Louisa's p.o.v;
"Louisa, where are you?" Bernie called out while entering the apartment.
"I'm in shower!" I shouted back at him.
He tapped on the door and said, "Come out quickly!"
"What is it?"
"Come out, I'll tell you."
I hurriedly finish with my shower and came out dripping water all over asking, "What's the rush for?"
"Your mother made a call."
I let out a sigh and asked, "Why did you pick the call?"
"How can I not? You know what happens when I don't pick up. She'll be here on the next flight."
"What was it?"
"She's visiting you next week."
"Did she say the reason?"
"Not exactly but she said it's something important."
"For her everything is important except me."
While i was drying my hair, Bernie sat beside me and said, "It's been 6 months since you visited home. Aren't you interested to go see them?"
"Why should I go see them?"
"Because they're your family."
I let out a fake laugh and said, "They said they don't have time for me. Does your family say that to you?"
"I can't comment but I'll assure you that whatever they're doing, it's for you and your brother."
"Bernie, I don't want to hear you talking about them." I stood up and said, "I have to change, please leave."
After he left, i changed my clothes and dropped on the bed staring at the ceiling. Since the door was closed, Bernie said behind the closed doors, "Louisa, I'm going out. Will be back by 9. Don't buy anything for me. I'll eat out." And I didn't hear anything after that. I guess he left.
Something struck me! What if that guy shows up again, it's better to lock the door. I dashed out of the room and locked the main door. I let out a sigh of relief.
Once I'm done with the assignment, I started cleaning the room. While I was clearing out the unwanted papers, I got a call. It was an unknown number. I answered, "Hello?"
"It's me Rafael. Are you free now? Can we meet?"
"Hold on. Who's Rafael?"
"The cop you saved. Did you forget me already?"
"Sorry, I didn't ask your name at that time."
"Well, are you free today?"
"Yes, I am."
"Then come to the 6th police station in HK."
Why did he invite me to the police station? Did he find out about Ace? Was he calling me to interrogate about him?
"Okay, I'll be there."
I locked the room and headed to the police station.
After twenty minutes, i came to the police station Rafael mentioned. It looked deserted from outside. I walked into the police station and saw cops working behind the desk and some talking with each other.
"Louisa, this way." Rafael said to me while pointing to a room.
After i entered the room, i saw Rafael in his seat, dressed up in a cop uniform, with his name badge in his shirt. I took a look around the office.
Rafael started, "Sorry for calling you out here. I thought of meeting with you outside but i got packed with work so i called you here."
"It's fine. What did you call me for?"
"You can talk to me like how did before. No need to be formal. Well, the reason i called you for is the person who kidnapped us got involved in a drug case recently. Do you know who kidnapped us?"
I shook my head. What am i doing? Telling lie to a cop? Did i go crazy? Didn't i promised myself that I'll file a complaint against Ace? Then why am I denying that i don't know him?
"He was called by Ace. But that's not his real name. We don't know what his real name is since he changes his name often…"
While he was talking about him, i thought, 'If Ace wasn't his real name then what's his real name?' Argh! I shook my thoughts and listened to Rafael.
"Can you remember the house now? Atleast some direction or landmarks?"
"I don't remember. Sorry."
"It's fine. Don't be sorry. Did you find your friend?"
"Yes, they let him go earlier."
"Does he know anything related to…"
"No, he doesn't."
He gave a nod and said, "Okay, you may leave now."
I stood up and said, "Thank you."
When i tried to leave, he said, "If you happen to remember the place, please do inform me."
"Yes, Sir." And i walked out of his room.
When i stepped out, some of the cops were staring at me like i done something wrong. I avoided their gaze and made my way out of the police station. Why does everyone gave me weird looks? Moreover, why did i lied that i don't know about him? I should have used the chance to revenge him. Ah! I missed it. If he comes again, I'll definitely going to file complaint against him.
While i was on my way to the apartment, i saw someone familiar. Why does his face look familiar to me? Where did i saw him? Do i know him? The guy who looked familiar lowered his cap and walked into the alley. I followed after him without his knowledge.
After walking for a while, he met a guy and talked with him. When he removed the cap, i saw the face of the man more clearly. It's him! The guy who stole the red stone from that bar hostess. I lied to Ace that i didn't see his face but i did saw his face. How could I miss the face when he ran past me? Since the scenes of him passing by me wasn't recorded in the surveillance camera, they believed what i said to them.
Suddenly, the guy i followed took something from his pocket and handed over to the guy he was speaking to. What is he giving to him? Was it that stone? No, it's a bit of paper. What's with this paper? Maybe he wrote the place where he hid the stone. After the guy whom i followed left the place, i followed the guy who received the paper from him.
After a while, he stopped in front of a building and walked into it. I looked at the board to know what kind of place is it. It's a restaurant but doesn't look like a active one. I stood in the alley and looked at the restaurant to see if someone walking in. After seeing a group of people walking inside, i walked into that restaurant.
When i stepped in, the lighting was dim, doesn't look like a restaurant from inside. There wasn't any tables or chairs or front counter. It looked like a empty hallroom. Where did the people who just entered go? What do they do in here? There was a staircase leading to somewhere up. I think they might be upstairs. It's better to leave before someone else sees me.
When i tried to open the door, the door was opened from the outside and some people walked in while some stared at me.
One of the guys asked, "Are you new here?"
I nodded and tried to leave.
"What's your name?"
"Lou."
When i tried to leave again, he said, "Why are you leaving already? Spend some time with us."
I got stuck with those big guys and they made me go upstairs with them. When i came upstairs, it's totally different from downstairs. The place was packed with people everywhere around the corner.
"Come inside. Why are you standing there?"
When i took a look inside, i realised what the place is. Gambling. I looked around for the guy who i followed after but couldn't find him since it's crowded.
While i was walking among the people who were gambling, one of them grabbed my hand and asked, "Are you lost? Who did you came with?"
Before i answered, the guy who dragged me upstairs came forward and said, "She came with me." He signalled me to go to him while saying, "Come here, he's not a good guy."
The guy who grabbed my hand before said, "Bet on her."
"Okay. Two rounds."
What the hell!?
"I'm not a object to bet on. Drop it."
"No one asked you. Shut it!"
They begin playing the roulette. The guy lost the first round so quickly. I bet he's not a player. Before the second round started, I stepped in and asked, "Since you bet on me, can I play the game instead of him?"
He gave a nod and gave me a smirk saying, "Be ready to come home with me."
Let's see who's going home!
When the game started, both the parties were tied up, in the next round, i won.
"I'm free. Let me go now."
When i tried to leave, he said, "You can't walk away with one round. You should play another round since it's a new one."
"No problem."
I won the second round too. Since i read a lot of books on casino games, it taught me many new things.
I saw the guy who i followed going to somewhere so i stood up and tried to follow him but got stopped by the guy who i played with, he asked, "What's your name?"
The guy who dragged me upstairs said, "She's Lou."
"Sorry for underestimating you. You played well." He slided me the coins towards me and continued, "This is yours. Take it."
"Um, i can't take that."
"Why? Take this coins and get the money from the counter. This is the money you won."
I leaned towards him and said, "They will ask for the Id card. But I'm still underage."
"How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"How did you get in?"
"I sneaked in. And these guys dragged me over here."
"You shouldn't be here. Get out of this place."
I nodded and when i tried to leave, he held my hand and said, "Not through the front door. Come with me."
He took me to the back side of the building and said, "Don't come to this place again and the money you won, I'll transfer it to you."
"It's fine. I don't need the money."
"It's not easy to earn to win in a palce like this. So don't hesitate to take the money. Go before someone else sees you. Why are you still here? Go."
"You're a nice guy. What's your name?"
"Nicolas. Now, leave."
After i walked away from that place, i took out the paper i stole from that guy. I opened it to see what's written inside. "8th Street, Gy." Is this an address? Where's this Guy? Haven't heard before like this. Shit! It's already 9? The casino really sucked up my time.
When i came back to the apartment, it was open. Did Bernie came early? When i opened the door, i saw Berenie and Everly kissing each other so seductively. Before they noticed, i closed the door quitely and left the apartment.
Mr Hernandez asked while i was looking at the address in my hand while standing near the building exit, "Louisa, what are you doing here?"
"Nothing. Mr Hernandez, do you know where this place is?"
He took a look at the address which i gave him and said, "Why are you looking for this place?"
Instead of telling me the directions, he asked me why. Don't tell something stupid!
"Why don't you give me the directions?"
"I heard this place is famous for drugs. You do drugs?"
"No! No, no. I was just looking for this place because… I… I got this from a friend in university. Yes, he suggested me this place when I asked him about a library. How could he give me a address to a place like this? Is he playing with me? Sorry, for troubling you."
"Don't go to such places. It's not a place for kids like your age."
"Okay. Thank you, Mr Hernandez."
"When did you come?"
When I turned around, I saw Bernie and Everly was standing together.
"Few minutes ago."
"When i came to the apartment, you weren't there. Where did you go?"
"To meet a friend for notes."
"Okay. Did you ate dinner?"
I shook my head.
Everly, "Then, let's go and have dinner."
We three headed to a nearby restaurant to have dinner.