eyes to look at me.
I love it when he calls me that.
" I will be going out with Kara to the art gallery." I say and place the napkin back on the table, my palms now free from water.
" The art gallery? I didn't know you were a lover of art." He says.
" Yeah. We just thought of doing something different today." I respond. Kara has been my best friend for years and every now and then we try to do new things or try new things out just to quench our curiosity and also make things interesting.
" Hmm okay." He replies after a while. " Remember to turn on your location okay." He adds just like he always do everytime I want to leave the house.
I let out a brief sigh.
" Come on Dad. Not again. I'm a grown up now." I spurn. It's been years now with the same old routine and not for once did a need come for him to actually come find me.
" There is a killer out there Cee. I'm not letting my only daughter walk out of this room without ensuring she is safe. You are all I have left Cee, I can't lose you too." He says and I can swear that I heard his voice crack for a second.
" Dad, you won't lose me okay." I assure him with a forced smile. I know how hard losing my mom has been for him and I understand his fear too but I am starting to get tired of being treated like a child. " Besides you said you got a lead. You have the killer right so I'm safe, I guess." I add, trying to convince him.
He lets out a brief dry laugh.
" Ever heard of the movie 'Stab'?." He asks and I nod in denial. " I thought as much." He replies and shoves his empty plate forward. " Well there is always more than one killer. We have thousands of physco roaming the street Cee, thousands of them." He adds and with that I know he is right.
" Arghhhh!." I let out. " Okay Dad, I will turn it on." I add and pull out my phone to do that.
I watch him get up and step closer to me, leaning a bit to place a kiss on my forehead.
" I love you Princess and I do all this to protect you." He whispers against my forehead then backs off. " I sent you some money. You girls might need to get yourselves a thing or two." He adds and steps away.
A smile break across my lips the minute the alert gets in and I shove my phone back into my pocket, heading up to my room to go dress.
It takes me nothing more than forty minutes to get dressed up in my blue Jean trouser, Ash tank top and Orange blazer that stopped right on my knee. My hair packed up in a rough bun with a Black shade sitting on the edge of it. I settle for the Ash boots and bag and take a last look at myself in the mirror.
" Perfect." I whisper under my breathe then pick up my phone that is now laying on the bed. I dial her number then wait while it rings.
" Hi baby girl." Kara's voice fill the air. It's just like her. Lively and fun and so social. She is an extrovert unlike me.
" Hi Kara. Umm I'm ready." I say briefly.
" Get a cab Cee. I'm in one now and we will meet in front of the gallery okay." She informs.
" Okay." I reply and end the call.
Her place is farther to the gallery than mine so I understand.
" Dad, I am gone." I yell out loud before stepping out of the door, not bothering to know if he heard or not.
It's a bit cold outside but it's not something I can't manage. I wave down a cab and get into it.
" Arts Avenue." I call out and watch him nod while he inputs the details.
The drive is a rather unusual quiet one as my eyes stay glued to the figure right in front of me. At first I think of turning off my location but then I change my mind again. For all I know this man right here could be a killer.
Or maybe I am just paranoid.
" We are here Ma'am." He informs and stops the car.
I dip my hand in my bag and hand my card over to him, watch him swipe it over the machine and hand it back to me.
" Thank you." I mutter and step out of the car.
Maybe I am just overthinking things. After all he didn't try doing anything stupid plus I will be out here with people and my best friend so I am definitely going to be safe.
I think and let in some air then click on the button in my phone, turning my location off.