Criminal Detective

Countdown To The End?

After Maria shared her story, Roberto assigned each one of them to a room along with their siblings, once he was done. He returned back to his office were everyone else remained.

Roberto placed himself on a sofa next to a bottle of whiskey, pulled it from the tray, and poured himself a glass. Everyone's eyes remained on him as he let out a graceless "ah"after he took a sip. His fingers drummed on the glass as they all remained silent before an exhale escaped his mouth.

"We're going to let the girls rest up" Roberto spoke "Regardless of what they say, we can't just pull them in front of cameras and what not. It's still too soon"

Claire was visibly stunned by Roberto's words.

"But, preparations will be made regardless. Samuel..."

He stood to his feet "Yeah?"

"You and Daniel will start to make the preparations for the televised event. We'll hire a showman and fix a private location for the interview to happen. Last thing we want is for Adkins to find a way to fuck this all up again"

Both Samuel and Daniel nodded in unison.

"Carlos"

"Yes, boss?" He stood to his feet.

"Go through some of Adkins's blackmail folders and find out what news station or news person was inside his palm and offer them freedom for the most brutal revelation of Adkins's crimes. I'll hand over some of the evidences that they'll need to go on air. This will be for the public news stations, where we need to have no bother about anything except getting the job done"

Carlos nodded his head then sat back down.

"Natasha"

"Mhm?" She stood.

"Discuss with your influential friends. Once everything starts to pour out, make it look really bad on your socials. Anyone of those celebrities thirsting over you should be your pawns in further razing all that remains of Adkins positive influence. Make it look less like you started it and more like you're just part of the people speaking about the trends"

"You got it" She said with a bright smile then sat back down.

"Sasha, Claire" They both stood to their feet.

"You will be part of the security team watching over the girls. To ensure we get the news out there safely, after Samuel and the others are done they will join you"

They both nodded and sat back down.

"The girls will make an appearance a week from now. For those of you who will be actively performing this week, you should get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a really busy day"

Roberto said and they all stood to their feet. Each person (Except Claire) sent a greeting from over their shoulders to Roberto then
stepped out of the room.

"Samantha" Roberto called. She paused and looked at him from over her shoulder.

"Can I speak to you for a moment?"

She exchanged glances with the others before she nodded and walked back into the room. Daniel who was the last to step out, stared solemnly at her before he shut the door with a sigh.

"You think she'll be okay?" Claire asked and Daniel looked up to Claire.

"Huh?"

"Samantha. I feel like this is gonna put her back in a really awful place again"

Daniel smirked "And, here I was thinking you didn't give a damn about any of us"

Claire shook her head at him to which he chuckled then exhaled.

"I hope so. Considering she now knows how Amanda died, she'd probably be shouldering a bit of the responsibility involuntarily"

Claire nodded, a part of her being able to relate completely with that.

After Tyler had been killed, Claire constantly blamed herself for not doing more to protect them both. She believed, if she did things differently and she wasn't as weak and scared as she was, he would still be alive.

"We just have to be there for her, God knows she needs it. I'm guessing Roberto understands that too"

Claire sighed "Yeah"

"Samuel!" Daniel and Claire turned to Natasha's squeal and found her eyes darted towards Samuel. His face held a wide grin as he pulled his hand from her now disheveled hair.

"What the fuck, Sam? My hair!"

Samuel let out a devilish laugh before he ran off with Natasha behind him while Carlos and Sasha shook their head at the display.

"These two always act like their dating or something" Daniel smiled as he watched Natasha chase Samuel around.

"Yeah" Claire muttered before she turned to Daniel after she recalled something.

"Is Natasha like some kind of internet celebrity?"

Daniel nodded "Why'd you ask?"

"I just suddenly remembered what Roberto said to her. Made me wonder what her background was"

"Well, she's a model. Amongst other things"

Claire arched an eyebrow "And, still works with the mafia?"

"Let's just say she's a model for the mafia. Just like how gangsters have stripper gang members. Natasha is just basically Roberto's eye candy. You know that beautiful damsel almost every gang member has to pose as the innocent chick to win rival gang member men over? And when they least expect it, they no longer have their nuts or something"

Claire arched an eyebrow.
"So, she's a seductive assassin?"

Daniel paused in thought then shrugged.
"Uh, yeah. I think we can put it like that"

Claire nodded.
"Understood"

Daniel let out a stifled yawn while he stretched before a smile enveloped his face.

"I should head to bed, I'm beat"

Claire nodded "I should do the same"

Daniel sighed "Good night, then" She sent a curt nod his direction before he walked away from her. As he reached the stairs, he waved at the others who waved back at him before he disappeared and the duo continued to chase each other.

As Claire was about to leave, her eyes darted to Roberto's office door. She wondered to herself what they were both discussing and also wondered if Samantha would be okay. She let out a small exhale then headed for the stairs. She muttered a greeting to the others just as her feet smushed each step.

Once she reached the top, she headed to the door of the room assigned to her and opened it. Cat whose head was buried in a pillow straightened at the sound of the door. He quickly leaped from the bed, dashed towards her, then, began to meow repeatedly. Claire blushed then picked the feline off the ground before she pushed the door close with her feet.

"Hey buddy? You okay?"

He meowed loudly in response and Claire chuckled as she lead him back to the bed.

"You must be hungry" Claire said then placed him on the bed. She pulled her bag to her, zipped it open, then pulled out a box of kitty snacks she had gotten from her apartment.

She poured some of it onto her palm then placed it back on the box. Just as she set it down, Cat rushed the snacks and began to munch like a monster.

"Yup, very hungry" Claire chuckled. As she placed herself on her bed, she groaned at her misplaced position which strained her wounded arm then quickly turned to a much more comfortable one. Once she did, she exhaled then stared at the ceiling fan which spun slowly on the roof.

"We're coming for you, Adkins"
Claire muttered to herself before she shut her eyes close and found comfort in the silence that slowly enveloped the room as cat stopped assaulting his snacks.

_______________

We're nearing the endgame.

Hope you're as excited as I am.

😐