Chapter 15

Nova rubbed her wrist. The handcuffs left faint marks on her skin. She sighed. 'Well, at least Lelouch didn't catch Nico sneaking into the mansion.' He didn't know what hocus-pocus his partner was doing. How could that one hide so quickly? 'Maybe with a Ph.D. to being a house-climbing one 'that!' He would not be surprised.

Nonetheless, she was relieved when Lelouch returned a few minutes later, an apologetic smile on his face. He silently laid the boa constrictor on the adjacent sofa and removed Nova's handcuffs.

'Weird.'

Now here they are drinking tea. Nova sat cross-legged in front of him, the giant snake wrapped around the coffee table's leg. Moments later, the lawyer spoke. "I apologize for my behavior earlier, Nova. Ever since I found Mrs. Javier's head in our yard, I've feared that the killer would return." Then, he gave her one of his boyish smiles again.

Nova smiled, "You're calling me that again."

The lawyer frowned, "Calling you what?"

"Nova."

Lelouch averted his gaze, slightly embarrassed. Nova laughed softly at her ex -boyfriend's reaction. She couldn't deny being comfortable with Lelouch. They've been together since high school, and it looks like a lot still doesn't change with them.

Nova.

Lelouch was the first to give him that nickname. It was his endearment for her.

Lelouch took a deep breath. Their eyes met again. Nova felt her heart quicken at the way he stared at her. He was swallowed. He had a bad feeling about it!

"Nova, about what you said ... I'll have to believe that you were telling the truth. If we still have mutual feelings for each other, then ---"

But the bulk of the man coming down the stairs immediately caught Nova's attention. Nico smirked sexily at her and waved. Seems to be teasing more! Nova glared daggers at him.

'Gosh! I'm so gonna kill him! '

It was only then that Nova noticed that the lawyer had been speaking earlier. Lelouch paused, clearly confused. "Nova? Are you listening? It's like you saw a ghost."

'Tsk! I wish I had just seen a ghost! '

But, of course, she can't voice that out. He quickly turned to Lelouch and smiled. Her acting skills kicking in again. "I just remembered that I still have a walk."

"Is this about the Heartless Killer case again?"

'How did he know that?' Nova calmed herself. By the way, Lelouch is the district attorney of HELP so he is probably updated on everything. Nova nodded. Moments later, his cellphone rang.

Detective Nico was calling her. He answered it quickly.

"Mission accomplished. You can stay away from your ex, Nova." Nico's baritone voice came from the other line. He stiffened in his seat the girl. 'He knows?!'

She sighed. "I'll be there."

Why does it seem like the speed he can get back? Oh, well. It's up to him. Nova turned off the call and saw the frowning lawyer. Lelouch's eyes calculated her soul. Magnetizing, that's how she can describe them.

"That reckless partner of yours called you."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement. How Lelouch found out, he had no plans to ask. She nodded and stood up. "We're just going to talk about the case." 'We'll talk if you're really the killer.'

"Looks like you're getting better."

He almost laughed. Instead, Nova rolled her eyes, "Half of the time, we argue about everything. The other half is spent on planning how we can murder each other. There's no 'getting better' there."

But the lawyer still doesn't seem convinced. It was still staring at him. Even before he could leave the mansion, Attorney Lelouch San Andres' voice echoed in silence.

"I won't give up on you, Nova."

*

The girl breathed a sigh of relief when she finally got out of the San Andres mansion. She spotted Nico inside the car. He was sitting in the driver's seat and playing Tetris on the cellphone. He didn't even look up at her when she took her spot in the passenger's seat. Nova frowned, "Well?"

"Well what?"

He looked deeper at the young man. "Is Lelouch the Heartless Killer or is it all just a false alarm?"

"Who?"

"Gosh! Stop being so childish Nico!"

"Why did you tell your first-name basis we were?" He smirked.

"There is no U.S!" She blushed.

"Whatever you say, Nova."

'Darn it!' Nova just folded her arms out of annoyance.

Detective Nico Yukishito cursed under his breath. The words "game over" displayed on his screen. He took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. He briefly glanced at his companion, "I confirmed the shoe size. Same as I saw in the garden. Plus, I've spotted one of his white polo shirts stained with blood."

He was stunned by what he heard. "Blood? Do you think it's human blood? Maybe it's just a coincidence?" A part of her didn't want to believe. He knew Lelouch couldn't kill the man --- let alone, rip out their hearts. He has no motive to do that! He just realized that his hands were shaking. She balled them into fists and forced the emotions away.

Emotions can poison anyone's judgment. Even her own.

Nico was still looking at him seriously, "I took samples earlier. Scorpio will be the one to check it. He's an expert with these things. We'll be able to know if the DNA in the blood matches those of the victims' . " Nico's eyes widened at the San Andres mansion. It seems like it's deep in thought, "I know it's hard to believe what's happening right now, Nova. But if your ex-boyfriend is indeed Heartless Killer, you know we have to stop him --- whatever the cost."

Nova didn't miss the way Nico emphasized on the last part. An implied meaning. Whatever the cost. He bowed. 'If Nico's suspicion is correct and Lelouch is the serial killer, we need to stop him no matter what happens.' He clenched his fists. Her pastel pink manicured fingernails digging into the skin of her palms.

They were detectives.

They are not assassins.

It's not their job to kill people. But if there is any similarity in the protocols of DEATH and SHADOW, it is their unspoken rule. The "unspoken rule" of their detectives is already ingrained in their jobs.

'Save humanity.'

And if the situation becomes critical, they still need to think of the welfare of the majority. They need to stop criminals, even if life is to be the price.

He remembered again the female victims of Heartless Killer. Women ruthlessly murdered and heartbroken.

"Heartless Killer is a dangerous man who should be stopped, regardless of whether we know him personally or not. Do you understand, Ms. Briannova Carlos?"

Nova nodded and boldly met the companion's eyes. Nico's eyes harbored no mercy for the serial killer. Detective Nico Yukishito wasn't even afraid. He's good at masking things, she'll give him credit for that.

He nodded. "Yes."

"Good. For now, we have to keep an eye on the attorney. But we also need to be careful. One wrong move and it's game over." And it started the car's engine. Nova was too occupied with what he said to even bother about the car issue. He frowned, "How are we going to do that? We can't just stalk him around."

Nico smirked, his dimples showing. "Yes, we can. And did you know that HELP has an annual masquerade tomorrow? Fortunately, your ex was invited."

Nova eyed him suspiciously. He seems to know where this matter is going.

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