Finding The Answer
"I'm leaving to office now, Babe. You better wake up and move to the bed or you will catch a cold," Jennifer whispers on to my ears then kisses my cheek. "see you tonight."
When she finally closes the door from outside, I open my eyes and sigh. The fact that she acts so natural toward me since, you know.. the confession we both made earlier, makes me even feel awkward to her. I mean.. does that mean that she really meant it when she said she loves me ?
Cause.. well, I don't. I mean.. She is definitely more than one night stand, obviously.. she lives in my apartment for more than a month now. I even forbade her to leave, al though it is for her security reason. And we both have been exclusively for each other. But.. to love her ? That's a big responsibility we're talking here.
I dishevel my hair then slowly wake up from the floor. I pick four used condoms from our previous make-out sex that I just threw on the floor and throw it into a trash bin on my way to my bathroom.
Pensively, I stand in front of the mirror, putting my hands on top of the sink for my support. When I finally able to focus my sight, I see something strange.
My neck. There is no scar on it. I'm sure one of star blades scratched my neck yesterday. I still vividly remember the pain I felt on it... and my left upper arm.
I turn my body to the right to check on my left upper arm. The star blade pricked deeper to it. The wound should be still there and even still painful. But it is now only leave a healed scar. I don't remember when it stopped to be hurt.
I go to my laundry basket to check on my T-shirt and jacket I wore last night. My jacket and T-shirt's sleeves are torn. There is also blood stain on my T-shirt's sleeve and neck. So I was wounded. How could it be healed so fast ?
-------------
"It's amazing !" doctor Lamos, the surgeon that took care of my spine injury, says excitedly. On his hand there is an X-Ray photograph of my spine.
"What is amazing ?" I ask him.
"Your spine. It is healed completely," he answers me then shows me the photograph. "Look! Even the surgical scars are gone completely."
I only glance at the photograph since I don't even understand what he points at.
"Is it normal ?" I ask him again.
"Usually it takes three to six month to completely healed and my patients can walk normally. They need to do physical therapy to train mobility," he explains.
"So, I'm not normal ?" I confirm him.
"You are ... exceptional," he puts it in a lot more positive term with a sparkle in his eyes. "Does it always like that ? You being fast in recovery ?"
I frown my eyebrows to think. "Hmm.. no.. I don't think I recovered this fast before," I say after some thinking. "I used to have several wounds. It is part of my job risk. A shot needs around a month, while stabs little less than two weeks."
"So.. this is new to you.."
"Yes. That's why I'm so confused."
"Did you eat or drink something new ? A medicine or food supplement maybe ?"
"No. Nothing."
"What else do you feel ? Nausea, depression, anxiety, sleepy.. any different psychologically ?"
"Hmm.. nothing," I murmur, but then I remember something. "But.. I do think that the world goes slower lately. I mean, just like now.. I feel that you are talking so slow. And yesterday.. I even could dodge a bullet that was being shot less than two meters from me."
Doctor Lamos widens his eyes in surprised. "Really ?"
I nod. "But, it doesn't always happen," I recall it has never happened when I'm at home or with Jennifer.
Doctor Lamos looks at me for the whole minute before he sighs. "I have a friend who is a neurologist, brain neurologist. I can introduce you to him. He may have the answer, or at least a lead of your condition," he then says.
"That'll be great," I tell him.
---------------
"So when will you meet the brain expert ?" Thief asks.
"As fast as Doctor Lamos is able to contact him," I say.
"What do you mean ?"
"Turns out he is a fugitive, accused to be one that responsible for a mass suicide at city T back in 2010."
"Cool.." Sometimes I am sure there is something wrong with this girl's brain. Maybe I should bring her to see the neurologist so she can also be checked.
"Anyway, my art exhibition is set up. It will be held next week. Is that enough time for you to prepare ?" Thief changes the topic.
"I have prepared already. You're the only one who haven't got paid. Andy and Bob have their parts already," I answer her. She clicks her tongue.
"You know I still would do it for free."
"I don't like to have a debt. Work is work. Always make a line between work and friendship. It's called professionalism," I lecture her.
She chuckles. "Well, those children's prayers will guard you for your lifetime," she says.
I also chuckle to hear it. "It's your money, not mine. They should pray for you."
"So, who's the buyer's name ?" she asks after a second of silence.
"Edward Kho. He is representative of one of my shell company from country S."
"He will buy all my collection ?"
"Him, or Agatha Scholl, his opponent on the auction, she is from country N. Which one do you prefer to win ?"
"Of course the lady," she quickly responds.
"Feminist," I scold her. She laughs in return.
Paying Thief has always been the most complicated one. While she actually doesn't really care, I need to make sure that the payments are always untraceable for her own sake. If I got caught, they can not trace it down to her.
I usually pay her with bitcoins. I pay intermediatory company to bounce the money several times before it is transformed into bit coins and sent to her.
But this time, she wants the money in dollars as she wants to donate it to research who help children who suffer Neuroblastoma. So, she arranges an art exhibition where she displays some of her artworks. The exhibition will have auction for her precious collection. I will send two persons from my two shell companies to join the auction and of course win it.
"Anything on that ninja, Albert Dwight ?" I ask her while parking my bike at the basement of my apartment.
"He was not an Albert nor a Dwight. His name was Hector Sebastian," Thief starts to give me information.
"He was a bomb expert. His last work of art as Sebastian was bombing the RG bridge in 2000. He declared himself to be one who responsible. and then he disappeared. There is a rumor that he became informant for the bureau," Thief reads me her discovery.
"Any news on the phone I sent you ?" I sent her Dwight a.k.a Sebastian's phone couple of days ago.
"There is one unknown number he called several times, but.."
"It was an unregistered one," I say then sighs.
"Yes. But.." Thief deliberately pauses.
"What ?"
"His last call to that number was just 10 minutes before you broke in his unit. And the other person hasn't called him again since."
I hired Mr. Chekhovsky's cleaner to get rid the body and his trace. Means... "His client .. or whoever called him.. hasn't known he is dead yet," I continue Thief's sentence.
"Yes!"
"I need you to send back that phone ASAP, girl."
"Okay, Boss"
"Thanks.." I'm about to continue my words but my attention immediately distracted to my apartment's opened door. "I have to go, Thief," I say to her before ending my call.
I grab my gun and walk as quiet as possible. My body is in full alert. I touch the door handle as I hear a bubbly chat inside my apartment. I also hear Jennifer's polite laugh.
Finally. I push the door and walk ini just to have a relieved happy shout,
"Quint!! You finally come!!"
QUICK QUIZ:
Before you read the next chapter, who welcomed Scott with that happy shout ? Leave your answer in a comment below ^_~