17- Phoenix in the closet

He frowns at me, "where are you going?" He asked and I ignored him as I walked past to the car. I wince at the beep sound as the car unlocks.

I opened the car door to Oscars car and Alan puts his hand over it, halting me from entering. "Where to?" I looked at him wondering if it would be a good idea to tell him.

"If I wanted to tell Oscar I would have woken him up" I whisper out to him.

"I work for him"

"I'm well aware, that's exactly why I'm not-"

"That doesn't mean I can't make my own decisions" he said, interrupting me midway. I look at him and raise an eyebrow.

"Are you Implying what I think you are"

"Depends on what is in your head"

I contemplate, it would be better to take him along in case someone decides to show up. "You better be good at fighting"

I said and threw the keys at his chest as I walked to the other side.

He looked at me and then at keys, with one last look at the house he got in and I followed. I had got the manual key out in case he decided to bolt.

I slipped it in the hoodie pocket along with my phone.

He drove out and I put in the gps to direct him to my house. I was nervous for first time while going home. In these situations it made sense to be but it used to be my home.

"So why are we going there?"

I bit my lip, would it be the right move to be honest? Probably not but oh well.

"The cop who was after me placed a camera in my bedroom through someone, I can't get it out of my head"

He glances towards me and I raise an eyebrow. "Why would you want to go there after finding out"

"Why not? I mean I can't sit and cry about it, I can't stop thinking about it so the least I can do it is remove it from my house."

He turned back towards the road and I watched the scenery.

My mind wandered to the photos on the counter. The photo in my silk robe triggered me the most, it was the only activity I indulged in alone. I feel violated sharing that moment with someone I hadn't even met.

What was the point of that photograph, it made no sense for him to keep that.

For a cop to stoop so low for a case-

"HEY"

I jump in my seat at the sudden yelling, Alan had stopped the car and I hadn't realised.

It looked like he had been calling out to me for a while now. "I've been-" he sighed as I rubbed my face. "I'm sorry" I said in a soft voice.

He grabbed my shoulder and turned me towards him, "Oscar is not just my boss but also someone who has been there for me when I hadn't even joined the gang. He saved my life and gave me a place to stay with people that I can trust with my life."

"Why-"

"I'm telling you all this so that you realise that the bastard will get what coming, whoever did what they did will be delivered to you on a silver platter. He is in love with you and I was just a stranger when he saved my life."

I looked at him as he reassured me that those who deserve it will get a treatment that'll cost them more than they can afford.

I understand where he is coming from, but karma wasn't on my mind.

The prototype that these people are all after hasn't even been circulated and the result is this heinous.

The prototype was built to reveal it all, maybe the fear of being caught is finally catching up. All this is making it even more crucial to be released. Maybe I should prepone the event.

A long awaited and beautiful spectacle it'll surely be, cities bathed in blood of the gods up top with the wrath of those who were blinded by the thorns of woeful lies that were once disguised as the truth of the world.

Fear is an understatement.

"Talia"

I turned to Alan, "we are almost there, I'm going to park a little further. Just in case we come across a trespasser." I nod as he pulls over a hundred meter away from the house on a parallel lane.

I was going to step out but Alan stops me, "maybe you should stay in the car, I'll call once the route is clear and you can drive to-"

I rolled my eyes and got out.

"It'll make more sense for me to go to my house than a random person to show up, these are cops that we are dealing with" i said to him before closing the door.

He got out and nodded.

I followed behind as he vigilantly walked towards my house. We reached the house and didn't find any vehicle arround.

I walked to the door and punched in the code in a hurry. Alan walked in before me and took a look around the place after deeming it safe he nods and I walk to the room.

I can't believe I was anxious to enter my own room. I walked to the bed and sat down. Alan stood by the door as he watched me. I got up and walked to the closet. Expecting someone to jump out of the closet.

I slid the door to my walkin closet and screamed out loud. I staggered back and Alan ran to see what I just-

He cursed out loud and turned back towards me, "let's get you out of here" he said and I nod as he leads me out but I pause just before I step out. "There was a letter attached to the-"

Alan understood, he frowned but walked back there. I followed even though the sight of the mangled body was disturbing.

I watched as he gripped the letter left on the body with blood stains all over. I took at from him and although I couldn't stand the sight I noticed the tattoo.

The tattoo on his neck. The phoenix.

But this man looked slightly fatter than the one in the photo. What's this all about. I turned my attention away from the body when Alan waved his hand infront of my face.

I nodded and walked towards the main door.

My phone had been vibrating in my pocket for a while now. I had a feeling they would find out.

I hear another phone starting to ring.

Alan pulled his phone out as I locked the house and we walked towards the car. He looked at me and I shake my head hoping he wouldn't-

He picks it up and answers, "yes boss"

I couldn't hear the other person but I was sure it was Oscar. I placed the letter with dried blood in the hoodie pocket and called 911.

"911 what's your emergency"

"There's a- uh-"

I pause and side step, that's when I hear a gunshot. I hear the woman on the call speaking but I was tugged by Alan towards the car.

"GET IN THE CAR"

He said as he unlocks the door and pulls out a hand gun. But we couldn't see the shooter. It seemed to be long range.

Alan cursed and we rushed into the car.

We enter and Alan pulls out of there with speed. I barely managed to pull on my seatbelt as he drives out of there.

I put my hand in the pocket to grab my phone only to realise it wasn't there. It was back there in front of the house.

I close my eyes till I hear Oscar. I open my eyes and realised that Alan connected his phone to Bluetooth.

"What the f*ckk is going on Alan?" He growled in the phone and for a second I was scared.

"I wanted to go back to the house" it was no longer my home.

"You could have asked me, I would have come along for f*cks sake don't go around without me."

"You have been SHOT AND YOU SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF SO DONT GO AROUND USING THAT TONE ON ME." I lashed out at him. I hear a sigh and Alan seemed to have stopped breathing at the way I just spoke.

"Breathe Alan" i whispered out and he let out a nervous chuckle. I hear Oscar sigh over the phone, "listen love I don't want anything happening to you. Just come back home and we will talk." He said.

"We should be there in 30 minutes" Alan said.

"Get her here safe Alan"

"Yes boss"

Oscar hung up.

I was shaking, "Talia?" He called out and I continue looking at the dashboard. "I don't understand"

"What don't you understand"

"I just don't get it, why there is a dead body that to of the man who helped the perpetrators with the hidden camera"

I looked towards Alan and his hand was clean he'd hard around the steering wheel. It almost turned white.

"Hidden camera?"

"Yeah the photos were found in the cops cabin. The one who shot Oscar."

"The cop had the photos?" He asked with a confused look. "Yeah he had them pinned up-" "it wasn't the cops, does the boss know about the photos?" He asked and I nod.

"Yeah there was a picture of a man with the phoenix tatoo, if you noticed the man-" "does the boss know about the tattoo too?" I nod again.

"Why? Do you know something-"

"Yes and we need to talk about it with the boss, he knows more than me."

I bit back the questions I had in my head, there were so many questions to be answered-

I feel Alan increase the speed suddenly, he overtakes a few cars and increases the speed further.

"Alan-"

He starts taking over the cars recklessly and I grab the handle, "Alan wtf"

I let out a gasp at how close he cut by the truck. He takes an off track turn. "ALAN" I yell out when he still ignores me.

"There is a car that's been following us, I think I lost them." He said as he crossed over and headed back on the right path.

There wasnt a single car in view now.

I scoffed.

"You could have warned me"

"Sorry your highness I was busy trying to get rid of the tail and informing you at the moment didn't seem like a priority'

I glare at him.

He doesn't turn towards me but he had increased his speed to get back faster. I closed my eyes to rest and the sleep finally caught up.

I was out.

I could feel the car taking a turn. I heard the car door open and I opened my eyes to find Oscar standing and talking to Alan by the door.

They noticed that I was up, "let's get inside and talk." Shanks said and the three of us turned to him.

"Who are you?" Alan asked, he seemed curious unlike with me he was polite.

"Hey I go by shanks" shanks said with a slight grin.

I could see shanks checking him out, "don't eye rape him shanks, get inside."

Shanks chuckled as he put an arm around my neck. "Oscar made breakfast and the food is heavenly-"

I looked at the wine glass innocently sitting on the counter filled with red liquid and the scene of the body in my closet flashed in my head.

The dislocated arms and knees that were in angles that human body couldn't possibly in with all the blood.

I rushed to the toilet and threw up on empty stomach. I felt shanks hold my hair back for me. "What's wrong Talia" he asked as I got up flushed and washed my face.

"Maybe you should avoid red liquids for a while, there's white wine in the back." Alan said as Oscar pushed my hair back and looked at my in concern.

"I just saw a mangled dead body in my closet"

I said and walked to the kitchen, Alan placed the wine out of site. I sat down on the dining table, Oscar, Shanks and Alan followed.

Alan served with the help of shanks, they had made cheddar cheese omlette with toast and milkshake, apparently the wine was left on the counter by me.

No one spoke as we finished breakfast. Once I was done Oscar spoke up.

"Tell me everything"