Scattered

4

Midnight Secret

The very death we handle.

Keres Konstantinos' velvety edged voice resonated in Olivia's head with a deafening quality as she walked next to Watson to meet his unannounced visitors. She had not spoken of what she heard to the detective, figuring that she might need to speak with him privately and so quietly accompanied him to meet the brothers.

...The very death we handle...

It was deeply upsetting, whatever she heard from her wireless. They knew who was behind Shaw's murder. There was an injured woman who is going to be handed over to a cult very soon. They had some deep seated family problems. And that the Konstantinos brothers dealt with dead?

It made no sense.

Did Keres mean that as a metaphor? Or do they own a company that handles matters of the dead, like a coffin production or funeral arrangement or property deeds after someone's death?

Nothing made sense and that frustrated Olivia. But they were hiding more than what she had initially suspected, she was sure of that. With that in mind, Olivia slid inside the musty office room once Watson knocked the door and opened it up for her.

'Good morning, gentlemen.'

On Watson's greeting, the Konstantinos brothers arose from their restricted positioning in the chair to their full height.

'Morning, detective Watson. We had met before, Keres Konstantinos. This is my brother and business partner, Thànatos Konstantinos.'

The men shook hands with each other with acknowledging nods exchanged.

'I am sorry, my partner will not be able to join us. He had a pressing matter to attend to.' Watson said, his apology merely a statement rather than a sentiment.

'It is quite alright.' Keres replied unbothered of the absence. 'We just wanted to ensure that we can help with the investigation as much as we can and perhaps get a clear picture of this... situation.'

'Of course, I understand.' Watson crossed his arms with a nod. 'You are welcome to give us your input but you have to understand our side as well. We are not entitled to share in depth details of a murder with someone outside of the circle.'

'We respect that, detective.' Thànatos' unaffected voice cut in smoothly, 'But this investigation had a resonating impact on our business in Ebony. It is quite hard to attract diners when you have police officers crawling there day and night.'

'I see. I shall discuss that with Tucker. But from my standpoint, I can do very little on that matter. It is a murder site, as you know. It is bound by law.'

'Then we shall meet this predicament by the means of law.' Keres' reply as swift and deadly, 'It was a pleasure meeting you, detective.'

'Likewise.' Watson's jaw was ticking.

And with a nod, the two men breezed past her with a trail of expensive cologne and fresh threat. But just as they were exiting Thànatos stiffened and stopped midway, prompting his brother to do the same.

'By the way, Ms. Summers, a radio set shows only so much.'

Olivia stood frozen on her spot as the men exited the room in a blink of her eye, the last thing she saw of them were a pair of midnight eyes that skewered her.

They knew.

Olivia's mind spoke above her heartbeat that seemed to fill her ears. She felt nauseous.

They knew that I was listening to them.

She burned a moment or two in utter embarrassment, her pale cheeks lit in neon pink.

'What did that guy mean?' Watson asked her in bewilderment. 'Strange.'

'Yeah, strange.' She reluctantly concurred, shame and mortification making her sound squeakier.

'I can't believe they had the balls to threaten an officer on duty.' She heard Watson steam near her, frantically searching for his phone and keys. 'I have to let Tucker know. If they go legal, our a*ses are fried, dammit. Already the media's gone crazy...'

She didn't hear the rest as she quietly slipped out of his office to let him huff-and-puff in his space.

She had much betterthings to do; like retreating to her little shell of embarrassment .