Tony gave me the gamepad and told me to feel it too while he get me a glass of water from the kitchen. I didn't tell him I was thirsty though, nor did I send him to get me a water. He probably just felt like, she needed something at least while she wait for my sister.
At first I didn't know how to control the gamepad, making me to end up crushing the pedestrian with vehicles and offending the police. Each time I offended the police, a star would come out on the screen below the health bar indicating wanted level.
Tony had briefed me earlier about the star levels that one star isn't a threat, two stars however was a potential threat and would attract more cops than one star level. Then three stars would attract SWAT team and bring them into the chase. Four stars would include the FIB, and five stars would attract all law enforcement agencies in the game, including the national guards.
The law enforcement agencies would use all kinds of weapons, combat and armored vehicles, choppers, and even assault fast boats should the player decides to escape through the open seas or rivers. I really loved the game actually, and when returned with my water I implored him to allow me to play more which he did. When I got busted stroke wasted for the umpteenth time, I decided to handover the pad to him and take my water.
"You did great" he said and he continued playing the game.
"Thank you!" I dropped the empty glass of water on the center table. Yes, I emptied the glass by gulping the water inside in seconds. I wasn't thirsty before, but after spending some time playing that game my throat felt so dried.
Just then, the thought of Shirley came into my mind. I checked the time and found out I had spent nearly an hour in their house waiting for her to wake up. "When is your sister waking up?" I asked out of curiosity, I ought to know when because I was already getting tired.
"She's probably up now, trying to take a shower. You can call her, I mean by phone. If she's awake, she will pick even if she's in the bathroom" he said as he battled with the gamepad in his hands.
"Okay, thank you. I should better call her now" I said and quickly swiped to my caller.
"You are welcome!" he said.
Just as Shirley phone began ringing, I heard some steps coming down the stairs. When I turned towards the direction, I saw Shirley coming down with her face looking sad and tired. It was obvious she wasn't in a good mood. By the way, she somehow looked lean.
"Hey, Laura" she said in what seemed like a whisper as she walked over to the sitting room.
"Hi, welcome" I said wearing a crooked smile.
"Thank you, sorry for keeping you waiting, I was kind of..." she said halfway as I cut in,
"No need to apologize, your mom told me everything" I said and watched as she sat on one of the chairs, "So," I continued, "how are you coping with everything? The house arrest and... Fred's death"
"Not easy, everything's just fucked up. I don't feel like Me anymore, I just feel like... I don't even know how to put it, Laura I am just tired" she lamented.
"Don't give up, Shirley, don't. You are strong, I believe you are. So keep being strong, you will get out of all this soon. Trust me" I tried to console her.
"I trust you" she said, "By the way, how's Jessica? These days she doesn't like replying my messages, Suzanna, Jack and Vivian complained too. I hope everything is fine?" she asked making me to wonder what she's talking about. Jessica isn't replying their messages, but why? To be honest, I didn't know exactly what was going on... hence I didn't even know what to tell her.
"She's fine, did anyone among you called her?" I curiously asked.
"Yes, but it's always unreachable. Meanwhile she's always online and uploading things on social media. I just don't know what exactly is going on but I think she's trying to avoid us, what do you think?" she muttered, staring at me and waiting to hear what I had to say about the situation.
"Well, she's not been okay ever since the police placed her on house arrest. She's been acting weird, we even had issue yesterday. I did all my best to make her understand the fact that things would be better as long as she cooperate well with the police, but Jessica is something else. I just hope that they find the culprit soon" I uttered, resting my arms on the armrests of the chair I sat in.
"Wow, I thought I was the only one going crazy. Anyways, I heard about the tempered CCTV footage, a glimpse of hope it is... the fact that sooner or later the police will get the culprit and we shall be free!" she whined.
"Hopefully, but can I ask you a question?" I wrinkled a brow at her, "It's about Jessica's friend"
"Who? I am all ears!" she said as she adjusted her sitting position.
"Okay," I cleared my throat, "do you remember Reade? The guy we saw Jessica with at the motel during the festival" I uttered.
"Yes, the tall guy. What about him?" she asked.
"Nothing, just that... I want to know more about him" I said concealing the main reason why I asked her about him.
"Oh, but I don't know anything about him. I thought she told you they met on that festival day" she uttered looking serious.
"Yes, but I don't believe her. I know she's definitely lying, that wasn't their first meeting because if it was their first meeting she wouldn't trust him hundred percent" I blatantly said.
"Like seriously?" she scoffed, "Why then did I trust you? And why do you trust me? Yet we were strangers when we met" she said, rendering me speechless. She actually had a point there, we were strangers when we met but in just few hours we had already became friends and even gave each other our trusts.
