Two weeks had gone by since Riley moved into the mansion, and somehow, she'd slipped into a rhythm. It wasn't a comfortable one—more like something she'd been forced to learn. There was Melanie, always with another demand; Barry, never far behind with his reminders; and in between it all, Riley quietly searching, hoping to find anything that could count as evidence.
"Melanie won't you come and wave goodbye to your dad?"
Riley called out to a peeking Melanie. It was as early as 6 O'clock in the morning and John was about to drive Mr Marcello to the airport. Mr Marcello looked out of the car window when he heard the nanny mention his daughter's name.
Melanie frowned as she walked out. How had Riley spotted her, she made sure she hid very well. Hmph.
Mr Marcello and his daughter exchanged blatant stares for a total of 20 seconds. Mr Marcello's expression was not easy to decipher, but Melanie had a smug frown on her face.
"Um, Melanie it's time for breakfast," Riley spoke to crack the ice in the air
"It's YOUNG MISS to you," Melanie's tone carried a hint of warning "Don't forget your place,"
Melanie walked into the house and the car sped away.
"Good work Riley, this is going to be one heck of a good morning" Riley 'appraised' herself.
---
It had been two weeks since Skylar last saw the 'cappuccino' man. She hadn't bothered to give him back his excess change at his workplace. He obviously didn't want to see her again.
Skylar had a knack for getting people to hate her once they started becoming friends. It's not like she deliberately acted out so it could happen, it just happened. Why do you think none of her colleagues are friends with her? Her relationship with Riley had lasted because Riley only worked there for three days, that's why she was extra careful of what she said to Riley –She didn't want to lose the only friend she had–
"Excuse me, is this Colossal house, King's road,"
Skylar asked around for directions. You remember that Alan guy from the alley the other day. They had been in touch, and he invited her for a house warming party. Riley had told her that she had some connections to the police. Alan was one of the worst type of friends she had while still in college. He made her get arrested, that's why she couldn't get any job and had to work for her mother. It's high time he had a taste of what destruction felt like.
"Yes. It's here. Are you looking for someone?"
"Yeah," Skylar opened her phone and showed the person the address.
"Just follow the stairs to flat 3B and then check the apartment numbers as you walk by. It's written on the wall above the door. When you get to apartment 15, you'll know"
"Thank you, Have a great day"
Skylar made her way into the building, following the directions she was given. Everything went smoothly, until she came to the flat 3B. Everyone was indoors, so she couldn't ask around for further directions. The numbers above the doors were faint, some had totally cleaned.
Skylar got to an apartment that had a number that looked like 15. The number one was bright enough but the 5 was faint, it kind of looked like a six. The apartment before had a faint number one on it, and the apartment after had no number on it. There was no more apartments after that one. Surely it must be the apartment in front of her that was 15. So she knocked.
It took quite sometime before the door handle clicked. For a house that should have a party ongoing within it, it sounded awfully quiet.
"Who is… You?" It was the 'cappuccino' man that answered.
Skylar was genuinely shocked. "Um… hello…I" Skylar tried to make up what to say, but the 'cappuccino' man beat her to it. "Stop stalking me, I don't know what you want from me. I'm not a celebrity, I don't have money please leave my life."
Then he shut the door in her face. Skylar quickly put her leg as a wedge to stop the door from closing. "Please, just hear me out," She pleaded despite her aching foot.
"What is it?"
"First of all I want to apologise for being such a knob the other day. I didn't mean to mock your job. It just…happened. I think it's great to have an honest well-paying job. If it makes you feel any better, I don't have a job. Oh, and you paid me in excess for the cappuccino, here…"
He looked at the money in her hands with folded arms, leaning against the frame of the door. Skylar's hand was left hanging in the air for some seconds, and it was when she started to retrieve it that he collected the money from her.
"Thank you," He said in a low voice "Apology accepted,"
He hadn't finished talking when a gunshot rang in the air. Panic spread across his face instantly. Skylar tried to peek downstairs, she could hear screams coming from there, but someone held her hand.
"Come in," He opened the door wider for her to enter
"What! I can't just enter a random man's house just because he's a familiar face"
"I don't want you in my house either, but you have to trust me on this, enter fast," This time he pulled her in and quickly shut the door.
"Hey, why'd you lock the door?" Skylar was alarmed. She recalled this exact scenario happening to her before, and she did not like how it ended.
"Relax, I won't do anything to you. You'd just stay here for some minutes, let the heat die down,"
"What heat?"
"There's a criminal living among us in this building, and he doesn't care to hide it. We were all threatened the day he moved in, turns out he's our new landlord. I'm saving up to get a better apartment, this place is not safe. Speaking of houses, how did you find my apartment?"
"I was invited for a housewarming party by someone in this apartment,"
"I live alone,"
"Isn't this flat 15?"
"No, it's flat 16. Wait oh, you said the Guy in flat 15 invited you for a party?"
"A house-warming party, yes."
"That's the criminal I was talking to you about. And the people who fired the gunshots are probably his friends. How did you know someone like that? I advise you not to go,"
"It's quite a long story, and I have to go. It's important,"
He held her gaze for a couple of seconds "Don't say I didn't warn you when something terrible happens,"
---
"Young miss, come out for your music class, your instructor is here," Riley knocked on the Melanie's room door.
"Send her away, I'm not coming. And you can't force me to do this," Came Melanie's muffled voice from inside.
Riley didn't have any strength to coax her to come out. And besides, the music teacher was understanding. "Sometimes, kids like this can be a bit difficult to talk to, but I'm sure she'll come around. Here's my business card in case she changes her mind. I don't think my schedule would be free to come again this week,"
Riley nodded and took the card. After she escorted the lady out she dropped herself on the sofa. Today was tiring, Melanie had been giving her a cold shoulder alongside all the maids there. Most of them were older than her, and usually busy. She would make sure to have a good conversation with someone today. The earlier she gets evidence concerning this case, the faster she gets out, and the better for her.