Chapter Five

“What is it that you wanted to talk about that couldn't wait?” – Sebastian asked, occupying his original seat with a look of frown masking his face.

“I am sorry for coming in without a notice, sir.” she apologized, as she caught the sudden note of hardness in his voice. “However, it was really important. There was an accident last night on Maple Street and the victim happens to be someone dear to me.” she added, concealing the true identity of the victim.

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked, showing a feeling of unconcern.

Sensing this, Lisa crinkled her face in confusion, why was he asking the obvious? It was crystal clear that he was her superior and as a good subordinate it was only right for her to go through the right channels to get things done, and that was exactly what she was trying to do. So, what's with the question?

It was clear that he wanted to end the conversation and dismiss her as soon as possible. Nevertheless, she told him what had brought her to him in the first place.

“I know it might sound absurd, but I want to take on this case.” she said, staring at him with hopes that he would approve of her request.

However, after waiting a few seconds, and he didn't say a thing, she thought she needed to do more to convince him in order to be given the case, so she spoke up again.

“I will do my best possible to ensure that I apprehend the culprit and…”

“Enough…” he said, cutting her short. “He was your father, wasn't he?”

Lisa's lips parted in two as the question came out of the blue. She stared hard in wonder for a couple of seconds, unable to form any word in her mouth. Not only did the question come as a surprise to her, but she also felt a sudden coldness that hits at the core. Trying to steady her emotions before her boss, she let out a deep breath while staring at him hard in wonder.

“Oh… don't give me that look.” he said, sweeping a hand midair. “Who wouldn't know Vincent Everett? I mean, a prominent lawyer like him would be widely recognized all over the city. However, it's such a pity that we lost a gem like him. So accept my deepest condolences.”

Although she should have felt a bit relieved that someone had shown some sort of concern, but then again, why was she feeling like his words were a far cry from his true intentions? Her heart couldn't savor the sincerity in his words, and that made her shoot suspicious glances at him.

For a moment, she'd forgotten that she was still in the middle of a discussion with her boss, and instead she saw him as a random person and to her anyone she saw in that manner was most definitely a suspect.

In a flash, she was brought back to the reality of the conversation when her pen crashed on the floor. As she lowered her arm in a stretch to pick up the pen, she felt a different object within her grip and as she caressed the object, she could feel its flat edges and round top.

She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully to decode the object, which not only felt strange to her fingertips but also icy in her palms. Waiting for her to pick up whatever it was that slipped from her grip, Sebastian leaned forward on his desk and locked his fingers into one another as he shot suspicious glances at her.

“Haven't you found it yet?” he asked, noticing the line of surprised that crossed her face earlier.

“Huh!” she startled. “In a moment, sir.”

She vigorously patted the floor. This time, intentionally searching for her pen.

“Found it!” she added, wearing a good posture on her seat as she hid the object in her side pocket.

Still shooting suspicious glances at her, Sebastian slowly leaned back on his chair. He'd sensed that something was off, however he just couldn't put his head around it. So as he swerved from side to side on his executive chair, he maintained a firm eye contact, which on the other hand made her lift her chin in an attempt to look confident.

Seeing how she responded, a smile pushed his lips to the side as he resumed the topic of discussion.

“So, what do you want me to help you with?” he asked, the look in his eyes softening a bit.

“I want you to trust me with this case, sir.” she said, her voice reflecting the urgency of the situation. “I know my father was murdered, but I need to know why and who did it, any child would do the same for their father.”

After listening to her, he kept mute for a minute and when he finally spoke, his voice was hesitant.

“You need my honest reply on this?” he asked, a note of seriousness in his voice.

From the way he sounded, Lisa didn't know if she'd to feel happy or worried about his response, however, she answered him.

“Yes sir.”

“Alright then, my answer is a no.” he said, as though he had something against her before now.

Lisa, on the other hand, tried to contain the shock that came with his words, but she couldn't help it as it felt like a needle was piercing her bare skin.

“I don't understand sir… but why?” she asked, her lips trembling.

“You and I know too well that I can't allow you to take on this case.” he reminded. “Personal feelings have to stay anywhere but in the place of work, and we both know that. So if I let you take on this case, in the long run it wouldn't become a case anymore but an act of revenge.”

His last word, like a lighting bolt, struck her so hard. Even though she just wanted to know the reason her father had to die. She also knew that in the long run, just as he had aforementioned, there was every chance that she wouldn't do it because it's her job but because of her feelings which would have been polluted by revenge.

Nevertheless, how he'd come to be two different persons in the blink of an eye was disturbing.

“But sir…”

She tried to make him see reasons with her, but he cut her short immediately.

“That is it!” he said, his voice almost rising to a scream. “You needed my honest opinion on this, and I've done that, so we'll speak no more on this issue. In that case, you may take your leave.” he added, swerving his chair to face the floor to ceiling window behind him.

Lisa tossed down her head in disappointment and excused herself from his office. As she strode through the midst of a crowd of people laying their complaints to other detectives, the look on her face held the pieces of her hopes that were dashed while their noises enveloped her senses.

At that moment, a call cut through her thoughts. She quickly pushed a hand into her pocket and reached for her phone. As she pressed the phone to her ear, she dipped her free hand into the other side of her pocket where she'd hidden the object she picked up earlier from Sebastian's office while she advanced towards the exit door for better privacy.

“Hello mom… just give me a second please.” she said, scurrying towards the exit door.

As soon as she was out and had the privacy she needed, she better spoke to her mom.

“So, did you find anything new?” she asked, hoping for a positive response.

“No, dear, how about you?” – Linda asked from the other end of the line.

“I found something, but I don't know what it is.” Lisa said, studying the object in her palm. “It looks rather strange.”

“Really? If so, send me an image of it.” Linda said.

Lisa quickly placed the call on hold, took a shot of the object, hit the send button and then continued with the call.

On the other end of the line, Linda's phone beeped, signalling the arrival of a new message. She quickly tapped on the image and to her utmost shock, the image of The Silent Scepter popped up on her screen. Upon seeing this, Linda's heart plummeted into her stomach.

“Where did you get this?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

“Why do you ask?” Lisa replied, not even sure what it meant.

“Answer me, where the hell did you get this?!”