MAIZE

Maize regarded her surroundings doubtfully for what seemed like the tenth time in the past five minutes. The cobblestone roads were newer, not as run-down and cracked as the area they had been before, and even the houses and shops along the sides looked nicer and more expensive looking.

"Seriously, West," Maize spoke up, noticing how uncharacteristically overly quiet the detective had been since they started moving, "just where are we going?" she asked.

"Yeah...I'd like to know that too," Kishan added. "This area looks...richer, if you know what I mean. And while I don't pretend to understand how you think all the time, I can't imagine where we're supposed to lay low around here, he stated forwardly.

Maize actually agreed, "Also it's too well lit. Back there we had the shadows to cover us, but here, it's nothing but shiny lights. We wouldn't be able to lose the guys easily if they manage to catch up to us..."

Why did she keep trusting Alec to lead them? She really didn't know.

He seemed better suited to the role, equipped with enough of a sense of responsibility to look out for those around him and take charge of a situation. Whereas Maize had never been much of a leader herself, nor did she want to—though, that wasn't to say she had ever been much of a follower either. And partnership with Alec West or not, she would not accept being lead in blind.

Whatever idea he had, he didn't like it, that much was clear from his demeanour alone. She knew Alec wasn't stupid—or at least, not all the time...

He wouldn't do something reckless, would he?

Maize would like to believe that. Really, she would. But the detective's lack of effort to share any details to enlighten either of them made that rather difficult. Not to mention, the fact that he seemed to be ignoring both of them completely was beginning to tick her off.

She was at the end of her patience.

"West," she marched right up to him and pulled his arm so that he could turn and see the dead-serious expression in her eyes. The only thing she hated at the moment was the fact that she was shorter than him, and he had to look slightly down to look at her. Curse him and his height.

"What?" he grumbled agitatedly when she grabbed his sleeve, but when he saw her expression he paused and stared down at her."Will you stop glaring at me like that?" he asked, giving her a flat look when her glare didn't let up in the slightest.

"Tell us where we're going."

He frowned at her, drawing his arm back from her grip and shoving his hands into the pockets of his black jogging pants, "Hey, I said a had a place to go, didn't I? Isn't that enough?"

Kishan shrugged cheekily off to the side where he was watching the two, "Yeah...but you didn't actually tell us where—"

"Not helping, Kishan," Alec stated bluntly, running a hand through his hair aggravatingly. "And besides...it doesn't matter because we're already here."

Maize stopped herself from getting angry at his nonchalant attitude just in time to hear his words. "Wait, what?"

"I said we're here."

Maize frowned at him before the realization of where they had stopped finally came to her. At first, she had thought it had just been another road leading in the next direction, but with a second glance, she realized it wasn't a road but a driveway—a really big one. Nearly a hundred meters in length, Maize gazed up the path all the way up to the end, where a large resort-like mansion rested in the centre of a circular curve in the background of forest trees. The roof was illuminated by festive white lights bulbs, hanging across the shingles in drapes. There was a small fountain in the centre that sprouted crystal blue water under the lighting, Maize hadn't even heard the sound until now. The entire place looked like something out of a resort magazine.

"Holy shit...sick place!" Kishan exclaimed gaspingly, also just noticing the driveway they stood in. He looked at Alec with a grin of questioning amusement, "Who's is it? You have a rich friend I don't know about?" he chuckled jokingly.

"No..." Alec wore a slight grimace on his face as he looked up at the house, "not exactly..."

Maize frowned, "Family?"

"Not here."

"Ex-girlfriend?" Kishan suggested.

"No."

As they began walking up to the front door, which was also decorated with festive little lights, Maize couldn't stop glancing at the detective. His entire demeanour practically read 'kill me now' as he paused in front of the door, reluctant to knock just yet. He looked back at them once more, specifically Kishan.

"Remember that girl from the plane?" he started.

Kishan suddenly looked suspicious, "Yeah..."

"Well, she—"

They didn't get to finish hearing the end of Alec's explanation. The front door suddenly burst open, even though they had yet to knock, and a golden-haired blur jumped forward and launched herself at the unsuspecting detective. Out of reflex, Maize almost drew one of her blades at the sudden 'surprise attack', however, a focused glance at Alec's assaulter had her hesitate.

Both she had Kishan stood there dumbstruck and confused, watching blankly as the blond-haired girl continued to latch her arms around the back of Alec's neck.

"Alec, baby!"

Maize widened her eyes, oh no, he didn't...

"Um, er...hi, again," Alec began awkwardly, trying to detach the girl from around his without being too blatantly obvious—and failing at both.

The girl finally pulled back and looked up at him with bright eyes, "What are you doing here?" she asked with surprise.

Maize shot a quick accusing glare at Alec, "Good question. What are we doing here?"

The detective looked both uncomfortable and extremely irritated as he muttered low enough so that the blond couldn't hear him, "This was the only thing I could think of..."

Though Maize could tell he was already regretting it as the blond shamelessly continued to trail lines up and down his chest.

"So, did you take me up on my offer?" The girl giggled—if Maize recalled correctly, her name was something like Sophie or Samantha...or, Sophia, that's it. Before when she had met her on the plane she thought she came off as rather forward. But seemed to be nothing compared to now. And the way Sophia's eyelashes batted at Alec made Maize want to throw up. "Aw, is it because you missed my pretty face? Is that it?" She gushed. Was she just trying to put words in his mouth now?

Alec grimaced, "Uh...sure..."

"I knew it!" She squealed, oblivious to his discomfort as she finally released him and took a step back to look at them all. "You brought your friends too! I think I remember seeing you," she exclaimed, pointing directly at Kishan.

Kishan raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure?" He asked, throwing an obvious look at Maize—the person who had actually walked up and talked to the girl first, though the blond seemed to take no notice, eyes focused back at Alec.

Maize had a flat deadpanned look on her face. Not that she cared about being purposefully ignored, but, it was a little irritating, if not insulting.

The blond was oblivious, "Anyway, don't want to leave you all out in the cold, so come on in!"

"Actually—" Alec looked like he was about to back out when suddenly he was grabbed by the arm and dragged through the front door. Maize and Kishan had no choice but to follow.

"You saw the look she was giving him, right?" Kishan murmured to her as they followed behind.

Maize nodded, "Yep."

"Just to be clear, are we ever going to let him live this down?"

Maize shook her head, "Nope."

"Great."

The inside of the house looked just as you would expect from its appearance on the outside, large, expensive—and all a little too polished and white for Maize's taste. If there was any doubt about it before, the Sophia girl definitely came from some sort of rich family.

As the blond excitedly lead Alec to what Maize guessed was supposed to be the main room, to show off to him, she and Kishan both caught sight of the large glass panel back door down a small hall in front of them, lights flashing through the window and casting colourful dancing figures on the walls around it. In the same direction, music seemed to come from the back yard of the mansion.

"Wait, what's going on out there?" Maize asked, sounding slightly more alert than she probably should have.

Sophia glanced in the direction of the back door, "Oh that? Right, my family's hosting a party outside for the festival, nothing too big, just a few hundred guests. But, lucky us, the inside is off-limits..." she explained, flashing a hinting look over at West—who, conveniently, was facing the other direction. She brushed it off quickly by turning to Maize and looked at her as if she'd just noticed her for the first time. "Oh, now I remember, we met on the plane too didn't we?"

Oh, now she remembers.

Maize just put on a smile, "We did, and it was a nice encounter. Alec over here couldn't stop saying nice things about you after our flight was over. We were just in the neighbourhood and he said he wanted to stop by to visit. You have to be patient with him though, he's a huge softie but can be quite shy at times," Maize told her, trying to hold back a laugh as she caught the appalled look that formed on the detective's face.

"Sorry, what?" he hissed at her through clenched teeth.

Kishan was doing his best to keep his laughter to a minimum.

"Oh, that's adorable!" Sophia gushed, cupping a hand to her cheek in awe. "Here, how about you guys take a seat here and I'll go get some drinks. You guy did come around to celebrate, right?"

"No you don't have to—"

But she was already gone.

Alec sighed and ran a hand through his hair in defeat, before the moment was halted and he slowly turned to face Maize, eyes suddenly blazing. He growled through gritted teeth, "Mind telling me what that whole 'he's a softie, be patient, he's shy' bit was about?!" He exclaimed, doing a horrible impression of Maize's voice.

"What? I thought I was helping," Maize started innocently.

Alec glared, "Well stop helping then. I'm not interested in her—"

"Oh really? I wouldn't have guessed from the way you had to practically peel her off you earlier," Maize answered sarcastically.

"I don't know what gave her the idea that I was into her but your comments aren't helping!"

"Well, what made you think that coming here was even a good idea in the first place?" She shot back.

"Yeah, I'm with her on that one," Kishan put in.

"What do you want me to say? On the several hours I had to endure on the flight, listening to—I don't even know what, she mentioned that she had some place near the river and said that we could stop by anytime. I just happened to remember the address."

"Hm, I'm pretty sure she meant you could stop by anytime," Maize replied.

Alec frowned at her, "See? That's exactly what I mean by not helpful."

"Says the guy who's 'bright' idea was to hide out at some civilian rich girl's mansion," she retorted.

"I don't remember you giving any good ideas."

"I don't remember us ever saying this was one either."

"It's only meant to be a couple of hours at most, until we can figure out a new plan! Or would you rather we be outside on the street?"

"And how are we going to figure out a new plan with little miss blondie latched onto you all night long?"

Alec opened his mouth but was caught with a moment of hesitation as he blanked on how to respond to that. Fortunately, it was at the right time, for 'little miss blondie' walked back into the room a second later.

"I'm back, did you miss me?" She giggled as she was followed by a man in a waiter's uniform, carrying a tray of sparkling glasses with him. He set the tray down on the glass coffee as she sat and looked up at her one last time.

"Anything else for you Miss?" He asked politely.

"No, thank you, Smith, we're good."

"Very well, have a good night Miss."

"Oh I'm sure we will," she answered as she once again looked at Alec, brushing against his shoulder. She smiled, "So, I don't know about you guys but I'm in the mood to party...Alec baby, care to join me?" She asked as she brushed a piece of hair over her shoulder, drawing attention to her chest area where her fingers subtly lingered.

If Maize had to guess, she would say the flirtatious move probably would have had a few guys melting into puddles. The girl was beautiful after all, and clearly wasn't ashamed to use her body to get what she wanted. But couldn't she see that it just wasn't working on the detective? Was she blind?

"Actually, Alec needs to stay to talk with us for a little bit—but I'm sure he'll like to join you in a bit," Maize said and Alec visibly relaxed now that he didn't have to think up an excuse.

"Alright then," the girl sighed, slightly pouty look on her face before she tugged at Alec's collar and smiled, "I'll see you later."

Alec seemed to be holding his breath, and he didn't let it out until a few seconds after she was gone.

Maize relaxed too, glad that it had been so easy to get rid of her.

"You're welcome by the way," she said to Alec, smirking slightly now that she didn't have to hide her amusement. "She was giving you the 'bedroom eyes'."

"Fucking hell..." Alec grimaced and Kishan cracked up laughing.

"Just know, I'm never going to forget this," Kishan said as he wheezed with laughter.

"Good to know you find this all so amusing to you," Alec rolled his eyes.

"You don't even feel a tiny bit bad for lying and leading the girl on like that?" Maize questioned.

"You're the one doing most of the leading on!" Alec argued. "And honestly, I did—but seeing how she won't stop freaking touching me, no, I'd say we're pretty even."

"Whatever you have to tell yourself."

"Oh shut up, Ember."

"So," Kishan cut in with a laugh. "We going to come up with a real plan or what? Because personally, I would rather not stick around with the love-sick blond."

Alec sighed, "Agreed."

"I don't have to point out, again, that it was your idea to come here, West?" Maize said pointedly.

Alec looked like he'd just about had it with her, "And I don't have to point out, again, that I didn't see you stating any better options!"

"I think you could use a drink," Kishan stated, already grabbing one for himself from the tray that had been left there.

"We're technically working," Alec argued.

"Whatever you say. Maize, how about you?"

But Maize was distracted. In the pocket of her jacket, she felt her phone—her personal one, that she had kept there since the beginning, not having needed it along their trek so far—and it was ringing. She could feel the vibration against her left side, fortunately, which the others couldn't hear.

She ignored Kishan's question as she quickly left, walking away around the nearest hall where she knew she was out of earshot before she pulled the phone from her pocket. The device still vibrates in her hand as she read the caller I.D. that flashed off the screen.

C. A.

Maize was more than surprised. This was completely out of the blue.

Why call now of all times?

She quickly shook off her daze and accepted the call, pressing the device to her ear as a once familiar voice came through almost immediately, sounding pleasantly glad that she had answered.

"Been a long time, Blades...I heard you could use some help."