Chapter 231 - Solving Mr Roger's Murder (6)

"Which room would you like to start with?" Edward asked after Nook left.

Scarlet wasn't sure. According to Alex and Jasper, there were some minor changes to the entire layout. The spy asked for an overview and noted that there was indeed furniture movement although the room positions remained the same. Two doors in the corridor maze were removed to accommodate the extra furniture movement but that was about it. Edward wondered if they relocked all the doors, he would have to settle that but he didn't know how well Scarlet could manage being alone in the dark.

Scarlet studied the rough map outline that Edward sketched for her on the back of one of the notes. The closest room to the office was the main room but Scarlet didn't think that they would find anything useful there. In fact, it was going to be the last place they would search for anything. Mr Roger's body was no longer there and the place had been tidied up. She deemed it the least of their priorities.

"I actually want to clear two names first but there will be too many places to search," she told Edward. "Maybe we should start from the end game and search backwards for the trail. How about the study room?"

Edward approved. If he were the investigator, he would start with understanding the motive of the murderer to find their methods and apprehend them. His girlfriend really had good instincts as a detective and Edward highly entertained the dream of setting up a private office with her as his assistant. Every day at work would feel like a honeymoon and even jobs would feel like dates with her around.

Not hearing a reply after a while, Scarlet looked up from her notes and blushed heatedly when she saw how Edward was looking at her. Although she was no stranger to be subjected to those looks of pure adoration from her filming experience, seeing someone else doing it out of a film set made her heart rate skyrocket. Thankfully, the light was dim and he couldn't see the colour clearly on her face. Still, if he were to touch it, he might get scalded.

Jasper and Alex watched the good show and the Wilde princess lamented that there wasn't popcorn to go with this live-action rom-com. Scarlet and Edward were too preciously adorkable! How can anyone be so cute and awkward at the same time? They were mirroring each other's expression now after they caught each other for staring too long. Scarlet's arms and legs were moving in sync and Alex couldn't hold back her laughter.

Jasper only sighed at his girlfriend's behaviour. Poor Scarlet teased about everything. Alex had no mercy when it came to teasing Scarlet. Their sister relationship had matured quite a lot ever since the time Alex pushed Scarlet down the stairs. Alex went through a jealous phase to a regretful phase that lasted quite a while before moving into this more realistic and natural sisterly relationship of teasing and bickering while emotionally supporting each other. He gently smacked her arm and told her to pipe down before he talked into the walkie talkie. As much as he wanted the other couple to sort things out at their own pace, there was a patrol officer coming their way.

"Coming your way from the left."

Edward didn't bother replying and simply pulled Scarlet for a run. They were too distracted and he didn't have time to check any doors to escape through the shortcut so his best bet was to make a turn and switch the flashlight they had off so that the patrol officer will walk past them without looking. The flashlight didn't move so these patrol officers are told to only keep the flashlight straight while they walk.

Scarlet's heart was pounding for several reasons. Edward grabbed her hand too suddenly and they started running. She didn't know where they were going because Edward held the flashlight and led the way but she heard that they were getting chased. The brief memory of running from stalkers gripped her but Scarlet forced the fear down and held onto Edward's hand tighter. She wasn't alone this time, Edward was here. She would be alright.

Edward felt Scarlet's grip on his hand tightened but there wasn't time to check on her. They had to make it to the end of this corridor quickly. The interior decoration might come in handy this time. Edward looked around for potential hiding spots and quickly pulled open the heavy velvet tapestries hiding a solid wall.

Switching the flashlight off, he pushed Scarlet in first before following after and closing the tapestry. He whispered for her to flatten herself against the wall as much as possible and Scarlet held her breath while trying to become one with the wall.

From behind the thick curtain, the couple could see the flashlight getting brighter as the patrol officer came their way. Their hearts raced and Edward found himself getting ready for a sprint to distract the officer should they get caught. The rules didn't say anything about having to get caught together, he could drop the walkie talkie and flashlight for Scarlet to continue.

On the other hand, Scarlet trembled a little as she searched for Edward's hand for support. Edward nearly jumped when icy cold fingers found his. How did Scarlet's hands become so cold all of a sudden? They were holding hands earlier but he didn't think her fingers were freezing despite the air-conditioning. He could hold them because his hands were occupied with a walkie talkie and a flashlight and he sorely regretted that. It's always because of circ.u.mstances like this that made him fail her as a boyfriend and Edward suddenly found himself hating everything about his life. If he wasn't a spy, he could love her whole-heartedly and freely. If he wasn't holding so many things, he might be able to comfort her in her time of need.

The officer passed them without noticing anything amiss and Edward immediately turned his attention to Scarlet, feeling apologetic that he let her suffer alone even if it was for a few seconds.

"Are you alright?" he asked and felt stupid after the words left his mouth. Of course, she wasn't alright! "Your hands are freezing."

Scarlet who was on the verge of a panic attack calmed down when she heard Edward's voice and felt him warming her hands up in the dark. They were still hidden and it was pitch black but she was no longer afraid. The blood started circulating again and slowly, her hands regained their warmth.

"I'm alright now," she told him and Edward felt as if someone had stabbed him through the gut. If she was alright now, didn't that mean she wasn't alright earlier? He should've just let go of the flashlight and held her hand!

"I'm so sorry!" he apologised with heavy regret in his voice as he blew warm air onto her icy hands.

Scarlet chuckled and let the warmth of his love replace the suffocating fear she felt from earlier. Sometimes, Edward blamed himself too much. She might not have noticed it at first but after a week of not seeing him, things slowly became clear to her. Like her, Edward had many secrets to hide and while he respected her secrets and never let the lack of transparency bother him in their relationship, Scarlet was the lesser person between them. She couldn't do the same and blindly give her trust to someone else. Perhaps it was her childhood, perhaps it was her line of work. Whichever the case, Scarlet did some heavy self-reflection. The things that Edward didn't say, he spoke louder through his actions. If she didn't believe his words, she should believe in his heart.

"Thank you," she told him and that confused Edward a little. Scarlet couldn't see but she felt him freeze in his actions. Her boyfriend could be so adorable at times.

"Thank you for being so thoughtful, I'm fine now."

Edward sulked. If Scarlet said it like this, he only felt worse for not being able to meet her expectations. "I should've just thrown the goddamn flashlight. I knew something was up with you. Did running and hiding in the dark bring back some bad memories?"

Scarlet nodded. "Mm. However, I would be mad at you if you threw the flashlight and gave away our position just to hold my hand. I'm not a baby, I'm a seasoned warrior of life. All I really need is for you to welcome my home when I return from my battlefield and give me cuddles. You can't fight my battles for me."

Edward listened to her and lowered his head. Scarlet's eyes adjusted well to the dark and seeing Edward hunch over like a dejected puppy made her laugh. She patted him on the head and planted a kiss.

"Let's split up," she told him. "I'll search in the study and you can do whatever you need to do. I might not be a psychologist but I know you well enough. You were doing something in the earlier stage too, I guess you can take the flashlight, they have dim lights in the rooms."

Edward thought about it for a while and made a face. He disagreed and wanted Scarlet to have the flashlight but Scarlet was stubborn. Knowing that he won't win this one, they compromised. Edward would escort Scarlet to the study before he went to do what he needed to do with the other doors. Scarlet agreed and they checked for the patrol officer's routes with Jasper before they left their hiding spot.