"can I come in?" He decided to speak up after minutes of staring at each other.

"I don't like visitors" she insisted 

"Oh Nina, we're just neighbors" he smiled trying to persuade her.

"I have nothing to say to you sir" she said flatly

"Oh please, do call me James" he grinned

"Mr. James, I have nothing to say to you" she said yet again and tried to slam the door but he put out his foot preventing her from doing so.

"I heard you make perfect lattes" he smiled

"No one says that" 

"Fine, you caught me" he chuckled raising his hand in surrender, "but I want to find out if you do, I'd gladly spread the word around then" he smiled and shoved his way in while she stared at him

"Nice place you have here, so sad you staying alone" he blabbed but Nina remained at her spot with a blank expression.

"Should I sit or?" Mr James asked

"You let yourself in already.." she rolled her eyes.

"You love collecting artworks huh?" He asked trying to touch a painting but she sneered at him

"Painted them myself, don't touch" she glared

"Oops" he withdrew his hand and took a seat.

"Latte?" 

"I can offer water alone" she scoffed and walked to the fridge

"I wouldn't mind the orange juice by the hand of the fridge though" he smiled and she sighed before taking the juice and a glass.

She placed it before him and poured out an amount into the glass.

"Oh" he smiled, "thought you'd have asked me to help myself to it" he licked his lips

"You know...with the face and everything...and I'd stop talking"

She sat opposite him staring intently at him like an osprey waiting to make it's dive in on its prey.

"No family?" He suddenly asked

"Sorry I'm asking that, I'm just curious..you moved in alone and talk to no one, I'm surprised you have a job though" he started but she remained indifferent

"I might hit the club one day, wouldn't be so bad to watch you perform" he said referring to the club where she worked as a stripper at night but works at a bakery from noon to somewhere around 3pm.

"There's more fresh air in here than in my place and the view's a whole lot better" he tried to get her to talk but she kept staring at the glass in his hand like it was meant to do something the moment he picked it up.

"Ahh, I feel like I'm not welcomed despite the fact I'm sitting next to you still" he rubbed his neck before taking another sip, he was gon' ask his questions whether she was in the mood or not and he really needed his answers.

This has always been his problem with people, he'd go any length to gain details for his next write-up.

"That night at the club..."

"I was working" she cut him off

"Nice" he chuckled, "at least I got three words out of you" he smiled 

"It was you and Mr Clyde in that room that night" he said and Nina got ready for the ride. It seemed he wasn't ready to let go, it's been three nights since the incident but he's been bugging her like some detective.

"Because I was doing my job, a stripper - as you saw" she replied.

"You weren't masked as usual that night" he retorted.

"Cause my client demanded so" 

"You weren't the paid stripper, it wasn't for your services he paid"

"Rose had fallen ill that night, I was asked to replace her" she said blankly.

"He died after you unmasked yourself" Mr James kept throwing questions at her.

"He asked if I could unmask myself and I left to meet with my boss, cause I've never done that, she asked me to do as he wanted, I met a waiter leaving as I returned and I resumed my dancing till he started choking as gasping for air" she explained

"So you saying it wasn't a planned act for you to leave?" He asked

"Why were you there Mr James?" She began her questions

"What?"

"You've never been to that club, but you were there on the day of the crime, like you knew it's going to happen?" She spat and he drained his juice.

(Chuckles) "what you're trying to say is..."

"Is that.. you've finished your drink, it's time to leave" she said sternly

"Oh Nina" he smiled

"I might kill you next" she smirked and he stood

"Thanks for the juice, I'd be back"..

"Won't be expecting you" she said and slammed the door shut.

***

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry" Carly apologized to Tyler for bumping into him and Ellie walked up to them.

"You're with her?" Carly asked chewing loudly on her gum

"Yeah and you are?" Tyler asked

"Carly... Carly Simpson.. Ellie's neighbor" she smiled

"Oh Ellie, so good to see you" she hugged Ellie though Ellie didn't move.

"I see you brought your man, after all you little sister's in jail, you don't need disturbance, trust me, I get that shit" she winked

"He's not my boyfriend "

"Trust me I wont tell, go have fun guy, whooaa" she shrieked and left them

"She's crazy" Tyler chuckled

"Ignore her"

"Potter?"

"She hasn't stepped out of her apartment since morning " he reported over the phone.

"You can hold in there till evening right?" Wheeler asked over the phone.

"Sure I can..I just have to...."

"Have to what?" Wheeler asked when potter went silent.

"Potter?" He called and a photo was sent to him immediately

"What the hell is this?"...

.

.

"Come on, Sandy!!" The tiny voice screamed causing Winter to turn immediately but it was a little girl not her sister.

"Do you want to go in with me?" Her aunt asked and she shook her head.

"Over there!" She pointed at a bakery

"I'll wait in there, I'm craving cupcakes though" she smiled and her aunt nodded killing the engines as they stepped out of the car.

"Okay, so this is 11:57am, I should be out before 12:30 okay" she smiled and Winter nodded as they went their separate ways..

 Winter pushed the door open and walked in, the place wasn't so crowded as she found a seat by the window.

She took to her phone immediately and was lost in whatever she was watching online till she heard a scream.

"What!!! Did all gracious Nina just come late!" The girl behind the counter shrieked and Nina laughed.

"Just two minutes late" Nina said and that voice pricked her ears immediately causing her to look up. Winter only got the side view of Nina's face before she went into the back.

A figure blocked her view and she was ready to lash out on whoever when she looked up to see her aunt staring back at her.

She checked her phone, "12:10?" She asked

"Was faster than expected" she smiled, "come on, let's go" her aunt beckoned

"Just five minutes more, please" she pleading stretching her neck over the woman's shoulder.

"Let's go, we late already Winter" her aunt groaned 

"Nina?" The girl at the counter called again and Nina was about to step out when her aunt dragged her out...

She sat lost in the car not knowing her aunt has been talking to her.

"That's definitely Sandy's voice, but Nina?" She asked herself.

"Winter?!" Her aunt shook her.

"You okay?" She asked

"Hmmm" was all Winter could reply.

TBC....