Ten minutes.
They were late for just ten minutes, and the Nightcrawlers managed to keep Mr. Boller’s mouth shut, forever.
“Hey,” Iris nudged Max who was staring outside Mr. Boller’s window. The police came in after they received his call and the forensics have already moved Mr. Boller’s body out of the building.
“You okay?” Iris asked, trying hard to sound worried. Max faced her and gave a forced smile.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m sorry, you must have been scared.”
“Don’t get me started,” Iris responded, resting her back against the wall beside the window.
“If only,” Max’s voice was full of frustration. “If only we came earlier, we could have saved him and catch those bastards.” He sighed sharply.
Sorry, Detective. Not on my watch.
“Don’t beat yourself up, we will catch them. Okay?” she assures him. Max looked at her, his expression softens.
“Of course.”
“Maximus.” The Chief entered the crime scene and approached them.
“Chief.”
“Don’t lose hope, we are securing all CCTV footage around the vicinity. Let’s get back to the station and review them,” he announced. Iris looked unhappy.
“Who’s taking them?” she asked, thinking of retrieving it herself.
“The police, they are probably on it right now.”
“Great, we’ll just grab some food before heading back, Iris hasn’t eaten anything since morning,” Max said and looked at Iris who immediately panicked.
“Oh, no no my tummy can wait, I’m fine,” she said while waving her hand.
“No actually it’s fine, we’ve got plenty of time I’m sure Max would not mind working overtime.” The Chief winked at him and left.
“So, what do you want to eat?”
“Actually, isn’t best if we could secure the CCTV footage ourselves? You know, just to make sure they won’t land on wrong hands,” she suggested, trying to come up with a plan.
“You’re right, we should get it by ourselves. Let’s just uhh..quickly get it from the police and go eat, sounds okay?”
“Perfect.” Iris smiled widely.
“Don’t smile at me like that,” Max smirked while they are leaving the crime scene. Iris looked at him confused.
“Why?”
“Just don’t. You’re scaring me.” Max laughed.
“Come again? My smile scares you?” Iris scoffed, she cannot believe what she was hearing.
“Just kidding, I just see my little sister on you when you smile at me like that.”
Iris got even more irritated. “Am I supposed to get offended?”
Max just smiled and taps her shoulder and walked faster, getting away from the pissed lady.
Watch me make you commit incest then. Iris thought and flipped her hair.
When they retrieved the flash drive containing the footage of the streets surrounding the building, they went to a nearby restaurant that serves cold noodles. Iris purposely dragged Max in that restaurant because one of the servers there is a member of their gang.
“You sure you don’t want full meal?” Max asked her after choosing the perfect table, beside the counter.
Right when they entered the restaurant, Iris eyed the server, motioned their hand signal by putting her middle finger over her index finger and sliding the middle finger downwards, it is their signal that the target have something they need. He immediately understood what she wants to happen.
“Yes, I don’t really eat much, I’m on diet,” she lied. She knows she can eat like a baboon.
“Oh right, sure you do,” Max said and let his eyes wander on her body.
“Excuse me? Don’t stare at your sister like that.”
Max laughed so hard. Iris can’t help but to admire him, he looked carefree but she knows he’s still frustrated about Mr. Boller.
Well, we share the frustration just because of that stupid flash drive.
She was waiting for an opportunity for Max to bring the flash drive out from his pocket but he has not even brought the topic up even after they finished their meal. Iris knows she had to do something. He had given her no choice.
Iris locked eyes with her co-gang member and he quickly approached their table bringing a pitcher of water.
“Water, Sir.” The server was about to place the pitcher on the table but he purposedly let is slip through his hand.
“Oh shi-!” Max immediately stood up when the water splashed over his pants, he immediately fished for his pockets and brought out everything inside of them, including the flash drive and placed them on the table
Iris quickly lifted the flash drive using her mind and letting it fall off the table to which the server caught swiftly, unnoticed.
“Oh my goodness! Are you okay?” Iris stood up and reached for the towel to help Max.
“Yeah yeah it’s fine, don’t worry.” Max was busy wiping his pants, unaware of the missing flash drive.
“I’m so sorry, Sir my hand slipped, I’m deeply sorry.”
“It’s okay, I got it,” Max assured the waiter. “I’ll just go to the restroom.” Max left the table and went on his way.
“Check it, and if there’s a shadow of an idiot Nightcrawler caught on tape, burn it,” she mumbled on the server.
Max came back to the table stating that the Chief is already requesting for them to go back to the station.
When they came back to the office, it was a total mess.
“Chief,” Max approached their Chief who was busy on the phone. He held one finger telling him to wait. When he dropped the call, the flash drive was his first concern.
“Let’s get in to that flash drive,”
“Oh right,” Max reached for his pockets and fished inside of it. His face went pale when he can’t feel anything. He searched for his back pockets but still, nothing. Iris was just silently watching him panic.
“No, no! Wait, where did I put it?”
“What do you mean where did you put it?”
Max turned around on Iris. His face was asking what is happening. Iris just shrugged.
“Don’t tell me you lost it,”
“I can’t tell myself neither.” Max closed his eyes. He can’t believe that the only evidence they’ve got is now gone. He punched his desk out of anger.
Iris felt bad, seeing Max so frustrated, but it’s her job.
“Hey, we’ll get another chance,” she said to Max and patted his back.
“I don’t know, we’ve lost too many chances already.” He stormed out of the office, leaving the Chief all stressed and Iris feeling bad.
“Well done, how’s your first day on work?”
Iris rolled her eyes, she just got home from work and the first thing she saw when she entered her place is William sitting crossed-leg on her couch playing with a knife. Aside from his grimly appearance, his scar on his left cheek made him look intimidating. His fresh clean cut hair is slicked back, but did not helped him towards having a good look.
“How did you even got in here?” Iris was clearly annoyed. She was exhausted. She kicked her boots off of her feet and slumped on the couch keeping distance from their leader.
William waved his spare key.
“You must punish those idiots who almost ruined us. I can’t believe you had to kill an old man because someone did not do their job well.” Iris was talking about Mr. Boller. She knew that his death was not intentional but they are left with no choice. The police will offer everything for information.
“I have them taken care of already.”
“You didn’t kill them did you?” Iris looked at him, William is all comfortable with eyes closed, he did not responded. Iris knew the answer.
“I need you to do something.”
“Does it fit on my job description?”
William stood up, his back facing Iris.
“I need you to install our eyes and ears.”
Iris frowned. “I admit I can move and control things but it’s not to be used for something so petty.”
“How you do it is all up to you. Besides, I am not the one to be jailed if you mess up.” William walked towards the door and left Iris.
“Like I can’t escape,” she muttered to herself. It has not been long since she joined their gang. Her life from then on was all about hunting people mostly their rivals and betrayers. It’s not that she wants any of this, but she needs it to get her revenge. A sweet painful revenge to the policemen who took away something very important from her. Iris thinks that they are all filthy and she wants to expose them.
Everything about her is fake, except her personality, it’s something that she wants to preserve at least.
“Good morning!” Iris entered their office with a wide smile. Compared to their office situation from yesterday, today is definitely worse. It’s like she just entered a cage of zombies. Almost all of them have dark circles under their tired eyes, hairs are messy, and their collective smell made Iris nauseous.
“Good morning, Detective Anderson,” a familiar voice came from behind her. Max passed by her with a coffee on his hand, all fresh. Iris felt relieved that Max did not let her first impression of him down.
She walked to her desk which was just in front of Max’s.
“Oh wow, I didn’t know you were a plant lover.” The Chief smiled at her when he saw her place a pot of peace lily on her desk.
“Well yeah, actually I am. I wanted to bring life to this office at least.” She chuckled. The pot actually contains a hidden spy recorder buried on the soil just enough for the Nightcrawlers to hear them clearly. Iris thought her desk is a safe and unsuspicious spot.
Her only problem now is to install hidden cameras. She looked around to see for blind spots to place them around the office.
“What are you doing?”
“What?? What am I doing?” she was startled when Max popped in front of her.
Max laughed at her. He handed her a pile of papers.
“Scan through those, those are the information of the tenants on Mr. Boller’s building. If any name seems suspicious or familiar, report to me, okay?”
“Yes Sir!” She answered with enthusiasm which made Max smile.
Iris found her opportunity to do her job about the cameras, Max seemed to be so engrossed in his computer digging for all the whereabouts of their two victims.
She slowly left her desk and proceeded to the right end corner of the office where the coffee counter is placed. This is the place that will give a perfect overview of the whole office. She pretended to make her coffee and swiftly tried to put the camera on top of the wall cabinet but it was too high.
Iris was struggling to reach the cabinet, she regretted not wearing her five-inch stilettos. She was cursing in her mind, it’s not going to be long until someone wonders what the hell is she doing.
“Need a help?”
Iris froze. She closed her eyes and slowly kept the tiny camera back on her hand. She looked at her side to see who caught her.
“Max.”
“Are you okay?” Iris dropped her hands, and smiled at Max who’s frowning at her. “Yeah, why? What is it?” Max looked down on her hands and squinted his eyes. “What were you trying to put over the cabinet? Let me do it for you,” he said and stepped closer reaching out his hand. Iris stepped back, she was cursing inside her head while struggling to form an excuse. “Detective Carter!” The both of them looked back when a police yelled for Max’s name. He quickly ran towards him forgetting all about Iris. She sighed in relief and let the tiny camera float up to the cabinet, positioning it where it will give a view of the entire office. She was looking at Max and the police officer discussing over a paper when she successfully planted the camera. “What happened?” Selene ran immediately to Max after she succeeded with her age
“There are three possibilities behind this photo,” the Chief’s voice echoed on his whole office. Several officers, Max and Iris sat on the couch, all attention gathered to the Chief who was walking back and forth in front of his desk. “First, this woman in the photo did kill the Westons.” The Chief stopped in front of his desk eyes unfocused and deep in his thoughts. He put both of his hands over the table, leaning to support his balance. “Second, the killer possibly came after her and killed the Westons. And lastly,” the Chief shot a look to Max. “She is an accomplice to the murder.” Max looked at the bulletin board where they pinned the printed picture of Mr. Weston and the killer. The woman, unfortunately, was standing with her back facing the camera. They could only see her hand with a nude nail polish, a coat covering her body figure, and her dark mid-length hair tied in a ponytail. Sh
Iris Dane scoffed which slowly turned into a laugh. She cannot believe what the secretary just said. Ms. Roxanne and Max turned to her when they heard her suppressing her laughter. “Detective Anderson?” Max called her out, his eyes talking to her to stop her inappropriate action. Iris cleared her throat, her eyes glistening with tears as she tried to hold her laugh. “I’m sorry,” she said and paused to concentrate on her breathing. “But isn’t funny, that we actually blamed Mr. Weston for having an affair with this woman but it turns out, she was the one having an affair!” she said with so much amusement. The people near the lounge glanced on their way with the sudden raise on her voice. “Sorry, what??” Ms. Roxanne asked, bewildered by Iris’s statement. Her eyes went back and forth from Max and Iris who’s finding the situation hilarious. Max frowned at his co-detec
“Iris!” Iris looked at Max who was running towards her, his eyes roaming around the place.“Did you find Ms. Roxanne?” he asked, catching his breath as he stopped from his little marathon, his eyes were angry. He reached for his phone at his back pocket and called someone, Iris was just staring at him blankly.“Hello? She got away! Surround the area and search for every cars within the vicinity now!” he exclaimed through the phone. He looked back again to Iris.“The killer…” he said, exhaling sharply. “Is Ms. Roxanne! I’m such an idiot!” Iris frowned at him, confused of what he said. Max brought out the picture of Mr. Weston and Roxanne and handed it to Iris.“We had the killer right under our noses! And the proof was freaking staring at me the whole time!” he hissed angrily.
Iris eyed William from afar, he had taken Max away from her. He led him to the stage where a line of lustful women gnawing at Max as he ask them about Victoria. Minutes passed, she jumped off from the bar stool when she saw Max finally walking back to her, face exasperated.“Victoria’s not working here tonight. Apparently, she hadn’t come at work for a week now. But a lot of them attested that the car was an old one and they never saw her use that car for a long time now,” he said, letting out a deep sigh.“So? What are we going to do next?”“The owner,” Max whispered and turned to William who was still at the stage, conversing on the ladies. “He handed me her address, he said to keep it a secret because they don’t disclose information of their employees.”Iris snorted. “And what makes yo
Max’s eyes flew open and he immediately jerked himself up. Iris lowered down the newspaper she was reading when she heard the couch creak, shooting a look at the disarrayed man who just woke up from his deep sleep. Max was blinking at her and squinting his eyes. “What the fart!! Iri-” Max’s scream was cut off and a flying pillow came slamming his face back to the couch. “Why the hell are you screaming?!” she hissed, glaring at Max. It was only 6:00 in the morning and the sun hasn’t come up yet to take the sleepiness on Iris’ eyes. She stayed up all night fighting the urge to kill Max and throw his body out of their building so she could lay herself at the couch. Max pulled himself up again and brushed his face aggressively with his hands. “Iris? What the hell are you doing at my house?!” he yelled and yanked himself off the couch. When he tried to walk, his weak knees wobbled at the we
“Let’s go. Anderson” Max tapped Iris’ shoulder. She looked up on him with a questioning face. “We’re going back to Victoria,” he said as he flips the sleeves of his jacket to its right side. Iris sighed and stood up, she looked on her peace lily wondering if William already got rid of Victoria. When two of their members came in last night, she ordered them to bring her body to their hideout. And since there has been no signal for her to hunt and deliver Victoria, she’s assuming that she has been taken care of. “Get yourself ready, I’m gonna go tell Claire we’re leaving, okay?” “What?” Max was startled with Iris’ tone of irritation, he turned to her with his eyebrows furrowed. “I mean, she’s coming with us?” Iris said trying to hide her annoyance. “Yeah, she needs to. She’s part of this case now too,” Max answered, still weirded out. Iris just bit her lowe
Iris went to their hideout in front of her building. She stormed inside the motel, surprising the hideous looking men who were crowding in the lounge playing pokers. A rain of whistles and hoots came from their mouths when Iris walked her way towards the elevator. She didn’t spare them a glance, instead, she levitated the beverage refrigerator from her side and threw it across the room, slamming it to the stunned men whose eyes widened in fear as they watch the refrigerator flew towards them.Iris quietly hopped in the elevator, the awful voices throwing different profanities and howling of the men slowly fainted as the door closed. She exhaled sharply, her mind still cannot process what happened to their men, all she knows is that whoever killed the victims, was an enemy of their gang.She reached the floor of their hideout and went straight to their room. She stood in front of the door as she tries to calm