Veronica gave her number to Eniola before leaving. The shadows of buildings outside lengthened across the road. The ceiling lights cast a warm glow over the lobby. The vent let out a low hum in the background.
Everything felt oddly peaceful, something Veronica would have appreciated if not for the pest at the front desk.
"Ma'am." Veronica said, putting on her best customer service smile. "I checked through the records but you don't have a reservation."
The person in question, a half demon woman with blonde hair. Her eyes, full of disregard, scanned Veronica from head to toe. "I do have a reservation. Check well, it's right there. Honestly go get yourself some glasses."
Veronica's smile became strained. Her finger tapped on the left key of the mouse, eyes scanning the guest list. She looked at the woman, still wearing her smile though it looked more like a grimace.
"Ma'am. The list shows you clearly don't have a reservation, how about you make one instead."
The woman scoffed. "Are you serious right now ? What kind of receptionist are you ?"
"The kind that is about to rip your hair out and strangle you with your shawl, if you don't get out." Of course this was a thought, she dared not say it out loud.
The woman was about to say something when another voice spoke. "What's going on here ?"
The colours drained from her face, taking a step back when her eyes met with a pair of bottomless green eyes.
"Y–you... know... what." She gulped, stepping away from the front desk. "I... I think I would just leave. I believe I made a mistake, I..."
She mumbled something incoherent before dashing through the entrance doors. Veronica smirked, watching her go.
"MJ, you're a lifesaver. You saved me from making her dangle like a church bell."
MJ settled down on her chair. "But really what happened ? I simply wanted to know and she just left."
Veronica waved dismissively, a mocking smile spread slowly across her face. "Oh, she's just some fraud who thought she could waltz her way through me."
MJ nodded. "Ah I see. This isn't the first time, a lot have done this before. I guess they thought I was easy because of my attitude."
Veronica spun a pen between her fingers. "So, how did you handle it ? I'm guessing you were just flashing your guns ?"
MJ shook her head. "No, most times either Diana or Jared helped me out, mostly Diana." She paused. "But there were times I thought of shoving their heads into a fountain. Of course I never did that, we don't act on our intrusive thoughts."
"Ri... Right."
The day went on as usual for them. By the time their shift ended, they settled in their room waiting for the hotel to settle into its usual nocturnal rhythm
"How come the announcement came earlier today ? Last time it was by 11:30p.m. now it came by 11:00p.m." Veronica asked.
MJ rubbed her towel on her wet hair. "That's because some days ago, a guest almost got caught up in the Hotel midnight issues. Luckily Daisuke saved them just in time, this led to the change in time."
Veronica furrowed her brows. "How come I didn't hear of this ?"
"You guys were still investigating so you didn't have time to hear about it in person." MJ flopped face flat onto the bed. "Besides, it had already been sent on the group chat ?"
"Group chat ?"
"You're not on it ?"
"Nope."
MJ pressed her face against the pillow. "There's a work group chat for us. You can give your number to Diana, she'll add you."
Silence covered the room like a blanket. Veronica kicked her feet in air, her pen moving across the pages of her journal. MJ laid still for a while, she lifted her face—her eyes slid to Veronica.
"I'm sorry."
Her hand stilled. "What ?''
"I said I'm sorry." MJ repeated, pushing herself off the bed. "I'm sorry for abandoning you there. I didn't—"
"Stop." Veronica set her journal beside her, eyes softening. "Don't apologize. It's not your fault, If I wasn't such a wuss, we could have escaped together."
MJ jerked, hands gripping the edge of the bed. "You weren't a wuss Vero. I understood your fear at that time."
Veronica shook her head, gaze dropped to her hands. "No I was, you were braver than me. If I had just...." She shook her head, trying to push back her words.
"No, that doesn't matter. What matters is that we are no more there anymore." She looked at MJ and smiled. "Let's focus on our present rather than the past."
A soft smile crept on MJ's face. "Yes. Let's do that."
The sun beams passed through the windows, illuminating the hotel with a warm, golden glow. Birds' chirping could be heard at nearby trees. Veronica sat at the front desk, checking out the new group chat Eniola made. She could see a few messages already.
Eniola: I hope we're all okay.
Jared: Change it.
Eniola: what ?
Jared: The group name. What the hell is "Sherlocks on a budget"
Eniola: so ? I don't care. Take it or leave it cause I like it. Besides it's just a name.
Jared: You could have named it anything else. Why that ?
Amare: Jared, It's fine. You know how Eniola is, arguing with her right now is like talking to a brick wall, more of a cemented wall.
Eniola: Thank you.
Amare: It wasn't a compliment.
Eniola: I'll take it as one.
Veronica let out a soft chuckle and shook her head.
MJ glanced at her "What's that ?"
"it's just the group chat Eniola made for us. This makes it easier to discuss more things with Aisha."
"Who's that ?"
Veronica narrated everything that happened yesterday to MJ who nodded along. Once she was done talking, she looked at her phone to see Aisha has entered the chat.
Aisha: Good morning everyone.
Veronica: Good morning.
Aisha: I hope everyone is online ?
Amare: well, we haven't heard from Zuri, so...
Zuri: Ah good morning. Sorry I was dealing with a guest earlier.
Aisha: Okay, that's fine. My parents and sibling are out of the house. I can finally start investigation.
Aisha: I want you all to follow along. I need to be quick because they won't be out for long. Is that clear ?
Jared: Yes it is.
Eniola: First of all, can you search for the black card ?
Aisha: I'll try, I think I know where my brother would have kept that. Hold on.
Zuri: Okay.
A guest approached the front desk. Veronica helped MJ in attending to them. She checked her phone again once she was done, no new messages. She sighed and placed it down.
"Everything okay ?" MJ asked.
"Yeah, Aisha is currently looking for the card." She paused, elbows resting on the desk, fingers interlaced. "I still can't help but worry especially when she said her family won't be out for long."
MJ picked up a pen and slid it beneath her fingernails. "In that case, it's better to find the most important stuff.''
Veronica glanced at her phone again and saw a notification from the group chat. She clicked on it.
Eniola: Have you found anything yet ?
Aisha: No, I'm still looking.
Amare: Okay.
Aisha: I'm sorry, I would have loved to be fast about this.
Zuri: Hey, no need to apologize. Try to clear your mind, panicking won't do you any good.
Veronica: She's right. Try searching in less plausible places, those sound like the perfect hiding spots.
Jared: You know what ? Let's let her concentrate. No one should send any message until she has sent one.
Veronica set her phone aside, placing her cheek on the desk. MJ glanced at her every now and then.
"You're staring." She stated.
Veronica shifted in her seat, rolling her shoulders to the back. She reached out for the computer near MJ. "What do you need me to do ?"
"Go to the mail app. Click on the complaints section, sort out what has been handled and what hasn't."
She gave a thumbs up, her other hand rested on the palm rest as a finger slid across the trackpad. The lobby was quiet again, only the sound of keys being pressed could be heard. Her finger tapped on her knee at a continuous rhythm.
"Hey MJ."
"Yes ?"
Veronica rubbed the back of her neck. "Whenever I'm not around, how do you manage to keep up with all the work."
MJ's eyes didn't leave the screen. "Oh, if that's what you're worried about, then don't. I'm capable of handling somethings myself and I also get help from others."
She finally met her gaze. "We're not the only ones who usually handle front desk activities."
Veronica leaned forward. "Really ? Who else—"
A ding sound Interrupted her, she turned, eyes dropped to her side. It was her phone which showed a new notification. She grabbed it, fingers tapping the screen eagerly. Her eyes crinkled at the sides.
Aisha: Guys, I've found it.
Veronica: That's good news.
Aisha: Yeah. Thanks to what you said about checking less plausible places.
Eniola: Excellent. Wait, what about your family ? They're going to notice the missing card.
Amare: yes that's true, how come we didn't think of that.
Zuri: It's fine, I guess we were too caught up in solving the case as soon as possible.
Aisha: That's fine, I already have a plan for that. No need to worry.
Eniola: You're sure you don't need help ? You can just tell one of us to come over by giving directions.
Aisha: No, it's fine. As I said before it's safer if I do this myself. I received a text from my mom saying they'll soon be home.
Aisha: It's too risky to bring anyone over, I won't be able to hide you on time. The last thing we want is them discovering you before we set an ambush.
Amare: You're right. Let's focus on the most important things. Since you have the card, how about you find that grimoire ?
Aisha: I'll do that.
Eniola: Where's Jared ?
Zuri: He's running some errands for me
Eniola: Him running errands ? You better go check up on him, he might be doing the exact opposite.
Zuri: ha ha, you're right about that.
Zuri slipped her phone into her pocket. She had just finished checking the protective wards on the fifth floor with the help of Sara, a ghost helper.
She dusted her knees and slid the back of her hand across her forehead. "Good, all done. Thank you Sara."
Sara hovered near her. "No problem Zuri. Anytime."
Zuri crossed her arms, lips pressing into a thin line. "Though I can't help but worry about what Eniola said."
Sara tilted her head. "What's that ?"
"She said I should confirm Jared has done what I told him"
Sara placed her hands on her waist. "She's right. That dawdler is probably lurking in the hallway like some malnourished bat."
They walked along the hallway, greeting some guests before entering the elevator. It took them to the fourth floor, as soon as they stepped out of the elevator, they ran into him.
His eyes widened. "Zu...Zuri." his voice cracked on the last syllable.
Zuri smiled softly. "Yes Jared, it's me. Have you done what I asked you ?"
He wore a wry smile. "What you asked me ?"
She clasped her hands. "I'm referring to the files I asked you to sort."
Jared snapped his fingers. "Ohh that." He waved a dismissive hand. "I will do that later, it's not that urgent."
Zuri heaved a sigh. "I get what you mean but still you should have sorted those files earlier, why wait till now ?"
He wore a half cocked smirk, his hand reached out to pat her shoulder. "Relax Zuri. As I said, it wasn't that urgent which was why I decided to do it later. It won't be a problem after all—"
"Oh...my GOD." Sara bellowed. "Hey have you ever thought the files might be important later ? What are you gonna do last minute ?"
His eyes flickered to her. "I can work under pressure. I said I will do it later not at the last minute... which has hardly ever happened."
Sara's form flickered. "That's not the point YOU OVERGROWN MOSQUITO !"
Their voices climbed on top of each other. Zuri was completely overshadowed, her eyes darted between them wondering who to stop first.
Her hands gripped her hair. "No no no, the last thing I want is conflict. Honestly I wish I could tell him to do it already, oh no Sara's form keeps flickering. If only... No now isn't the time for my feelings—I need to stop them."
Just as Sara was about to form a retort, Zuri stepped in between them.
"ENOUGH !" She bellowed. They were both shocked; neither of them had ever heard her raise her voice before.
Zuri faltered, realizing the tone of her voice.
"So sorry about that...ehrm." She fiddled with her fingers, gaze dropping to the floor.
"Jared, You're right. You really are competent and I trust you to sort the files soon."
Her attention shifted to Sara. "Sara, it's fine. I understand your frustration but Jared will definitely do it, just trust him this once."
Sara interrupted her with a sigh. "it's fine Zuri. Are you sure you're okay ?"
Zuri was silent for a while, her fist clenched by her side before slowly loosening it.
"Yep, I'm totally fine... anyways Jared check your phone. Aisha found the card, she plans on looking for the grimoire."
"Wait really !" He took out his phone, thumb swiping across the screen. "I was busy checking the protective wards on this floor that I didn't notice."
Sara rolled her eyes. "Sure you were."
Zuri watched Jared scroll through his phone, the glow reflecting faintly in his eyes. She noticed the change in his expression when a new message popped up.
"Zuri, check the group chat."
She did as she was told. Her hands trembled slightly, brows twitched upwards. "Oh no." She mutters.
Aisha: Guys ! I couldn't find the grimoire and they're back.
Veronica: Wait, what !? what happened ?
Aisha: I don't know, I really don't know. I was pretty sure of where it was and now it's no longer there.
Aisha: I can't even search other places because I'll look suspicious. I'm completely lost at this point.
Eniola: Calm down, we understand your stress. You're gonna look more suspicious if you're panicked.
Zuri: She's right. Please take a breather.
Aisha: ok, I'll do that. But what do we do now ?
Jared: let's focus on how we're gonna ambush your family.
Amare: I agree. Once that's successful we're going to get the grimoire as well.
Veronica: besides you have the card, wait, is the card still going to be useful ? Yk since we know the culprit.
Eniola: Yes. It will be easier to know what kind of memory stealing magic was used and how to reverse it.
Zuri: Aisha tell us how your family inner workings are.
Aisha: Ah yes. My parents and are usually home. My brother usually goes to work, I don't know what he does since I never bothered to ask.
Aisha: Lately they've been spending a lot of time at home especially on Saturdays. There's a particular room they never let me enter.
Jared: The grimoire could be there, yes ?
Aisha: I wasn't able to check the room on time. Though I did manage to get a glimpse of it, nothing out of the ordinary.
Veronica: That sounds like the kind of room that hides the a lot.
Amare: I see. Let's focus on how we're going to capture them.
Aisha: It won't be easy, there's a lot of protective wards.
Eniola: In that case we just need to break them right ?
Aisha: Yes but that will just alert them and give them the upper hand.
Aisha: I need to lower their guard, make them lessen the effect of the wards. This makes it easier to not get noticed on time.
Zuri: Are you sure you can do that on time ? You did say your family doesn't consider you as one of them (sorry if that sounded rude).
Zuri: Protective wards are usually anchored to a vessel, either walls, crystals, liquids or painted sigils. We need to destroy the vessel.
Eniola: That's true. Ways to break through wards are: destroying the vessel, starving the energy source, exploiting loopholes and countering the ward with an opposite force.
Veronica: we can use those when we know what kind of ward we're dealing with.
Aisha: From what I've seen, the wards are psychic alarms and they're magic circles on walls which releases vines to trap the intruder.
Aisha: as for the energy source, it comes from this crystal ball in another room where there's other magical artifacts.
Jared: ah okay. We can find a loophole around that.
Aisha: or there's no need for that, I just remembered my brother's birthday is in four days time. On that day they'll lessen the protective wards to let people in without issues.
Aisha: I can just cut off the energy source. Well, not exactly cut off but I can block it. This way you all can intrude without doing anything sus or getting noticed.
Eniola: Ahh, that's a brilliant idea. Don't y'all agree ?
Zuri: Yes, that can actually work.
Amare: Yes.
Veronica: absolutely, though how are you going to block it ? Won't you need a lot of magical properties for that ?
Aisha: you're not wrong but I can do it. There's a sigil I can use that will help me out. Listen you all, that sigil will only work temporarily so you have to get in as quickly as possible. Though it will give you enough time to break in.
Jared: ok, on that day you just have to communicate to us through this chat.
Aisha: of course, what else will I use.
Veronica: so we just have to wait for that day ?
Aisha: yes, you can prepare for it in the meantime. I can send you pictures of the house and tell you the ward places they're going to deactivate.
Aisha: I won't be able to meet you till that day but I will keep sending updates.
Aisha: ok then, I guess that's all for today. Until tomorrow right ?
Eniola: yeah, until tomorrow.
"Guessing by the smile on your face, I believe that you've found a way to catch the culprits." MJ said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Veronica set her phone aside, turning to her with a grin on her face. "Yes we have."