The Case Puzzle

Chapter 18

Both Castiel and I, simultaneously, almost snapped our necks by turning around alarmed, only to find a grinning Raphael, looking down upon us.

"Are you guys on a date? It's not really the appropriate place here," he whispered to us, after looking around.

I ignored his question and frowned at him. "What the heck are those clothes you're wearing?" I asked, in disgust.

"These were quite pricey, actually. I bought them at a costume shop," Raphael answered, looking down at his dirty, torn and holes-filled clothes, offended by my question.

"So you've been assigned to this harbour. Did you spot the guy we've been keeping tabs on?" As always, we could only count on Castiel to ask important questions.

"Oh, Boccaccio?" Raphael asked, surprised, "Nah, I'll be on a lookout for him since he may recognise me then."

"And there is also one of your neighbours who live in the same building as us," I inserted.

"Who?" Raphael asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"I don't know his name but he's handsome, with slight stubble, maybe a few years older than us and wore all black," I described. Castiel sighed beside me, tugging me back.

"We need to get going or else we'll be caught."

"And I need to get back to my job. It's my first day here after all," Raphael nodded and waved at us, as we continued our little walk.

It was tiring, being pulled by Castiel to hide behind ships and containers, every minute. I almost broke off running, yelling 'Where are the dope cookies? ' around.

"Don't look, they are on that white and blue ship, ten metres away," Castiel informed me, as we hid behind the red containers that were big enough for us to stand normally, instead of crouching on the ground, which was wet with some splashes of dirty seawater.

"So, we follow in?" I whispered.

Instead of replying, Castiel pushed me to the other corner of the container, just in time as some men passed by, carrying some boxes. I watched from the corner, as they emptied the ship while loading the black van and even my phone got a nice shot of them.

I saw most of the men heading over to the next ship and nudged Castiel, pointing to the ship where no one was present on board. He didn't say anything and instead, waited.

After a few minutes, he clutched my hand again and dragged me, running on the gangplank, landing on the ship with a soft thud. We ran across the deck to the other side, crouching behind a barrel.

"We need to get to the hold," Castiel whispered.

"Should we split?" I mumbled back.

"No way in hell. I'm not leaving you anywhere alone," he said harshly.

"How romantic of you to say that," I retorted sarcastically.

"The path to the lower area must be near the quarterdeck; let's move," Castiel said.

Voices coming from where we were headed made us retract in our steps. Searching around for a place to hide, I looked at the cabin beside me. I tried opening the door and luckily it did. I slid in swiftly, tugging Castiel along.

I immediately pinched my nose as the smell hit me, wanting to step out as swiftly as I got in. The stench of fish hit me hard in the nose, giving me a nauseous feeling. I definitely chose the wrong room.

Castiel pushed me deeper in; the voices were getting louder. We waited silently, in case they entered, but slowly, their voices faded until the silence reigned again.