"Glad you made the right choice," He said, putting on the seat belt and starting the car. I could see not one speck of dust on the red interior.

How could this be the right choice?

"I'm Talat by the way, Talat Morris. now,  tell me your right name."

Shit

"Hum, I told you already,"  I said shrugging, but my heart hammered away against my chest. Thinking how he didn't hear it.

"You want me to believe you right? look into my eyes and tell me."

What stupidness is this? I thought to myself, but I turn just the same. In fact; I swung around and look him deep into his eyes. I might look like a cat staring at him with my gray ones.

"I'm Jennifer and that's all you need to know, and please let me off right here. That's the black gate you are looking for," I said and pointed at the tall gate surrounding the house.

"You even tried to convince me, hold on, don't get out as yet my phone is ringing," He stopped the car and I lowered in my seat, silently begging God not to let Pauline sees me.

"Gunaydin babaanne, ne haber? Tamam, evet," He said hanging up with a sheepish smile on his face, did he just smile? How could a smile looks so easy?

Turkish?  His first name sounded so strange, so that's the reason

"That was my grandmother, she wanted to know if I've eaten already, and before you ask where and how, I'm from Istanbul but I've lived here almost all my life."

"Oh, oh, okay. I see you got your directions right, bye then," I said hurrying to get out of the car.

He bends his head a little as I closed the door, and putting on his shades he looks at me.

"Be careful not to get hit by a car next time Caroline," He said my name with a wink and sped off the white sport car down the street, stopping at the gate.  He honked his horn.  He was pretending that he didn't know my name! They say doctors and lawyers are the biggest liars, but I now know detectives are also.

He pretend he didn't know who I was, and I don't know him from Adams

What if he knows Pauline personally? Would he tell her he saw me on the streets?

Talat's point of view

"I've arrived at the gate sir," I said adjusting a wire and speaking into my earpieces.

"You did well with the daughter," I grit my teeth thanking God he wasn't seeing me.

"You didn't tell me she had a daughter boss."

"Of Course, I did. It's her stepdaughter, basically her daughter since she had grown her. It's in the files, which you haven't read. You didn't read it did you?"

I ignore him and adjust a small camera on my jacket buttons. Of course, I didn't. All I did was scan the names and the pictures. I didn't have time to read those long things. I didn't plan on meeting a runaway damsel in distress either, almost running her over.

The gate opens automatically from inside and I enter. I don't like cases like these; ones where I have to deal with drug addicts and phsycos.The supervisor had insisted, he should have known this job wasn't for me, yet he insists. There are so many men there why me?

Not even a damn partner

I parked the car, got out, closed the door, and run up the steps, just in time to see her coming out.
I removed my shades and looked at her.

"Hello, Hi, how may I help you?" My eyes scan her body and I must admit she has style.

"I'm here to talk with Pauline," I made sure to emphasize her name so that I'm correct. A surprised expression came over her  face and she quickly hid it.

"Well, you are speaking with her.  Come on in, I hope you are not into any funny business."

Is she a hard coke fool?

Allah, Allah. How can one invite a stranger into their house just like that? I hope she hasn't  mistaken me

"Well, no, actually am here on behalf of-well... let us talk about that another time. I'm detective Morris," Damn, I'm proud of myself. I don't know why I always introduced myself in such a manner, including authority in my voice. I can bet she nearly wet her pants. I offered my hand, but she didn't take it.

She stood there, her face ashen as if dashed with white powder; as if she wasn't wearing makeup.

"What? oh-I-I'm I under arrest?"

"No, no, of course not."

At Least not yet

"Have you done anything wrong?"

"No, I  am the most innocent woman you'll ever meet, honey. Is it about my stepdaughter? I knew she shouldn't be trusted, today is her birthday. She is in her room. I'll go get her."

In her room?

"No, you don't have to, hold on let me make a call."

She is in her room? I didn't know her room was  on the streets

I step aside and muttered.

"I need you to call her ASAP. Tell her that Detective Morris said that she should get in her room, find her number on the system and do it now," I turn around to see Pauline setting down a coffee cup. Okay, well let the games begin because something is definitely not right.

That's another reason why am better off with murder cases. I don't get attached

I signal for her to lead me to the sofa, just in time to see my eyes caught to something soft across the room.

Third-person's Point of view

"God dammit!"

The chief shouted, hitting his palm on the back of a chair.

The whole downstairs department was watching the video through the camera, that was on Talat's jacket button.

Some of them were typing away on computers before, but when they heard that Talat was going to question Pauline; they all left what they were doing because it was the biggest case they had going on. All they need was evidence.

"He was supposed to go in there and drain her of information, not become her friend and drink coffee!" The chief shouted. Talat's supervisor came round from the back of a desk and started to dial a number he got on a file.

"Hello, Caroline Harding? You are needed at your home, yes, This is very important. I'm calling from the police depart, from the headquarters. Detective Morris-yes-smart girl-get going now."

"What is going on?" The chief asked.

The supervisor nervously scratches his almond hair and stares down at the running video.

"It seems like there is more to the story, sir. If you spin the camera  a little bit, you'll see a small bunch of hair to the left."

"What does that have to do with anything? Isn't it the girl's house to left a piece of hair lying around if she wants?" The chief asked, disappointed in Talat for dragging the case further. It's not every day they need to catch a drug leader.

"Everybody get back to work," He said rubbing his hand over his black and gray curly hair.

"Unfortunately sir, it's more than just hair. The girl has sneaked out of the house and she is not the type to do so. Sir, she does well in school and has never been complained about. I think something is going on behind those closed doors sir and maybe Talat-"

"You need to stop backing Talat now. You know that right? He never sees you, he doesn't look at you, you are not his type."

Those words hit like bullets, like piercing the bark of a tree trunk as it connected in Matthew's; the supervisor's ears.
He didn't know that everyone saw how clingy he was to Talat, even though Talat shows no interest in him. Only the chief knows about Talat's sexuality because Talat never allows people into his personal life since he seems so cold up.

Caroline's Point of View

As soon as I hang up. Questions swirled in my head, they were too much to pinpoint. I stood outside Kimberley's house with trembling limbs and hands. I could see her dancing on the balcony and for the first, her lively ness didn't do me any good.

I'm now involved with detective bullshit. When will my life end God?

I sniff and decided to hail a cab back to my gate.

***

I quickly changed my clothes, since I so much smelled like outside and of his car interior. I put on a long black sweater to hide the bruises on my back. Her footsteps got louder and I drag on a black loose pants and wiped my face with a kleenex. Her heels stopped outside my door and so did my heart. Only God can tell me my heart didn't stop for a few seconds; then I would believe.

I shove my backpack under the bed and open the door.

"Get the fuck downstairs. Haven't you heard me calling you?" She asked, grabbing my ears and then she slightly push me down the stairs.
There he was. Talat. He sat on the sofa tapping away something on his phone, His back turns to us.

"Here she is," She said with a charming smile, plastered on her face. I held my burning ears and offered him a shaky smile when he turn around.

"I-," But he interrupted, standing up.

"I'm detective Morris," He said offering me his hand.

Thy kingdom come

I shook his hand and he smiled at me.

"Nice to meet you," I said lying through my teeth.

Nice? No way, not when I have a tiger breathing down my neck

"The pleasure is mine. Are you okay?" He asked referring to my ears which I know; no doubt, looked like a tomato.

"Yes, yes, she is. Aren't you, love?" Pauline asked, with the twinkle of a devilish look in her eyes.

"Well, the department needs someone for separating criminal files and according to your school record, you are one of the selected ones, another reason is you are so near to the department. You have an adorable daughter Mrs. Harding."

He said and a door closed nearby.

"What is going on here?" Dad asked and we turn around to see him struggling to close the door with a white box in his hand. He turns around and stares.

Thy will be done

"Talat?" He asked.

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