The Missing Link

010. Looming Pasts

10
❥๑━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━๑❥

RAINE returned to the flat, greeted by the usual silence that blanketed her nights. Though her most productive hours often began after dusk, she had a remarkable ability to rise early, tending to her myriad responsibilities without complaint.

She sank into her favourite sofa, laptop open, fingers poised over the keys as she began typing to quiet her troubled mind.

"...But who exactly is this Lorraine Adriella de Verra? To those in her professional sphere, she was a college professor for four years, with a focus on researching human behaviour and emotional responses. To her cousin, Detective George Alexander Ferrer, she was akin to a contemporary Sherlock Holmes-her heightened perceptive acuity and diagnostic instincts distinguishing her from her peers. This reputation facilitated her integration into the CSI team, where she was realizing her long-standing aspiration to become a forensic investigator-a career trajectory she had only embarked upon a month prior," she murmured, her mind drifting to another world.

Her gaze drifted to the hallway as footsteps echoed from one of the bathrooms. Zane emerged, towel draped over his head, hair still damp. His eyes fell upon her.

"There you are," he said. "You're lucky Auntie's preoccupied upstairs; she hasn't noticed you're still not back at that time."

Raine paused, turning to him with a slight frown. "What? I told you I'd be home."

"Yes, three hours later," he replied, sounding more like a scolding parent than a friend, as he held up his phone, the screen showing 10:10.

"But I was just here a couple of minutes ago. You are the one being inside the bathroom for ages. And you're just like your auntie, aren't you?" she replied with a smirk. "Now, be a gentleman and fetch me some tea from the café. I need a rest. Put it on my tab, won't you? Thanks."

"Alright, first of all, I'm not your personal assistant. Second, I don't even know who you really are yet. And third, do you always boss Auntie around like this?" he asked as he went inside his bedroom.

"Don't forget the sugar," she called out, her gaze drifting towards what she was typing.

Zane huffed, unfazed. He stepped out of his room, leaning against the doorframe, eyes fixed on her. "Are you even listening? I told you earlier-I was abducted! That's right, abducted!" he almost shouted, frustration colouring his voice.

Raine continued typing, her focus unbroken, not once glancing at Zane. "She's licensed, but why didn't she just trade her teaching licence to join the police? Still, she's great at-" she murmured, fingers moving swiftly across the keys once more.

"I was sort of kidnapped a few hours ago. Yes, it's true," Zane insisted, then grumpily plopped into his chair, facing her. "And, as much as I hate to say it, you might be in danger."

Raine turned toward him, amusement flickering across her face. "Danger?" she echoed, a smirk tugging at her lips, though she tried to hide it.

"In great danger, and believe me, you won't like the sensation of being watched by them," Zane pressed. "These people know everything about their targets. They even knew my new address."

"Oh, did they try to buy you off?" Raine scoffed, unimpressed. "A bribe of some grand amount, was it?"

Zane hesitated, glancing toward the hallway as though expecting eavesdroppers. Then, he dropped his voice. "Yes... they did. They wanted me to spy on you."

Raine's expression shifted, an exaggerated look of alarm crossing her face as she took a swift step back, her eyes wide with mock fright. "A spy? You're a spy?" she asked. "Are you a secret agent now sent to watch my every move?"