Page 37 of Unraveling an Enigma
Pain claws my chest. Melody was Brandon’s first love. They were high school sweethearts who only ended their relationship when Brandon decided to join the FBI. Even though Brandon assured Melody it would work, she was adamant she didn’t want a long-distance relationship. They haven’t had any contact for the past four years, until I begged Brandon to communicate with her so I could gain access to Hugo’s sister's sealed file.
Brandon’s beseeching eyes glance into mine. “Ireallyneed a date for this gala event. I’m not below getting down on my knees and begging. Please go with me, Izzy, and I’ll do anything, anything at all, if you can just fake liking me for a night,” he pleads.
A broad grin stretches across my face. “I do like you, Brandon.” The apprehension straining Brandon’s face softens from my admission. “So I’m sure it won’t be too hard to be your date for a night.”
Brandon shoots me a full grin as his hand darts out to squeeze my wrist. “Thank you, Izzy, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” My eyes lift to his. “But now, I need a favor.”
His eyes dart between mine as he nods.
“I’ve been doing some private investigations on Megan Shroud.” I stop talking, waiting and expecting some type of reprimand to escape Brandon’s mouth. I’m surprised when he remains quiet and nods.
“There are a lot of holes in her personal file. I really want to drive to her hometown to check things out,” I say, my voice riddled with nerves. “Can I please borrow your car?”
A smile curls on Brandon’s lips. “No, sorry, Izzy, you can’t borrow my car. It hasn’t recovered from the last time you drove it,” he says.
My bottom lip drops into a pout as my shoulders slouch forward.
“But I’ll be more than happy to drive you there.”
My eyes snap to his. “Really?”
Brandon grins and nods. “I should have never let you go to her hotel room alone, so I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. I have the weekend off, so I’ll be more than happy to drive you there.”
A broad grin stretches across my face. “Thank you, Brandon.”
After Brandon and I arrange for him to pick me up the following morning, I pace back into my apartment with a happy smile on my face. Upon entering, I spot Hugo standing near the vase of yellow roses. When he notices the excited expression, his silent accusations come bouncing off him so hard and fast, they nearly have me sprawling onto my ass.
“He is a friend, Hugo,” I inform him, my voice getting an edge of annoyance to it. “No different than me and you.” I head into my living room, needing distance between Hugo and me before his sour disposition kills my first happy mood in a week.
I don’t need to turn around to know Hugo is following me. His heavy stomps echoing in my half-packed apartment is all the evidence I need that he is tailing closely behind.
“Friends? Come on, Izzy. He brought you roses for afriendlyvisit,” Hugo mocks.
Rolling my eyes, I continue striding to my living room. “Yellow roses mean friendship, Hugo. Every girl knows that.”
Hugo huffs. “Jeez, Izzy don’t be stu…”
Angrily spinning on my heels, I glare into his eyes. “Don’t you dare. If one more person calls me stupid, or any other name this week, I’m gonna…. I’m….”
A loud scream of frustration is the only way I can express my true anger, so that is what I do. Within the last week, I’ve been called stupid, naïve, a paid mistress, and a range of other nasty names, but the most stinging of all was when Isaac called me a prostitute. He may not have directly said that word, but he certainly alluded to it. That hurt. It was the biggest hit below the belt I received all week. Even getting suspended from a job I worked so hard to get hurt less than his brutal comment.
Clenching my fists at my side, I step closer to Hugo. Even though his stern gaze is narrowed, his eyes reflect his remorse at his hurtful comment.
“It’s been over a week since I went to Isaac’s nightclub, and I’ve heard nothing but crickets from him since then. I know you are loyal to him, Hugo, and I’ll be eternally grateful to you for that, but I have enough people dictating my life right now, and there isn’t any room for another. So, if you truly want to be my friend, please feel free to do that, but you need to leave your judgment at the door.”
Stealing Hugo’s chance to reply, I storm into my bedroom to pack some necessities for my impromptu trip with Brandon tomorrow.
I hear my front door slamming shut soon after.
Isabelle
“Stupid piece of shit,” I mutter angrily under my breath.
The zipper on my suitcase just burst open for the second time today. I’d completely forgotten about the busted fastener until I pulled it out of my closet to pack an emergency bag of essentials and clothes. Megan’s hometown is located nearly four hundred miles from Ravenshoe, so I’m not sure if Brandon and I will make the trip in one go or stay at a hotel.
I should probably go and purchase another suitcase, but after the massive withdrawal from my bank account last week to pay my backdated rent to Isaac, my funds are best described as limited at the moment. So, busted zipper or not, my trusty old bag must do.
