14- When We Walk
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Black was a color which signified one thing- death. Black coats, black hats, black sunshades, black umbrellas. All of that made Laura sick in her stomach especially since she was also clothed in it- Black. Her worst color.
It was Aria's funeral at her mother's town house in Denver, and even when Laura knew she wasn't invited that didn't stop her either. She had an unshakable feeling that she needed to be there. Not just because of the feeling of guilt and indebtedness she felt towards Aria, but because of the fact that the killer might be there. Watching, acting and doing a mental victory dance that he had fooled them all.
She stood behind the crowd of friends and mourners as they lowered Aria down the ground, trying to block out the wails and cries of the crowd.
Laura wasn't an emotional person but funerals had a way of breaking even the strongest of walls. Taking a handkerchief from her breast pocket, she wiped her face with it, stopping the tears that threatened to roll.
"You came." Someone said taking a stand beside her.
"Yeah." Putting her hands in her coat's pocket, she answered casually, not in the mood for their usual banter.
"I'm not sure you were invited though."
"And neither were you." The priest was beside the grave saying the final prayer. She walked out of the gathering before she created a scene, especially with him by her side.
She noticed he was quiet as he followed her which made her anxious. Him being quiet means he was about to say something stupid. Or do something stupid.
"I need to talk to you." She wasn't surprised by his statement and she wasn't ready. She knew that sooner or later they would have to talk about it like proper adults but she chose the latter.
"You are talking now." She didn't stop walking. She needed to talk to a few people here and he was slowing her down.
"You know that's not what I mean."
Laura turned and faced him. "What do you mean Nathan? What do we have to talk about anymore? Because I thought I was pretty clear the last time."
"One last date" His statement made her pause with her brows arched in total confusion. "-no dinner. I meant dinner."
"Why? What are you trying to achieve? We broke up okay! It's over. The end. Fin. In what language do I have to say it for you to understand?"
"I know but I think I deserve this-"
"You deserve nothing." She cut him off. She was tired of his self-absorbing ass.
"I'm sorry. Not I- We. We have known each other for so long and I think we need a proper way to end it. We still work at this same place."
"I resigned."
"Temporarily I hope." His face showed how nervous he was and the way he was being persistent, if only he was showing this much interest when they were dating then he wouldn't have been her ex.
"Look Nat, where are you going at? We'll have a dinner, talk about old times, say what we regret and reopen old wounds. We aren't going to get the closure you think we will but we are just going to be more confused."
"You don't know that for sure. Please, just one last dinner. I promise you wouldn't regret it."
Nathan wasn't among the best lawyers in Denver just because of circumstances. He was his father's son and had the spirit of persuasion mixed with his pigheadedness. It was why they were attracted to each other at first. They were so similar yet so different. Laura the stubborn, hot-tempered and passionate girl. And Nathan, the obstinate, calculated and hardworking guy. They were the perfect duo. Or she taught they were.
She wasn't in the mood neither did she have the time for an aimless discussion, so she agreed. At least that would save her an argument.
"Fine-" He did an air fist. "- on one condition."
He dropped his hands down and also his smile. "What condition?"
"No reminiscing about the past, no touching and it's not a date." She said stressing on the last part.
"Yes ma. Although that was three conditions." She glared at him. "Fine, I'll send you the address. We'll meet at seven."
"Eight."
"I have an appointment at eight."
"And I'm busy by seven."
"But you don't-" He stopped himself before he completed the statement. But she could hear it anyways. But you don't have a job. "Sorry. Eight it is then. See you tonight Laura."
She gave a small smile and nodded at him as he walked passed her. "And I was right all this time-" She looked at him confused. "-Black looks good on you."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Corny." He laughed and walked away. Not watching where she was going, she didn't know when she hit somebody.
"I'm sorry I didn't see you there." Laura quickly apologized to the tall young stranger she hit.
"Why are you here Miss Montez?" His hat covered his face preventing her from making out his face.
Surprised by his question she took a minute before she answered. "I'm sorry do I know you? I doubt if we have met before." She tried her best to sound civil.
"I doubt we have but you haven't still answered my question."
"Look Mr..." She gave him a face expecting him to say his name. When he didn't talk she continued. "I know that I may have annoyed you but I don't see how I owe you an explanation why I'm in a funeral that is not yours." Knowing she had said too much she apologized.
"You are not wanted here. Mrs Percy made it clear to send you out if you appeared here."
Surprise, guilt or any other emotion was what she taught she would feel but not certainly not anger but that was what she felt anyway. "Mrs Percy has no right to do that."
"On the contrary she does. You are a threat to her mental and emotional health and she can order a restraining order especially when she feels you are encroaching her space. You among every one should understand how the law works."
"And what do you know about the law?" She knew that people were already curious about their conversation as they passed by them pretending they were not eavesdropping but she was too annoyed to care.
"Almost as much as you." He removed his hat revealing his golden blonde hair and his bluish-grey eyes making him look younger than she imagined. "I'm David Steele, Mrs Percy's Lawyer."
She wasn't sure she heard him correctly. "I'm sorry I thought I heard you say you are Mrs Percy's lawyer."
"You heard correctly."
"Why does she need a lawyer? It's not like she committed a crime or she has something to hide?"
"Now I see why she doesn't want you here. You ask too many unnecessary questions. Now as much as it was an honor to meet you, I think you have over stayed your welcome. It was nice meeting you Assistant D.A. Or should I say ex Assistant D. A." He smirked.
Annoyed and irritated by him, she quickly walked out on him. She increased her pace due to embarrassment as she walked to her car. She opened her door as sat down shutting it almost immediately as she hit her head on the steering. She wasn't even aware of the tears that rolled down her checks. Using the back of her palms to clean her face didn't stop it from flowing. She was still in her panic crisis when she heard a knock on her window. Quickly cleaning her face she looked up. It was a little boy.
She raised down her car window. She noticed he held something in his hands. "You want anything little boy?" She asked in a tiny voice that all adults use when talking to little children.
He shook his head and gave her a paper which was on his hands. "Old man said you should have it." He wasn't more than six but his grammar was fluent enough to understand him.
"Which old man?" He shook his head again.
Laura took the paper from his hands not sure what she should expect but her instincts told her it wasn't good. She opened the folded paper and the first words she saw gave her chills.
"Black sure looks good on you but red will even be better."
She didn't even know when she let the paper slip from her hands after reading the second part of the note but one thing was sure and it kept ringing in her mind.
The Medusa was there and it was someone she knew.
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