36| Partners in crime

I called Alyssa and asked about her whereabouts. In no time, she texted me her location.

"Room 1153," The slender blonde hair receptionist woman told me. "Take the elevator to floor 30."

I shook my head with a light smile and made my way to the elevator. The elevator stopped at exactly the number I had porched it. I let out a deep breath of relief as I head for the hallway. It's quite and calm, except for my shoes making the 'flip flop' sound on the smooth tiled sparkling ground.

I hope my intentions work out pretty well for me. I can't just imagine myself doing a secret agent or somewhat 'spy kid' stuff. Dexter on the other hand is doing his best to target his brother's gene. I hope it works out well too. I don't want either of them to know what we're playing at.

At exactly room 1153, I stopped. My hands trembling on the handle of my purse as I ask my heart whether to knock or not.

I'm a bit nervous, I know for sure but am not nervous because I want to meet my friend, I'm nervous because I'm about to carry out a drastic thing that might get me arrested without the other person's consent.

I can hear Alyssa's voice coming from inside. From the way she sound, I think she's on the phone with someone I have no idea about.

I summon courage and gave the first knock.

Knock, knock, knock.

I waited, panting inwardly with cold sweats breaking from my forehead. If I'm acting like this, I wonder how Dexter would feel taking his own risk by now.

The door opened after a few seconds and I saw my best friend standing right before me, looking haggard and ugly. Her eyes are swollen and red. Her face is very much pale and my heart sank.

Oh, dear. Has she been crying all night long?

"Thank God you came." She hugged me and I asked myself wether to return the hug or just remain stiff like a log of wood.

Well, am about to carry out an assignment, I hope she could read my mind.

"Please, come in." She sniffed her nose and I knew another round of tears was coming up again as she gestured me in.

I followed after her, shutting the door behind me. I stare at the whole place, it's nice despite it's a three star hotel. I settled on the couch next to me and waited for her to finish with her call.

"No, mom. It's my best friend, she came to see me." She had the phone pressed against her ear with her shoulder supporting it while she prepare coffee for the both of us. "Christian is so careless."

I gulped at the mention of the boy's name, causing my brain to remind me of what am here for.

She handed me my cappuccino and placed hers on the table between us before reaching out for a black backpack that was next to her. "He's there looking for his comb when he mistakenly dropped it in my backpack." She rummage the bag, taking out everything therein. And that was when a sharp idea flew into my head.

Bingo!

The first thing she placed on the table was a phone charger then came along two pens, a toothbrush and then one little blue comb. There are few strands of hair still attached on the comb. "See, he doesn't even know how to practice neatness." She gave an ugly look at the comb in her hand. "He left his hair stuck on the comb. He's a teenager, yet still acts like a baby."

The urge of pulling one strand and keeping it in the little plastic bag I brought along, was tempting me so much. Fortunately for me, Alyssa left to get something from inside the room, still on the phone with her mom. I took my chances immediately. My eyes still vigilante to see if she's coming or not.

I took out a few strands and quickly tuck them into the plastic bag before returning the comb back to its rightful position where she had kept it.

I know there was no way Alyssa would have allowed me get the blood sample of her son. Never, even if it was to be me, I don't think I would ever allow that to happen.

When I saw her coming, I pretended to be sipping on my coffee.

"He left majority of his items with me, including his pens and few of his textbooks. Now tell me how would he learn in school?.... Mom, Chris is too careless, admit it and am gonna spank him when I get back. Okay? Bye, gat to go now, my friend's waiting." She hung up, keeping the phone on the table as she reach out to her cappuccino.

"Your mom must be really curious to know how you're doing over here." I say when she gulped her coffee.

"Well...." She dropped it back on the table, crossed her legs and felt a bit relax on the couch. "It's my mom, babe. She's always caring and persistent. I can't say much."

I adjusted to the edge of the couch, lowering my voice. "Tell me you didn't use all the money I forwarded to you last night to book this place."

She shrugged proudly, taking another sip. "Of course I did."

I sighed. Alyssa.

"Where else do you want me to go? He kicked me out of his brother's house and if it wasn't you who saved my life last night, I would have ended up in the street." She took another sip. "Perhaps, it's just for a month until I can gather up something to find a comfortable place for myself."

I shook my head helplessly and began to type on my phone. Within the next seconds, her phone chimed.

Her eyes and mouth grew in agape after she scanned through her phone. "Triana?"

"Just shut up and keep that for any miscellaneous within the next four weeks." I say, tossing the phone into my purse. "That should be enough to take you some expenses in the next few weeks, right?"

"A hundred thousand dollar?" She gasped, still looking from her phone to me, "How can I ever thank you enough?"

I feel like a queen in a queendom. With my arms spread around the armchair, I grinned from ear to ear and crossed my ankles. After all, I have a hundred percent assurance that my work here is done. And I believe Dexter's too. "Come on, what are friends for?"

Tears stuffed in her eyes, "Please don't even smile at me now. I messed up big time, hiding such TRUTH from you for so many years that we've been partners in crime."

"Partners in crime indeed." I chuckle. "Don't be silly, I forgave you."

"Forgive me by helping me find a place in the same hospital you're working." She's requesting for something big.

"Okay, but still not okay." I took a sip, swirling the cappuccino. "I'm still a new staff there but I'll try figure out something that would suit you."

"Thank you so much!" She squealed, jumping from her seat to hug me tightly. My cappuccino almost splash on us. "Anywhere you fix me, I will accept without hesitations, I promise."

"Geez, Alyssa, I can't breathe."