Seventy Two

Kamila's POV

I scanned the hallway for any signs of Him before entering her office, the one I shared with a senior colleague. I greeted Linda, who only nodded, typing away at her computer. I frowned at the sight of the new heap of files on my desk.

 That only said one thing, I am late again. Well, in normal sense ,I am not but if my boss gets to work before me, then I am. 

"Who dropped these here?" I asked, finally settling in my comfy chair.

"Who else if not Lisa?" Linda sounded too harsh and immediately.

What a terrible start of a good day. Kyle had said it was a good day this morning without giving me a reason. Actually, he says that everyday.

What I see isn't any good.

I, of all people, understands Linda's frustration more than anyone. Linda has been in this institution years before I joined, and she only got one promotion. The one which took her from work in the main hall to this private room for two. That promotion which she got before Mac Anthony (A nickname we call our boss whose real name is Mark Anthony. I call him Macanth sometimes) became the boss was according to her two years before I joined the firm. Yet, she worked like an elephant. How cruel?

So, I get it that this morning just isn't good, and I may not get all her smiles today. I rolled my eyes at the thought of sorting out those files before lunch with machine hands. He-he!

But before that, I needed to see Mac Anthony, I got a query yesterday and I need explanation directly from him. Gush! He issued queries like breakfast. I can't count how many I've gotten this year. He made me known by all my colleague as the one who always got in trouble. He's so bent on destroying all my record,, so I'll never take on that wig. Yet, I don't have a choice.

I walked out of the room to the main hall. I met the same noise I had ignored when I walked in. What the hell is going on? Why this chit-chat early Thursday morning? Is there some kind of big news I'm not aware of?

"What's up with you guys? Tell me our boss has been transferred or something." I said to the secretary, Lisa. I wouldn't have added that last sentence if she isn't a close friend. We finished high school together. While I proceeded to law school, she went to college to a secretarial course. I chose a hard life and she, my smart friend who loves fun and little stress, chose just the best one.

"In your biggest dreams, yes!" She shrieked. It was so visible on her face that she had big news and that it is gossip, the latest one. Sorry, I know my friend very much, and psychology is a big part of law.

"What's the gist about?"

"You're always the last to get these news, why?" She said.

"I wouldn't answer that." I murmured.

"The Kam is dead. Rumor has it that his daughter killed him. Well, the papers we have here says she's his niece."

"It's not new news this time." I decided to rub it on her face. "I saw it on the news last night. Is Macanth in his office."

"Sure, but…" I didn't wait for her to complete her statement because I knew what it would be, "it's not the right time, you might get bitten."

Or…

"You should at least find a body guard before going in there. Kyle would be best!"

Such a lousy human!

But then I remembered something she said.

Rumor has it…

I had to go back to ask, she straightened her face like she had expected me to come back.

"Rumor has it that what?"

"I thought you weren't interested." She said.

I laughed. "Come on, I wouldn't want to miss a bit of the gist. I just had some important to sort out with Macanth."

"The lady, Paige Km while reporting herself, told the police that she just killed her dad. That's a rumor though, but who knows, it might be true. You never know with these aristocrats, he must have hidden her identity or something. But of course, Paige is his niece according to these files."

Somehow, I suddenly felt interested. A feeling I can't explain. I suddenly felt interested in this gossip.

"Can I have a look at the case file?"

"Sure." She passed a file to me. The picture on the front page was the so-called Paige Kam.

"She's beautiful. You never know with people. Who would have thought someone this stunning could commit such a crime?"

If only Lisa would let me think. Or if only I could think straight. I suddenly felt attracted to this case, not her face, not the family, but the awkward manslaughter.

"She's still a college student…"

"But she is an adult. Trust me when I say she will rot in jail. Aristocracy wont get her out of this. At least not when we are here. You know, I just feel sorry for the family, I don't think there's any other successor."

Why is everyone not seeing what I am seeing?! 

Why is everyone only concerned about the properties?!

"What's the fate of this case, Lisa. Who is taking it?"

"Taking what? It is a settled case, my friend. You should know better. She confessed to the crime. We don't need any more investigation to know who the criminal is. Macanth rejected the case, that's why it's at my desk. He said it's a waste of time, and we have more important cases."

I was dumb.

"Why are you so sober? I've never seen you like this"

Am I?

"It's just…" I gesticulated. "Sad. He was the man of the people. A great philanthropist."

"You can say that again. And to say that his daughter killed him, how awful!"

"That's only a rumor!" I yelled at her.

"I'm returning this to the police by noon. Our beauty queen would be charged to Court, and nothing in this world would save her spoiled ass from her sins."

Something seemed off. I couldn't tell whether it was. Maybe Lisa's words or my thoughts. I've never been this impulsive, but my nerves cracked at every single word Lisa uttered.

"Can I have the files? I just want to have a private look."

She gave it to me.

"You said Macanth's in his office?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks."

I left.