2nd Box

12:25 in midnight.

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I took a deep breath and without thinking picked the box up shaking it. It was the same box, wooden, wrapped in blue and pink strips gift paper. This time it was pretty light, I inserted the key in keyhole and opened the door.

Getting in, I turned all the lights on and nearly banged the box on table. I heard the latch closing behind my back, I looked at Fred trying my best to flash him a smile, hiding my frustration behind my smile.

"Get changed, I have some oversized t-shirts in my wardrobe and some pants too. Get comfortable spend a night here, you can sleep in bed. I'll be in hall I've some work to do." He nodded and headed to my bedroom.

I smiled and watch him disappear. As soon as he was out of sight, my smile dropped and I opened the box. This time there was only a single note inside, a white paper sheet and a message written over it.

"Aw poor Loveena and Fred .. tsk tsk tsk. I thought I would give you some popularity, but didn't expected it to go in wrong way. Now how will little Loveena catch me with her little feet. You totally misunderstood my next target, It was never Mrs. Watson.

"I enjoy how your ways are closing slowly, and how you are breaking piece by piece everyday. I love to see the pain I inflict without even touching you, I love how much confused and restless you've gotten. I love to see your all efforts going in vain slowly, and how you still haven't found your friend Oliver yet. What happened feeling angry? The anger is boiling? Haha no use you and your little boyfriend is gone for forever, I'll make sure that you will not be known as detective ever again.

Your

Head Hider."

I clenched the letter tightly, my teeth grinding. I closed my eyes for a while, opening them after few seconds. I grabbed the box and sniffed, the first sniff created a stabbing pain in my head. I coughed out and sniffed again, again the stabbing pain aroused.

After more 2 tries, I got up from my place heading to kitchen. I grabbed the bottle of vinegar and pour a small amount of it in spraying bottle. I got back in hall with the bottle and a clothe, spraying the box with vinegar. I waited for few minutes before I wiped the box and dried it, I leaned in and smelled it again. A smile cracked on my lips as the perfum smell was going away.

I sprayed the vinegar on box again. I heard the door of my bedroom unlocking, I turned back to find Fred standing in doorway with my t-shirt and pants. The t-shirt hugged his hard and well built frame good, and the pants were a little tight, which made me bite my lips.

Shaking my head, I smiled at him. He came to the desk I was sitting on, before I could say anything he picked the letter and read it. I licked my lips and got up from my chair, "Sit, I'll make some coffee for us." I squeezed his shoulder going in kitchen with my laptop in one hand.

The thoughts were going on and on in an endless cycle, I was not even interested in checking the footage, because I knew it'll be Oliver, but still as a formality maybe, I started to watch the footage.

As usual the same time, same mask, but this time it was a little odd, the walking style of the man who kept the box on my door step was limping, I frowned. I have seen a man who walks like this, I know someone but I can't remember. I rewinded the footage again and again trying to think harder.

A pair of arms circled my waist and a chin rested on my shoulder, making me scream out in shock. I turned my head to find Fred standing behind me, "I thought that I might give you company as you were taking forever in making coffee." I smiled at him and caressed his cheek. Turning the footage off and shutting my laptop. "What were you looking at? Searching for who kept the box at your doorstep?"

"No, not that I was just looking at the footage of Oliver. I know I'll not find anything besides him again." I poured us coffee, feeling Fred's eyes on my every moment, handing him his mug and I was about to take a sip when my phone rang. It was Lily, I raised my eyebrow and picked the phone up.

"Hello"

"Hello Loveena! Where are you right now?"

"I'm at home, why?"

"just answer in hmm, are you with Fred?"

"Hmm." I looked at Fred, he was sipping his coffee. Something was odd about him tonight. I couldn't quite figure him out tonight.

"You have to be really very careful. I got a call just now, it says that Fred is a threat to us. He is helping the killer, and as proof of that, there is a note in his shirt pocket, which says what we did this whole day. Get out of there as soon as possible!"

"What!? That's not.. Ok, I'll look into this don't worry. Bye." I ended the phone and looked at Fred. He was staring at me, his eyebrows raised in question. I shook my head and took a sip of my coffee, silencing my phone. I felt his eyes piercing right through me, trying to pin me to the spot. The cold sweat breaking on my forehead, shivers running down my spine.

I was sure that Lily's information will not be fake, but somewhere I didn't believed it, I excused myself and went in bedroom, locking the door behind me. I pressed my ear against the door trying to hear if Fred is out side of door. My breathing getting faster with every passing moment, I started to search for his shirt, opening my wardrobe. I saw his shirt on the hanger.

I pulled it out and searched in his pocket. I found a folded letter in his pocket.

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