Deceit [h.s]

Eleven

Elizabeth:

The peacefulness of our slumber was interrupted by a phone ringing. I was wearing one of Harry's T-shirts and he was only in his boxers. The memories from last night came crashing down, making me smile and ignore the maddening ring of Harry's phone.

"Liz, answer it." He rasped out, his voice so hoarse and filled with sleep that goosebumps arose immediately.

"It's your phone. You answer it." With a groan, he kissed my neck and detached our entwined legs, searching for the devilish device that had rudely interrupted our cuddling moment.

"Liam, this better be fucking good because you just woke me up." I smiled, finally opening my eyes and taking a seat, stretching. Harry looked amazing, in the same seated position, holding his phone. The green of his eyes was so vivid and beautiful that I never wanted to stop looking.

"You've got to be kidding. He wouldn't do it." Harry spoke incisively. I was dying to hear the other part of the conversation, but Liam's voice was too low.

"It doesn't make sense. Maybe you misinterpreted it." I kept looking at him with an expectant expression, but Harry denied me attention. The only thing he did was place a hand above my thigh, even though there was a duvet separating our skins.

"Are you sure? This is beyond serious. I need you to be a hundred per cent sure you heard him say that." Harry looked at me for the first time, concern clear on his features. I had no idea who was the main subject of their conversation.

"We will meet you at Joan's in an hour. Call the other boys, this is a fucking emergency. And don't be followed. I'll talk to you soon." Harry hung up and threw the phone on the mattress, looking at me with distraught eyes. I already missed his peaceful demeanour of just five minutes ago.

"What is going on?" I asked him with concern. Harry's whole demeanour had changed, and I already yearned for the boy who was spooning me in our sleep.

"I'd rather not tell you now. I'm still doubting Liam in this shit." Harry caressed my face with his fingertips, making me smile despite everything.

"Does it have to do with the agency?" I tried again. Perhaps a different approach would make him talk.

"Yes. If Liam is right, we have officially found our mole." His words made my stomach churn, because we were finally close to find out who had been causing all the chaos on our lives. For the first time in days, I felt hope burning within me, just at the small, flimsy idea that my father would be found soon.

"Go take a shower. We have to be there in a little while." For the first time I looked at the clock, gasping when I realised it was only six.

"What was Liam doing at the office this early?" I asked, removing the warm covers from my body and getting out of bed.

"Snooping around when no one is there. Today he may just have solved this entire case for us."

...

"Elizabeth. How are you darling?" The same elderly woman from last time greeted me. Her name was Joan if I was not mistaken, and it was a pleasure being inside her restaurant, although it wasn't even seven in the morning. Clearly she was not oblivious to what the boys did, and the place must have been one of their hiding spots for long. It was innocuous enough, I supposed.

"It's nice seeing you again." I smiled at her and took a seat between Harry and Zayn. The boys looked beyond pleased once I walked in, but Liam kept glancing at me with worried eyes. Harry placed his hand above my knee, the only uncovered skin that my working clothes allowed.