Bella looked out the windows of the alcove that stood off to the end of the cafe, the nutty smell of coffee kept with them. The sunlight slapped its surface even though she couldn't feel the heat she still squinted underneath the glare. The police station stood across from them, at the opposite side of the street, a large blue three storey building with high iron fences that looked down on the people below with shiny grey knife like caps. Bella could still feel lingering eyes on the alcove that they both stayed, edged away from the the rest of the cafe. Fine red drapes hung from the small lantern that lighted the alcove. The wall that protruded out by Bella's side that made it somewhat closed off was covered with a starry wallpaper that crinkled and shifted with every whiff of the obviously overworked ac.
Bella's nose scrunched up.
Whoever did the interior design of this place did an obviously poor job.
Bella looked down at the menu that was laid on the white table. Her nose scrunched at the brown marks that swiped across the surface, stretching along it, that was barely hidden by the red silk that the owner had all but thrown on it when she was preparing this booth for them. It was obvious that this booth wasn't used alot but they still owed it to their customers to at least keep it clean.
Bella could hardly understand how this was one of the best coffee spots in the city as the chime of the bell at the door rocked every two minutes. She could still feel the linger of the fake smile curling her lips, the owner had been more than happy to give them this booth after the woman of course had asked for her autograph. Bella remembered the woman's acne covered skin and yellowed crooked teeth that were tilted forwards, definitely in need of braces. To think some people had no regard for their appearance, she'd rather wear a mask than walk around looking-
"Bella, I believe you didn't bring me here to share a drink."
Bella raised her head and there she was staring face to face with her older brother. Bella raised a thick well carved brow.
"You didn't stammer, that's a surprise."
Miles worked his jaw. Bella could see the droop of the left side of his face, unmoving and muscles that refused to yield to commands. Huge dark eye bags hung underneath his eyes, something that could make her mother have a heart attack if she saw it on her. The thought of her mother caused her mood to sour.
"Well, sometime-s I don't."
Bella sighed before she leaned forward and looked at the menu again. She read through the options, surveying through it for the healthiest choices.
"I have wor-k to do for you-r informatio-n." Miles hissed, making Bella glance back up at him.
"Well I can't grace this ..... woman's cafe and not order anything. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them. Besides, this is our first meet in almost nine years why not enjoy ourselves. Order whatever you want and I'll pay."
"I'll pay fo-r my own coffe-e." Miles replied, his voice holding a note of heat.
Bella smiled at that.
"Whatever you say brother. I just wanted to be nice. " She batted her eyeslashes innocently at him. "Besides, I just wanted to help you out because I heard police officers are usually paid chicken change plus your... condition and all."
His nostrils flared but within the blink of an eye it was gone and that unreadable look was back on his face, something that irked Bella so much. How was someone ever that good at hiding their emotions from plain sight? Bella tilted her head as she tried to find chinks in his armour.
"I'm a detective. And I'm being paid well. I don't need any help," Miles muttered the last part so quietly that Bella wouldn't have caught it if she hadn't strained her ears. "especially from someone like you."
Bella's eyes narrowed at that. Her lips curled downwards, anger sparkling unperbuted in her own blue eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"What?"
"You won't get help especially from someone like me ? What's that supposed to mean?"
Miles sighed again and then Bella could almost see the exhaustion that lay underneath the walls he had built around himself. The same tired wariness that marked every step he took when they were children. Out of childish instinct, she almost reached out to him but the look that he had given her once when they were little speared her straight through the chest.
"Leav-e, Bella. Your parent-s won't wan-t yo-u to be u-p her-e wit-h me."
Bella quickly withdrew her hand as Miles leaned back in his seat with those walls stretched high above his eyes.
"You and I kno-w that we woul-d both rather be anywhere else than here with eac-h other. Now, tell me wh-y you brough-t me here."
Bella leaned forward in her seat. The need to pick at him, trying to tear through him to get a reaction from him suddenly left her. Now she remembered why she was really here.
"Daddy." Bella whispered, the heat in her chest now replaced by a cold that froze her heart over. Miles visibly stiffened, Bella didn't take much notice of it because of the sadness that bubbled within her, pulsing down the lengths of her body.
"I-... I know you're a detective so you have access to the police station and files and whatever. I know that you're the one leading daddy's case." She couldn't stop the tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes. She looked down, blinking rapidly.
"I want to find out who killed him and make him pay."
"Whe-re do I com-e in this?"
She raised her head with determination shining in her eyes. "I want to help you to catch the criminal."
"No."
"What? But that's not fair?" Bella sputtered barely able to hide the shock at the balant rejection. He moved to stand before she grabbed his hand. Bella almost bristled at the look he gave her but she gripped it tighter.
"Le-t go."
"I'm going to help you."
"I don't nee-d your hel-p. Al-l you'll be is baggag-e."
Bella gave him a glare as he tried to pry his hands off her, obviously also noticing the stares that their exchange was arousing. Bella would have laughed if not for the incoming headline that could take to the air at this scene.
Bella Cox spotted clinging onto a local police man. Could there be another man in her life?
The comments almost conjured up immediately, things that twisted her insides at the thought. The thought that people could mistake her brother for a man she fancied. She almost visibly shuddered before letting him go. Miles immediately shot out of his chair, striding out as fast as he could. Bella wanted to go after him until she wondered what people would think of that.
Damn them, I don't give a flying hoot about what they think!
Despite the thought she still remained seated burning at the fact that she was easily humiliated and of course, that he had gotten away. Bella placed a hand on her head before sighing. That didn't go as well as she had planned.