Emma's P.O.V

"But the problem is, Tony didn't step into a suspicious place during the past few days", Mary, the Deputy Chief said with concern.

"He isn't stupid like we thought", Director Williams said bitterly with a grim face.

"Exactly! The list mentions a college, his house, parties and a basketball court. Sometimes a Starbucks or a subway in between. They sound pretty normal to me", Martin muttered with a shrug.

"We already searched his house. We sent spies to follow him into those parties as well. He has done nothing but get drunk. He has just made a quick stop to grab something to eat in a Starbucks. So what else is remaining?", Mary, the assistant Chief mentioned.

"College", I told them without hesitation.

"You've got to be kidding me!", Isaac, the Deputy Director exclaimed, throwing his hands in air.

"I. Am. Not", I told him strictly as I met his eyes with confidence.

He still didn't look like as if he bought it.

I sighed and rubbed my temples. A massive headache was pounding on my head like a giant hammer.

I didn't sleep at all last night. Not even a wink. By the time I went home it was around 4:30 in the morning. This meeting started at 6. So yeah, I had to head straight here after my shower. I swear that I had to literally pin my eyes wide open to prevent drooping while I drove here.

Isaac didn't say anything. Probably, he knows that I wasn't in the mood for his usual drama.

Pfft! Such a drama queen he is!

"Can you pass me that file?", I asked Martin wearily.

Martin obliged and passed it over to me.

I flipped through the pages, mentally praying for some evidence to be found to convince them.

28th- Monday

8 am: enters college

6 pm: exits

7 pm- starbucks

29th- Tuesday

7 am: enters college

8 pm: exits

9 pm- Chinese restaurant

30th-wednesday.

6 am: enters college

9 pm- exits and heads home.

31st- Thursday

8 am- enters college

5 pm- exits

6 pm- Italian restaurant with date.

My eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

Why has he left the college this late, some days? I'm pretty sure classes don't finish this late?

And 6 am? Seriously? Tony doesn't strike me as the studious type at all. Then why this early?

I turned over to the next page.

What?

He plays basketball and swimming?

So that's his excuse huh?

But something felt off. I felt as if I'm not getting something.

Something obvious.

9 pm

It was blinking on and off at the back of my mind.

I shut the file loudly and looked up to see the four of them looking at me expectantly.

"Did you'll go through this file?", I looked around at everyone as they all nodded in positive.

"Didn't you find anything wierd about the time mentionings?", I asked them worriedly.

They all shook their heads in negative.

"Isn't that normal for the present generation?", Mary asked with a shrug.

I sighed.

Oh God!

I felt like face palming myself. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

"Look, let me explain. Not everything has changed from your generation to ours. One such unchanged thing is the fact that practices don't take that late to finish, atleast not in Elysia", I then added, leaning against my chair, completely exhausted.

They still looked unsure.

That's it! I'm done for today!

I turned towards Director Williams ignoring the others.

"Director, if I promise you to bring back evidence of any suspicious activity performed by Tony within the college grounds, would you let me raid the college too?", I asked him straightforwardly.

He met my gaze and gave me a small nod.

"Do what you have to do. I trust you"

***

I strolled in to my workplace lazily.

It was 8 on the dot.

Unfortunately, I couldn't ditch today because the deadline for my article was tomorrow. With all the IAE hassle, I lost track of time. It was not until Eli mentioned about it that day, did I remember. I would have been fired if not for her!

I sighed grumpily.

"A bad day huh", I knew who that voice belonged to.

I looked up in surprise to see a handsome guy with dirty blonde hair grinning at me.

Not as handsome as Cayden though.

Wait? What!

I ignored my silly thoughts and flung off my chair and engulfed the guy in a bear hug.

"Em- c-a-a-nt breathe!", he managed to choke out.

I squealed as I let him go.

"I'm sorry-", I looked up to see that the bastard was trying to mask his laughter.

"Ass!", I punched him in the gut lightly as I stuck my tongue at him.

That was it for him. He burst out laughing loudly, clutching his stomach. I covered my face in embarrassment as everyone stared at us.

Oh god! What shall I do with this idiot! Please save me!

I finished praying and looked down from the sky to find his face close to mine, his hazel eyes peering and blinking at me curiously, like a baby.

I burst out laughing, clutching my sides. And soon enough, we were both rattling with laughter, unable to control ourselves.

"Oh my god! You should have seen your face", I laughed, pointing my index finger to his face.

After a minute or two, I managed to calm myself down. Yet, he was rolling on the floor, laughing aloud.

I swear that this guy is a laughing gas. He can make people laugh anytime. He even managed to break our boss's unshakeable grumpy walls one day.

Damn! I missed him!

"Ahem!", I cleared my throat loudly as a sign for him to stop.

I stifled a giggle as I saw him still laughing.

"Luke! That's enough! Stop laughing or the boss will be here any minute", I told him urgently as I grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him hard.

"Fine! Fine! I'll stop!", he snorted in between coughs of laughter and finally managed to compose himself.

I sighed in relief. Trust me, if Luke starts laughing he never stops. I dragged him to my cabin as I muttered apologies to the others.

"I laughed looking at your face. Why did you laugh?", I asked him with my hands on my hips, trying to stop my lips from twitching upwards.

He opened his mouth to answer and soon blushed afterwards when he realized that he got caught red handed.

"YES! VICTORY! Emma-1, Luke-0", I exclaimed aloud as I did a small victory dance.

"I also laughed at your face. You looked constipated", he replied with a goofy grin.

I knew that the goofy grin would turn in to a non stop high pitched laugh anytime soon. So before it did, I quickly kicked him in the shin, making him howl in pain.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! What was that for!", he pretended to be mad at me, but I knew better.

"Awwww! My poor babe's hurt!", I cooed and pinched his cheeks making him slap my hands away.

"Don't touch me!", he feigned a disgusted look.

I rolled my eyes at him and sat on my chair.

"So how was France?", I asked him as I started typing on my desktop.

"France was like France. How else could it be?", he replied teasingly as he tossed my water bottle in the air, catching it every time he did.

"Your jokes are outdated. Better luck next time!", I told him as I yawned for exaggeration, still not looking at him.

"Ouch!", and soon he started bawling his eyes out like a baby.

I sighed and looked up, shooting him a body numbing glare.

"I've got a deadline tomorrow. So you say or go", I looked squarely at him and pointed towards the exit.

"Alright! Alright! Forgive me, your highness!", he raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Forgiven. Proceed slave", I told him with a jerk of my head.

"Slave?? You called me, your best friend, your slave?? Why, your highness, WHY?", he started wailing over dramatically for the whole office to hear.

I couldn't help but giggle.

"I'm serious Luke!", I told him with a playful glare.

"Fine! Fine! I'll fill you up at lunch. I've got to meet the boss now. Take care, your highness!", he bowed and marched out, throwing me a wink over his shoulder.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

Luke was my guy best friend. I met him here, at work. He's an awesome guy with an awesome heart. He went to France for two months to cover up a story. And now he's back!

I smiled at the mischievous memories that we shared together.

Damn! I missed him so much!

Unfortunately, Eli wasn't here today. Both of them had a huge crush on each other, but they never showed it. And I wasn't too dumb to not notice it.

I shook my head to get rid of the thoughts. I had to focus and get this done, if the last thing I wanted is to get fired.

I stared at the computer and dwelled in to the screen with a half hearted sigh.

And that is how my friends was the rest of my day spent.

***

I looked at my watch to see that it was already 8 pm. I sighed and packed my stuff to head home. I bid the remaining workers goodbye and exited the building.

I unlocked my car and placed my bag on the passenger's seat. I then got in afterwards and started the engine, hearing its happy purr.

I reversed the car out of the parking lot when I felt my phone vibrate. I sighed and put it on speaker. The speaker cackled with Christine's voice.

"Emma", she called out.

"Yeah", my own voice answered, weak and hoarse.

"That night, Tony hadn't had any practices at all"

I stepped on the brake and brought the car to an abrupt stop.

What?

I couldn't help but let my tired face stretch into a ghostly smile.

_____________________________________________________________________
Hey guys,

Here goes the twenty fifth chapter and I hope you guys liked it 😁

So did you enjoy our new visiting character Mr. Laughing gas (Luke)??
I ofcourse love him already! 😍😍😍

Anyways here's the question,
Now that Emma can prove that Tony has been doing something suspicious within the college grounds, how will she be raiding it? Any ideas?

Let me know your views in your comments.

And since this is a special chapter, here comes the important part, i.e the dedication part.

I dedicate this chapter to,
<Drum beats please>

GL_Fern

She is my first wattpad friend and has always never failed to support me ever since we got to know each other. Thanks alot girl! 😘😘😘

Your love and support means alot to me 🤗🤗🤗🤗

And guys, you need to check her book, "The Cook's Son". It's super awesome just like her 😍😍😍

And now that is over, it's time to go.

Don't forget to vote and share too!! 😊

Till next time,

Love,

Ranna