Chapter 8: Chapter 8
ANGELIQUE SLOAN
Along with the fact that I had no accessories, money, and even a phone to contact Greyson or anyone else that I know, I also didn’t have a home to return to. It would definitely be risky for me to go back to where I used to live together with my parents. The police might have already arrived at the forest where I left the both of them, and they are most probably hunting me since I was their only child.
The streets that were filled with distant light posts were the ones that served as an illumination amongst this dim place. It was already past midnight and I still haven’t eaten. Despite the current time, there was still a huge crowd inside and outside of Greyson’s bar since this is a nightclub.
“Uhm, excuse me? Don’t you want to get in?” asked by a woman’s voice from behind. I didn’t need to turn around to see who it was since she stood right beside me, holding onto a piece of cigarette which she was lighting up.
I shook my head. “I’ve been inside for hours. Thanks for the concern.”
She gave me a tender smile before breaking our eye contact to focus on her smoking. Since her attention wasn’t focusing on me any longer, I took it as an opportunity to examine her appearance. She was obviously shorter than me, making me wonder if she’s younger. Her almond hair was alluring, it suited her gorgeous face. My eyes accidentally glanced down to her neck where I saw a lace.
“Do you mind if I ask?”
“Go ahead,” she replied.
I mustered up some courage before I spoke. “Are you working for some company? I noticed that you’re wearing an ID.”
She tugged out her ID which was inside her shirt and showed it to me. “As you can see, I’m Joy Alcaraz, a police officer trainee and also a student who’s taking up classes that would benefit me as a detective,” she mumbled before dropping her ID case. “Documentaries and some other investigatory series got me intrigued ever since I was a child, little did I know that I was already on the way of fulfilling my dream,” she added.
Joy was evidently glad with what she has achieved with her life. It must have been difficult for her to get this far, and I can tell that she’s not the type of person who would be willingly giving up anything for the sake of her dream.
My lips parted for a short while, making Joy’s eye twitch. “What’s the matter?” she asked, as if she had noticed something from me which she shouldn’t have.
I avoided eye contact and chose to gaze at the night sky. “I just envy your passion for your dream. I’m already in my 20s, and yet, I still haven’t done anything praiseworthy. You must have a strong spirit within your soul, huh…” I complimented her as much as I could, in an attempt to avoid any unnecessary conversation between us. I don’t want to be seen as someone suspicious, especially now of all times that I have committed a serious crime.
“What’s your name?” Joy inquired, completely ignoring what I said.
In the midst of my hesitations about whether I should actually tell her my real name, someone from afar called me. “Angelique!” Greyson jogged on the way towards the both of us and stepped in between. “I thought you already went home. Why are you still here?” he asked. He took a peek at the woman beside him and seemed like it was the only moment that he realized that someone else was present.
Greyson gave me a meaningful look as he kept on glancing at Joy and me. “Ah, she’s Joy Alcaraz, training as a police officer and a detective,” I briefly introduced her to him.
As expected, Greyson had the exact same facial expression as what I had earlier. Fortunately, he was only facing me. I shrugged both of my shoulders, giving him a hint that I had no sort of connection with that woman.
He headed over to my left side and placed his right arm behind me, reaching for my right shoulder. “I’m sorry, Miss Alcaraz, but I have to excuse Angelique from you. It’s already late at night and her parents told me to fetch her from this bar already. We’ve been friends since childhood, so there’s no need to worry about us,” Greyson said with such a soft voice, trying to sound polite as much as he could.
The Greyson that I knew back then had a short temper and wouldn’t be a voluntarily soft-speaking person.
“I understand. It was nice meeting the two of you.” Joy continued to smoke after bidding us farewell. It was the signal for us to get away from her while she’s still coped up with her cigar.
Greyson dragged me out of the bar and walked me until the corner of the street. He made sure that there was no one trailing us before he let go of my shoulder. “Why were you talking with someone who has a relation with the security department, Angelique?” he asked. His voice was tiny, but I could sense how much he wanted to yell those words at me, knowing how crucial my situation was a few minutes ago. “You could have gotten yourself in trouble if I didn’t arrive in time,” he added as he brushed his hair backwards with his fingers.
“I didn’t have any connection with her, Greyson. She popped up out of nowhere and spoke to me casually as if we’ve known one another for a long time,” I said what really happened back there. I gritted my teeth in utter frustration, thinking that Greyson doesn’t trust me. “Why would I even put myself in danger when I’d be receiving a huge amount of money from you weekly?” I scoffed.
The silence that was paired with the humming of the night crows suddenly disappeared. The cold breeze sent the leaves of the trees around us flying. It sent chills all over my body.
“Hold on for a second, Miss Angelique,” mumbled in a familiar voice, only to realize that it was Joy who was hiding in the trunk. “I would like to conduct a thorough investigation about a recent issue in which someone who has the same name as you is involved.”