FALLEN (NOW PUBLISHED ON AMAZON)

63.

"I'm sorry we part this way. I don't know if or when we'll see each other again. I know I can't give you anything you want, and I'm sorry. Just know that I'll always remember you as the man who opened my eyes to a happy life full of adventures." I smile to him, even though he doesn't look at me.

I sigh again when I realise that he doesn't and won't look at me. I look down to my purse hanging from my shoulder and take some money to pay for both beers. I put it on the bar and put my glass over to hold it there. I turn one last time to look at Ash, but he seems very upset still. It breaks my heart that it's my fault.

"I'm sorry for hurting you. I didn't mean it."

Without any resistance, I turn around and make my way out of the bar even though we got in a bit more than ten minutes ago. I didn't mean to offend him in any way and I have apologised for it. I won't stay there drained of energy with everything I've been through today and the little sleep I've had last night. I'm sad to leave Ash. I will miss him. I don't know if he's going to text as much anymore... I doubt so. At least, this time with him tonight made me realise how unique my bond with Marcel is and how he is the only one to make me feel fireworks as strongly. I can't let things like this between us. I need to get to the bottom of his father's murder.

As I am walking back to The Balmoral, I take my phone out of my pocket and dial my brother's number. This late, I'm not surprised he doesn't pick up. I get into the hotel and walk through the empty lobby and get into the elevator when I leave the message.

"Hi Simon, it's me. I was wondering if you could do me a favour. Look for a criminal file on Marcel Wright. There are things I need to know." As I say that, I realise suddenly that maybe he's not allowed or he doesn't have access or I don't know. So, I need to give him a source of motivation. I decide to gamble everything on his overprotective side. "He's my boyfriend. His father got murdered, I need to know if he did it."

-

After a very good night of sleep, maybe too short but revigorating, I have brunch with Cynthia and William. I don't really feel like talking, so I listen to them talking about what they've been doing this weekend. They mention visiting Holyrood Abbey, the National Museum of Scotland, and many other touristic venues I haven't heard of. They make this city sound so enchanting. It brings me so much happiness to see them so enamored and happy. I never really had the chance to spend as much time with them as I did in the last couple of weeks. Even though we've been together two or three times in that time, it's more than in the last two years combined.

"You should have seen her in the Abbey. She couldn't stop disturbing people. Many people hushed her." William smiles widely as he tells me the highlights of their trip.

"People were not understanding." She returns a smile to him and then look at me to explain herself. "I fell on the floor, of course I let out a little surprised scream."

"It was far from little. It echoed like crazy." Will cuts her mid-speech to make fun of her.

"Oh shut up, Will!" She replies right back, not losing her smile and looks back at me to finish her story. "After that, I wanted to hide, so we walked deeper into the Abbey to visit the confessionals and the chambers, but we got lost. So I started asking around for the way to entrance. People weren't pleased I was disturbing them."

"They were praying, Thia."

It makes me smile to hear my brother call her by that nickname. I've never heard it before. It's pronounced Thea, and it's absolutely charming. The way they interact with each other is beautiful, it's so simple, almost effortless. William has his arm on the back of her chair, and I have noticed that for a part of the time we've eaten, her hand was resting on his thigh. He always puts his hand to her back when he is talking to her from this proximity.