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I sigh and wave him in. Candace has turned pale and looks like she’s seen a ghost.
“There’s enough for your friends, I just need to grab the other bag from the truck.”
I chuckle and look at Candace, “Go grab Henry, we can eat in here.” She nods and scurries off.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall for what she’s going to tell him.
Caspian returns shortly after with the second bag of takeout, setting the boxes on my desk as Candace drags a shocked Henry in the room and everyone piles food onto their plates.
I snag some lo mein and sweet and sour shrimp, popping one of them into my mouth. The flavor combinations and grease coat my tongue and I groan softly.
“This is the best Chinese takeout I’ve had to date,” I mumble, popping another shrimp into my mouth as Caspian chuckles quietly and Candace hums her approval of the lo mein.
“Where is this from?” Henry swirls some noodles, slurping them up loudly before he leans back chewing with a satisfied smirk.
“There’s a woman about 45 minutes south, she moved here a few years back with her husband and they make the food in their house for a select few people. It takes a while to get into her good graces, but it’s worth it.”
I watch Candace with a grin of pure amusement as she tries to use her chopsticks to pick up an onion off her plate repeatedly andfails. She sighs out of frustration, snatching her fork up and stabbing it, before angrily shoving it in her mouth.
My eyes move to Henry who is glancing between Caspian and me with a hesitancy in his demeanor. “So, you’re the individual who was laughing at the end of the video last night, I’m assuming?”
My jaw drops and Candace gasps, all eyes turn to Henry and then to Caspian who coolly sets his plate down and leans back. He folds his ankle over his knee and braces his arm along the top of the chair Henry’s sitting in. Emanating cocky relaxation.
“I am,” Caspian’s bored voice echoes in the room as he picks a piece of lint off his leg, and my entire body flushes at what that insinuates. I look at him, finding his gaze on me already, but his face is unreadable.
He looks at Henry, “You and Candace are her good friends, yes?” They both nod before he speaks again, “What has Lara told you about the past few days?”
Is he probing to see whether I told them things I shouldn’t?
My heart races as I glance to them before my eyes land on Caspian. He slightly shakes his head and I stay quiet.
“Just that she got lost in the woods. I’m guessing you were the one to find her?” Henry quickly putting puzzle pieces together has always been his strength. His problem-solving skills are unparalleled. It was one of the reasons I recruited him for this project. I needed someone who thinks outside the box and can challenge my process.
“I was. I am sure you’re aware that there’s a serial killer on the loose. I was searching for him in the woods when I found her.” I chew the inside of my lip nervously at how much information he is openly divulging considering the fact that Caspian burned said individual’s body in an abandoned house.
“I knew it had something to do with the serial killer. See, babe. I was right.” Candace gasps and looks at Henry who grins triumphantly as Caspian continues.
“It seems he has his sights set on our friend Lara, here. So you’ll be seeing me around every now and again while I do my job to keep her safe and catch the bad guy. That’s alright with you two, I assume?” Candace and Henry both gape at him.
He glances over at me and winks. My cheeks burn and the corner of his lips twitch up in response which only makes me flush more. He slowly gets up to toss his plate into the garbage bin and sits back down.
He has no plans to leave anytime soon I suppose.
Candace and Henry bicker about serial killers and documentaries they’ve seen as they pack up the leftovers and Candace goes to hand the bag to Caspian but he shakes his head.
“You guys keep the rest. I can get more any time.”
Excitement radiates off Candace as she grabs Henry’s hand and nearly drags him out of the room. “Nice meeting you! Talk to you later, bye Lara!” She calls out from the hallway and I suppress a laugh.
I start to move from one cupboard to another, grabbing equipment for my trip to the lake tomorrow to gather samples. The tension in the air thickens with every minute that passes until it’s nearly palpable.
Caspian watches my methodical movements but says nothing as I place the last container into the bag. I whirl to face him and hoist the heavy pack to my shoulder.
“I, uh, I’m going to head home now.” I say awkwardly, cringing at myself. My cheeks burn again as he smirks, like he can somehow tell that my brain and body are at war with each other.
He nods once before standing and moves to hold the door open for me. I curse internally and compose myself as I walk past histowering form.
My heels click down the hallway, echoing through the building and as I wave goodbye to Candace, she smiles widely as she glances between us.
