Chapter 676: The Final Visitor

Cops?

Tyler said it, yelled it, almost like his entire life depended on it or something... and if I hadn’t known him the way I already do, I wouldn’t put it past him to have a couple of felonies on the record.

But the speed here man, the urgency he was showing, shoving and tumbling his way through the crowd to reach me... hey, I’m not friends with an actual fugitive, am I?

“Oh man, Big Man, oh boy,” He said, speaking like a child hiding behind the back of his father. “Gotta be a noise complaint, I think. Want me to turn things down?”

“You think?” I gave him a look. “Meaning to say you didn’t actually talk to them to see why they’re here?”

“Like there’s any other reason! What, you an escape convict too? You got tax fraud on your income? C’mon, why else would they be at your doorstep?” He heaved in once to collect himself. “Anyway, speeding tickets aside, I ain’t exactly their biggest fans. Always got me pegged as a filthy no-gooder just ’cause of the way I dress. Nah, rather it not be me they have greeting ’em in this situation.”

“Not a big fan?” That got me raising a brow. “Weren’t you the one who called them for an S.O.S a while back when you thought Amelia was a murderer gunning for you?”

.....

“Fuck, don’t remind me-‘course I remember! Hell, how do you think I knew they were cops from just a quick peek? They’re the same exact peeps from last time!”

And that was when my questioning stopped, and my surprise began. The same peeps, he claimed. Meaning to say...?

“At any rate, you’ve dressed for the part already,” Tyler said, nudging me forward with itty-bitty pushes. “You’re a good boy, behaved boy-they like boys like you! Just say you’re sorry, say you’ll turn it down, while I go actually turn it down, ‘aight?”

Wordlessly, I walked the rest of the way over on my own, doing my best not to slip on even more spilled drinks. Then once I reached the door-I paused. It can’t actually be her, right? And if so... what the heck was she doing here?

Guess I’m about to find out...

I only barely opened the door, from just that narrow gap alone-I got my answer. That smell. That sweet, tantalizing, almost electrifying smell seeping and ravaging my senses. Just a whiff, I just breathed in once, and I felt like I was all out of air.

It felt like it has been forever since I smelled her scent. Maybe that’s why I was so especially sensitive to it right then. Maybe intrinsically, instinctually, in the most primal way possible, my very being was sorely missing her.

The door wide open, and there she was-her long slender figure basked in the dim white light of night, her jet-black hair bunched up in a ponytail with curled bangs swaying on either side of her illustrious hazel eyes. Just a glance, and it was all a certainty before my eyes, alright... I really was happy to see her.

Not a cop, after all, per se. It was just a nosy detective, just a visitor... just Irene.

Out of all the unexpected guests I had on my doorstep all night, this one has gotta be the most pleasant one so far.

“Hey,” I muttered, blinking a couple of times, making sure that what I was seeing wasn’t an illusion. “Thought you said you were busy.”

Irene’s expression shifted to the slightest smile, wearing a face that was worn and weary, and had it actually detracted from her mesmerizing beauty... then I didn’t see it.

“I still am, unfortunately,” She said with a long sigh that matched the look in her eyes. “Who answered the door the first time? Whoever it was, they really didn’t seem to like me.”

“Just Tyler, don’t mind him, he’s just-” I couldn’t finish. I was so distracted by her sudden presence, I couldn’t think of anything else. “What are you doing here, Irene? Noise complaint?”

“Below my pay grade,” She replied. “No, forgotten already, did you? Got a gift of my own to give, I told you.”

“Only when I call, right?” I reminded her. “Don’t remember calling you just yet. Party’s not over.”

“No, no call,” Irene shook her head. “I came here uninvited.”

“Probably the most shocking part about it,” I said. “You seemed pretty intent on missing this party, being busy, made that pretty clear-what changed?”

Then from somewhere deeper in the darkness, a row of voices chimed into the conversation.

One snide, one spunky, one silent... and all three too familiar

“What changed is that she couldn’t help herself!” shouted the first behind her.

“Paperwork in one hand, a finger scrolling away on her phone in the other,” yelled the second. “Kept us on overtime and yet it’s her that can’t concentrate, can’t pay attention-ain’t no way she was getting any work done like that!’

“It took a while...” and last but not least, coming in soft and sweet, the third spoke. “But we finally convinced her to pay a quick visit...”

Over Irene’s shoulder, I saw a police cruiser parked among the rows of cars, and there in a crowd of three, I could see the faint familiar streaks of Red, Blue, and Green loitering nearby.

She even brought the rookies in tow. Man, the surprises just keep on rolling, don’t they?

I glanced back at Irene, who was straining hard to keep her face as straight-laced as possible.

“They noticed me on my phone, monitoring Amanda’s posts about your party,” She dreary, begrudgingly explained. “After that, the rest is history. You know how they are, how they operate. I figured it was best if I just dropped by for a few minutes. Give you your gift, and get back to it.”

“She’s lying!” interjected Green. “Don’t fall for it! Look at her face! You’ll know why she’s really here!”

Then once again, this time with Red gently reprimanding. “We forced you, yes. But that’s not the real reason why we came here, detective. Right?”

Irene let her eyes fall in one long and hard blink. Her head slanted down at the ever distinct angle of pure unbridled cringe.

“So,” I began slowly, taking everything I heard into consideration. “Why are you really here?”

But with her head still slumping, her eyes still shut, and with narrow lips reluctant to say any more... instead I receive an answer from somewhere else.

Loudly and mischievously.

historical

“Should start showing your biggest, loving smile, boyfriend!” Blue advised, waving both hands at me in the distance. “Your girlfriend came here to join you, after all!”