thin walls (are calling me home)

Chapter 20

"I need you to get me into the record room, in the section with the old case files."

"What?" Normani exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. "That's insane Lauren, you can't leave home for now. And neither of us have access to the cold cases. Not like that, at least. If you filed a request maybe Norman would let you into the investigation."

Lauren shut her eyes tightly, taking a deep breath. She should've seen it coming, should've known she was alone in this one. Her breathing had been heavy enough already, and Normani's rejection of her plan wasn't helping.

"Mani, listen, I need Camila's case files. Norman won't let me in the case, I'm not a detective and he was already sure of what happened, he wouldn't tell me anything about it. But I'm sure, Mani, and- and I- I need your help, but I-"

"Slow down Lauren." Normani interrupted her, while Lauren almost hyperventilated. "We don't have access, but Josh does. He owes me a favor. And you can't leave, but I can bring you the files."

A smile made its way onto Lauren's face, her chest still going up and down quicker than usual, but slowing down to a normal rhythm. She took her time in calming herself, and Normani probably realized that from hearing her breathing since she didn't say anything. Lauren took a deep breath once she was able to, chuckling right afterward.

"Thanks, Mani. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better partner." Lauren breathed out, the last bit coming out lower than she had meant it to due to her latest insecurity about Normani not needing her.

"Yeah, me neither." Normani replied, making Lauren release a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "I hate to admit this, but you really are a better driver. Don't tell anyone I said anything though, or I'll have to kill you."

Lauren snorted, her smile growing. "Heartwarming, Mani." Normani chuckled on the other side of the line. "I'm just glad you came to your senses about my dope driving skills."

"Don't get cocky now, Screamer, or the whole precinct will know where that nickname actually came from."

Lauren gasped. "You wouldn't..."

"Try me."

Lauren was about to reply when she heard the balcony door opening to reveal Camila with half closed eyes and messy hair. Her body was wrapped up in their comforter in a way that reminded Lauren of a tunic, its long length draped across the floor, being dragged by Camila like the tips of a cape.

(Such a simple and casual sight, and yet it managed to take her breath away.)

"Hang on, Mani." Lauren said into the phone, lowering it as she got closer to her sleepy girlfriend. "Hey baby."

"Why're you-," Camila interrupted herself with a yawn, "why are you up?" She asked, looking worriedly into Lauren's eyes.

"I uh, I woke up and... saw some messages from Mani. We were just catching up." Lauren lied, hating every second of it.

Camila tilted her head like a confused puppy, her hands still tucked inside the cocoon she had made from their comforter. It was one of the most endearing sights Lauren had ever seen, and maybe she was just extra emotional from everything that was happening and from the intense moment she'd just had, but it brought a lump to her throat.

It only made her all the more sure that this was the right thing to do. Lauren had to protect Camila, there was no doubt about it.

"At two a.m.?"

"Um, she was awake and bored, so..." Lauren shrugged, growing more nervous by the second.

Thankfully Camila seemed to believe her, nodding while she yawned. "Okay, but come back to bed, okay? And tell her I said hi."