Like Aria and Elara had planned, Dave also had a few instructions to give his subordinates before leaving the premises. He gave precise instructions on the proposed hypothesis and which directions they should take.
From there, Dave got inside his car with Kael, who had waited long enough to ask what he meant earlier.
"Where are we going?" Kael asked once they were on the road. "I don't recall making any plans with you."
"This case of ours is going to take a lot of time, and might even require us to move at night," Dave explained, getting a nod in return. "Instead of returning to your place, I took the liberty of getting you a place nearby."
"Seriously?" Kael raised his brows and then furrowed them. "Why didn't you run this by me?"
"Don't worry, Mr. Neren." Dave could see the displeasure on Kael's face. "It's a place under ARISA. I'm not spending my money. Think of it as a contract with ARISA. Since you're helping with the case, you're free to make use of its many resources."
"..."
Kael didn't say anything about Dave's reasoning.
Also, the young detective was right. His place was far, broken and barely worth mentioning. While he wasn't interested in material things, a good place and environment would minimise his exposure to unruly characters like the ones he dealt with yesterday.
'Maybe I should try putting my life back together.' Kael glanced at the driving Dave and wondered. 'I can't continue living like a husk if I have no intention of dying. At the same time, I don't want the kid to get too close.'
He wanted to avoid this as much as possible. Although his train of thought revolved around Dave, it was actually the opposite. Kael had no trust in the young detective and didn't want to.
'If this is his attempt to get me to trust him, then he has a long way to go.' He concluded. 'I'm only here for the investigation and my case; nothing more, nothing else.'
This was a reminder he needed. He was simply using the kid to get what he wanted. For now, he would take the new place, as it was convenient for him.
Dave took another glance at Kael, knowing he had accepted his suggestion. This brought a small smile to his face. 'Soon, Mr. Neren. The journey to the other side will be perilous, but you will come out anew.'
***
The drive to the apartment complex took less than five minutes. As Dave mentioned, the place was close by, even granting a view of the ARISA building from the parking lot. The young detective led Kael towards the entrance of the fifteen-floor apartment complex.
With an architectural design that reflected current trends, the apartment complex stood beautifully in the heart of the city, neither too close to the main streets nor too far away. The apartment complex rose sleek and imposing against the city skyline, its glass-and-steel exterior reflecting the bustling streets below.
'Not a bad place,' Kael noted as they made their way inside. It reminded him of the place he once owned, but that was now a thing of the past.
Soon, the two men stepped out of the elevator, arriving on the tenth floor. The hallway leading to the rooms was quiet, lined with minimalistic artwork and soft carpeting that muted footsteps.
"This is the place," Dave ushered Kael into his new place, stepping aside to allow Kael to enter first.
The room reflected the building's modern aesthetic—clean lines, neutral tones, and smart-home features seamlessly integrated into the walls.
A floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the city, its curtains drawn halfway to reveal a scattering of distant sunlight. At a glance, Kael could tell the place was not cheap.
The apartment was more than spacious enough for someone like him. Moving to stand in the middle of the receiving room, Kael looked to the side, where he spotted a dining space and an open kitchen already packed with the necessities.
Opposite the kitchen area was a door leading to the bedroom and a second door leading to the guest washroom. It had everything a single person like him would call comfortable, and it came in white and grey colours he appreciated.
"What do you think?" Dave came to stand by his side and looked around with Kael.
"It's fine," Kael replied flatly, neither amazed nor displeased.
Fortunately for Dave, he expected that kind of response, shaking his head slightly. He watched as Kael moved towards the window, looked around for a couple of seconds, and then moved to check the kitchen.
Kael had no idea how Dave had managed to get this place prepared so quickly. They had only met this afternoon and stayed close for the rest of the duration. Kael could count the number of times Dave was out of his sight, and they weren't that many.
'A simple phone call would have sufficed,' Kael reasoned as he continued his casual checks. 'With ARISA's resources, this would be nothing more than a simple errand.'
"Then I'll be leaving," Dave suddenly said, drawing Kael out of his thoughts and checks. "I'll come pick you up once my subordinates complete their task."
"When would that be?" Kael turned to Dave.
"Not sure. Perhaps tomorrow or the day after." Dave shrugged and then gestured at the bedroom. "You'll find a couple of things in there. They should help you get started. Also, there are copies of the case files for your use."
"Thanks, kid."
Kael expressed his gratitude. Regardless of how he felt about things, the young detective was going out of his way to help him, and that counted for something. Though he still found Dave's reasoning for inviting him shaky at best.
"Don't mention it, Mr. Neren." With a nod, Dave left the apartment.
Left alone, Kael stared at the closed door for a few more moments before turning to look at the bedroom.
For a moment, he had considered asking Dave what he was up to. However, he quickly recalled his position and decided against it. The young detective had a life of his own. Whatever he did with his free time was up to him.
With gentle steps, Kael made his way to the bedroom, where he was greeted by a minimally decorated room, a wall closet, and a desk. 'So that's what he meant.'
On top of the desk were a few gadgets Kael was lacking, along with the case files Dave had mentioned. He turned to the closet and reached for the handle to open it.
"Can't say I'm surprised." The closet was already packed with clothes of all kinds, including trench coats in his favourite colours. "The kid is very observant."