"Oh hello, come in. You've arrived at the right time. Take a seat," I heard Mr Lawson saying as he stood at the table side, near the door.

Attorney Kim shook hands with him and sat down while Eliyah and I walked around awkwardly and took the seats farthest from the scary-looking men. From what I could see, Castiel seemed the youngest out of them all. I tried my best not to glance at any of the men around the table and instead focused on Mr Lawson.

"Since the people you needed have arrived, I'll be going," Mr Lawson said as he smiled at us and nodded at the other gentlemen. Why was he going already? Way to make it awkward.

As he closed the door, a silence filled the room. I shared subtle glances with Eliyah and looked down on my lap. Should we be saying hi or something?

One of the men coughed to gain everybody's attention and stood up. He seemed to be in his fifties but he was still as built as the others. He carried himself with an air of prestige and power. He must be the one who held the highest post of authority among the men present here.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Aaron Ford, the Deputy Director of the UK's International Operation Forces headquarters," he said with a serious face.

I leaned towards Eliyah. "Should we be standing up and introducing ourselves as well?" I whispered.

"No," I heard from my left side where Attorney Kim was seated. I guess I need to improve my skills at whispering. He gave me the 'let-me-do-the-talk' look.

"Nice to meet you, Mr Ford. I heard that your team took over the recent case that was under my responsibility. I believe the police already sent you the files concerning the case. Is there a reason why your team has come here?"

"Yes," Mr Ford said and continued, "we need all information about the case and the police files about Argan Gregore are not enough. Since it was a recent case of your firm, I believe your team may be the ones who hold the details. I need all interview and investigation reports. I need your cooperation. So can I meet with your team?"

"That's me," I raised my hand proudly.

Mr Ford looked at me and nodded. "And who else?"

"Me," I raised my hand again.

"Yes, you just said so. But who else?"

"Me. Only me," I said like it was obvious.

"Then, you must be good at your work, right?" someone else asked. Someone who I'd rather he shut up.

"None of your concern," I grumbled and glared at Castiel.

"Actually, Miss, it is somewhat of importance to us since we have taken over the case and we need all the information related to it, which includes previous interviews and investigations," someone else interjected while Castiel smirked smugly. I would have glared at the other man as well but his face seemed to tell me to refrain from that.

"Too late," I said and crossed my arms.

"What do you mean, Miss?" Mr Ford said darkly, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Carter. Haelyn Carter. And what I mean is that the files are no longer in my hands. If you need information, I'll have to write a report again, which could take some time."

"What do you mean you don't have the files?" snapped Attorney Kim beside me.

"Not my fault it was stolen," I mumbled to myself scowling.

Everyone leaned forward, ears perked up in attention.

"Stolen, damn it! The files were stolen yesterday night while I was at the hospital. I was searching for the files to bring to the office a while ago at my apartment but there was no trace of any paper or file linked to Argan Gregore."

There was a chorus of sighs around the table.

"Now, what do we do?" I heard another man asking, tilting his head in annoyance.

"As I said, I will write another report. I'm taking full responsibility," I replied in a clipped tone. Though this wasn't my fault, well partly, I felt like I added to their trouble.

Mr Ford pressed both palms on the table and sat down. "It's okay. No need to waste your time over it. Just give us a recap of everything you can remember," he said and gestured to another man, who took a laptop out of I don't know where.

So I ran through all the interviews and places I went to, including all people I suspected. And then, I arrived at the part of yesterday's incident. Taking a great breath, I started narrating what happened yesterday, which got a bit more attention. And Eliyah continued on describing the condition of my apartment after the break-in of last night.

"Where was the place you went to specifically?"

"Well, I'm not sure. I had taken the road towards Hertfordshire. But I don't think I did enter Hertfordshire, it was probably somewhere like Weaton," I thought as I frowned in concentration, trying to remember.

"Interesting. Argan Gregore's body was found near Stradshill, which is just a few kilometres away from Weaton," mused one of the men.

"We need to go there first. I don't think there will be anything there though. Since there was an intruder, they'll be sure to evacuate as soon as possible, which they may have already done," Mr Ford inserted.

"And, Miss Carter, you are currently a witness to our case. From what you have said, I believe that you may not be safe at your place. From chasing you, shooting at you or entering your apartment, this all shows to what extent your life is in danger," Mr Ford said sharply.

I gulped as I grasped the reality of my situation. They could come to my place again and finish me once and for all. But they did not even know for sure that it was me.

"God! What do I do?" I whispered to myself in a frantic tone and slammed my head on the table.

"Uhh," Castiel coughed and turned to Mr Ford, "so should we be putting her under the Witness Protection Program?"

This caught my attention. I glanced up. "What is this about?"

"This program is to ensure the security of any threatened witnesses during any of our cases. This suits your situation right now. I suggest that you move out for a while."

"But where will I be living then?"

"You can stay with me," Eliyah inserted, with a worried look.

"Oh, ye-" I started.

"No," Castiel interrupted.

"No? What do you mean 'no'?" I asked perplexed.

"Those people already know your identity. They'll search for you and you could be putting others' lives in danger if they find you."

"So what are you hinting at? I go homeless?"

"Well, that wouldn't be a bad idea," he thought over it with a serious face, though I could see the amusement in his eyes.

Seeing my 'no-nonsense' face, Mr Ford said, "The IOF owns many apartments around here, where the employees stay. If you are under the Witness Protection Program, you can stay there, or with the Special Agent that is appointed to protect you."

"Oh, interesting. So when do I move?"

"After signing this paper," said the man who was typing on the laptop, as he took a paper out of a file and slid it over to me. "This paper is to be signed by the witness, acknowledging all the services we will be giving and agreeing to cooperate with us," he explained.

Well, there's nothing to lose, I thought as I grabbed a pen and signed it.

"Okay, you can go to your apartment and collect your necessities. We'll make sure someone accompanies you, just in case."

"Thank you, and concerning the case, I have some recordings on my phone which could be very helpful. I recorded the conversations of men at that warehouse," I said as I slid the paper back to the man.

"Oh, really?" Mr Ford exclaimed surprised. "You should have said so earlier. Where is it?"

"Uhm well, that's the problem. I left it back there in the woods while running away. And it's a good thing I did because it would have been damaged if I kept it with me when I fell in the water. I guess I have to go with you back there again," I proposed.

Mr Ford thought over it for a while and then agreed. "Since you know the exact location, then maybe it's better for you to go."

"Okay, I guess that will be all for now. Let's go now, guys!" I said, standing up and getting ready to go. Everyone just stared at me. I regained the professional composure and offered, "With your permission, that is."

☆☆☆

"I bet you will become a stone-like them in some years," I whispered to Castiel.

He gave me a blank stare in turn.

"Oh, good job! You're already halfway there!" I exclaimed.

Sitting in a car with three Special Agents is no easy work, believe me. The two agents in front didn't even introduce themselves so I named them Cooky and Shooky, for no good reason whatsoever.

The air felt so stuffy with the silence though. I tried making casual talks but no one bothered to reply. Well, bummer. I didn't know I was such a nuisance.

Thankfully, the journey was not that long. Day and night were so different. I realised that when I tried to give the exact location. I made them stop right at the end of the unpaved road and got out.

I glanced around to make sure we arrived at the right place. That was definitely it. The woods looked less scary during the day but I could recognise it well.

My scary friends soon joined me, by my side. Actually, they just passed by me and started walking right ahead.

I grunted and strutted behind. Watching the agents decked in classy suits and shoes walking along a muddy path in the middle of the woods was surely an unusual sight. But they just continued walking like they could care less.

I ran beside Castiel. "Give me your phone," I demanded, stretching my hands forward. He raised an eyebrow at me as he continued walking.

"I don't remember where I hid my phone so I'm gonna try calling from yours," I explained.

He sighed and took out his phone from his pocket. He unlocked and handed it over to me. Then I remembered something and stopped.

"You guys continue along the path and you'll find the old warehouse. The tree where I dropped my phone is somewhere along the river, so I'll continue to the woods until I see the river," I proposed.

The three stopped and looked at each other, thinking about what to do. In the end, Castiel nodded at Cooky and Shooky who continued walking while Castiel turned back and walked towards me. I looked at him questioningly.

"Someone needs to keep you safe," he said in an unconcerned manner and started walking ahead of me towards the woods.

I walked behind him. "Aww, thanks. What a gentleman!" I cooed and was going to pat his head but he slapped my hand away scowling. "I had no choice," he mumbled.

I followed Castiel as he took the lead. He seemed to know where he was going, professionally dodging all branches and roots in his way. And I was behind, all branches kissing my face and the roots greeting my feet in a violent way.

We finally reached the riverside, and I told him to continue walking until we reach the bridge. When we approached the bridge, I dialled my number and called. I could hear my ringtone blasting somewhere among the peaceful silent trees.

"It's somewhere in the north-west direction. It's a big tree with a hollow trunk," I informed Castiel. He nodded and walked in that direction. It was easy to spot the tree. I ran there and stuck my head inside. I grabbed my phone and stood up. I checked carefully to make sure it was not broken or something.

I put it in my jacket's pocket. I was going to hand Castiel his phone when I looked at it again.

"Oh wait, I'll delete my-"

"No time. We need to hurry," he said, as I felt the phone disappear from my hand.

We hurried over to the abandoned building and reached there in only a minute. The warehouse looked more repulsing during the day than at night. I could now comfortably walk around with no worry about the noise I was making.

Shooky was holding a camera, taking pictures around. There was no sign of Cooky. He was probably inside. I went in from the front door, which made a screeching sound as I pushed it open. Hmm well, there wasn't really anything to see here.

I passed by the room into which I had entered from the window. I put my head in and immediately retracted. The awful smell still lingered. I almost jumped when I felt someone tapping my shoulder.

"Move," I heard as Cooky entered, almost pushing me aside.

"This is the room in which Argan Gregore's body was kept," I commented, trying to sound smart, as Cooky took photos while looking around.

"No, it wasn't," I heard from behind me.

"What do you mean? I was here yesterday and saw the body," I scoffed at Castiel who almost passed by and entered the room.

"Did you see his face?"

"Well no, but-"

"Then, don't be so certain about it."

Cooky nodded in agreement at Castiel and left the room. "Time to go," Castiel said as he went out, with me following, mouth agape at their blatant rudeness.

☆☆☆

All throughout the ride back to the new apartment where I'd be living temporarily, I kept sending glares at Castiel. I really hoped I was bothering him.

Finally, after great efforts, he looked at me. "What?" he asked.

"It's rude to disregard someone's words like that."

"No, I'm just disregarding a wrong opinion."

"How so?" I argued, crossing my arms and turning to him.

"The autopsy results state otherwise, that's how."

"It's already out?" I asked surprised.

"No, only some basic information was given. The time of death was said to have been around two days ago. He was assumed to have died from excess bleeding, from a knife wound."

I remained silent as I contemplated the idea. "What about that other corpse then?"

"From the stench, it seems obvious that he has been dead for more than a week and was there for a while."

"But when I was spying on them, one of the men entered with a corpse. Does that mean-"

"Yes. There was more than one body. It could be only two or more. The warehouse, despite its appearance, was being used for a while now."

A/N:

There are some parts in later chapters where I plan to write from Castiel's point of view. Opinions, please? Is it a good idea?