Manipulation

#1

Kris's POV

"Kristine! Get the jasmines here now!"my boss, Mrs Dorris, screamed.

Remind me why I still work here. Right. To earn money, this was the best place in the whole town. Lord help me!

"Ah! Kris"

Not him again.

"Hello Detective Stein"I said putting on my over friendly smile.

"Please call me Brian"

"So, Brian, how may I help you?"

"Do you happen to work here?"

"Yes, I do."

"But I am a regular here, and I have never seen you. Care to explain?"

"Sure. You see I work in the flower arranging unit and not the outer shop, but today I had to cover for one of my friends. So here I am"I gave a little bow.

"Kristine, what are you doing there?"Mrs. Dorris shouted from behind the counter.

"Just attending to Detective Stein"I shouted back.

Brian coughed and said in a low voice "Brian."

"Can't say that in front of old Dorris, can I? So what can I get you, Brian?"

"A bouquet of purple orchids, please"

"Sure"I went in the store to get the orchids.

"Hey Krissy! Which flowers?"my co-worker Damon asked,

"Hey Dammy! Can you pass the orchids?"

I carefully arranged the flowers into the bouquet and tied it with the ribbon.

"Here you go Brian"I said as I passed the bouquet to him.

The next few days went the same. Brian came to the shop during my shift and chatted with me while I gave him the bouquets. He told me that these flowers were for his grandmother who lived alone and liked to keep flowers for her company.

"Can't you go live with her and dedicate some time to her?"I asked one day.

"I could. But my mother won't allow. You see, she's my paternal grandmother and they are not at good terms with each other. So I go there every evening secretly and give her the flowers and then go home. And it works. I haven't even been caught yet." He shrugged as though it's no big deal, but his expression betrayed his feelings. His eyes were glossy and his eyebrows were tense as he concentrated on controlling his emotions.

"Goodbye Kris."

"Bye Brian."

***

It has been a week since that night and Carter hasn't stirred up an my trouble yet, which is a shocker.

Sitting at the windowsill on weekends and working in the heart of the town through the week means that I have eyes and ears everywhere. But I guess to know Carter's tricks, I'd have to turn to the local newspaper, something I haven't habituated myself to yet.

I sipped onto some hot cocoa as I picked the local newspaper, Riverville Local. I turned to the page that showed news of surrounding towns. 'Lady from Damehill steals from old neighbor's house, says was not aware of it'

I sighed. This was for sure one of Carter's tricks. Wonder who the neighbour is though.

RING!!
RING!!

"Hello"

"Kris! Care to enlighten me why your dearest sister was at Damehill? Especially at the house of the woman currently under arrest for theft."

"I think you should ask her  that."

"Why do I feel that you know better and also would tell me more?" then lowering his voice, "If you tell the truth, I might be able to help you."

"And how?"I inquired.

"Well, it depends on the truth."

I could almost picture him shrug.

"There's no truth to reveal as such. But you should speak to my sister."

"She wouldn't open her mouth"he said through grit teeth.

"Then I don't know anything more. Good-bye!"

And I cut the call. Dodged it!