Let's work together

''Relax, Avery. You look so tense. I am not going to do anything bad to you.'' Mariah said to Avery as they sat across each other at the corner of the café across the office.

''What did you want to talk to me about?'' Avery asked.

''First of all, I think I should apologize. I know that this should have being yours but I was brought to take the position that you worked for all these years.'' Mariah said.

''What do you mean?'' Avery looked at Mariah with a calm expression. She didn't reveal much emotion.

''Chief Johnson told me that you were originally the candidate for this position.''

''Constable Sanchez, you don't have to apologize for anything. In any case, I believe I will get whatever I deserve in the long run. As for what you are talking about, I think that you are the best person for this. You have a lot of experience than I do and you are in a higher rank than I so, I am really not affected by whatever decision the higher ups make.'' Avery felt she needed to make things clear. And honestly, it wasn't the promotion she wanted. She just wanted money!

''I'm glad that you think this way. I was actually worried that it will destroy our friendship. You can't deny that you and I have chemistry, right?'' Mariah smiled and touched Avery's hand that was on the table.

Avery looked at her hand and moved it. She had a weird feeling about Mariah the moment she was touched.

Mariah didn't say much but her gaze revealed a strange emotion. As if someone who was fascinated by someone.

''I want you to join my team.'' Mariah said after a while.

''Why? Won't you feel uncomfortable?'' Avery asked.

''No, I think that you and I will be able to work well together. I like you, Avery and I want us to work together.''

''Can I think about it?'' Avery felt confused and needed to think about it clearly.

''Yes, but you can't keep me waiting.'' Mariah stood up and picked her car keys. ''I still have to unpack and settle in so I will leave first.''

''Okay!'' Avery looked at Mariah as the latter walked out of the café. Avery looked at her hand where Mariah touched and shook her head.

''It can't be, right?'' She muttered and stood up. Avery saw Kai at the door of the café. He was having a chat with Mariah.

''Oh, do they know each other?'' Avery muttered.

At the door, Mariah said to Kai. ''It has been a while, Kai or should I say… Prosecutor Oak?''

Kai looked at Mariah. He didn't seem pleased to see her.

''Come on, Prosecutor Oak. Someone would think we are going after the same woman… even though we did once a few years ago.'' Mariah added.

''I am not pleased to meet you, Mariah.'' Kai replied and was about to go inside and heard Mariah saying.

''We will be meeting more often Kai. I am now the Violent Crimes Unit Team Leader at the District Police Service here and…'' she turned to look at Avery and added. 'Avery is now under me. Don't bother her if it is not necessary, she is mine.''

Mariah's voice came out sternly as if she was threatening Kai.

''Are you afraid that I might take her away from you?'' Kai asked amusingly.

''No, I am afraid that just like Anita, she too would die unjustly because you interfered with her life.'' Mariah said and turned, walking away.

Kai's face changed. His hand clenched into a tight fist as he watched Mariah. Her words had really hurt him.

Anita was his Achilles heel!

Avery walked to the door and tried to sneak out without Kai's notice.

''Stop there!'' He said and Avery stopped and turned.

''Why are you sneaking? Like a thief?'' Kai asked.

Avery chuckled and brushed her hair backwards. ''Like a thief? I am a police officer, how can you call me a thief?'' She asked.

''Then, walk out like one. Stop sneaking around for no reason.''

''Whatever, I am not wasting my time on you.'' Avery replied and turned to go.

''Where do you know Mariah from?'' Kai asked.

''I should be asking you where you know my team leader from, but I am not interested so, I shall be on my way…''

''The victim redrew her charges, you must be happy that your words came to pass, Detective Sandas?'' Kai said sarcastically.

''That's why I told you to stop wasting your time. This case was meant to be settled out of the courtroom. You were just being unnecessarily nosy. I have a lot of experiences with such cases…''

''Because you always receive money for settling them, right? Detective Sandas, people like you are the exact kind I hate the most. Opportunistic and corrupt civil servants like you make the civilians feel unsafe and insecure.''

Avery's lips curved into a sadistic smirk. ''Opportunistic and corrupt you say…?'' The day hadn't even ended yet but Avery felt that a lot of people had bullied her.

''You are right. I am opportunistic and corrupt. I am a doormat that the higher ups use to clean their mess. Even I despise myself sometimes so I am not surprised that someone else finds me disgusting. But Prosecutor Oak, you are not the right person to tell me that because you don't know what it means to go hungry or not know where to go to when it's raining. A rich boy like you don't know what suffering means so you don't have the right to judge me.''

Avery shook her head and walked away. Kai looked at her as she walked towards the road. He turned and entered the café.

Not far away from them, Fiona was sitting on her motorbike sucking on a lollipop as she watched the two. She chuckled and muttered.

''These two are an interesting pair. Is it time already?'' She looked at her watch and clenched the lollipop between her lips and started the motorbike. She rod past Avery but the latter didn't pay attention to her.