Page 12 of No Mercy
“Don’t you find it crazy, that everyone down there is going somewhere different? You walk past someone every minute not knowing what’s going on in their life or where they’re going.” I say out loud. Mandy scoffs, “And I would rather keep it that way.”
I turn, about to explain my thoughts but there is no way she is going to listen while eyes deep in her phone. I watchas she scrolls with a sense of purpose. If Mandy isn’t thinking about work, she’s thinking about her next meal. And that is just another thing I love about her.
“Chinese takeout, or should we hit Cane’s on the way home?” she asks, her eyes twinkling with the same enthusiasm she has for solving a case.
A soft smile tugs at my lips. “Chinese, for sure. Let’s go. We can pick it up on the way.” She squeals with excitement as she picks her bag up off the floor next to her and heads towards the door with a skip in her step. “What should we do with those?” I ask, nodding toward the files sprawled across her desk like the aftermath of a brainstorming mission. “They’ll still be here in the morning,” she replies with a dismissive wave, already halfway out the door. With a deep breath, I grab my coat and follow her out, the promise of warm takeout and Mandy’s company a welcome distraction from the weight of the unsolved mysteries waiting in the morning.
The moment we get home Mandy kicks her shoes off and dives onto the sofa as I head to the kitchen to unpack the food. The smell of the noodles hits my nose the second I open the bag.
Since we moved into this apartment a year ago, it’s exactly as I imagined. Mandy has never been one to decorate but that didn’t stop me. We were able to secure a 3 bedroom apartment in the centre of Boston that overlooks the ‘Boston Public Gardens’. The moment we stepped into the place to view it, we both fell in love.
Upon entering, we’re greeted to our living area that immediately brings me warmth and comfort. Mandy’s plants, carefully placed around the room bringing life to the area, theirgreen leaves providing a contrast against the white walls. Our sofa rests against the back wall as it faces the TV unit. In the centre of the room, an oak coffee table sits as it holds my proud collection of candles.
Mandy sits up, lighting one that fills the room instantly with a soft glow as it flickers creating shadows across the room. “Hurry up with my damn food, woman!” Mandy shouts from the living room, her voice playful but impatient. “Always so needy!” I shout back.
With a grin on my face, I move swiftly around the kitchen, gathering our plates and cutlery. I make my way back to the living room, where Mandy has already settled in, anticipation written all over her face. As soon as she spots the food in my arms, she breaks into an excited clap and starts doing her little food dance. “Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!” she chants, her eyes gleaming with delight.
I hand her the food, chuckling at her enthusiasm, and walk over to the window to close the curtains. As I reach for the fabric, I can’t help but pause for a moment, drawn in by the view. Boston never fails to amaze me with its beauty, especially at night when the city lights twinkle like stars against the dark canvas of the sky. Just as I’m about to pull the curtains shut, a movement down below catches my eye. Someone is getting off a bike, their figure briefly illuminated by the streetlights. I feel the hair’s on the back of my neck stand up at the sense of them looking at me but quickly dismiss it before closing the curtains and taking my seat next to Mandy, who has already started eating.
“You know if we ever entered a ‘Who can eat Chinese food the fastest’ you would win every time right?” I say to her as she scoops another forkful of noodles into her mouth. She quickly whips her head to glare at me with her eyes, but I hold my hands up in surrender “Just saying.”
It isn’t long before me and Mandy are sprawled across the sofa, legs tangled within each other while we catch up on the latest Bachelor series. I wiggle deeper into the cushions as my stomach provides me with that warm feeling after a large meal. I glance over at Mandy, ready to ask her what her thoughts are but to my surprise, she’s already asleep with her head tilted awkwardly as her mouth hangs open slightly. I snort, ‘Typical Mandy’
Reaching behind me, I pull the blanket from underneath my head and carefully drape it over her. The moment the fabric touches her skin, she curls it around her like a cat.
I take a moment to look at the clock as a yawn escapes me and see it’s already 10:53pm. The coffee table is still cluttered with empty containers, which stops me from going to sleep peacefully.
“Clean room, clean mind” I say to myself as I wiggle out from underneath Mandy’s legs, “Guess it’s clean up time,”
I gather up the rubbish, stuffing it all into a bag as quietly as I can. Once everything is bundled up, I tiptoe to the front door and slip into my Crocs. My hand hovers over the handle, and I wince the second I press down—the door lets out a loud creak. “Damn it,” I whisper, glancing back at Mandy. She doesn’t move, still fast asleep, clutching the blanket tightly around her.
Releasing a sigh of relief, I step outside into the hallway and the cool air brushes against my skin, making me shiver. As I adjust the bag in my hand, something white on the ground catches my attention. Bending down, I pick it up, assuming it’s a receipt or something Mandy dropped earlier. But when I flip it over, my heart skips a beat.
It’s not random trash. It’s an envelope, and my name is scrawled across the front in bold, unfamiliar handwriting.
TO EVA
Another chill runs down my spine, except this time, its from the envelope tightly held in my hand, I quickly make my way down the stairs towards the bins, my senses on high alert, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. Once I reach the bins, I toss the rubbish bag away and rush back toward my apartment. My heart racing as I reach the door. Grabbing the handle and forcing it open, I dive inside slamming it shut behind me.
“What the fuck is going on?” Mandy’s startled voice comes from behind me. I fumble to lock the door, my hands trembling. When I turn around, Mandy is sitting up, wide awake, her eyes wide with confusion and concern. I hold out the envelope that I found outside the door, and she snatches it from my hands. Her expression shifting from curiosity to anxious. “Where was this?” she asks, her voice shaky and tense.
“Outside the door,” I reply, my own voice unsteady. Mandy’s fingers tremble as she carefully opens the envelope. I watch as the colour drains from her face when she peers inside. “What is it?” I ask before taking it from her hands.
A wave of sickness washes over me as I hold the exact same photograph of Carter that I lost earlier on in the day.
CHAPTER 8
AXEL
Arriving at the safe house,I open the door to find Gunnar and Flynn grappling over the PS5 controller.
“Axel!” someone calls out. I glance over my shoulder to see Carter emerging from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Sort them out, will you?” he asks, gesturing toward the two guys tangled on the floor. I stride over and pry them apart. “Knock it off. There are two fucking controllers for a reason, you idiots.” Flynn stands up, brushing off his clothes, pouting. “He started it.”
A bunch of overgrown children. “I don’t care who started it. Figure this shit out,” I reply before heading to the kitchen to make coffee. As I switch on the machine, Ant and Carter—now dressed in a white t-shirt and grey joggers join me in the corner.
“So, how did it go?” Carter asks.
“I left her a little gift,” I say, keeping my expression neutral. He looks towards Ant who just shrugs his shoulders before picking up a cup from the side.
