Part 4: All Or Nothing

After I stare into the very soul of the mirror inside this bathroom, I wash my face down the sink for the third time. 

I keep checking at the door just to see if anyone would come inside. I just couldn't bear the idea of having someone here with me when I feel so surprised and a bit embarrassed. 

Out of all the possible men in this God damn state, why does it have to be the same person that I met through accident? It'd be okay if it's someone I don't know or who doesn't know me. But I feel like things are only getting worse for my career. 

"Are you crazy?" Brenna said on the other line. "Get out of the bathroom. They're not looking anymore." she added, referring to our co-workers who were staring at me earlier. 

"He's out there," I told her. 

"Clayton already settled. He's on his desk." She let out a short sigh. "Seriously, Sam. What are you? A kid?" 

I rolled my eyes for a short moment. She's not wrong, though. 

"Shit. Okay." 

I went out of the bathroom with confidence lacking inside me. I walk past each desk and notice that everyone's finally minding their own business. The sounds of their fingers typing finally came back. 

I try not to look around closely to see where that Clayton guy is. After all that's happened to me today, I don't have the time to deal with getting to know him better. I just want to throw my body back to my bed once I get home to my flat. 

Sighing heavily, I sit down my chair and lazily open my screen for what seems to be a thousandth time today. So many pending cases, so little time. 

It's a good thing that I'll be able to spend my day investigating a minor case about a bank robbery tomorrow. I wouldn't have to sit here all day and watch my eyes turn white. 

"Hey," A voice from behind came. 

I turn to look where it came from and was surprised to see who it was. 

Clayton. 

"W-What are you doing here?" I asked. 

He pouted jokingly and pointed the chair he's sitting at and the desk at his back. I blinked twice to see if I'm seeing the right thing. 

His desk and mine are positioned back-to-back. 

"What?" I asked. "What's... this?" 

He didn't reply. 

"It's a good thing you'll finally be able to know each other." 

I turn to my front and see Officer Douglas with a wide grin on his face. He raises his cup of coffee and proceeded to walk back inside his office. 

What the fuck is happening? 

- 

"I heard you were given a case to work at." Clayton said while I was busy being miserable in front of my screen. 

I glance at him and fake a smile, not saying a word. 

"With me," he suddenly added. "You probably hate the idea but this case is really important---" 

"Can we not talk about this now?" I asked. "After the car accident, you didn't even call me." 

"I was busy---" 

"I was, too. And don't worry, I'll pay you back as soon as I can." 

He didn't say anything back after that. He turn around to his desk again and remained silent for the next few hours. 

It's annoying to see that everyone just seems to be looking at our spot every now and again while working. It's obvious how most of the women around here glance at the guy at my back. It seems as though I'm suddenly losing interest to take the case. This is not something I imagine to be working at. 

And he's not something I imagine to be working with. 

The first few days passed by and we remain to be silent around each other. He's been going out every four hours all because Officer Rankin hands him the best and fresh cases he could find for him. Talk about favoritism, I guess. 

"I talked to him the other day," Brenna said as she takes a big bite on her burger. "He's polite, Sam. Kind, even." 

"That's what everybody says." I replied. 

Cameron couldn't stop texting in our group chat last night about how cool this new detective is. Apparently, he was told that Clayton managed to solved so many hard cases at once, without anyone's help. Everyone, including the twins---Amanda and Tin---believes that he's the Sherlock Holmes of The Detective Tag firm. 

I, on the other hand, believe they're overreacting. 

"Besides," Brenna said. "You don't have to pay him the damaged you did to his car." 

My eyebrow raised. "What?" 

"He knows we're close. He said he already had it repaired." 

- 

I let out a deep sigh as Officer Rankin finally stamps my paper 'CASE CLOSED' about the recent case I handled about bank robbery. 

"Congratulations," He handed the paper back. "Another case solved." 

"Thanks, sir." I replied. "Wouldn't want to disappoint you." 

He massaged his chin and fix his moustache as he looks at me straightly. There was no exchanges of any more conversation but I feel like he's about to tell me something important. 

"Officer Culkin," he says. "Detective Culkin, rather..." 

"Sir?" 

He breathed in. "Douglas told me about giving you a big case." 

I nodded. "Yes. I'm still thinking about it---" 

"Well, we don't have enough time for your decision." He took out a notepad and wrote something down. "Three people were already dead since Douglas told you about the case." 

"W-What?" 

"It's a murder case, Samara." He looks around him and tear the paper apart from the pad. "You wanted this for a long time. Haven't you checked the folder he gave you?" 

I shake my head and accepted the paper. Written on it is an address. And the location sounds a bit of a countryside for me. 

"Handle the case with Detective Jones and you'll be fine." 

I shake my head again, for the second time. 

"Is there any way to change my partner?" I blinked repeatedly to see if he'd consider the charm I'm pulling off. "I promise I'll work hard. I just needed to---" 

"No." 

"I can do it with Detective Brenna Kays. She's logical and smart and---" 

"Detective Clayton Jones already studied the case." He lowers his glasses. "You take the case with him or you get nothing."