"Always be friendly but look for weakness," This sentence is from the book Forty-Eight Laws of Power. A book that is written in a very professional manner.
Since I saw the detective, this sentence kept repeating in my mind. Until I get close to him, I don't know if he knows something or not. I have to find a way to get close to him. A way that is very believable and has nothing suspicious.
Although I can easily analyze people, I don't know why I ran into a problem this time. The detective makes me anxious.I tried all the ways for an hour and found the most logical one. I have to do what Atoosa did to me. Under the pretext of being a neighbor, I will take him food and try to get close to him.
My cooking was pretty good but I only knew common dishes. I have to cook a special meal. Food that attracts attention.
The detective had written something in Japanese on the back of his forearm. I don't know what it was, but I'm sure it was Japanese. In university, I once had to translate an article from Japanese to English, so I learned a little Japanese.
Finally, I decided to make sushi.
I called Atoosa to ask for help but unfortunately she didn't know how to make sushi and she was also in the hospital with her mother so I didn't disturb her.
I learned how to make sushi on the internet and I made it no matter how hard it was. I admit it wasn't great, but it was acceptable for the first time.
The detective had received the keys to the house two hours ago and had not left since then. It was 7 o'clock in the evening.
I changed. I had to wear a dress that was very simple but attractive. A dress that is neither too respectable nor too promiscuous.
I wore a navy crop top to show off my skin tone. I also wore a thin shirt over the crop to cover my shoulders and hands. I took the sushi and left the house.
I was very stressed. My pupils were dilated and my heart was beating fast. I rang the doorbell. I looked me. I pulled my shirt down a bit to expose my shoulders. Detective opened the door.
"Miss. Adling, is there a problem?!" Detective asked, looking at me with no shame this time.
I showed him the sushi,"I made sushi for you," He was still staring at me,"Not that I did it on purpose to get your attention!" Shit, I started talking nonsense again. I have to fix it now," I mean…I made food for you because you just came. Atoosa did the same for me."
"Atoosa?!"
"She's my friend. You bought her house," The detective was staring at me and I didn't know what to say,"Just, except the food and say thanks, ok?!"
He smiled,"Sorry, I didn't want to upset you,"
"I'm not,"
The detective took the sushi. I looked away and pretended not to care.
"Wanna come in?!" He asked.
"What?!"
"Come in. This food is a lot. I can't eat it all alone. I need a hand,"
I paused to calm down. Why didn't I return home when I gave the food?! As if I wanted to go to his house myself.
"Okay," I said.
Sitting in Atossa's house without her was uncomfortable for me, but the detective was such a gentleman that I soon forgot about it. He brought a pair of plates from the cabinet and placed them on the table. I was on the chair. He stood next to me and preciously put some sushi on my plate.
"Thank you detective,"
"Please, call me Edwin,"
"Su… sure, Edwin,"
"Wine?!" He opened the bottle of wine.
"I don't drink. But I can make an exception tonight."
Edwin spoke so respectfully that I reluctantly listened to his words and did what he wanted. Usually women don't listen to such men, but I did. I was always different.
He sat in front of me, sniffed and drank his wine. Then he slowly put some sushi in his mouth and tasted it,"miss Adling this is…,"
"Please, call me Elizabeth,"
"This is very delicious, Elizabeth. thank you," Edwin looked into me eyes and said.
I couldn't look into his eyes for more than three seconds. I lowered my head,"I'm glad you liked it."
"I have to make it up to you,"
This words made me feel strange. A pleasant feeling of stress. Involuntarily, I looked at his lips. They looked soft.
What am I saying?! Put yourself together girl. What's wrong with you?!
"How about you cook me dinner next time?" I said, Trying to distract myself.
"Of course Elizabeth, how about tomorrow night?!"
"It's good"
We spent some time in silence. Sometimes we looked into each other's eyes, but I quickly lowered my head. Wait a moment! Don't let him think that I know something or that I am afraid of him?! If I continue my work, I am sure he will doubt.
"Tell me about yourself Elizabeth" Edwin said.
Well, I am a teacher. I just came here from New York and spend my free time reading and listening to music. Wordless and more classic," I turned the wine glass and smelled it," you tell me about yourself. Do you have a university degree?!"
"I dropped out of university,"
"Why?!"
"Doesn't like it,"
interesting! I thought the new detective must have half my intelligence. It's really disappointed. I'm sure he wasn't good enough to stay in the university and left before they kicked him out.
It was late dinner. I did not understand much until now. I brought up the discussion of the black widow several times, but I did not understand anything. Edwin said he hasn't found much yet, but he feels very close. Everyone wanted me to talk about myself. I feel that he knows something, otherwise why would he want to know more about me?!
Suddenly the bell rang.
"Who can it be?!" Edwin said, went towards the door.
The table was placed in such a way that I could not see the door. When Edwin opened the door, he said in surprise, "Kathy, what are you doing here?"
"What you mean?! Bad time?!" A female voice filled the house.
"No, just…,"
"Go away, I wanna come in,"
A young girl pushed Edwin aside and entered,"Is this the house you bought?!" He had a soft voice.
I looked into each other's eyes. I got up."Edwin, who's this lady?!" Her voice changed. Anxious!
"She's my Neighbor, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, this is my wife, Catherine," Edwin said.
I got shocked. It's like ice water has been poured on me.
"Shout up, Ed. I told you I don't like this joke!" Kathy hit Edwin on the back with the bag,"Nice to meet you Elizabeth. I'm the sister of this crazy detective,"
Edwin looked at me and grinned, said under his breath," I'm sorry,"
I came forward and shook Kathy's hand,"nice to meet you too,"
"So, you're his girlfriend?!" Kathy asked.
"Me?! No!" I answered fast,"I'm just his friend. Neighbor."
"Of course you aren't his girlfriend. It was clear that Edwin couldn't have a hot girl like you," Cathy pulled her brother's ear.
Hot?! I kinda like this girl. She's just a little shy.
"What happened that you bought this house?! I thought you didn't like the apartment," Kathy asked.
Edwin looked at me,"I like around it,"
His words penetrated my bones. It felt strange. A happy hormone was released in my brain. Something that had never happened to me before Edwin.
"I'm leaving," I left.
"Don't forget tomorrow night," Edwin said.