Her Silence

Chapter Nineteen

"An honest man is respected by all parties." William Hazlitt

As we walk into James's house, I hang my coat up on the rack and head straight towards the stairs.

"Rosie... Rosie, wait." I stop and hold onto the banister, not turning around. "I need to tell you something."

"Yeah. You do." I demand, now facing him. He looks confused.

"Hang on, how do you know? Did Jacob tell you?"

"What? Jacob hasn't told me anything. The other day when you were on the phone? I heard everything. What are you hiding from me James?" I am now seething, and James looks the same.

"You were eavesdropping?" He hissed, but I don't change my stance. I walk up to him and get as close to his face as I can. "What, exactly, did you hear?" He growled lowly.

"You'll tell me when the time is right? You've only just gotten me to trust you? Is this ringing any bells, huh, James?" My face is hot from anger and I'm trying my best to hold in the tears that are threatening to fall. If he dares to deny any of this, or wriggle his way out of my confrontation, I'm packing my bags and moving back to my apartment, no matter the danger, I swear on it.

"So you didn't hear exactly what I was talking about?" James asks, narrowing his eyes. I'm in disbelief. He cannot be serious.

"That's beside the fucking point! Why are you hiding things from me? Are you using me? Am I just a game, or a help in solving a crime?" He looks at me in shock as I begin to cry, and he takes my face in his hands; I struggle against him and his overwhelming grip.

"Don't you dare assume such a thing. I can't tell you what I was talking about... because..." I break away from his hold and run up a few of the stairs.

"You tell me what you were talking about, or I'm leaving. Right now."

"You wouldn't dare." I raise my eyebrow, something I haven't had to do for a while.

"Watch me."James runs his hand through his hair is exasperation, now holding onto the banister and slowly climbing the stairs one step at a time. With my back facing the landing, I do the same, not wanting him to get any close. "Tell me. Please tell me." I beg.

"I can't Rosie." He whispers. I close my eyes, and feel his hand take mine. "I can't, because it's a surprise." I slowly open them to see James right in front of me. "I'm surprising you with something, it's nothing to be worried about, but you cannot know what it is. Obviously." He smiles at me crookedly.

"I'm so sorry." I wrap my arms around his shoulders and bury my face in his neck.

"You know what happened the last time we argued in the hallway." He groans and I chuckle, remembering it exactly. He lifts me up, so my legs wrap around his waist, and walks backwards down the stairs. I look at him in amusement and fear, gripping on for dear life. He walks us to the kitchen, and sits me down on the counter, before putting the kettle on. "Coffee?" I smile warmly and nod. He walks towards me again and stands in between my legs, stroking his thumb over my bottom lip and kissing me so lightly that I barely feel it. He's teasing me, and he realises that I know what he's doing. "I still need to tell you what I was actually going to tell you, before you rudely interrupted me." He says, squeezing my sides, making me squeal and giggle. I nod at him to tell him to continue, and he walks backwards. "This is really going to freak you out, but I promise my team are aware and are on it. Trust me?" I gulp and nod again. He takes a deep breath, looks up at the ceiling, and begins to make my coffee. With his back turned away from me he starts to explain. "I spoke to Jacob earlier today as you saw, and you'll be pleased to know that the camera really is working as a deterrent. The till hasn't been touched since." He turns to look at me.