The files are spread out in front of him. The pair's relationship is uncanny. There's something clearly not being noted.

The pieces of the puzzle are being placed wrong but he doesn't know how to correct them.

● ● ●

Niall is knocking on the door again, this time there's a kettle on the stove, a cuppa already in my hand.

I open the door, unable to ignore his loud curses. He is the human version of an ocean's waves, brash but calming.

The fallen petals of the heathers decorate the table, porcelain plates stacked with fluffy pancakes.

We eat, Niall talking a mile per minute. I'm still thinking about Liam Payne.

Niall slaps my arm,"Harry wasn't home last night. Did ya bail that tit out?"

My eyes widen, the wheels in mind whirring, I exclaim, tugging at the sleeves of my jumper,"But I was told that yesterday his lawyer bailed him out!"

Niall stops chewing, then resumes, a muffled answer coming out,"He didn't come home. He never had a lawyer, Louis. He is not rich enough to afford a lawyer and bail himself out. Not the way Ansel or you are."

I grunt indignant and huffy. My head falls into my hands, mind spinning with possibilities but one sticks out the most.

"What if Zayn helped him?" Zayn would. He always liked the taste of trouble on his tongue and the stain of fraud on his hands.

Niall's fork hangs midway. He sets it down and purses his lips. "Zayn gains nothing bailing him out. Why would he even reach out to Harry?"

"I don't know anymore. It is becoming a huge mess, Niall." That's what I say. I don't let him see the anxiety latching onto my nerves.

I don't mean it, Niall is so sure that Zayn has nothing to do with Harry. He never told me who delivered the flowers either.

I slowly blink at him, trying to brush off the feeling that he's hiding something. "Ni, who got the flowers, yesterday?"

Niall flinches, his eyes darting around, finally they settle on me,"I don't know."

The feeling doesn't fade away. He knows. He knows more than he lets on.

I shut my eyes and nod. "Okay." I take my plate and start to wash my cup, keep my eyes off Niall.

"Bye, Tommo, gotta run to sainsbury's need something?" Niall places his plate beside me on the counter.

There's honey and a bite of pancake left. Fishy.

"What are you so out of, Niall? You never shop." The nagging suspicions rise again.

Niall laughs, loud and strained,"Fruit and bread. Might grab a few more of those cereal boxes."

Fruit.

"Get me a pack of those chocolate oreos, yeah?" I paste a smile on my face.

He pats my back,"Good lad. Good lad. See ya Tommo!"

He's out of the door even before I can utter a farewell.

The landline rings, the shrill sound ricocheting off the silent walls, making me jump and almost drop the plate.

I answer it, confused as to why anyone would ring the goddamn landline.

"Hello?" The line crackles like an old vinyl.

"Yellow for joy."

That is all the voice says. The line beeps, indicating the end of the call.

I hear a single knock, I run to the front door and open it. A bouquet of yellow roses lie outside.

I frantically dial 999. The operator is speaking, asking me what's the situation but all I can do is pant and panic.

I manage to get out the address after that I let the darkness swaddle me.

The next time I wake up, Niall Horan and Liam Payne are beside me with pinched brows and bitten lips.

"Why are you both here?" I rasp, throat dry as Sahara and pain sharp as a knife.

They exchange a look. Liam says,"I am here to file a case. Horan was the one who saw the ambulance and tagged along."

Liam Payne has his thick brows in a pinch, forehead creasing with lines. I breathe heavily and reach the glass of water.

I gulp it down. Niall lays his hand on my knee, concerned,"You okay, Louis?"

I shake my head, honest,"I had a panic attack. Someone called me, sent me flowers again. It was terrifying."

Liam Payne nods to himself, Niall grips my knee, knuckles popping out due to the grip.

"Maybe you should stay with us, for a while, Louis. Think 'bout it before you blatantly say no." Niall releases my knee.

"Mr. Tomlinson, would you mind answering a few questions?" He's back to Officer Payne.

"No."

He clears his throat,"When do you think you got the call?"

I think, I've never noticed the time, there would be no history because it was a landline. It was so cleverly planned. "A little after Niall left," I finally spit out.

Niall scratches his neck and sifts through his wallet. There's two bills peeking out. He pulls out one,"I went shopping and I checked out at—" he peers at the receipt,"—half past ten."

Officer Payne scribbles in his notepad. My eyes focus on the second receipt poking out of Niall's wallet. It's blurry, my contacts are out, glasses set at home.

"You rang 999 at quarter to eleven. Do you reckon it was between ten and eleven?"

"Of course, bloody hell, not even eleven. I was passed out on me floor at eleven!" I burst out.

He purses his lips, Niall stands up.

"I'll pay the bill and shit. Stay with me at the flat for a while, yeah?" Niall ruffles my hair.

My mind screams at me, he's never been so adamant to buy or pay for me.

Before he can leave, I grip his wrist in my hand. "Where do you have the money from?"

Niall tugs his wrist, a flash of guilt staying for a minute. "It's me savings. You can pay me later, Tommo. Honest to god, don't worry," Niall mumbles, words slow and forced.

He was the one who pressed on the fact that he wasn't exactly soaking and bathing with money.

I hesitantly let go of his wrist. Liam looks at me, the feeling of eyes tracking my movements is familiar.

"Let me ask you again, what is it with you and Styles?" He licks his lips, eyes trained on me.

I squirm under his gaze, uncomfortable with the question and the stare. I mutter,"Nothing that concerns you."

Liam tuts,"It does. I'm his paroling officer. Let's just say that I need to know everything about my responsibility. And Styles is a huge deal to you and vice versa, so it does concern me."

Thankfully the doctor interrupts us. She gives me a tired smile, weary and heavy.

"How do you feel, Louis?" she hisses the s.

"Louie. I feel fine," I grumble back eyes still trained on Liam.

The doctors cuts her gaze to Liam. He silently leaves us alone in the room.

"Louis, while we checked you for any injuries, because you were found lying on the floor, we found bruises on your body. Especially your legs. Are you—"

I cut her off,"They're from the bathtub. I bump my calves into the porcelain everytime I don't have my glasses on."

She seems hesitant to believe me. I force a chuckle out of me, my heart squeezing at the memories.

"Well, what triggered you?" She gives a soft smile, trying to ease me.

Unease spills into my words,"Flowers. Yellow roses to be specific."

She advices something, I pretend to be listening and shake her hand as she leaves.

Niall comes along with Liam, they're chatting but fall silent as they enter the room. Niall offers me a hand and ruffles my hair.

"Alright lad?" His voice is soft and concerned, his hand settles in the middle of my back.

I try to smile at him, mindful of the healing lip. "Yeah, yeah. Absolutely."

"Is Styles home?" Liam asks Niall.

Niall shakes his head, too quick, too disturbed. He looks worried, lip bit betwixt his teeth. "He's not at the flat."

I wait until Liam retracts to his jeep. I turn to face Niall, clasping his collar, I demand,“You’ve heard from Harry haven't you? You knew he’s out.” At his silence, I raise my voice. “Didn’t you, Niall?”