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Chapter 15

Later that day Nicky decided he, Maritza, Trinity and Mel would all go to the hardware store. He had some money and needed to buy paint and tools to fix up the old shack that was the house. He was still giggling over Enzo's face when they all met Mel. Maritza tried to get her to be social, but gave up when she refused to speak anymore. Many things had changed in Raven Brooks: the stores had upgraded and now had more levels and the bakers was under brand-new management. It made Nicky's mouth water as he walked by the smell of freshly baked bread and cookies wafting through the air. Mel trailed behind him like a duckling, waddling after him as he strolled ahead on the street. Maritza and Trinity were a few paces away talking to each other trusting Nicky with her. Nicky had to slow down a few times and wait as she looked at an interesting rock or bug she found on the sidewalk as Nicky hummed and remarked, "Fascinating!"

Arriving at the store Nicky picked up a shopping cart heading straight to the 'tools and screws' section. While Trinity looked for paint, Maritza took Mel to get treatment for the cracked ceiling. He looked at a few electric saws and other things finding a pack of screws and deciding that he was willing to buy it he saw Maritza with Trinity trying to find a paint colour "hey Nicky" she said when she saw him "I found a nice eggshell blue for the outside of the house and some more white paint" nicky nodded "thanks Trinity I'll take a look in a minute" and turned to Maritza "you know...I could make a room up for Mel while you are job hunting". Maritza stood still. She had been avoiding the thought of searching for a job yet because she didn't want to make Mel suspicious about her dad. This was because as far as she was concerned Thomas was on a business trip and she also didn't know where to start.

She had a few ideas in mind, but she was planning to see what was available. Therefore, she didn't really have a problem if Mel stayed with Nicky so she could keep a close eye on her. "Sure...if you don't mind!" Nicky nodded and got down to Mel's level "do you want a room at Uncle Nicky's house" he watched as Mel nodded enthusiastically grinning "yes!" She replied Nicky gently smiled and pushed her towards the lighter colours like the pinks and purples because he thought she would like that. "Go pick a colour" he told her standing up to look at Maritza "I don't mind if she has my old bedroom and besides! She might want to stay for a while longer". Maritza smiled "thank you Nicky this will make my life a little easier". Nicky nodded and watched as Mel brought over a can of minty green paint "this one!" Nicky put it in the cart slowly pushing it towards the checkout "sure! Let's go pay".

"Enzo I have something you may find interesting!" Enzo looked up from the address book with a cup of extra strong coffee in his hand. He gave a yawn "what do you need Misty?" she took a long sip of his coffee seeing her roll her eyes over the top of his mug. "Well excuse me mr busy!" she snapped back taking the cup from his hands "you're going to be jittery the whole day if you keep drinking this" Enzo tried to snatch it back "you're not my mum do you want something or not?" Misty rolled her eyes again, slapping down a thick VHS the faded sticker said 'footage from route 545" Enzo looked at it with an eyebrow raised. He did not want to waste his coffee or patience on this. "It's security footage from the road where Sam's body was found". Enzo glanced at her intrigued. "ok...I'm interested now, how did you get it?" she grinned and slid it towards him. "I have a friend who works at the station that was able to get me it... it's for you" Enzo laughed and rolled his eyes playfully "you are so generous Misty!" Misty smiled and said "I know! I'm so generous!" Enzo smiled and put it in his drawer "I mean it, thank you" Misty smiled and nodded "welcome...nerd" smirking as she walked back over to her own desk. Enzo continued to look over the thick address tapping his finger against the page as he read over the address. It was a few minutes before he finally found it "yes!" He thought reading the name above it 'Mr and Mrs Finsch: 4 Apple street, Raven Brooks NW45 VBN.'

Nicky groaned as he finished painting the last part of the wall. The whole place reeked of wet paint. He opened a few windows to let the stench out. Maritza was upstairs helping Mel paint her walls. Nicky had changed the bed sheets. Even though the mattress was a bit worn, but it was still comfortable. He sighed and wandered out into the garden. The fence needed some more paint and the garden beds needed weeding but it would be fine. The front lawn and the back garden had a fence splitting them in two. Trinity had decided to explore the bog and find evidence or anything they could work with even though Nicky strongly advised her not to. "I'll be fine!" She exclaimed and bounced off. The house was coming along nicely. The inside of the house was done and was painted a soft grey and most of his stuff was unpacked. He just needed to take a look at the heating but it could be sorted easily and he had a few blankets if they were needed. The electricity and water worked fine as Nicky had called the company to have them sorted. It was just a matter of time.

DIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGG

Nicky heard the doorbell ring loudly throughout the house and decided to investigate to see who it was; it couldn't be Enzo because he was at work. "Hello" he stopped as he saw a man at the door. He seemed young and had brown hair and brown eyes "can I help you?" he asked wearily "I think you might have the wrong house" he tried to shut the door but a foot stopped him as the man threw the door open making Nicky stumble back "who the hell are you?" he crawled out making Nicky scoff, not willing to take any bs today "I was about to ask the same thing but you are clearly a sewer rat that had crawled from the gutter!" The man looked offended and shoved the bunch of flowers he was holding in his face "I would watch your tone!" Nicky mocked a bow "im sooooo sorry your majesty!" he watched as the man narrowed his eyes at him "Watch. It" Nicky rolled his eyes and said "Ok ok! What do you want and who are you?" The guy straightened his tie and played with the cuffs of his jumper.

"I'm Thomas, I'm here to see Maritza! One of her friends told me that she was here!" Nicky felt a growl rise in his throat "she doesn't live here!" he began to drag Thomas off his porch much to his spluttering "what do you think you are doing?!" Nicky kept pushing, "taking out the trash, this one in particular is full of crap". He heard the stairs creak making him look behind himself to see Maritza coming down the stairs. Thomas took the distraction to push Nicky into the side of the porch and barged past him. "Maritza~" he purred trying to kiss her to which she roughly shoved him away "what do you want Thomas?" She was cold and didn't seem to care why he was here "how did you find me?" Thomas grinned "I was just telling your lovely friend here..." he motioned to Nicky and asked "what's your name?" Nicky rolled his eyes and scoffed 'snake' "I'm Nicky ''. Thomas smiled and nodded "I was just telling Nick that your friend told me you were here and I'm here because..." he got down on one knee "I want to give our relationship another try!"

Maritza looked like she was about to vomit. Thomas grasped her hand and kissed it offering her the flowers "what do you think my love?" She took the flowers and took her hand from his touch cringing. "No...I don't want to be with you again." She sternly told him spitting out "what happened to your 'co worker'?" She put the word co worker in air quotations not buying anything Thomas was saying. "I left her...I only want you, my love". He tried to kiss her cheek again but she shoved him away again, Nicky getting ready to interfere. She could feel something snap inside her ex when he growled out in a low voice "remember the deal".

Maritza lost it. She wacked him over the head with the flower petals flying everywhere "I don't want you to EVER bring that into the conversation" She started stalking towards him as he backed away "I've tried to be polite but it's not my fault you can't take a 'no' for an answer!" She punctuated each word with a jab to his chest, her face red. Thomas looked at her with wide eyes, "but Mel needs a father".

SMACK

Maritza struck him across the face with more force than was needed. She watched the patch of skin turn cherry red. "Don't bring her into this! She is three! You had your chance to be a father and you threw it away to chase girls like the child you are! I can't believe I was so blind thinking our love would last forever I knew it never would!" Nicky stared at her with a proud look on his face, glad she was defending herself. She grasped Thomas by the back of his collar and dragged him to the door, throwing him down the porch stairs "get the hell out of here!" She felt powerful watching as his face planted the dirt as she walked down and got very close to his face "the next time I touch you is when I'm shoving you off a cliff" she said in an eerily calm voice. She pointed to his car that was parked in the driveway. "Go. Away" she watched as Thomas scrambled to get up unlocking his car and clambering in "I'LL BE BACK MARITZA!" And with that he was off. She looked back at Nicky fixing her hair "Sorry, I lost my temper."