Chapter 28: "Shady All Around"

Post your reactions as you read. Why so boring?🙁

Written on: April 8, 2021

"You'd think I wouldn't make a blunder like that but here we are," Alex said sounding disappointed with herself, "I was trying to find out where she was once she went off radar and right there on my table was the local cops report of an attempted kidnapping and then the subsequent disappearance of the one, Ms. Rahman."

Alex took a huge gulp of her drink.

"Man, did it irk me?!" she said, exasperated.

"Happens to the best of us," Zayn said with half a smile. "Don't beat yourself up. Also, resolving the issue of her disappearance isn't top of your priority anyway. There's bigger fish to fry."

"I know," Alex replied. "But somehow, I find myself giving it a lot of brain space. It's a feeling. There's something more sinister going on under their guise of a normal day-to-day life."

Zayn chewed on the inner tissue of his lip, thinking.

"In all honesty, I agree." Zayn sighed. "A lot of it doesn't make sense to me too."

"So you believe Agha Gul was here to kidnap her and then she got away after their car crashed."

"Yep," Zayn confirmed.

"And you say this happened half way through your get-away when she just left with the Green Coat?"

"Yeah."

"You didn't think it suspicious that she cut her trip short like that?"

"No, I did," Zayn said, sounding frustrated. "She just wouldn't listen to me. Like I said, she was too taken by that pest!"

"And what of you during this time?"

"I was left alone. Felt like punching the lot of them for treating me like some disposable object but I knew I'll be getting back at them so I played along."

Alex frowned.

"They offered no explanation?"

"They did," Zayn replied. "But like days later once the dust had already settled." Zayn snorted. "They probably thought I was this dimwit who wouldn't think much of their crap. It's pathetic!"

Leaning against the balcony railing, Alex swirled the liquid in her glass, thinking.

"What else is new?" she asked.

"That Green Coat, Burak." Zayn pursed his lips. "He suspects me."

Alex stopped shaking the glass and turned to him, her brow furrowed in question.

"The other day he was shadowing Bee and went after her when she disappeared. She'd gone to the bathroom to clean her abaya," Zayn explained.

"Yeah, it's a nightmare when the person you are watching over goes to the privy." Alex shook her head as if to shake away the anxiety that comes with such a scenario. "Anything can happen."

"Anyways, he walked her out to the bus and in the brief exchange that we had there, he hinted at the FBI watching him," Zayn finished.

Alex pressed her lips in a thin line, a slight frown knotting her brow.

"So he knows . . ."

"Yeah. Could you be more subtle when you watch people?"

"I am subtle!"

"Apparently not." Zayn returned. "Now I have someone tailing me."

"I got someone from the Bureau to watch over you." Alex replied. "We'll catch the stalker soon. It's probably Burak trying to find out your deal."

Or Toryal? Zayn added in his head but decided to keep his opinions to himself. It was enough for Alex to know he was being tailed. Zayn deemed it fit to not relate too much information with her all at one time.

The music inside changed. Zayn heard a few excited voices. He threw a look over his shoulder to see Claire and Lenny laughing and dancing to the beat.

"At least they are having fun," Alex muttered, following his gaze.

Zayn said nothing. He hated Lenny being so close to Claire. And that she was making her happy just when he had had another argument with her. For the hundredth time, Zayn had tried to convince her to make a move against Derek. That animal was running wild, going unchecked. With Louisa's recent problem, Zayn feared for the junior and his sister.

And yet, Salma had advised him against pushing the girls into reporting him.

"I'm worried," Zayn muttered, not sure what was right anymore. "It's a constant threat."

"Lenny has problems with you but she loves Claire," Alex replied.

"Maybe not her, but her fiancé can't be written off. Derek is a beast let lose!"

"He's not going to do anything." Alex snorted.

"He put a young girl's comprising videos on a private server! The only reason I can't light a match to his rear is because your sister is in bed with the devil!"

Alex sighed in exasperation, taking another huge gulp of her drink.

"I have a feeling Lenny is just as stuck but for some reason she refuses help or any discussion on the matter," Alex said

"I still want you to keep an eye on them," Zayn insisted. "I have a bad feeling. Louisa finding out about those videos may push him to attack to eliminate any threats these girls may pose."

"Look, you focus on your job and find out about your girl's deal and I will do my job and watch over our sisters, alright?"

Just then, one of Alex's subordinates passed by the girls. He made eye contact with Alex and communicated with her silently. Zayn recognized him as agent Sam, the fanboy.

"He's back from the dead?" Zayn asked.

"He is," Alex replied, downing the rest of the drink in one go.

"Where did he disappear to?"

"Undercover for X-Raw," Alex replied quickly. "Almost got exposed and killed so there was an information black out for a while but thank God he's back."

"And he's the one who'll watch over me?" Zayn raised a brow.

"He's quite efficient at what he does."

"Like getting caught?" If he was easy at getting caught, Zayn was not so confident Toryal would have much trouble sneaking around him.

"And escaping," Alex replied, handing him the glass. "I have to go now."

***

Written on: April 13th, 2021

Zayn collected a pile of disposable cups and dumped them into the trash bag. The place was a mess. After sending the last drunk home safely, Zayn had started cleaning the house. Niall's snores played in the background. Zayn had found his friend curled up into a ball under the dinner table earlier. Zayn could only imagine how he had ended up sleeping in that particular location but he had to drag him out of there and dump him on the couch.

Someone stumbled into the kitchen just as Zayn tied the trash bag. He stiffened. An awkward silence ensued as Claire paused by the kitchen door, hesitating. She had clearly not expected to run into him.

The silent seconds ticked off in a painfully long manner. Claire made a move, to leave or to enter the kitchen; Zayn did not wait to find out.

"Sorry," he blurted out, not meeting her gaze.

Claire paused in her movement, eyeing him cautiously.

"I shouldn't pressure you into coming out against him," Zayn began. "I just want you safe. He's dangerous. I got scared."

Claire silently regarded him for a few seconds. She was probably wondering why he had had a sudden change of heart.

"Me too," she said quietly. "But, right now, I can't --"

"I understand."

Another silence followed then she smiled.

"Is that why you've been on your best behavior?" she asked trying to hide her smile.

"Is it working?" Zayn asked.

Claire chuckled.

"It is." She padded towards him to give him a hug. "Say, did Salma tell you to press me into reporting Derek?"

"The opposite actually," he replied, hugging her back. He was glad she wasn't angry anymore. "She told me to lay off."

Claire seemed surprised as she pulled back.

"I thought she was the type to not back off an inch. She still has an appeal in process against you."

"Yeah," Zayn replied, "but she's not the type to judge others for choosing something else. She told me you'll do it at your own time. I shouldn't impose."

Claire smiled, nodding to herself.

"Despite her hard heartedness towards you, I keep thinking she's a good person."

"She is," Zayn added promptly.

Claire bit her lip to not crack a smile. She picked up a glass and filled it with water.

"I mean. . ." Zayn looked away awkwardly, making Claire giggle.

"So how's it going between the two of you. I saw you talking to her the other day. Is that when she --"

"Yeah, told me to lay off."

"And?" Claire pressed, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

"I think we're on a more . . ." Zayn searched for the right word. Claire raised a brow. "Civil terms," Zayn added.

"Civil?" Claire tried to keep a straight face.

"Mhm."

Zayn looked away then turned to her, opened his mouth bit shut it close.

"What was that?" Claire looked him with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"I . . ." Zayn shrugged. "I dare think it might work this time."

Claire's eyebrows shot to the heavens.

"You didn't think it would work all this time?"

"No, I hoped it would, but it was just a wild chase. I knew it won't work back then."

"What changed?" Claire asked, downing her water. "Does she think the same?"

"I think so . . ." Zayn said unsurely, but still sounding hopeful.

Claire smiled in earnest.

"I'm happy for you," she said warmly. "I hope it works."

"Yeah, me --"

A ringing phone interrupted them. Zayn pulled his out. It was Robert. Claire walked away to wash the glass.

Just then a groggy looking Niall stumbled in. His eyes were barely open. In fact, he was still very much asleep.

"You two made peace?" he slurred as he reach for the glass in Claire's hands.

"No we still in the middle of an argument," she replied, as Zayn hung up the call. "It's just a phone break."

Niall choked on his drink. Claire laughed out loud.

"What happened?" Zayn asked, scrolling through his phone.

"Niall's just drunk." Claire replied nonchalantly.

"I'm not!" Niall scowled.

"He is," Claire whispered at Zayn.

Zayn smiled turning back to his phone.

"Who's that?" she asked.

Zayn saw her peeking at his phone over his shoulder.

"It's rude to peek at people's phones!" Zayn flicked her nose. She wrinkled it adorably but continued what she was doing. "This is my friend, Robert. I'm animating his face for --"

"So you know him?! My God, Zayn, he's hot!" Claire gushed. "Let me see --"

Claire grabbed his phone and zoomed in on the picture.

"Wow!" Claire breathed. "Would you look at that?!"

Zayn laughed. Curious what the fuss was about, Niall took a peek over her shoulder. He scowled.

"Look at his eyes! And that long hair --"

"Alright, relax!" Zayn shook his head in amusement.

"Dude, you don't relax when you see a hunk like that!"

Niall scowled again

"We need to meet. Like very soon!"

Niall's scowl darkened

"How soon can it happen--?"

"He's not even that good-looking!" Niall snapped

Zayn and Claire turned to Niall, with raised eyebrows. They blinked in unison.

"He's just a regular fellow," Niall continued angrily, still scowling. "Just tall!"

Zayn leaned towards Claire.

"He's still drunk," he whispered.

Claire giggled

"I'm not drunk!" Niall shouted. "That dude is ugly!"

"Okay," Zayn agreed quickly. "Calm down, tiger!"

"He's ugly and tall. And that's it!"

"Yeah, yeah buddy, let's go hit the bed. Come on!"

Zayn put the glass away and grabbed his shoulder.

"And ugly, and tall and ugly . . ."

Zayn led his fuming friend away as he continued his rant. Zayn clapped his shoulders.

"Easy there, bro! Who hurt you?"

"Claire."

"Good."

"No!"

"Alright." Zayn laughed.

***

Written on March 27, 2021

Zayn shuffled through the papers on his desk. He had just escorted Niall to his room and was planning on taking the trash out but stopped by his room to clean some of the mess on his desk. His fingers stopped sorting the papers when he saw an envelope.

Frowning, he picked it up.

It was from Spogmae, Zayn recalled. It was the day when Salma had run into Toryal by the ice-cream parlour. He was just casually getting into his car after a meeting with his supervisor when Spogmae's voice reached him out of nowhere.

"Ratted Burak out to the FBI, did you?"

Zayn's fingers froze on the lock. He straightened up to see the Green Coat casually leaning against the pillar, almost hidden from sight.

"And what does that mean?" Zayn attempted to play ignorant.

"Three more FBI agents tailing him around. He's annoyed. Sends his regards though."

"Pleased to hear that." Zayn unlocked his car.

"It also means more work for me. Now I have to put a lot more people on the watch-list. Our holiday house is also compromised." She cocked her head. "I see, you were very detailed in your account."

"Can't say I know what you're talking about?" Zayn shrugged, tossing his bag in.

"So far, ten agents have visited the cottage you exposed," Spogmae continued. "Interested in a vacation without paying rent, were they?"

"I won't know. I'll ask around."

"And rat out another one of us?"

Zayn turned around to face her.

"If they offer a handsome amount." He shrugged.

"I'll offer you life. Keep your lips sealed," Spogmae countered, her tone hard.

A smile stretched on Zayn's lips.

"I'm interested in more."

"Greedy."

"It would be a lie to say I don't want the good life."

The shadow of a smile tugged at her lips. She stepped away from the wall.

"They don't hear about me," she said. "And nobody finds out about you."

She placed an envelope on the car's roof.

"And if I can't promise that?"

Her hand paused, pulling the envelope away from him.

"You don't get to know anything about the good life." She raised a brow.

"I'm sold!" Zayn chuckled.

Smiling, she passed Zayn the envelope. Zayn studied the writing on it. "Step II" it read.

"Another task?"

"We'll meet again if I see you making progress."

"What about Burak?"

"Not my problem that he turned you against him rather than for him." She shrugged. "Until and unless he has solid evidence that you ratted him out, he won't make a move."

"And when he does?"

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he won't." She winked at him. "So long as you keep my back, I'll keep yours."

And with that, she had left. Zayn had meant to open the envelope to see what it was but just then he'd gotten a call from Sarah giving him a heads up about Louisa's situation. The emergency had totally taken the envelope out of his mind and it had laid forgotten in his mess of sketches.

***

"Pleased to finally have a chance to talk to you."

Zayn whipped around to see a shadow leaning in the dark by the deck. Zayn dropped the lid of the bin.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked, throwing a quick look around to see if the shadow was accompanied.

A snort resounded. The shadow leaned away from the wall and started walking towards him.

"I think you know," he replied.

Zayn was thinking of his next move when his eyes fell on the crumpled figure on the ground the man had stepped over.

"Alex!" Zayn hurried to her but found his movements restrained by a hand that had grabbed his shoulder.

"She's fine . . . So far." He reassured. "And so is her friend."

Zayn rounded on him. He realized the man was wearing a hood that concealed his face.

"What did you do?!" Zayn fumed.

"He's been put to sleep next to your car, just like her."

"You --!"

"Caution, my friend," The man raised a finger. "Whether she lives or dies, depends on you."

Zayn clenched his jaws, trying to keep his fists from reaching his hooded face.

"What do you want?"

The man pulled his hood back. A wicked smile twisted his cold, sharp features. Zayn's insides turned to ice. The vile beast clapped his shoulder.

"For the time being, just your attention would do."

Author's Note:

And yes, I can and will kill your favs😊. Or turn them evil. Don't tempt me🥰.

Posted an action packed scene on Patreon. Someone is in the OR😱. Can't wait for ya'll to read it and see if she deserved getting her blood sprayed like that😬!

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J.