Mary Beth [2]

As I looked into his eyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of oppression. It was as though he held all the power, and I was insignificant in his presence.

My chest tightened with fear, and an unknown anxiety gripped me. There was something off about him, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

Although he wasn't evil, there was an eerie quality about him. His smile was warm, and he treated me with the utmost gentleness and care.

But still, there was an underlying sense of danger that lingered in the air.

"Don't fret, my dear. That was merely a demonstration. I assure you, I have no intention of stealing from you," he reassured me as he gingerly placed my ID on the glass table before me.

I double-checked my blazer pocket to make sure it was my original ID, and sure enough, it was.

"You have quite the silver tongue," I remarked, wary of his charm.

"Your presence is simply captivating, ma'am," he replied smoothly.

"Mind your words kid", Brooke suddenly interjected, his glare fixed on the young man. But the young man didn't flinch, holding his ground with confidence.

I couldn't help but feel that Brooke's attempt to intimidate him was unbecoming.

I had been keenly aware of Brooke's intentions from the start, but due to his father's powerful position as the department chief responsible for the president's security, I was powerless to exile him from my team.

Once you enter this field, retirement becomes a distant dream, with cases that never truly end and highly classified information that never leaves your possession.

"It's all right," I said, motioning for Brooke to sit back down. I retrieved a card with my contact information on it and leaned forward, offering it to him. Kael graciously accepted it, holding it with utmost politeness.

"If you come across any information that may be of help, please let me know," I requested.

"May I assume that I am not a suspect?" Kael asked.

"For now, no," I assured him. "And even if you were to become a suspect, as a minor, you would have privacy, all rights and freedom."

"That's a satisfactory answer," he replied, flicking his fingers to make the card disappear into thin air.

As I made my way towards the exit of Kael's luxurious yet empty house, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease in his presence, despite his warm demeanor and charming smile.

Something about him felt off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"Rest well officers, Good night", he said.

"Thank you", I responded as the gate closed and Brooke remained silent.

He silently headed towards the car and put the key in the ignition.

'Something is definitely not right', I thought as I looked back. The exterior of the house was much humbler than the interior, oddly there was more space in the house than it seemed.

"Sleep well, officers. Good night," Kael bid us farewell with a smile as he closed the gate behind us.

I reciprocated his sentiment, but inside, a sense of unease gnawed at me. The opulent interior of Kael's house, in stark contrast to its modest exterior, raised red flags in my mind.

To put my doubts to rest, I knocked on the door of the neighbour's house. An elderly woman answered, her face etched with the lines of time and exhaustion.

"Good evening, ma'am," I greeted her, presenting my ID. "I'm conducting a federal investigation and was hoping to have a cursory glance inside your home."

The woman's expression flickered with apprehension as she scrutinized me and my ID. "An investigation?" she asked in a timid voice.

"Don't worry, ma'am," I assured her. "It's just a routine check. If it's inconvenient, I can check the next house."

The woman hesitated for a moment before relenting, ushering me inside with a pat on the back.

Stepping inside, I couldn't help but contrast the cozy, unpretentious interior with the lavishness of Kael's house.

The striking disparity between the two homes only served to amplify my doubts. What was Kael hiding, and how could I uncover the truth without jeopardizing my cover?

"Thank you for your assistance, ma'am," I said gratefully, showing the elderly woman my appreciation.

"Is that all you needed?" she inquired, her voice carrying a hint of suspicion.

"Yes, that's all. Thank you for your cooperation, and have a good evening," I replied, attempting to ease her concerns.

"At my age, all I can do is rest," she replied sarcastically, hinting at her frustration with the limitations of ageing.

"Stay safe, kiddo," she added as I stepped out of her house.

"Thank you, ma'am," I said with a smile.

I repeated the process with two more houses in the lane, but each one was just like the previous one.

None of the houses had the same luxurious textures, space, or design as Kael's, even though they were all said to be identical.

As Brooke approached me, he could sense my frustration. "What's the matter, ma'am?" he inquired.

"I can't put my finger on it, but something seems off. It may not even be related to the case," I replied, deep in thought. "Notify the team to keep a close eye on Kael."

"Understood, ma'am," he acknowledged as we made our way back to the car. It was already 9 PM, and he dropped me off in front of the Cirrus Building before heading off.

My apartment was a modest one, shared with a friend I met at the airport. She was attending Arcane Academy and was in her final year of high school.

Gaining admission to the prestigious Arcane Academy as a high schooler was an unparalleled opportunity.

Achieving a score of eighty percent or higher meant bypassing the entrance exam for Arcane University, one of the most renowned universities in the world.

As I opened the door to our apartment on the fifty-second floor, I couldn't help but appreciate Ambra's tidiness. She was a stickler for cleanliness, which suited me just fine.

After hanging up my blazer on the stand near the drawing room, I headed to my bedroom and changed into black shorts, letting my shirt hang loose. I took off my tie and made my way back to the drawing room.

Ambra was lounging on the couch, indulging in the popcorn she had just made. Her white hair, brown eyes, and alluring figure made her a sight to behold.

Without hesitation, I walked over to the couch and lay down, resting my head on her thighs.

"Has your day been as arduous as mine?" she asked.

"Regrettably," I replied with a deep sigh.

"What about Brooke? Has he been bothering you again?" she inquired.

"He's been a complete pest, constantly pursuing me despite the fact that he's old enough to be my father," I grumbled. "And what about you? Anything interesting happen today?"

"Not really, just the usual routine of studying and dealing with pointless proposals. Although, there is one thing that caught my attention," she said.

"What's that?" I asked, intrigued.

"Apparently, there's someone who managed to get admission to the school even though admissions closed two months ago," she explained.

"But we don't know much about them except for their name."

"Ah, and what might that be?" I asked, hoping to lend some insight.

"Kael Hashirae," she replied.

"Kael Hashirae? That name doesn't ring any bells", I replied, trying to hide the unease in my voice. I sat up straight and furrowed my brows in confusion.

I decided to change the subject, "Anyway, have you finished that book you were reading last week? The one with the badass thief?"

"You mean Gentleman Burglar?", She asked.

She seemed to take the hint and started talking animatedly about the book, and I tried to focus on the conversation, but my mind kept drifting back to Kael Hashirae and the mystery surrounding him.