Self-Seeker

6

Twenty-five minutes passed before Genesis was knocking on the door of Deana's condo. She had stopped at a convenience store to grab a bottle of wine on the way, Deana had a lot of explaining to do and Genesis intended to make her talk, one way or another.

It was another couple of minutes before the door was opened, Genesis was positive she heard another door shut in the distance at the same time. Perhaps the reason Deana was so reluctant to allow her to come over was because she had company, she thought. If Genesis was lucky, that company would be the mysterious Mr W.

With great pretense, she plastered a smile on her face and raised the bottle. "I come bearing gifts." Genesis exclaimed, stepping into the apartment. Deana offered her a smile that didn't fully meet her eyes and closed the door behind her.

"Oh, you shouldn't have Genesis. I've got plenty in stock." Deana replied, her voice slightly shaky.

"None of that, Dee. You've opened your home to me, it's the least I could do." Genesis set the drink down on the worktop and helped herself to two wine glasses from a transparent cupboard. "Where do you keep your opener?" She continued.

"Top drawer on your left." Deana said, taking a seat on a bar stool at the island. Somehow, Genesis' presence had commanded the room so much so that she suddenly felt like a guest in her own home. "So, what happened? Why did you need to stay the night?" She asked. Genesis knew it was coming, Deana's silence was deafening; it was evident she was dying to ask. She didn't make trips to the woman's condo at ten thirty at night often.

"Someone broke into my apartment, burglars probably." Genesis casually replied, pouring the wine into the glasses. If she remembered correctly from the time they went to a VIP event in Miami to search for potential clients, Deana was a lightweight.

"Oh my! Well are you okay? Did they take anything? Did you call the police?" Deana suddenly burst out with all these different questions, but the concern in her voice seemed genuine.

Genesis was starting to consider the fact that she sincerely may not have anything to do with this. Yet, she passed a glass to her, allowing her to take a few large gulps. She was nervous about something.

"Nothing that can't be replaced. Let's take this to the sofa, we may as well get comfortable. We'll be here a while." Genesis said as she walked over and switched on the TV, turning it onto the news channel. A report of a serial killer that had been leaving victims all along the east coast displayed on the screen. There was a warning to beware of a man around 5'11 with blonde hair and an extremely charming persona, because that was all it was - a persona. He was actually a psychopath that hid behind his attractive exterior to reel in his prey.

"There are some sick people out there." Deana voiced her thoughts subconsciously. The irony of the situation was that she was sitting right next to one of those 'sick people'. She thought she knew everything there was to know about Genesis, but she only knew what Genesis allowed her to know, no more and no less. Deana was just another pawn in her endgame, collateral damage if need be. There was way too much at stake for her to find out any more - which is why Genesis needed to know exactly what she had found in her closet.

Before she could be questioned, Deana received a call. It was perfect timing too because Genesis would have to conjure up an explanation as to why there were cameras set up around her apartment in the first place. The screen of Deana's phone lit up and the name "Mr W" appeared. She frantically picked it up and mouthed 'sorry I need to take this', before heading down the hallway towards her bedroom.

After waiting for ten seconds Genesis got up from the couch, quickly checking for anywhere Deana might have hidden something she'd found. But there was no sign of anything that belonged to her.

She decided to follow in the direction Deana had walked in, treading carefully as to not make any noise and stopped right outside her bedroom door to listen in on her conversation. What Genesis didn't anticipate was to hear two voices coming from inside the room, the other voice was muffled but distinctly belonged to a male.

"You need to distract her." The unknown person said.

"I don't know what you expect me to do. She's not stupid." Deana replied, her voice hushed but sharp as if she wanted to shout but were afraid someone may hear. That someone clearly being Genesis.

"Just turn her attention away long enough for me to get out the door, love" He said again. Genesis' teeth clenched. There was only one person she knew that couldn't function without using the word 'love' in virtually every sentence. It couldn't possibly be him, she thought. How did he even know Deana?

"Can't you just climb out of the window or something?" Deana asked, her voice laced with frustration. He wouldn't be so adamant on Genesis not finding out he was there unless they had something to hide.

"We're three storeys up." He protested.

Amateur, Genesis thought.

"And watch your tone with me. Get out there and do your job before I terminate this whole arrangement." He barked. Carter always had a short temper, it was just one of his long list of bad qualities.

Genesis almost missed the small 'sorry Mr W' come from a frightened Deana, followed by his reassurance. "Look love, I'm sorry I got pissy. Just go out there and do your thing. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

Taking that as her cue to stop eavesdropping, Genesis quickly returned to her seat on the sofa, re-filling their wine glasses as if she had never left. Deana came back into the living room, her baby pink lipstick slightly smudged beside her lip. It suddenly became apparent that they were sleeping together. Very classy Deana, lusting after your friend's ex-boyfriend, Genesis thought sarcastically. Deana placed her phone faced down on the table and took a large sip of her beverage.

"You have to see the view from my window, it's truly amazing at night." Deana informed. Genesis knew this was her meek attempt at a 'distraction' so Carter could slip out of the condo. She went to look anyway, hearing his footsteps faintly travel across the apartment behind her before he left and gently closed the door behind him. It was so stealthy that you wouldn't have noticed without a trained ear.

"So, who's Mr W?" Genesis asked, Deana's eyes widened, and she took another nervous gulp of bubbly. "A new boy toy, perhaps?" She teased.

"Oh, he's nobody really." Deana replied quickly, trying to avoid eye contact with her.

"You are so lying. What is it? Is he someone I know?" Genesis raised her eyebrows suggestively, nudging Deana's arm and smirking.

"Genesis don't even go there. Its strict girl code remember? We don't date each other's exes. You don't know him." She scolded. It was impressive how easily she could lie to Genesis' face. It made Genesis wonder what else she had kept from her over the few years they had known each other.

"Oh, so this Mr W is someone you are dating, hmm? Well if you're not going to let me in on your dirty little secret, then I will make sure to do everything in my power to find out myself." Genesis 'joked'.

Deana visibly gulped before brushing it off and letting out a forced laugh. "Okay inspector, if it's okay with you I'm going to head off to bed, work has really done a number on me lately. The spare bedroom is all yours." She escaped Genesis's indirect interrogation, for now.

"Sure, go ahead. Thanks again for your hospitality, Dee." Genesis replied as Deana's back grew further away from her.

When she was completely out of sight Genesis added a reminder on her phone to order a basket of flowers tomorrow. She peeled her contacts from her irises and placed them in their casing before switching the light off and heading into the second bedroom for some rest. Something told her things were about to get a lot more complicated.