Scattered

34

Directions

Olivia had returned to the pavement to wait for Nosos to turn up. In between the terror of getting on a motorbike, she had forgotten to ask for Nosos' number and was hoping that she would turn up anytime soon.

She looked back at Paul's apartment and wondered about the whole impression it gave her. There was no doubt that Olivia found the place according to her likes but there was something off about it that she couldn't understand. Although he had explained to her his reasons, the apartment looked almost... fake? It looked like it was ripped out from a furniture catalogue and Paul never mentioned a maid to keep it looking the way it does.

Besides, Olivia was rubbed off the wrong way with how sunny Paul had been. He had an aura of happiness so suffocating that it felt like waking up in a Sunday morning to Pharell's Happy song blasting in speakers. He came across as one of those life-mantra coaches who s*ts rainbows, only more forced.

Not that it was a deal-breaker, no.

Olivia had made up her mind to keep in touch with Paul and eventually rent the place out because it was quite rare in a place as packed as Brooklyn to get a decent living space which was affordable to Olivia. She needed to take this place before someone else snags it. If that doesn't happen, it meant another week at Keres' darkened castle with having to try and ignore his presence. Olivia glanced down at her phone.

Had he realized that she had left his gothic mansion?

She scoffed to herself. Of course he wouldn't; she was just a "fragile human" pawn to him who happened to have more attitude than he bargained for. She opened her phone and dialed Detective Tucker's number. If she was shifting to a new home, she needed someone who was powerful enough to save her if the murderer were to come after her again. In the fourth ring, the call was picked up with a rustle.

'Olivia. Is something wrong?'

Detective Tucker's gruff voice greeted Olivia and she swallowed a sigh of relief.

'No, no. I had been thinking about calling you since I got discharged from the hospital to ask a few questions about the fire.' Olivia said squinting her eyes up as she watched the sun set behind the tall buildings.

'I was wondering when you'd ask.' Tucker said with an annoyed huff. 'You take your safety too lightly, Summers.'

'I know, bad habit.' Olivia chuckled.

'I heard you aren't living with your friend---what was her name?---'

'Natasha Hoffman.'

'Yes, Hoffman. She had mentioned that you were living with a male friend of yours and was looking for a new apartment.'

Olivia gulped. If Tucker knew about Olivia shacking with a suspect of a very sensational case, she'd be screwed big time. She mentally thanked Natasha for not spilling on her.