Chapter 3: Chapter 2
It had been a few hours since the case at the agency. My muscles were getting stiff and felt as if they had already locked in a couple of places. I rolled over the next morning to find Lexi missing from the bed. She was probably drinking coffee and looking at police reports or in the gym exercising her worries away. I looked at the time. Yep, she was in the gym.
I struggled to get up from the bed without falling. I really should have soaked in the bath longer. Lexi had done it, 'cause she'd gotten home a couple hours before I had. That must have been great for her.
I finally stood up. I made my way to the door and struggled to get to the gym. I really hated walking down the stairs. It felt as if my legs were made of jelly. Jelly and pain. I pushed the gym door open and walked in. She didn't notice me right away. She was busy lifting a 50lb weight and staring off into space.
"Ahem. Lexi. Babe."
Her head snapped up and she gazed at me in annoyance. I wasn't fazed.
"Oh...Hey, Luca."
"I see you're letting your thoughts wander again. That's dangerous," I pointed out.
"...And you care, because..." She raised a brow. "You've never cared, Luca."
"Hmmm...Should I just turn around and pretend that I didn't see you? Hopefully I won't come back and find you dead."
"Hopefully you will."
"But I won't."
"Of course not."
"You know I love you."
Lexi sighed, dropped the weight, and stood up. I wondered what she looked like under her workout clothes. Not that I really cared. I mean, I knew, but she has changed a lot since the last time we had an intimate moment. She really doesn't care about me anymore. Or does she?
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for work now?" I asked. "It's a little after 6."
"I have more than enough time to get ready," She mumbled.
"We both know that you take longer than expected to get ready."
"...Just get out. I'll be up in a little while."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
I looked her over suspiciously, then left. I really knew what she was thinking. She was going to do some more exercising and forget about the time. The last time she did that, she worked too hard and nearly died. Around that time, she was pregnant with Dominic. Whether I liked it or not, she was going to be in there for another 30 minutes.
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"Babe...Imma go by the company. Do you want me to check on anything for you?" I asked.
"Yeah. Make sure that Taylor and Dylan call for repairs," Lexi said, busy putting her hair up
into a ponytail.
"Yeah. I'll do that," I said. "Did Shelly ever call you about that couple?"
"The one who threatened to sue us?"
"Mhm."
"She called. They got a free session with full benefits."
"Good. I'll see you tonight, yeah?"
"...No. I have that case, remember?"
I nodded, pulled her into a hug, and kissed her. She pulled away and backed out of my hold. I couldn't blame her. I wouldn't kiss me either.
"Sorry. I-My-It's just a reflex," She stammered cutely, red blooming her golden cheeks. I laughed it off and hugged her again.
"I really expect you to be all mine tonight after the case," I murmured. "Just have a good day at the station, baby."
Lexi nodded slowly and pulled away. I watched her leave the kitchen through the side door to the garage. Dang. She looked too good in her police uniform. Made me want to play cops and robbers tonight. I chuckled at that.
My phone rang, jolting me out of my nasty thoughts. I pulled out my phone and blinked at the caller ID. Why the heck was Jackson calling me?
"Yo. Does Adrien need me there yet?" I asked.
"Nah," He said. "But...Jordan called and he needs a quick favor from you."
"Depends on what it is."
"He wants DNA samples from Lexi. The whole lot. Blood, hair, skin, bone marrow. I'm disgusted that he's asking."
"What makes him think that getting bone marrow is easy?"
"Wait! You're going to do it, man?"
"How could I not?" I shrugged.
"You are one disgusting man. You know that, Luca?" Jackson said. I could see him rolling his eyes.
I chuckled and grabbed my keys. "Thanks man. Tell him that it'll be awhile before I can get any of that. As for the bone marrow...he's just gonna have to wait more than a while."
"Got it," He agreed and hung up.
Just as I was about to call the nanny, the doorbell rang. I went to the front door and looked through the peephole. The nanny was pretty early today. Was she expecting to get extra pay out of this? I opened the door and let her in. We went over the house rules. I made sure to lock our office doors.
"When the children awake, please feed them. The bus will be around in an hour or two to pick Jasmine up. Then feed the dog," I said.
"I'll do that once you leave," She said. "Do you want me to walk her too?"
"Definitely. Maybe stop by the store to get more dog food too? I left money by the stove."
The nanny nodded and went about her business. I left for the company moments later, stopping by a local coffee shop to get a Caramel Mocha. A favorite of Lexi and I. Probably the only thing we have in common.
At the company, I made sure maintenance had been called. A meeting was set up for a call to attention. Since Lexi wasn't here as their CEO, I had to take her spot as her husband and vice.
"Mr. Thompson, we've been checking the numbers over and over again and none of it adds up."
"How so?"
"We have someone doing the calculations by hand and digitally. The numbers are much lower digitally."
"Is the math being done wrong or something?"
"...No. I checked myself. Our smartest mathematicians were working on it and we're getting the same results."
"Then, we have no choice but to believe we're being robbed."
"Robbed? Why would someone want to rob us?"
"Because there are nasty people out there who are insecure and have nothing better to do."
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"Adrien, is there anything we can do about Agent Davidson?" I asked and flipped through the file he had given me. "Did he really try to break into the facility?"
"I knew something was up with him." Adrien looked out the window. "There really isn't much we can do. He works for the government. Just go have a friendly talk with him. He trusts you more than he trusts your wife."
"What did Lexi do to him?"
"She sort of...almost killed him a couple months back. The Missing Persons case?"
"...Haha. Oh."
I backed out of Adrien's office and went up to mine. When I got into the elevator, Lewis was inside. I wanted to walk right back out. He looked me up and down. I did the same and scoffed.
"...Where's Lexi?" He asked.
"Why you askin'?" I snapped.
"Can I not worry about a fellow co-worker?"
"I don't see you worrying about me. Plus, no one around here calls her by her real name except you. I highly suggest you stop trying to make moves on my wife."
"What are you talking about?"
"Playing dumb, aren't we?"
"How can I play dumb about something I don't know?"
"I don't know. Isn't that something you're good at?"
"Why do you have to be so rude? I've done nothing to you!" He exclaimed.
"Sleeping with my wife behind my back," I said. "Not something that could easily go unnoticed."
The doors dinged open and Lewis stomped out. I smirked at his back as the doors closed. He thought I didn't know about him and Lexi. I wasn't mad, because I was in the wrong too. I've admitted to my wrongdoings.
I got up to my office and sorted out the files. It was weird to me that Agent Davidson just suddenly betrayed us. I knew he worked for the government, but he'd told me long ago that he would never turn the AOC in to the government. Common sense said not to believe him. How could I not? He was probably my closest friend here.
Name: Jacob Davidson
Joined: December 12, 1987
I knew that date was fake. Agent Davidson was too young to have joined that early. It made sense though. He did look like he was in his late 40s early 50s.
Specialty: Hacking, Voice Phishing
Agent Davidson has been a great asset to the team. With his abilities, the Agency has solved more than 150 cases in the past years.
His work is highly praised and wanted by other agencies around the country.
I scowled, wondering what my file said about me. Hopefully not as cheesy and full of lies. I would be furious to know that my money went to waste. Maybe I could voice phish or hack very well, but I was true to my word. I worked for my position here. It was very unfortunate that Davidson was good at voice phishing and hacking. He could do so many things and I'm sure ratting us out was one of them.
I closed the file and looked around. I swear it was too early to work. Too quiet. The sun was sinking behind the sun already. I looked at my watch and decided to go for a short ride. Just short enough to get me back to work on time.
Yet, the ride took longer than planned. My gas was running low and the moon was rising high into the sky. I dropped by the gas station to get some snacks and gas. To say that I was surprised is an understatement. I was shocked at who started talking to me when I was pumping my gas.
"Luca, we keep bumping into each other." Sha'Kayla laughed. "How long has it been? A week? Maybe more?"
"...Actually, I didn't even know you were in town." I scratched my chin.
"Oh. Right." She smiled. "...I'm only in town for a couple more days. How have you been, Luc?"
I flinched at my old nickname.
"Great. Just great. I'm just getting ready for my wife's gala."
"You-you're married?!"
"Are you...stupid? Have you been living under a rock for the past ten something years?!"
Sha'Kayla smirked. Clearly not bothered by my insult. I continued pumping gas and watched the meter.
"Lexi," I said.
"What?" She asked.
"I'm married to Lexi Daniels. Or Roberts. Whatever you know her by."
Sha'Kayla made a face. I couldn't blame her. Many people that knew Lexi did not like her. I really didn't think that both women had met yet. I hadn't been with Sha'Kayla when I was introduced to Lexi.
My phone dinged and I took a quick glance at it through the window. My eyes widened and I willed the meter to hurry up. Once it finished, I bid goodbye to Sha'Kayla and jumped into my car. Lexi had texted me and said that something was wrong. This was exactly what I had been afraid of. It was exactly why I always volunteered to do missions myself. Yet, I don't even know what her mission was.
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"Where's Lexi?" I asked Jackson.
He took a long drag of his blunt. "Inside." He blew the smoke out into my face. I almost pimp slapped him. "She asked where you were just a few minutes ago."
"Thanks, bro..." I patted him on the shoulder.
"...You might want to watch you back. Some creepy as-some creepy guy came by and told me to tell you that. I didn't want to, but...I just wanted you to know that he sounded high."
"...Oh-kay. I'll just head inside."
I went in and headed to my office. I was thankful that no one was in the elevator this time. No one to bother me. I could think clearly now. See what my next move is.
Lexi was already ruining things. Our marriage, for one, was destined to fail. She kept a bunch of secrets, knowing they could ruin our relationship. I had my secrets too, but I knew where to draw the line. I wasn't going to be the one to end up in tabloids first.
When I stepped out onto my floor, I knew something was quite wrong. My door was ajar and it was too quiet in the hall. I looked around, wanting to know where everyone had gone. I got no notification for a meeting. Maybe they went out for some pizza or something. It was Monday. I rushed into my office and gaped at the sight. Lexi was sprawled on the floor. I could hardly tell she was breathing. I rushed over and pulled her roughly to my chest.
"Sweetie, wake up." I slapped her face gently. "Babes, come on. Please, wake up." I looked around frantically, hoping that the emergency button was near. I could get a security tape up here in a matter of minutes. "Why do you always have to get hurt?"
My office chair creaked. My head snapped that way. "It's all because of you. Everything that's ever happened to her is because of...you."
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