The Accidental Detective: Finding Her Boss

Chapter 5

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"What were you looking for?" Zayden questioned, his palms flat on the table as he gazed down at the boy.

"For the last time, it wasn't me and I don't know what you're talking about!" the boy, Jason, blinked at the harsh light that was shining in his face, "and can you turn this thing off? Look you got the wrong guy okay, just let me go, and I'll stop doing drugs and go home...and I'll even do you a favor by not pressing any charges against you for tackling me on the side of the road and knocking me out."

"You ran. Only guilty people run," Zayden shrugged his shoulders.

The boy ignored him, his gaze shifting to the girl who was standing behind Zayden watching the whole scene, leaning on the wall with her arms crossed and the back of her right foot against the wall.

"Your girl's hot," he smirked.

Zayden's hand smacked down hard on the table, startling both of them. Loriatte stood up straight, and the kid cowered in fear, the smirk instantly vanishing from his face.

"Listen here kid," Zayden began slowly with his voice chillingly deep, sending shivers down both of their spines, "my patience with everything about this damn day is running very thin, now you're going to tell me everything you know right now, or you're going to get knocked out again and this time end up in a coma, do you fucking understand?"

The boy quickly nodded.

"Whoa," Loriatte whispered to herself.

Zayden pulled out the plastic with the piece of fabric and threw it at him, "I believe the rest of this belongs to you."

"U-used t-to," he gulped after studying the item, "I-I uhm I-"

"Spit it out, boy!" Zayden roared.

Jason whimpered, as tears rolled down his face, Lorriate's soft heart clenched at the sight of the poor broken boy in front of them.

Zayden scoffed "pathetic."

"Maybe I should take it from here," She stepped forward, speaking softly and carefully.

"I don't need you doing my job," Zayden rolled his eyes.

"I said I'll take it from here, Detective," Loriatte said once again, sitting down in front of the boy.

The detective huffed but stepped back allowing the journalist to take over.

"Okay take a deep breath, no one's out to get you," Loriatte said soothingly at the boy who was trying his hardest not to wheeze.

He gulped as his eyes locked with Zayden, who flared his nose and growled at him.

"Hey look at me," Loriatte gently called for his attention, "it's okay, now take your time and slowly tell me what you know, okay can you do that for me?"

Jason nodded shyly, avoiding both the gazes of the pretty journalist and the mean detective before him.

"For fuck's sake," the detective muttered under his breath while rolling his eyes.

The boy took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

"After leaving my home, I got mixed up with a dangerous group," he confessed, his eyes focused on his clasped hands in his lap. "They offered me shelter for a period but in return asked me to transport illegal drugs for them among different gangs. I was put in a room with about six other guys and all our clothes were sort of mixed up, so I guess one of them could've taken my jersey."

"Do you know anything about the break-in at my house or the kidnapping of my boss?" Loriatte asked as she scribbled down everything Jason said in her notebook.

"Not really..." He paused, then continued, "But just as I was about to run away, I overheard some guys discussing how 'the boss' was planning to visit a particular journalism firm. The reason behind this visit, I don't know."

"Huh," she nodded, "maybe I might be pushing my luck here, but is there any chance you could perhaps give us the location of their hideout?"

The boy shrugged, "I might, but I can't promise you'll find anything there as it's not really a hideout-hideout...? It's just a place where 'the big boss' puts his mediocre gangsters to do his petty crimes. It will be much tougher finding the actual hideout since none of the guy's there know where it is or who the actual boss is, but..."

"But??" Loriatte nibbled on her bottom lip anxiously.

"I know someone who has the information you need, he's in charge," Jason said, gaining the courage to meet Loriatte's gaze, "If I provide you with his name and address, would you release me?"

"We don't have any proof that you did anything wrong so yes," she nodded.

"Apart from the fact that he confessed to not only being on drugs but also taking part in an illegal drug business??" Zayden rolled his eye's from where he was standing.

"Shut yo bum ass up and let me handle this cop!" She snapped at him, then turned back at Jason with a sweet smile, "we'll let you go as long as you promise to return home, sort out your issues and get some help."

Jason nodded, "I promise, life on the streets is not easy."

Loriatte's grin stretched from ear to ear as she hastily jotted down the guy's name and address. Jason kindly offered to supply a brief description of him, which she eagerly included in her notes.

"Thank you so much, Jason, that's all we'll need from you," she nodded as she got up, still grinning from ear to ear.

Zayden signaled that a guard would arrive soon to accompany Jason back home. After a final smile to Jason, Loriatte left the interrogation room following the detective.

"It's so embarrassing that I'm so much better at your job than you," she taunted the moment the door shut behind them, her arms crossed and a teasing smirk on her face.

"I had everything under control from the beginning. If you hadn't interfered, I would have easily gotten the same answers from him," he asserted, folding his arms. "Your success is solely based on being an attractive woman, and luckily, that was enough to manipulate that vulnerable boy."

"Just say your ego's bruised and go," she rolled her eyes, "be glad I've helped you up to this point, Lord knows how you would've gotten nowhere if it weren't for me."

"You know what? I've had enough of you, I don't have the energy to deal with your annoying behind anymore," he shook his head as he began walking, "let's go."

"Hey, hold up! Go where?" She asked following after him.

"Your new accommodation is now available and comes with round-the-clock security. Until further notice, you must remain there; all your essential needs will be taken care of. Zenith has got you covered. You are not authorized to leave under any circumstances," he stated firmly as they exited the building. Upon arriving at his car, he opened the door with a sarcastic smile and added, "You won't be my problem anymore."

"But we must investigate that man and gather more details to complete my story," expressed Loriatte, moving away from the vehicle as if it could burst into flames at any second.

Zayden let out an annoyed sigh, "there is no 'we', and I will send you as much information as I can for your precious little story," he forced a smile, "now get in the damn car."

Loriatte's spirit was broken as she entered the car. After Zayden closed the door, he took the driver's seat and no words were spoken during the entire journey.

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