NO BODY, NO CRIME

Chapter 9

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Louis asked as Zayn's eyes were fixated on him, emotionless. 

"I can't believe, you of all people, are doing this," Zayn said in disbelief. 

"What?" Louis tried to play the fool. "Drinking coffee?" he jokingly raised his mug with a slight chuckle. 

"Cut it, Tommo!" Zayn slammed the file he had in hand but wasn't paying the slightest attention to. "You know what I'm talking about."

"I know," Louis whispered, defeated. "But not here, please."

"No one's gonna listen," Zayn leaned closer, "why the fuck are you doing this?!" he angrily whispered. 

"I think I made it pretty clear!" 

"You know if anybody else finds out, there will be consequences, for both of you," Zayn said in a matter-of-fact tone. 

"I know," Louis looked down and sipped his coffee. "But once this case and everything is officially over, only then people can know. We'll pretend that's when it starts."

"But Lou," Louis' attention turned back to Zayn, "what if she did something? What if tomorrow we find Liam Payne dead and it's 'cause of her?" 

Zayn's question thickened the air. Louis silently looked away and Zayn regretted bringing it up entirely. Louis took in a deep breathe and looked back at Zayn. 

"If it's her," he released another breathe, "I'll have to do my job and she'll have to go to prison."

"That's harsh."

"Which reality isn't?" Louis raised an eyebrow with a small smile playing on his lips and Zayn wasn't mad with his friend anymore, all he felt was pity.

"But umm," Zayn thought of excuses, "it's impossible for her to do anything alone. I mean, it's impossible for her to move the body by herself if she's killed him."

"Umm no," Louis brought disappointment over them again. 

"What? Have you looked at her?! She's thinner than Grandpa Joe from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory!" Zayn exclaimed. 

"Grandpa Joe?" Louis asked with confusion. "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory?!"

"I watched it while babysitting your son because both you and Bri were busy!" Zayn defended himself and Louis hid his laughter. 

"Watched it with enough attention to refer," Louis bit back his laughter very poorly.

"Whatever! That's not the point!" Zayn shook his head. "Why do you think it's possible for her to move Liam's body? A man who is twice as heavy as her?"

"Well," Louis shifted in his chair, "the fact that she is highly trained in boxing, gyms like crazy and apparently, does weights. And if she puts the body in some sort of bag with wheels or something, it actually makes it easier to move it around." Louis shrugged. "Of course she might've had troubles, but she can somehow manage."

Zayn blinked rapidly, "how can you, so carefreely, talk about your girlfriend pulling a possible murder?"

"She's not my girlfriend," Louis sipped his coffee again. 

"What?" Zayn was lost. "What about the 'we like each other a lot. We love each other's company' ?"  Zayn said sarcastically, making air-quotes with his fingers. 

"All that was true but all this is so messed up, we aren't calling it anything," Louis said, honestly. "And about being so at ease while talking about her murdering someone, I'm still a cop working this case." 

"This is fucking weird." 

"Calder?" Louis called as he went through her closet because she asked him to get her some pajamas. 

"Huh?" she called back. 

Louis back into the room. He kept a pair of pajama shorts on the foot of the bed. She came forward and put them on under her tank top. "I can't believe I forgot to bring shorts with the top. Thanks, Lou."

"You're welcome," Louis forced a smile. 

She looked up at him. "Why'd you call me when you were in there?" 

"Oh I wondered if you'd want this or the other pink ones," he said. 

"Oh, well why didn't you ask then?"

"They're the same and these seemed better," he said, "why do you need to wear these anyways?" he smirked.

"Because wearing that underwear isn't a good decision," she pointed at the pair of knickers that was lying on the floor, "and I wasn't wearing any pants when you came to make your job easier," she winked. "Come here," she stretched out her hand and Louis held it, a little reluctant. "Louis, are you okay?" she asked as he lay next to her, facing her but looking away. 

"El, I'm fine," he forced another smile. "Really," he looked at her, finally. 

"If you say so," she was still not fully convinced. She slowly slid into his arms and rested her head on his left upper arm. Her head was pressed against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "Your heart," she whispered, "it's beating faster than usual."

"Is it?" he asked. 

"Yep," she nodded under his chin. "Calm down," she instructed as she placed a kiss on his chest. "Close your eyes, loosen your body and distract yourself from whatever is bothering you," she spoke softly. 

"Does it help?" Louis asked, slowly loosening himself.

"You'll see," she innocently looked up at him. "And later, please tell me what it is," she looked almost pleading. She raised her head a little bit more and kissed his lips. Louis didn't wholly reciprocate it but it didn't seem like she minded much. She lowered again, "goodnight, Lou," she whispered under her breathe as she kissed his collarbone. 

"'Night, El," he whispered, already feeling her falling asleep. He was careful enough to put a discreet kiss on her forehead, he told himself repeatedly that he didn't want to but he couldn't stop himself.

Louis couldn't sleep almost all night. His mind was blurry and his heart was heavy after what he saw. He tried to convince himself it was nothing but a part of him knew it could be something. It's nothing much, Tommo- he thought- but you still have to look into it. 

What do you think Louis is thinking about? 

Love,

Lily... <3