Chapter 5 005

Miranda's POV:

A WEEK LATER:

"Are you going to continue ignoring me?" I nudged my shoulder to Ferdinand's arm. He pointedly pulled away and shot me a cold glare.

"Don't think you can weasel out of this one, nepo baby. I have not and will not forgive you."

I sighed softly. My rest was officially over, and tonight was the night of the party that Federico was supposed to be in attendance. I wanted to at least make peace with Ferdinand before I went off on this mission that would take heaven knows how long.

He folded his arms and glared at me, his eyes scanning me from top to bottom. "Nice dress."

"Thanks, Erica sent it to me." The gown was a blood red silk. With a plunging neckline and thigh high slit. I paired it with my mother's diamonds and dainty heels.

"It makes you look more like a honey trap than a detective."

"Come on, you know that's not true."

He sighed. "Look, you really are crazy. You just ran off after an armed man, Miranda. He could have shot you! It could have ended much worse "

"I understand you're angry, but you know exactly why I did it."

He pursed his lips. "Fine. Drive yourself to insanity chasing a ghost."

"That wasn't funny."

"I didn't mean for it to be funny, Miranda. It was the truth. It is the truth."

I inhaled deeply, closed my eyes and tried to calm myself down. When I opened my eyes, I flashed him a smile. "Have a nice day, partner. I'll see you after the party."

"Don't bank on it." He said and walked off. I watched him leave, and part of me wanted to call out for him. The other part of me wanted to be angry at his words.

The final part of me bagged that this would be the last time I would meet him.

****

Halfway to the van, I remembered that I had to pick up my badge. I ran back to my office, halfway to the door I spotted two figures talking. I recognized the Chief , and another officer I wasn't familiar with.

"Officer Fontaine left on an assignment." The chief said. "What is the matter?"

"An assignment? But she just returned from one not too long ago."

"Ah yes. She did. Is there anything in particular you want to discuss with her?"

"Not particularly. I have the report drawn up from the last raid. She was really hurt and asked me to draft it."

"If you remembered well, all reports were to be sent to my office. What made you think you should go up to officer Fontaine? Hand them over."

"My apologies chief. Here there are."

A raid? A few days ago? I was at home, cuddled up with my pillow and watching rom coms. I didn't lead any raids. The last week I hadn't even left my house and ordered food all long.

What the heck was going on?

Or was there another officer Fontaine? That can't be. There's only me, and Fontaine is a pretty niche name. Everyone knows the Fontaine family.

I peeked out of the corner. the Chief took a set of papers from fhr officer and then she turned and briskly walked away. I quickly rushed out and walked up to the officer.

"Hey," I said. He turned to me. He was rather young, and I hadn't seen him around here before. Which was concerning because I was sure I knew everyone here, maybe not by name but by face.

"Oh! Officer Fontaine!" He gave a salute. "I was worried you were down after the last time."

"Ah yes. I was pretty down. Taking a beating like that wasn't easy at all."

"A beating?" He asked and laughed. "You were shot. But the bullet didn't cause much harm, thankfully. "

I was shot?!

I cleared my throat. "So, this raid. Can you remind me where it was?"

He gave an uneasy smile. "I'm sorry, we aren't supposed to talk about the raids outside. You know if this, officer. You enforced this rule yourself."

Something isn't adding up. I didn't remember any of this. Enforcing a rule? When? Right now in convinced there's another officer Fontaine that I'm yet to meet.

My eyes narrowed. "Very well. Thank you, I'll meet up with the chief and discuss it."

He nodded. "Have a wonderful day."

Feeling uncomfortable, I gave a curt nod. I turned and headed back to my officer to get my badge. I contemplated going to the chief to ask what the hell that was about, but then I decided against it. When I returned from the party, I would ask her.

I headed back outside to the van.

After a brief run down of our assignment, which was to attend the party undercover and investigate Don Federico, we all geared up and were ready to go.

I wished Ferdinand would come with me. But according to the chief, this team had been curated a long time ago. Each and every one of us, all ten of us, were hand picked. The criteria, was unique to each person.

She placed me in charge of this team because she believed it would help me get closer to the mystery of Cole.

And I vowed to get to the bottom of it. Don Federico had a hand in this. And my parents were lying.

An hour later, we arrived at the venue.

It was the private estate of one of the states top millionaires, who was rumours to have ties with the Mafia too. Nothing serious, except giving out his residence to be used for these parties.

Parties they were called. But it was actually strategic meetings. No phones or cameras were allowed inside. All paparazzi stopped at the front gate and didn't go past the driveway. The security was tight as heck. I counted six cameras at the front gate alone.

My heart raced with anticipation and we went through the front gate. I and two other officers, the rest stayed behind for backup. And of course surveillance. The cameras would show what we wanted them to show. After a pat down and a security check, we were cleared and allowed to walk in.

The sheer amount of wealth displayed was nothing short of too much. The interior decorator of this place clearly lacked taste. Was there any need to hand expensive oil paintings back to back?

The lobby was alive. Music, conversation, the smell of crime and cologne thick in the cool air. I walked through the sea of bodies, heading for the balcony. The discreet ear mics we had on came alive. I snagged a glass of champagne from a waiter.

"Officer Fontaine?" The voice came through the mic.

"Here." I breathed. I took a sip of my champagne.

My eyes scanned the crowd below. All these people, their hands soiled one way or another. If it were up time, I'd have all of them marching out of here in handcuffs.

Don Federico was nowhere in sight.

"You," A voice said behind me.

I swerved around.

The glass of champagne slipped out of my hand.

He struck out immediately and catched it, not even a single drop of it spilled out. He held it to my face, his eyes cold and steady.

"You." I said accusingly. I snatched the champagne flute. "What are you doing here?"

Once that question was out, I realized how stupid it sounded. He works for Federico. Of course he'll be here.

"I saw you come in." He said. His eyes searched my face. "I have been thinking about you."

I choked on my champagne. "W-what?!"

"I cannot get you out of my head " He said. His soft and gentle voice caused goosebumps to cover my skin. "I hate it." He hissed. "I hate it so much . Who are you?"

I blinked in shock. "You should be lucky I'm on special orders. I would be putting your ass in handcuffs."

"Watch your back, officer." With that he turned and walked away. I sighted his father ahead. He raised his flute to me and grinned.

I hate them both.

Cole. That man is not Cole. But seeing him just now has reminded me of my brother.

My hand balled into a fist. Remember why you're here, Miranda.

I drank all of my champagne and dropped off the glass. It tasted funny. I brushed it off as nothing.

I turned to the crowd.

My heart fell into my stomach.

There was a man in the crowd.

He stared right at me. His dark eyes hateful. Flanked on both sides by tall guards, he still was taller than them. He had his hands in his pockets, and my goodness he was huge. I could see his muscles bulging against his shirt.

And his eyes. Those eyes stared at me like he wanted me to drop dead.

"Officer Fontaine?" My mic cackled to life.

"Y-yes. I'm-"

A gunshot exploded in my ear. I screamed and crouched down, fearing that it was in the foyer. A scream came from the mic, and it went dead.

My heart jumped into my mouth. I rose to my feet, my head swimming as I got up.

The man was still glaring at me. One of his men whispered something to him.

I staggered on my feet. I suddenly felt dizzy, and nauseated.

Something is wrong with the van. Something just happened now! I have to get there...I...

Someone screamed. A shrill and panicked sound.

A gunshot rang out through the foyer. People began running.

It finally clicked in.

Don Federico. That was him.