Deception

3: Finders, Keepers.

Lauren Smith.

I was currently placing my luggage into the back of Miyah's Range. Today was the day I left to temporarily live my life as "Jasmine Collins" until this case was under wraps.

"Is he not going to go with us to send you off at the airport?" Miyah asked while closing her trunk.

I sighed, "No."

Within the past couple of days, after everything happened, Paul and I have barely spoken to one another, not unless it was needed. We lived in the same house, and this was beyond ridiculous. Here I was, leaving off on a bad foot with him.

I tried to mend things with him, but I would only do so much.

She scoffed, "That's ridiculous."

I shrugged my shoulders while nodding my head, "Well I'm still going to take this case, whether he likes it or not. This is my passion and I'm not about to let anyone get in the way of it. I let him chase his dreams, why can't I?"

"And that's on period," she said as we climbed in her car and she began to back out of the driveway. I looked at my house again before pulling off towards Chicago O'Hare.

Miyah stayed with me until I made up to the TSA checkpoint, where she couldn't pass through.

"I feel like a proud mother sending their child off," she fanned her eyes dramatically.

I looked at her, and she looked at me before we both laughed. "I can't stand you," I laughed.

"Okay no but seriously, I'm really going to miss you. Be safe and don't do anything that I wouldn't do," she said before pulling me into a hug, rocking us side to side.

"Well, that's a long stretch because there's a long stretch of wild shit that you would do."

"Girl, you know what the hell I meant," she said before waving me off. "Text me as soon as you land and get settled in. Don't forget!"

"I won't,"

"Uh uh, put a reminder in your phone right now because you always forget." She crossed her arms across her chest.

"Miyah, I'm not doing all of that," I said trying to walk off.

"Nope, let me see you do it," she said cutting me off from walking any further. "Real friends do this shit."

I sucked my teeth before pulling out my phone and opening my reminders app to remind myself to text her once I get there. "Damn, are you happy now sis?"

"Ecstatic," she said before blowing kisses my way. "Love you Lo!"

"Love you too Miyah," I laughed before walking towards the TSA checkpoint.

....................

After a quick two-hour flight, I was in the concrete jungle of New York City waiting to grab all of my luggage at baggage claim. I hadn't even been here for 30 minutes, and people were rushing around the airport, like they had somewhere important to be.

Chicago was pretty fast-paced, but not this damn fast.

I had already texted my boss to let him know that I had landed, and he informed me that an SUV was already waiting for me outside to take me to my new home.

After waiting for a couple of minutes, I watched as my luggage came around. I quickly grabbed all of my belongings before walking out to see a black SUV waiting for me.

"Ms. Lauren Smith?" the driver asked. He was an older black man who seemed to be in his 50's.

"Yes, that's me. How are you?"