We take our findings to Connor who appreciates our work and sends us on to find more information about where Raine escaped to next. Our progress today was small and possibly even meaningless, but at least it's something. At least we're growing closer, even if it's slowly.

"Good work today," Octavia says to me when we're out of Conner's office.

I'm surprised, but I try not to show it on my face. "And you. We make a good team."

She grins and shakes her head. "If you say so."

I can't help but smile, feeling like I'm slowly unraveling all the layers she hides herself in.

"We're meeting Trevor and Vincent apparently," she informs me on the way back to my car.

"The usual place?" I guess.

She nods her head as she types away on her phone, most likely replying to Trevor and Vincent to agree to our meet up. Sometimes after a long or stressful day at work, we all hang out at the same bar to discuss our findings and give ourselves time to relax and have a break. Although we usually get into discussions about work anyway, it's nice to spend time with them in normal environments where we can act like friends and have a laugh. I would say that we're friends, but definitely not close. We would do whatever we could to protect the other, but we've never had the chance to get to know each other on a deeper level due to work being so hectic and busy.

I know about Trevor and Vincent's personal life; where they grew up, what their families are like, what their interests are. But I don't know the deeper things that would help me to know them on a more personal level. Octavia still remains a mystery to me, but I doubt she'll be talking about her life anytime soon given her reaction before.

"Malibu and coke for you." Vincent places a glass down in front of Octavia. "Martini for Vanessa. Beer for Trevor. And a rum and coke for me."

I slouch back in my seat and let out a groan. "It's been a long day."

"Too long," Trevor agrees in an exhausted tone while running his hand down his face.

Vincent closes his eyes and nods in agreement. "We've been conducting interviews today."

"Who with?" I ask.

"Poppy and Martin, the victim in hospital, witnesses in the bank," he informs me.

"Did you find out anything?"

"Nothing that we don't already know," Trevor sighs. "Raine's good, I'll give her that."

"Or we're just really bad at our jobs," Octavia half jokes, though none of us laugh. We all secretly doubt ourselves and believe that we're not doing the best work we can, even though we're making ourselves sick with exhaustion by working day and night on a hopeless case. Nonetheless, we refuse to give up.

Feeling even more useless, I take two large sips of my drink and allow my worries to float elsewhere. Trevor refuses to have more than two beers, like always. He suffers from the worst hangovers and doesn't want to come into work feeling like a zombie who can't complete the simplest tasks. Vincent only has a couple more drinks before he cuts himself off and calls it a night due to feeling a bit wobbly. Octavia and I have a tray full of shots and see who can down them the quickest. She wins with flying colours and is still somehow standing by the end. I try my hardest not to throw my dinner up and faint right there and then. Everyone has a laugh about the vulgar expression on my face, but all decide that it's time to head home after a good evening.

We all put money towards a taxi and make two stops before we reach my flat. Octavia gets out first, still giggling with me in her tipsy state. She waves as she stumbles up the path to her small two-bedroom house. There's a light on in the living room and I can see an adult figure walking around inside. Octavia doesn't have a boyfriend — not to my knowledge anyway — so I'm not sure who that can be. I'm too intoxicated to think about it for too long. Next Vincent gets out and is greeted by Peri who holds her small baby bump and awaits her boyfriend. Vincent smiles brightly by the sheer sight of her, and he runs just so he can hold her quicker.

"I hope I find that kind of love someday," Trevor mutters as he gazes at the couple. Vincent bends down and kisses the bump before waving us off and walking Peri inside with his hand rested on her back.

Then we reach my flat. I attempt to slide out of the taxi and thank the man in my own blubbering way, but eventually Trevor has to hold me up right and help me to reach the lift inside.

"Thanks, Trevor." I don't say anything more because all my words are slurred and impossible to understand.

"It's not a problem. You'd do the same for me, though I think you'd struggle. I'm a lot heavier than you."

It's not as funny as I think it is, but I'm howling with laughter and almost crying when we walk down the hallway to reach my door. I'm sure my neighbours want to scream at me for all the racket I'm making, so I try my hardest to keep quiet.

I give Trevor my keys and allow him to unlock my door for me because apparently I'm incapable of doing anything in my current state.

"Want a drink?" I ask while trying to keep my eyes open.

Trevor laughs at my attempt to act sober. "Another time, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early," he tells me humorously on his way out.

I let out a groan at the thought of work when I'm most likely going to be hungover and tired from our night out together. I already know that the others will be feeling great and laughing at my humiliating behaviour.

Somehow I find the sofa and fling myself down, immediately passing out. My mouth hangs wide open and drool begins to spread on the sofa, but I don't have a care in the world at this moment. All I want to do is sleep. And eat. But I'll deal with that in the morning when I'm capable of making myself a simple sandwich.

The next thing I know, a noise of cups clashing against each other wakes me. I'm still unable to function properly, in fact I'm probably worse than I was before. I look at the window and see that it's still pitch black dark outside. The room is fuzzy and spinning around me, so it's hard to make things out, but I can see someone growing closer. A person in all black with the hood of their jacket up. I squint my eyes and try to make them focus. I should run or scream, but I can't do anything. Even if I wanted to, I'm not able to move.

The person slowly removes the hood and reveals their hair. It's a woman. It's her.

"Matilda," I mumble while forcing myself to stay awake. I hold out my hand. "Matilda."

She crouches down in front of me and holds my hand before stroking my hair. I can see her more clearly now. She stares at me with a soft expression and even smiles. It's so familiar. It's the way she used to smile at me before everything changed—before she changed.

Raine inches closer and presses a kiss on my forehead. Her grip loosens on my hand and I know she's trying to leave, so I hold her hand tighter.

"Don't go. Stay," I whisper.

She almost laughs. "Vanessa, you know I can't do that."

"You...you can. Please, Matilda."

"Stop calling me that. My name is Raine."

I shake my head with my eyes welling up. "I need you. Please come home."

"Oh, Vanessa. Sweet, sweet Vanessa. If I come home, it's all over." She leans to my ear to whisper in it. "And what's the fun in that? I love our little game."

"Game?"

She grins in response and stands up. "Goodnight, little sister."

"No," I say, but my voice drifts off as my eyes grow heavy and fighting sleep seems impossible. I try to stay awake, but my brain forces me to shut off and suddenly everything goes black.

* * *

The sound of my alarm blasts through my flat and forces me to wake to the sun blaring through the windows because I forgot to shut the curtains. I hit snooze on my alarm and drop back onto the sofa with my head pounding. Everything is still fuzzy, so I know I'll be getting a taxi into work today.

"Never drinking again," I mumble to myself before swinging myself up and jumping into the bath where I soak myself in warm water with bubbles popping around me. I drink my hot chocolate as the bath helps to soak up my hangover and make me feel slightly better.

After drying myself and getting changed into a white knitted jumper and a pair of black baggy jeans that are held up by a belt, I travel into the kitchen to make myself some food. While spreading butter on the bread, I remember something from last night. Something that's fuzzy. But definitely something important.

As I chomp down on my sandwich, I look around for any clues to help me remember the night before. I stroke the blanket that's laid out on the sofa that I was wrapped in when I woke up this morning. I don't remember getting out the blanket. There's a glass of water on the table for me. I never made that, I'm sure I didn't.

I gasp when I finally remember.

Raine.

Before I know it, I'm grabbing my phone and sprinting down to my car to get to work so I can tell Connor and the others. When the taxi stops in front of my work, I don't waste a second to jump out and head inside. I briefly wave to people in the building as I rush to Connor's office. I knock at least ten times before he shouts at me to come in.

As soon as I enter, he looks at me with a vulgar expression. "I was trying to enjoy a quiet morning. Was there really any need to knock like that and almost give me a heart attack?"

I look at his steaming cup of tea and the rich tea biscuits beside it on a small plate. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just had to get here straight away."

Connor lifts his head and straightens his back. "Why? What's wrong?"

"I saw her. Last night. I saw Raine."

"Where?" he asks abruptly after stumbling out of his chair.

"My flat. I was...I had a bit to drink. I woke up and she was there."

"What did she say?"

"Not a lot. I told her to come back, but she said it would be no fun if she did. I think she said something about playing a game?"

Connor grabs his phone and begins frantically typing. "Are you sure about this?"

"I-I think. I'm pretty sure."

"It wasn't just a dream? You said you had been drinking."

I hesitate before answering. "I think it happened."

"I need you to be sure."

"We can check the cameras in the corridor of my flat. That will prove it."

"Do they work?"

I nod, finally feeling sure about something. "My landlord has always been really good about the cameras, he's always making sure they work."

"I'll speak to him and get the footage. Meet me here in an hour."

I nod and exhale. "Got it. The others will be in soon, I'll catch them up."

"You do that."