The drive to Adrian Lancaster's home unfolded against a backdrop of oceanic splendor, the winding coastal roads hugging the cliffs that overlooked the vast, shimmering sea. However, the atmosphere inside the car was far from serene. An unspoken tension lingered between Kitsune and me, remnants of the slightly awkward dinner with Maru that still weighed on our minds.
I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something felt…off.
Kitsune's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his thoughts concealed behind a furrowed brow. I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt, like I had somehow overstepped my boundaries, but I didn’t understand what those boundaries were in the first place. It was strange to see Kitsune like this.
Did he know about my research?
The salty ocean breeze flowed in through the open windows, ruffling our hair and filling the car with its briny scent. The landscape was nothing short of breathtaking, with the cliffs plunging dramatically toward the water, and a seagull or two soaring on the updrafts.
Though the surroundings should have inspired serenity, our hearts remained heavy with unspoken words. I fiddled with the corner of a notepad, trying to break the silence.
“So,” he said, his tone as casual as ever despite the hard look in his eyes. “What’s going on between you and Maru?”
I hesitated. Did I tell him the truth? That he was over for dinner as a favor to me? But if I did that, it would mean explaining why I needed the favor, and I couldn’t let him know I was investigating Lynn and Ollie’s case. That would piss him off to the point where he might not want me around anymore. He made it clear he would actually fire me, and I couldn’t risk that.
“Agatha wanted to meet him,” I finally said. “She knows I've been spending a lot of free time there and made her own conclusions.”
“Which were?” he pressed. There was an uncharacteristic edge to his tone. I sensed Kitsune was deeply curious, and it was unlike him to pry like this. He had always maintained a certain level of distance when it came to my personal life, but the unease that had been simmering between us since dinner with Maru was now unmistakable.
I…I didn’t think he actually cared.
"She thinks we're seeing each other," I admitted, feeling the need to be honest with Kitsune, at least about the situation, if not the full truth.
Kitsune's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. He kept his gaze on the road, but there was a perceptible stiffness in his posture. "And are you?"
I swallowed, my nerves twisting. Our partnership was too important to jeopardize. "No, we're just friends, Kitsune,” I said. “I've been spending time at the library working on a personal project, and he's been kind enough to help."
The silence in the car was palpable. I felt like there was something more Kitsune wanted to say, something he was holding back, but he didn't press any further. After a few moments, he exhaled a slow breath, seemingly letting go of the tension that had built up.
"All right," he said, his voice calm but lacking its usual warmth. "Just be careful, Rose. Keep your personal life separate from the work we do. Especially with Maru.”
“What’s wrong with Maru?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said. “I just don’t think he’s a good fit for you.”
“And why not?” I furrowed my brow. I thought we resolved it, but now it seemed like Kitsune was being petty, though I had no idea why.
"Nothing against Maru," Kitsune continued, his voice a touch more reluctant. "He's sharp, yes, but a bit...lazy. You, on the other hand, have a drive, a curiosity. You're always eager to learn and explore new things. I just don't think he has the patience for someone like you."
His explanation felt like a veiled insult. I bristled at his implication that I wasn't good enough for Maru, especially since it felt like Kitsune was indirectly saying that I deserved someone more my speed. In my frustration, I snapped back, “So, you think I'm too stupid for him?” I asked. “That he’d get bored with me?"
Kitsune's knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. His jaw tightened, and his words came out as a sharp retort. "No, Rose, that's not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?" I challenged. "Because it sure sounds like you're saying I'm too stupid for him, and that's pretty insulting, Kitsune."
We were locked in a glaring match, the air thick with unspoken frustration. There was a part of me that was hurt, but I couldn't deny my own stubbornness. I was not about to let Kitsune dictate my personal life or underestimate my choices.
“Look,” he said, his voice tight as his eyes glared out of the window. “Let’s just focus on the investigation, all right?”
“Fine by me,” I said. “But I think I should probably stay in the car. Wouldn’t want to do something stupid or embarrassing.”
“You’re being petty,” he pointed out.
I pressed my lips together to keep myself from saying anything else because the truth was, I was being petty, and I didn’t care.
What the hell was that?
He never had an opinion on anything, and he had an opinion on this?
What the hell?
The drive to Adrian's home took us along the winding roads that led to the cliffs overlooking the ocean. The air was thick with anticipation, and I could feel the tension building inside the car. The sun was beginning its descent towards the horizon, casting a warm orange glow on the coastal town.
As we approached the cliffs, the landscape opened up, revealing a breathtaking view of the ocean below. Adrian's home stood on the edge of the precipice, a modern construction that blended seamlessly with the natural beauty of the area. The waves crashed against the rocks far below, and the salty breeze mixed with the fragrance of nearby cherry blossoms.
Kitsune parked the car, and we both got out, taking a moment to absorb the stunning scenery around us. The grandeur of the cliffs, the endless stretch of the ocean, and the distant horizon seemed to put everything into perspective.
The mansion's doors loomed before us as Kitsune knocked with unwavering determination. He was resolute, determined to get answers to the questions that had led us here. But when the door swung open, it was Alexander who greeted us.
My heart sank as my gaze settled on Alexander in the opulent mansion's elegant hallway. The mere sight of him felt like a vacuum, sucking the air from my lungs. He strode by, his gaze never wavering, as if I were nothing more than a ghost of his past. The intensity of his presence made me feel small and inconsequential, igniting a simmering unease that had always accompanied our encounters. A wave of memories and unresolved emotions washed over me, leaving me to grapple with the same vulnerabilities he had effortlessly exposed in the past.
"What do you want?" Alexander inquired to Kitsune, his voice dripping with disdain.
"We're here to see your brother," Kitsune replied with unwavering resolve.
Alexander, meanwhile, sized us up with a disdainful look. "Adrian isn't here," he retorted dismissively. “And even if he was, he wouldn’t see you.”
Undeterred, Kitsune stepped past Alexander. As if in a trance, I followed him. The opulence of the mansion's interior matched the grandiosity of the exterior. The luxury of the place was overwhelming, and the rare art pieces adorned the walls, commanding attention.
I couldn’t help but wonder if these were created by locals picked up during past art festivals.
Alexander mumbled something under his breath, his annoyance palpable, as he followed us to the living room.
“This is illegal, you know,” he said. “You can’t just come in here unless I allow it. You aren’t a cop anymore, Kitsune.”
“Feel free to call the police,” Kitsune said without looking at Alexander. “I’m sure your brother would love to have officers swarming his home.”
“It’s my home too,” Alexander snapped.
Kitsune said nothing. Instead, he simply looked at Alexander like he didn’t believe him. “Sure, Alex. It’s yours too.”
I took a seat on the edge of the couch, pulling the skirt of my dress over my knees and crossing my ankles. I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t have any idea why we were here in the first place. Instead of tell me anything, Kitsune was more concerned about Maru.
At least I wasn’t the only one uncomfortable.
Kitsune's restlessness was unmistakable. His pacing filled the room, an embodiment of the impatience he felt. The silence between us was stifling, but I knew better than to interrupt his thoughts. We had come here for a reason, and that reason was significant.
"So, you and Kitsune, huh?" Alexander asked, his voice dripping with condescension. He arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. My pulse quickened as his words cut through the tense atmosphere.
He hadn’t even acknowledged my presence, and this was what he wanted to ask?
What an ass.
I clenched my fists, a burning indignation rising within me. "That's none of your business, Alexander."
“You're way out of line, Alex,” he snapped. There was something in his tone, something dangerous. I hadn’t heard it before, but it caused my spine to stiffen. “Rose and I work together. That's it. Don't make baseless accusations."
Alexander simply shrugged, that infuriating grin still firmly in place. “Just wondering, Kitsune,” he said. “I mean, you’re not one to hold on to anything, are you? Friendships? Relationships? Partners?” His mocking tone was like a splinter beneath my skin.
I sprang up from the couch, my face burning red, and turned to Alexander with fierce fury. How dare he bring up Kitsune’s partners? How dare he mock what Kitsune went through? "You know what your problem is, Alex," I snapped. “You think you’re smarter and better than every single person you come in contact with, but the truth is, you’re average. You’re pathetically average, and what makes you sad is you think you aren’t. Your brother is superior to you in every way and you can’t even admit it. You’re pathetic. It doesn't matter how many girls you have chasing you or how much money you have. You’re nothing more than Adrian’s inferior brother and you can try to try to be better but we all know you’ll never amount to second helpings.” I practically spat the words, my eyes locking onto his. I was practically heaving my breath at this point, but I didn’t care and I refused to help it. This had been building up, and I was just glad I finally got it out. “Kitsune is superior to you in every way. Every way. And you trying to bring him down is just…it’s sad.”
Kitsune shot me a quick sideways glance. He was probably used to handling things on his own, but I didn’t care. I might be mad at him for what he had said on the way over here, but I still liked him. He was still my friend.
Alexander's response was unnerving. He remained eerily silent, but his eyes, once filled with smug amusement, now narrowed into an intense, piercing gaze. It sent a chill down my spine, and a wave of fear washed over me. I remembered all too well the volatile temper he had displayed in our past, and I didn't know how he'd react to my defiance now. The silence seemed to stretch into eternity, and it was as if he was assessing my worthiness to challenge him.
I felt my heart racing and my breath coming in short bursts, but I held my ground. I couldn’t let him talk to Kitsune like that…even if there were consequences.
Alexander's lips curled into a smirk, and his cold gaze shifted from me to Kitsune. "We'll discuss this later," he said with an ominous undertone that sent another shiver down my spine.
Kitsune stepped forward, his presence exuding authority. “Don't even think about it, Alex,” he said, a warning in his low voice. “She's not your concern."
Alexander merely shrugged, his self-assured demeanor untouched. "We'll see about that," he taunted, before turning away and striding off, leaving me with a lingering sense of dread and uncertainty.