A Syndrom of Neurotic Insecurity

Chapter 1 : Meeting

The sunset glow spread out in his office. On his desk, The Captain Avery and his Screw, left open, was stained with golden light. Another day ended, which had brought him slightly closer to Avery's treasure. The open window brought a welcoming freshness after the sweltering heat of the day.

Rafe was just about to live the room, intending to take a well deserved shower, when a shadow fell to the balcony. He frowned at the teenage girl who was nimbly raising herself up. She froze as she saw him standing a few steps from her.

Slender shape, tanned skin, clear-eyed which sparkled with the sun, messy long brown ponytail. He knew for sure he'd never met her. Before he could say anything, the girl gave him a smile both malicious and embarrassed.

- Hi. I'm Aiden. Let it be clear: it wasn't me.

Then she heard the footsteps from someone obviously pissed off approaching. The next minute, the girl stormed in and plunged under his desk, just as the door burst open. Rafe found himself face to face with his father, whose face was red with anger and his eyes bulging.

- Dad...

- Where is she? he shouted.

- I'm sorry? Who?

- The girl! The little pest who dare break into my house in daylight and stole from me!

He didn't know why, but "she's right here, hidden under my desk" sounded like a very wrong answer. Maybe because to Egil Adler paranoid mind, it would be a sufficient reason to blame his own son for whatever the girl did.

So he decided to play ignorant and simply answered:

- Dad, you can see there's no one here, so would you mind leaving me get on with my work?

Forced to admit the room was empty, his father stepped backward reluctantly.

- What are you working at, anyway? He grumbled as by bitterness. Everytime your friends come here it's always the same tune.

Hand on the door, ready to close it, Rafe sigh, irritated.

- They're not my friends.

- Who the hell are they, then? Raphael, I hope you're not up to anything suspicious?

And Rafe knew perfectly well that what he really meant was something like: "I hope you're not planning on fooling me?"

- Of course not, dad. Just go after your intruder.

He shut the door before Egil could argue more, then walked to the desk while the teenage girl was slipping away from it.

- Well, Aiden, I think I deserve some explanations. he remarked.

Arms in her back, she rose herself on tiptoe.

- Oh, it's just, you know: the guards didn't want to open the gates to me so I had to find my way in.

- Which doesn't answer any of my questions. And they're not guards. They're security guards.

- You didn't ask any question. Besides what's the difference?

He let out an annoyed sigh.

- It's... nevermind that. Tell me what the hell you're doing here before I call back my father.

- Okay, okay, don't get upset, said the girl raising her hands. I'm looking for Sam and Nate. You know? The guys who aren't your friends? I need to find them. Kind of an emergency.

Exasperated by his insolent behaviour, he jeered at her:

- And this is supposed to justify your break in? Never heard of phone calls?

She gave him a phlegmatic look, then took his phone from his pocket and typed on the screen. One second later, a vibrate was heard under the seat cushion.

- That's Nate's phone, she stated. Sam's battery must be discharge. Typical.

An expression of contrition suddenly came over her face.

- I'm sorry. Usually I wouldn't do that but like I said: it's important. Do you know were there are?

- First of all tell me who you are and then, I might told you where to find them, he replied, wanting to remind her she had no right here.

She shrugged.

- I'm Aiden Drake.

Of course. Who but a Drake could she have been? Same demeanour, same self- confident reflected by her blue-green look, same regular features. She looked very much like Nathan.

- I didn't know they have a sister.

- I guess it isn't relevant to whatever your business is with them.

- It is from the time you went here, he hissed.

- Hey! I said I'm sorry. Now, Raphael, could you please tell me where they are?

- Just Rafe. And you just missed them. They leaved about five minutes before you came here.

- Et merde, she muttered. Thanks anyway.

She went to the sofa chair for Nathan's phone and stopped in front of the Captain Avery and his Screw's book. Rafe immediately reached his desk to close it curtly. But it was already too late. Her eyes dimmed in the fading orange light.

- Oh, so that's what it's all about!

- Okay. I'm really losing my patience, he growled.

Soothing light shining in her look, the girl instantly withdrew herself.

- Well I guess I'll be leaving now.

-I guess so.

And just like that, she turned away to leave the office.

- Woah, woah, wait a minute! he called her back.

She turned around.

- What did you steal?

- Nothing! It's the first thing I told you, remember? Bye, Rafe. It was nice meeting you.

He narrowed his eyes. There was no sign of irony in her voice on these last words.