It's Something Unpredictable...But In The End There's Right, chapter 5

Billie and Mike waltzed into the hallway that was only occupied by Tasmin's secretary; a woman around her forties was busily talking on the phone. Billie was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, while Mike on the other hand was only wearing the sunglasses to disguise them. They walked up to the lady's desk. She peered over her glasses and took a quick scan, and then she gestured to the room behind her that had a black door closed.

"Thanks," Mike said unappreciatively. He whispered to Billie, "Just another old hag that needs a life." Billie snickered and turned the doorknob. The door opened and they stepped inside the room. Once inside, they sat on the chairs facing the desk, but Tasmin was nowhere to be seen. "Tasmin? Are you in here?" Billie called out. No one answered, but a moment later, a woman with brunette hair that was tied up in a ponytail came out of nowhere.

"Erm... sorry," she apologized and sat on the leather chair, facing them. She studied the two people in front of her like a machine. "Oh my god! Billie! Mike!" she exclaimed and extended her right hand to Billie which he took in for a firm shake, then she turned to Mike and did the same. She beamed at them. It had been quite some time since she saw them, but she was curious as to why are they here. "So, how are you guys?" she asked. "We're okay," Billie answered. "You?"

"Me, I'm fine," she said. "So, I guess you are a big rock star now, huh? Dreams come true?"

Billie shrugged. "I guess. You look good too, but I never thought that you will become a private investigator."

"I didn't even expect it coming myself. It just sort of click." She snapped her fingers. "Anyways, I know you are not here for a reunion. So what's up?" she asked, suddenly changed her tone to a serious manner. "Erm... well. First thing first, yes, we are not here for a reunion," Billie said and she nodded but was cut in by Mike before Billie done phrasing his sentence in his head.

"Well, we need your help, Taz. You see, three months ago, our friend Tre, was involved in an accident. He just recovered from a coma last night. Then, erm... yesterday, me and Billie each received a threat at our own houses. But they both had the same intentions. 'You're next' was written on a note and there was also an item left with it. Inside my box, there was Tre's watch and Billie's was Tre's cap," Mike finally ended. Tasmin's expression had changed from serious to shock to concern and now back to serious.
"And you want me to?"

"We are hoping that you could help us to investigate who's behind this," Billie said. "Hmm... " She was considering it. "We'll pay you," he added. She chuckled but she had to admit that her business wasn't so good lately and the cases she always received were on wives that suspected their husband's were having an affair. Besides, it does sound interesting and challenging. "Okay, I'll do it," she said, looking at both of them.

"Really?!" they both said at once. "Yeah," she assured them. "Thanks, Taz. Thanks a lot," Billie said, showing her a sincere smile. "So, let's start now," she said, enthusiastically. "Now?" Mike asked, stunned by her enthusiasm. "Yes, but first I need to look at the threats, then I need to question Tre. Is that okay?" she asked. "Yes, except we haven't tell Tre about the threats yet," Billie began.
"Oh... "

"Well, he just got up at around five this morning. We don't really want to shock him or anything, you know," Billie explained. She nodded in agreement. "But we'll tell him, today," Billie added. "So, shall we go now?" she asked. Billie shrugged, "Sure. I don't think it's a problem."

They stood up and went out, but Tasmin said she would meet them downstairs. So, Billie and Mike climbed down the stairs whilst Tasmin told Mrs. Nolan (the secretary) what to do for the rest of the day. Minutes later, she was in her small blue car following Billie's black BMW. 'After six years of not seeing these guys, and out of the blue, they just appeared at your doorsteps,' she thought.

The black car in front of her stopped and she pressed on the break pedal to stop hers. The engine died and she got out with her bag in her hand. She walked up to the front door to meet the guys. "Nice home," she commented. Billie chuckled and opened the front door. "Home sweet home," he said, stepped inside and held on to the door for Mike and her to get in. He closed it as she took off her coat that was immediately snatched out of her possession by Billie to hang it in the closet.

She was brought into the living room that was as big as her apartment. She was in awe at how big it was; the television set, the hi-fi system and the magnificent pool outside. "My god, Billie! You live here?!" He laughed at her expression. "Yes, Taz. I live here." At the end of that sentence, a lady with long dark brown hair that was pinned up walked in.

Billie walked towards her and gave her a hug and their lips met for a kiss. Tasmin looked away awkwardly and met Mike's eyes. He gave her a 'don't mind them look'. She nodded and smiled. Their gaze met. It was one that send chills down her spine. It had been six years since they looked at each other that way. Memories swam into her mind as the pain that she longed abandoned returned.

"Taz. This is my wife, Adrienne," Billie said and gestured at the lady. "Adie, this is Tasmin. She was in the same high school with me and Mike." Tasmin extended her right hand. "Nice to meet you."

"You too." Adrienne took Tasmin's right hand for a shake. Then Billie led them to the sofas to sit. "Tasmin, do you want a drink? Soda or tea?" Adrienne asked. "No, thank you. I'm fine and call me Taz," Tasmin replied. "Are you sure?" Adrienne asked. "Yep," Tasmin assured her and smiled. "Okay," Adrienne said and sat next to Billie. "So, do you guys want to start now?" Tasmin asked looking at Billie and slightly at Mike. "Start what?" Billie asked. "The investigation," Tasmin said, smiling at Billie's confusion. "Oh, right. Where do you want to begin?" he asked, his expression turned serious. "Erm... let's see," she thought for a while "Can I look at the threats first?"

"Yeah. Of course," Billie said. He got up and went to the fireplace to take two small white boxes and handed it to Tasmin. She took it and opened the first box. In it was a pink baseball cap with 'The Bitch' printed on it. She took the cap out and read it. "You're next." She put it down and opened the next box and surely a watch was found. She thought for a while. "Is that all you got?" she asked.

"No. There was also a call." Billie looked at Adrienne. She began, "Well, around six in the evening when I was putting Joey into his playpen, the phone rang. So, I picked it up and ... and there was a man's voice on the other end. It's a really deep and menacing voice. He said he's going to kidnap Joey. I didn't believe him at first. I thought it was a joke but then he said there was a package at the door and he hung up. So, I went to the door, opened it and there it was." She looked frightened and worried to Tasmin.

She nodded and turned to Mike. "Did you receive a call too?" she asked. Mike nodded. "It's almost the same except the guy said 'Beware of what you do because you're next.' And also the guy sounded like a machine," he explained. "Oh, okay." She avoided his gaze and looked at the notes, the cap and the watch. 'All these items are very personal. The guy who called knows these guys very well. He definitely knows them thoroughly from their weak point to their families. It might even be someone close to them who had a grudge against them,' she thought.

"Guys, does Tre live with anybody else?" she asked. "Yeah. He's married. He's wife's called Lisea. Why?" Billie asked. "Nothing. I just want to find out more about him," she said. The phone rang and Billie picked it up. "Hello?" His expression turned from care-free to fear. He put down the receiver and looked at them. "That's him again. He said he knows about Tasmin," Billie said, his voice shaky. At that remark Tasmin was washed by a sense of panic but she kept her expression calm. "Then, I guess we have to go to Plan B," she said looking at them. They stared at her in awe. "Don't worry guys. I got it all planned out here." She pointed her brain.