Staying strong through vulnerable times

Leo was still hugging unto Nicole tightly with his arms wrapped around her waist even after Lizzy left her body. He had placed his head on her shoulder and was snuggling unto her.

Nicole gulped hard and flushed. Her body was getting hotter the more he tightened his grip on her. She felt that if he continued to hold onto her like that, she was going to break any moment soon.

''Leo… Leo'' Nicole's voice was soft.

''Lizzy, I missed you so much'' he whispered into her ears.

''Lizzy is gone'' Nicole closed her eyes and managed to say the words out. As soon as she said that, she felt his body stiffen and he slowly let go.

''I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to take advantage of you'' Leo quickly said and stepped aside.

''It's alright'' Nicole said and pointed at the kitchen, ''do you want a drink?''

''Yes, a drink will do. Fruit juice''

''I only have alcohol in the fridge''

When she said that, Leo looked at her and asked, ''you only have alcohol?''

''En, I prefer alcohol to fruit juice. Are you drinking it or not?''

''I won't. I have to stay sober today, remember?''

''Right. how are you going to handle those two?'' she asked, referring to Ray and Priscy.

''I will act along with them. Right now, we can't arrest or accuse them without evidence. I have already asked someone to look into Ray and Priscy. If they are hiding something, we will definitely find out. Do you remember the detective I came with the other day at the police station?''

''Yes, I do''

''He is helping me on the case. He will be there tonight; I will introduce you to him. His name is Nesli; he was also a friend of Lizzy''

'''Okay''

Leo's phone started ringing and he took it out, ''it's Ray''

''Answer it'' Nicole said to him and he nodded before answering the call.

''Hello, Ray. What is it?''

''Ray, where are you? Are you not going to observe the 40th day of Lizzy's passing anymore?'' Ray's voice came through from the other side.

''I went out to get a few things. I will be home soon''

''Did you change your house passcode?'' Ray asked.

''Yes, why? Are you already at my apartment?''

''Yes, I am with Priscy. We came early to help out''

''I will be there soon. I am going to pick someone first'' Leo said and hung up. he didn't give them the chance to say anything again.

Since the day he started to doubt them, the first thing he did was to change his apartment passcode. They had always known his apartment passcode over the years and could go there even without a call but he couldn't allow that anymore. He had to be careful around them.

''What did he want?'' Nicole asked and handed the glass of water to him.

''He wanted the passcode to my apartment. I changed it a few days ago. go and change into something and we will leave''

''Oh'' Nicole went into her room and Leo scanned the hall once more. Lizzy was standing just in front of him with a smile on her face.

''You finally believed Nicole. You have to be careful and not fall into their trap tonight. I will be leaving Nikki into your hands''

''He can't even hear you. what's the use of speaking to him?'' Nicole came out of her room dressed in a straight red off shoulder dress that fitted her so well.

When Leo heard her voice, he turned and looked at her. His eyelids rose upon seeing her.

''Why are you looking at me like that? Haven't you seen a pretty woman before?'' she asked after picking her purse, ''let's go''

''Wait'' Leo stepped closer to her and she blushed.

''What are you doing?'' she asked him and tried to step back and he held her hand.

''Don't move'' he said and removed a diamond necklace from his pants pocket, ''this should be perfect. Hold your hair''

Nicole used one hand to brush her hair to one side and watched him put the necklace around her.

''Where did you get this from?'' curiosity got the better part of her.

''It was something Lizzy has always wanted to give to you. I kept it in my pocket to give it to you and forgot. Luckily, it came in handy''

'Lizzy wanted to give this to me?'' Nicole turned to look at Lizzy who nodded her head.

''I bought it that year on your birthday hoping to give it to you before we suddenly drifted apart. I'm happy Leo found it and brought it to you''

''Thank you''

''Let's go''

''Go alone, I have to wait for Candy. We will be going to Ray and Priscy's apartments to search for clues and evidence''

''En, be careful'' Nicole said to Lizzy before going out with Leo.

….

Leo's apartment.

''He is gone to pick that woman? Why is it so hard to get rid of her? Should I just kill her?'' Priscy looked at Ray as they sat in her car waiting for Leo.

''Don't go so extreme with your words. He is coming with her today, be nice to her so that you will know the kind of person she is''

''I can't be nice to her. I want to just tear her apart''

Ray looked at her and smiled. He hadn't told her yet what he found out from his investigation. He was keeping that piece of information to himself. It could come in handy one day. After finding out that she could communicate with ghosts, he had been fascinated by her and want to find out how she is in real life. That was why unlike Priscy, he wasn't bothered about her appearance today. He just wanted to find out how much she knows before he could take his decision.

He was already aware now of the kind of person she is to Leo through the recent development. She is important to Leo, he could tell that much, but, he wondered to what extent Leo was willing to go just to see her alive? He was becoming curious. It seemed he didn't have to make Priscy his weakness anymore.

A sly thought crossed Ray's mind and he smirked. He wondered what would happen if the person who was drugged turned out to be that woman and Leo was around? Would he… sleep with her? the idea itself made him chuckle and Priscy looked at him.

''What is making you so happy?'' she asked him and he shook his head.

''Nothing much. I just thought of a funny situation''

''I can't believe you still have the time to think about funny situations when we can't even go into Sun's apartment without him? Do you know what that means?''

''It means he suspects us. I know, but, you don't need to worry. I will find a way out''

''Are you thinking of doing something?'' Priscy asked suspiciously.

''Where is the portion I gave you?'' Ray asked her and she removed it from her bag.

''You don't need to give that to him tonight. You might end up regretting it''

''What do you mean?''

''He is coming with that woman. What do you think will happen if you give him this portion and he gets closed to her? You will end up creating a chance for them to be together''

''Right. Why didn't I think of that?'' Priscy felt Ray was right in his thoughts but she didn't know that the reason why he took the portion from her was for a greater purpose.

''So, you can give this to him another time. When that woman isn't around and you are alone with him''

''You are right. I can't believe I was going to create an opportunity for that bitch to have Leo to herself'' Priscy scoffed.

Ray placed the tiny bottle into his pocket and leaned against the seat with his hand over the head. his eyes held a hint of arrogant to them and it looked like he was anticipating the turn in events of the night to come.

A few minutes later, Leo arrived in his car with Nicole and they got down. Priscy saw them from her rare view and got down immediately.

''Sun, you are finally here?'' she said and looked at Nicole who was behind Leo. Ray got down from the car and looked ahead, meeting the gaze of Nicole.

''Sorry for keeping you waiting. Nicole, come and meet my childhood friends. Ray, Priscy, this is Nicole. she is a friend of Lizzy. They attended school together''

''Turned out you were a friend of our Lizzy? Hi, I am Priscy. Leo and I grew up together with Ray'' Priscy revealed a smile as she stretched forth her hand to shake Nicole.

''Nice to meet you'' Nicole said politely without shaking her hand. She wasn't the type to pretend to be good friends with her enemies.

''Hello, Nicole. we meet again. I remember seeing you at the mall some time back?'' Ray said to her. He looked at the way she didn't shake Priscy's hand and smirked.

''Hi, nice to meet you'' Nicole nodded and stood next to Leo.

''Let's go inside'' Leo held her hand and they went forward with Priscy and Leo behind them.