CHAPTER 52

       Kenny looked away as if he was embarrassed of saying what was in his mind. She didn't push him. Instead, she waited patiently for him to talk whenever he was ready.

            "He got me this job some years back. I was young and jobless and not even bothering to look for one. He is friends with the guy in charge of recruiting the deputy president's family security team. I got there through that. At first I was furious,I didn't even know the first thing about that,I had to work under the wings of another experienced guard for two years and then I got used to it." Dylan didn't know where he was headed with all that but nodded. "What I'm saying is that,my father thinks that everything I earned for those years is because of him and therefore he thinks it's all his. He took my car keys, the house, washed all my savings in all my accounts,"he shook his head. "He said I don't deserve any of it. I was a waste of his resources and a million other things that didn't make any sense."

                "Wait so,he did all this because you got fired or because he realized you are are gay?"

                 "Both I guess but he seemed more furious about the photos. I'm just kind of wondering what parent still gets mad at their children for being gay. Worse still,kick their thirty- year old out of his own house? I worked for it,I risked my life for those wealthy friends of his and I end up being the bad guy here?" Besides Carl,this was the second time she was seeing a guy crying. When this happened, she knew it was out of deep emotion and pain,no guy could fake crying and now that Kenny had sobered up after the sleep, she knew he was genuine. She however didn't know what she was supposed to do with him. Comforting a lady was easy,at least the highest percentage of them. For men,the highest percentage of them didn't like to be touched,to be shown sympathy and she didn't know if Kenny was one of those. How could she know that he wouldn't even maybe kick her if she tried to comfort him. Touching made them feel weak.

                   "Tell me Dylan,how is that even fair?"

    She shook her head,"It's not and you should actually build a case against him. You have the right to all that property."

                  "Yeah but between me and them,I mean him and his powerful friends,I won't stand a chance,"he sniffled. "What I need now is a fresh start. Get a job that hasn't been brought to me readily on a platter and start a new life. Change my name even."

                "You think he would come after you even after what he has done already?"

                "No, I don't think so. He is disgusted by just the sight of me."

 She reached out her hand and patted his back trying not to do anything more that would feel emotional,"I'm sorry man. You don't deserve any of it."

  He shook his head and snapped out of the whole emotional thing and within seconds, he was now focusing on the file on her desk again, completely pushing his issues away. "Anyway, forget my sad cries and tell me what else I can do to help you with your case."

            "You don't have to,you have already done much for me and it brought you bad luck. Seriously,you have done much."

  He looked at her sternly,"Dylan, please I need to do something to escape from all this. Let me help you." She thought for a moment not sure of what she was supposed to say. "Or if maybe you find it too much,you can repay me by letting me crash on your couch for a few days until I find a place to stay."

   She smiled,"You can stay with me for as long as you need."

                 "Great!" he rubbed his hands together. "Let's do this then. So,how are you connected with Kelley Smith?"

  She spent the next several minutes narrating the whole story all over again, giving him every detail. Until he came to the point where she told him about how Kelley had approached Carly showing some interest in her. She tried to narrate it as casually as she could but deep down,all she could see was her mother's murderer sticking her tongue in the throat of the woman she loved. Well,her ex now but still it hurt. Kenny looked at her curiously then grinned.

             "I get why you are still having dinner with your ex's family. Now I want to see this woman who still holds you down."

              "Come on,if you are going to tease me about it all the time then I would rather work alone."

                "Right,sorry. I'll keep my thoughts to myself."

  She nodded once,"Thank you."

                 "First,we need to do some research on every person on this list. See if we can make any connections on what's happening now since Kelley got out and your mother's murder. See if we can find out their whereabouts during that time."

    She dropped her hand. That sounded like it would take forever. But there was something else. She sat up and took out the notes she had kept with her and dropped them on the table."Yeah, what about these ones? Are we gonna go comparing the handwritings of everyone we suspect?"

 He appeared defeated but only for a second"Oh,I almost forgot about that part. Our work just might have become easier. Now we just have to figure out everyone else you might have pissed off before Kelley. It seems like this person knows you and your girlfriend really well."

                   "Ex-girlfriend," she corrected him.

                    "Yeah, whatever you say," he replied without looking up but she went on staring at him. He looked up. "Sorry, it's just that I am getting the feeling that you still fancy her."

   She chuckled and decided to tease him instead,"Who the hell still uses fancy?"

                   "You know what I mean," he said and rolled his eyes dramatically. Why she hadn't noticed his feminine side was still unknown to her because now, it was like her eyes had suddenly been snapped open.

    She didn't know how long they stayed there discussing, teasing once in a while without coming to a conclusive decision. More accurately, she didn't know how sleep took over her  because the next thing she knew was that she was leaning back on her office chair with a blanket covered around her. When she opened her eyes, Kenny was nowhere in sight but the file and his computer was still on the table. That was the only thing that prevented her from freaking out. She had worked until late into the night at the desk but she had never slept there. This had been a mystery and she couldn't figure it out. She hadn't done much the previous day so she hadn't been too tired. Had he drugged her and done something? No,if he had, she would be experiencing a pounding headache or a terrible hungover.

  She pushed the blanket away and stood up. One look around the apartment and she noticed some changes. Her pile of clothes she had been meaning to attend to were  now neatly folded and arranged on top of the other at the end of one couch. Then, she heard his voice in the kitchen humming and that's when  the smell hit her. She walked towards the kitchen and joined him.

                  "What are you preparing?" she asked but Kenny didn't respond. He kept swaying back and forth with her frying pan in his hand. She smiled amusedly and then noticed the headphones in his ears and walked closer to him. She tapped him on the shoulder. Kenny dropped the pan on the table top and turned around quickly startled. He closed his eyes and heaved in relief when he noticed it was her. 

     He sighed again,"Can you not sneak up on people like that?"

       She laughed,"Sorry,I didn't know you would be that scared."

    He shoved her aside,"Shut up. I thought I would be done preparing breakfast before you woke up but alas,here you are and you ruined the first attempt. Now I have to start again, thanks to you."

                   "Come on, it's no big deal. I don't expect you to cook me breakfast. There is a joint right around the corner where I always go."

                     "As much as I love take outs, breakfast is my favorite meal and I love making it for myself."

She raised her hands as if in surrender,"Okay, okay. Carry on," then,"Do you need some help? And how long have I been sleeping?"

                     "Two hours at most. We were up until four thirty when I realized that I was speaking to myself. So, I covered you and went ahead with the research until like thirty minutes ago."

                   "Did you find out anything helpful?"she asked hopefully but doubted her.

                      "I'm too hungry for this and you are too. Let me finish cooking this and then we can talk over breakfast." She nodded then went to retrieve coffee. "Oh,I looked everywhere. Sorry but you don't have any coffee."

                   "Great. Now I have to walk with my bed head to buy coffee," she replied then went to look for cash. "I need this so I'm just going to rush out and buy some."

   She was halfway to the door when Kenny called her back. She had forgotten all about her phone since she woke up until he handed it to her.

                "A woman called earlier,I forgot to tell you. She sounded like she had something important to tell you but when I asked her if I should wake you up, she said she would call later. I think it's her."

  She took the phone. She hadn't saved the number yet but she recognized it. It was Carly's. She picked up the phone and turned away from Kenny. She didn't want to show that she was alarmed but her heart was pounding in fear, expecting to hear the worst thing. Otherwise,why would Carly be calling that early in the morning. 

                  "Carly?" she said. There was some noise in the background but in a few seconds, Carly's voice came through loud and clear.

                 "Dylan, something happened..."

She didn't wait for her next words because now,her whole body jumped into full action. She felt a hot wave wash over her. Teddy? Carly? Her parents? Her brother?

                "What happened? Are you okay? Where are you?" she asked in quick succession.

              "I'm okay, don't worry about me. It's Emily but I can't talk on the phone. Could you come by her store please? That's where I am."

 Carly's voice didn't sound so alarmed but she still didn't believe she was okay. What was she doing there at this time of the morning? She would have to see her to believe her.

            "Okay,I will be right there." She hang up the phone and turned to Kenny who was looking at her questioningly. "I'm going out,I don't know for how long. Don't count me in for the breakfast."

                 "Aren't you going to tell me what is happening? I'm kinda worried here because you look like an angry lioness."

                "I don't know. Maybe nothing, maybe something that might help with our case. I will be back as soon as possible."

                "Maybe I can help,"he went on and started heading back to the sitting room before he stopped suddenly remembering something."Shit! I forgot,I no longer have a gun."

              "It's okay. I got this,stay here and try to work on the next possible theories. I've got a feeling we are on the right path."

    With that, she grabbed her coat,shoved her phone in her pocket then took her car keys and left. It had been long since she went to the store, she preferred going to another one nearer to where she lived but had dropped by several times.

When she got there, she didn't find what she had expected. She had created a scene in her head, finding police vehicles and a large crowd gathered whispering and discussing what had happened. There was a group alright,but no police vehicle was around. She parked the car and without wasting time, she went inside the store. Emily was sitting in a corner,her face down and a blanket covering her while Carly stood over her. She turned the moment she heard the doorbell.

               "What's going on?" she asked as soon as she stopped in front of them.