~~Carson's POV~~
I was getting ready for my date with Ashley; an undercover mission actually but any chance I got to spend with the one lady who had taken my heart hostage was pleasurable. Besides, the theme of this outing was that we both dressed as a couple on a date so I wasn't entirely off course. Indeed our meeting was hardly for 'us' but I could never get enough of Ashley. No matter how cold and distant she acted towards me, I believed I'd be able to make a difference someday.
I examined my outfit one last time to see if I was underdressed or overdressed. I didn't want to seem tacky neither did I want to give off the impression I was trying too hard to win her over. Something 'just right' would be okay. I was simply putting on a white shirt over black jean pants. I wore my best cologne and had my hair gelled to the side with a parting at one end.
"All set."
I walked out my apartment to Ashley's next door.
"Good morning Mrs. Sinclair," I greeted with a smile duly reciprocated.
"Good morning Carson. Please come in."
"Oh… thanks," I muttered.
"That reminds me…" She paused suddenly before me, a few paces from the door. "Ashley refuses to tell me what this outing is all about. Mind telling me instead?"
I didn't respond immediately. If Ashley refused to divulge the purpose of our outing, she definitely must have her reasons. Mrs. Sinclair was a wise woman. What if Ashley's given her an excuse and she was just trying to fish the truth from me? "Ummm…" Just before I could say further, my eyes darted upwards in response shadow cast behind her. It was Ashley standing glamorously in the light's way as she descended the stairs. She'd paused midway.
My eyes got fixed.
I didn't expect the Ashley I knew to take this seriously but her outfit either showed she was just determined or simply…ravishing. Her flat stomach put on display beneath the crop top she wore over black Palazzo pants was enticing. The sunrays filtering through the awning window standing behind her hit the bun resting on her head in a way that made its golden honey color glow. I was smitten by this girl over and over again.
"Carson?" I almost forgot Mrs. Sinclair posed me a question.
"Ummm… yeah…," I stuttered.
"Where are you both off to? Is Ashley still meddling with the murder case?"
"Ummm…" I stared vertically at Ashley and she shook her head vehemently, probably motioning I conceal the truth. "Ummm… no, she's not."
"Where then are you off to? Ashley refused to tell me anything reasonable."
"Ummm…" I paused, searching for an excuse. "We're going on a date!" I blurted with zero thoughts. 'I hope it turns out well.'
"A date?" Mrs. Sinclair shot me a questioning look before turning around to Ashley. "A date?"
I veered to Ashley who was already closing our distance to see if she was okay with my excuse but her expression was already back to its normal state – neutral. Maybe I didn't have to worry.
"I asked Carson to accompany me check out something for a school project. We're gonna be having lunch together might as well call it a date," she lied through her teeth.
"Are you sure it's okay for you to leave?"
"That's why I called Carson over. You trust him, right?" she returned wittily. It felt like she was shifting the responsibility to her mum ultimately if things went haywire.
"Yeah?" she spared me a glance looking skeptical before returning it to Ashley. "Make sure to be home on time," she admonished kindly.
"I will."
"And be sure to be careful," she said to me this time.
"Sure. I will be careful."
We excused ourselves.
On our way to the Chilli department store…
"You don't wish to tell your mom the truth?" I broke the silence.
"She knows the truth already."
"She does?" I asked with raised brows and eyelids stretched apart, stealing consecutive glimpses at her.
She nodded.
"That means she knows you just lied?"
She nodded.
"But how is that even possible? She lets you go out knowing you lied to her?!"
She nodded.
I huffed in disbelief. "But how would you know that?" It was unbelievable.
"You think she didn't know you were looking at me for the go-ahead?" she asked keeping her eyes straight. "My mom's very witty, Carson. I've been too hung up on this case to back down now because she says to. That implies I'm faking abstinence. I strongly believe my mom's only given up trying to stop me. She's letting me have my way on purpose while feigning ignorance probably because she doesn't want to be a mom who gives in to her child's every wish. Maybe? I don't know for sure," she theorized and then tilted to face me briefly after the last sentence.
That was some insane theory. I was already awed by the unique relationship between the mother-and-daughter duo.
The rest of the drive was quiet.
At our destination…
"Wait." I impulsively held on to her hand when she tried to alight the vehicle.
She paused to look at me but remained silent.
"What exactly are we looking out for?"
"You're the detective in our midst."
"I know. I know, okay? But I already compiled series of footage from here and sent it to you. What do you plan to achieve coming here?" I asked making hand gestures to tally what I was saying.
She dropped her hand from the door's handle and crossed both hands over her chest instead, staring intently at me. "You mean you agreed to come here for nothing?"
Not really… um… I was flustered. That precisely described all I was on about. I refused to be thrown off balance though. But just when I parted my lips to speak…
"Ann's case confirmed it's indeed a serial killer case performed by one person. But until now, we've yet to find any reasonable leads. If he let the logo on his hoodie get found out on purpose, it could only mean one thing: he's prolly having fun toying with us. And if he for a fact is, he must already be aware of our every move towards finding him. And if he does…"
"There's a twenty percent chance he may show up here today," I chimed, finally catching on.
"Bingo! The chances may be slim but it's worth giving a shot."
"But he probably wouldn't reveal himself, would he?"
"That's where your detective instincts come in. Anyway since we're here, let's go all out. I'll be your girlfriend for a day." With her conclusion, she alighted the car, leaving me at a loss for words.
'Has she always been a born detective? Or was Makayla's case the trigger?' I was forced to question the authenticity of my license sometimes. The river of ideas that flowed in her head was just amazing!
"Wait up!" I cried out, going after her walking towards the main building. The moment I got close, she unexpectedly slid her hand into mine. I felt the butterflies in my stomach agitate but reminded myself it was all for a flawless charade. If her theory was right, then we probably have eyes around us by now. We shouldn't botch the chances of him walking up to us.
We got to the entrance and the doors slid open.
I thought to proceed inside but was forced to halt when Ashley wouldn't move an inch forward.
Why?
Taking a closer look, she looked enthralled. I traced the path her stare took and they led me to a guy in a black hoodie bearing the brand's logo, approaching us.
When the strange guy got to us, he also halted right in front of Ashley. Did they know each other? It was a flummoxing scenario to me but I couldn't really say same for the guy, unable to tell his expression as he had a mask on.
He stared down at our intertwined hands and then at me. Just then, he unmasked himself and I must say, he looked surreal. His face was masculine yet beautiful. Maybe that's why Ashley was dazed? Or maybe not. He only just took off his mask. But again that wouldn't count if they already knew each other. I knew I was good-looking myself but thinking he could be Ashley's type made me feel somewhat inferior.
He flashed me a look tainted with enigma before extending – with a closed-lip smile – his hand to me for a handshake. "I'm Daniil Smirnov."