WhenTheCold Pounds on the door

小寒 [7] / [20]

“Believe me, it’s all for your safety,” he added,

“his toothbrush, do you have it or not?”

Kiara’s expression darkened again noticeably. But because of his grave and dignified tone (which Kiara had never heard before), she brought the toothbrush to him. He collected all the evidence carefully, and readied to leave. He needed to hurry. If Lucas knew the extent of his suspicions, he might run.

"Stay away from him," said Alexander.

"I mean it. Promise me that,”

he said firmly.

“Don’t worry. It’s completely over since finding out he cheated on me,”

she answered coolly.

"I'm really sorry I ruined your birthday and Christmas mood. Now, I have to go back to the office to work. Take care."

“It’s fine. Thanks for your gift. Take care,”

she answered and closed the door.

Alexander turned slowly. Kiara had changed little from her childhood. Even their awkward relationship was the same. He wasn't sure if her coldness was the end result of her fiery rage toward Lucas, or something deeper. He wanted to know if she was okay. To talk about emotions and feelings with candidness was not her habit. Moreover he was not somebody she could talk to about things like that. In that one way, they were similar. He tried not to think about it more, and moved his feet towards the office.

His thoughts migrated to the evidence he just gathered. DNA could certainly be extracted, but under what pretext could he request the analysis? He got Lucas’ address coincidentally, and luckily, got the rest under unpleasant circumstances.

What cause should he write for the analysis request?

He wondered.

Because I assume this fellow is a criminal? Why?

He needed an appropriate pretext.

Before do anything further, he found Cynthia, and explained all the details of what transpired. Violet, Lucas, Kiara, Lucas again, and the evidence he gathered. Cynthia sounded disgusted by Lucas, but she agreed that the DNA results might prove positive. She observed that Alexander agonized about how to explain the reason for his request to further scrutinize the evidence, but spoke unquestioningly.

"Just write the reason as it is."