The Midnight Crime - Chapter 8

The couple looked magnificent together. That was Autumn’s first thought as she saw the two of them climb the double ended staircase and unite at the balcony, smiling and waving at the cheering people below, but mostly just looking adoringly at each other. Teal Yarrow had a small pixie face, golden hair set in curls like a halo around her face, reaching down to her waist. Her nose scrunched up every time she smiled at Canis North, eyes wrinkling as they took each other’s hand. Canis was Cyan’s best friend, who owned a vacation planning business. Personally, it didn’t make any sense to Autumn. Why would you go on a vacation if you didn’t know where to go?

Below them cameras flashed as the photographers took picture after picture, for the headlines of every newspaper and TV channel the following day. Canis was a broad shouldered bulldozer of a man, his buff arms wrapped around Teal’s waist as they posed for the cameras. He had a tanned face, skin which had seen too much of the sun and hair dyed to a startling silver. He smiled as he turned Teal around in his arms and pressed his luscious lips to her small ones, while the crowd below whooped.

Autumn glanced at Cyan, who was clapping along loudly with a genuine smile playing on his lips. He was standing in the foyer along with the rest of the crowd, as the couple posed on the balcony. Cyan put his fingers in his mouth and whistled, much to the crowd’s amusement, as the kiss prolonged, no signs of worry he had been feeling just a few minutes ago on his brow. But she was no longer looking at him. The bodyguard behind Cyan was staring at her intensely, his eyes narrowed, suspicion the only thing his aura betrayed. Their eyes met and Autumn sent him a harsh look, before she looked away.

Both of them knew of the other and both of them were waiting for the other to make a move.

The couple slowly descended together, arm in arm towards the outdoor pavilion, where the engagement party would really begin. The crowd made its way outside after them where an uproar of applause shattered her eardrums.

Autumn grabbed a tray of drinks and swiveled in the crowd. The guests grabbed the glasses and pretty soon her tray was empty. She turned around for another, and bumped right into a man, his chest hitting her forehead as she stumbled. He grabbed her arms to straighten her, the touch harsh, devoid of any support, but gripping her like she would take off any second. Which she felt like doing, as she glanced at the man and saw that it was the bodyguard. He glared at her, coldness his demeanor as she had the time to properly look at his face for the first time. The man was taller than her by a head, and she felt dwarfed by his height, feeling small in his heavy weight arms. His eyes were a dark brown and glittered at her, alert and suspicious. His messy hair reached his earlobe, curling around in waves. There were three piercings in his right ear, and a stud above his left eyebrow. He was quite muscular, though looked lithe and swift on his feet at the same time. The strength in his arms dug into her elbows as he released her.

‘What is your name?’ he said.

‘Autumn, Sir.’ She ducked her head in a mock bow.

‘And you’re new here?’

‘That’s right. Though not quite new as you, sir.’

The man’s mouth curled into a humorless smile. He leaned down and breathed next to her ear.

‘I recognize an imposter when I see one.’

‘So do I.’ She whispered.

He laughed. It was a dry, cold sound, ending quickly as he surveyed her with interest.

‘It’s not here.’ He said. ‘The package is gone. So any effort of yours will go unfruitful.’

‘I am afraid I don’t understand, Sir.’

‘Just like I didn’t understand how the wallpaper changed itself.’

Autumn cursed. Of course he had noticed the screensaver. That’s why he was staring at her with such suspicion in his eyes like he could uncover her deepest secrets with a look from his eyes.

From the corner of her eyes, Autumn saw Cyan coming towards them. The guard saw him too and turned, bowing deeply but Cyan just waved his hand.

‘Did you find out what I asked you to?’

The guard turned to her and said coldly. ‘You’re excused.’

Autumn spun on her heels and left quickly, striding through the crowd, anger and curiosity pulsing through her. Faintly she heard the man say, ‘Yes, Sir. The sender is untraceable…….’

Autumn’s heart was hammering at hundred miles per hour. The package is not here? What did that mean? Was the stone really gone? Then what about Cyan and who had it now? A million questions ran through her mind at a ridiculous pace, one after another until her head was just a jumble of confused thoughts. She discreetly took out her phone from the pocket of her apron and went behind a huge bouquet of tulips. The flowers hid her well, while providing clear view of the strange guard standing behind Cyan who was deep in conversation with Canis.

Autumn focused the lens from behind the flowers and zoomed in on the guard’s face. The camera captured his angles perfectly, the sleek jawline and a sharp nose caught in the flash of the lens. She sent the picture with a small line of text to her first contact.

*ZUE,

CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS GUY FOR ME? EVERYTHING YOU CAN.*

Zue texted back immediately. It was a single emoji, and Autumn smiled like a fool at the dumb response.

*PLEASE?* She texted back, though she knew Zue would, after teasing her for some time. She stared at the wink emoji and thought how much she wanted to see her when her reply came.

*Only if you get me his number*. Zue had written.

*LIKE YOU CAN’T FIND IT OUT BY YOURSELF ????*

She typed in hurriedly, as the couple started the ceremony, cameras following their every step towards the tulip canopy, a breathtakingly beautiful net of white and purple flowers where the ceremony would take place. Teal was dressed in an equally beautiful gown, a deep shade of purple, snug at the waist and flaring out beneath her in a graceful trail. There was a tiara of tulips in her hair, set like a crown upon the golden locks.

Canis looked powerful in his tuxedo but his eyes softened every time he looked at Teal, whose lips were parted in a permanent smile. Autumn wondered how someone could smile that wide and still look this beautiful.

Autumn’s phone pinged twice, as urgent message from Zue came through. She slipped her hand subtly inside, one eye on the guard and the other on the incoming message.

*Can you get me a clearer, full body picture?* Zue had written with an upside down smiley.

Autumn frowned. Zue had never needed more than a blurred, zoomed in photo and five minutes to find out a person’s life history. But she had replied after a whole seven minutes, asking her for another photo. She eyed the guard apprehensively as the family moved to position around the canopy for the ceremony video.

The couple reached the canopy, while a photographer moved in sync, balancing perilously on either of his feet with his equipment recording every moment through the wall of water from behind the fountain. Autumn followed his funny dance, an idea forming in her head. The canopy and the people around were in clear view, including Cyan and his guard, and with the photographer’s high quality camera, every petal on Teal’s tiara would show in the video.

*SURE..* She texted back, glancing around for the right opportunity.