Jonathan's POV
I was reviewing the file a third time around.
Still there was nothing new.
And that was a major problem.
Nothing new, meant we're on square one regarding Clara.
Daniel was also with me over at my office.
Daniel did ask me if Imelda found out he was here…
Now…
I cared a damn about what she thought.
If I had done this before…
I wonder if Veronica would still be here with me.
After losing Veronica and Janet, I didn't care what she did.
Daniel was standing behind me as I was going through the file.
"Run it again," he said.
"We already did…three times." I said.
"I'm sure we missed something, run again," he said leaning over.
I didn't argue. I scrolled back, my fingers moved faster than they ever did.
"What are you looking for?"
I said scrolling back and forth.
"We missed something," he said leaning over.
"What?" I said taking a closer look at the content in the file in front of me.
"Clara," he trailed off.
"Had this thing about her work."
"Remember, I said she had honors in law,"
He paused.
"I called it her habit. She always wrote things with loopholes."
"These files are made by her," he said.
"There should be loopholes," he continued. "So, we might miss something that may be in clear sight."
"Hey, why'd you stop?" Daniel asked.
"There." I said pointing to a name.
"Yeah," he said. "You got a name, so?"
"Jonathan, aren't we looking for clues to find Clara?"
"Can't you see?" I said looking at him.
"Show me then," he said.
"We're looking for Clara,"
I paused as I scrolled a little down.
"Look, different identities. Different records."
"Clean names, clean records."
"Enough to pass."
"But enough to totally disappear from her own created system."
"What do you mean?"
"Clara created this system to keep a record for herself," I said.
"To prove herself," I continued.
"Only Imelda's connections backfired on her."
"But even if she's left Imelda, or rather abandoned by her, she still lives in her system."
"So she wasn't just using it, she created it, and now even if she wants to escape, she can't," Daniel said.
""Because her system keeps tabs on her," I said.
"You saw this earlier," he said. "Didn't you?"
"I did," I said. "But I wanted to be certain before I said something.
He exhaled.
Though it's only been a few months since we both met, it feels like we knew each other way before.
"You always wait for me to point out," I said.
"Well, you have the ability to read people and find these loopholes." Daniel said, smiling.
"But…" Daniel trailed off.
"What?" I asked.
"I don't get this point," he said leaning over.
"The case is closed, right?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "Four years ago. Why?"
"If the case is closed, that means she should be on the safe side as I was the one who took the fall."
"And…what are you getting at?" I asked.
"Different names, different records," he said. "Why? Why is she hiding if the case is closed?"
"Are you saying Clara is hiding from the law?"
"Yes," Daniel said, walking over to his chair.
"Daniel, she's not hiding from the law."
"If not, then why—"
I cut his words midway.
"She is hiding from something or someone."
"It's clear the case is closed, and she was not implicated."
"So, it's not the police," I said.
"Could she have something against Imelda?" Daniel asked.
"Daniel," I said pointing to the screen. "She could, and if she does, and Imelda knows…she won't let her live."
"It's not going to be easy to find her."
"What? Why?" he said. "If the system is following her, then—"
I cut his words midway.
"Daniel, her cash flow is inconsistent. It's too small to track."
"She jumps places like a frog in hot water."
"All stays are short-term," I said. "She doesn't stay anywhere long enough to be tracked."
"Long-term no use of phone, unless she uses public phones."
"What is she up to?" Daniel said, worry laced in his voice.
I straightened slightly.
"She's adjusting to her new life."
"What?"
"It's crystal clear," I said. "She is adjusting to life as a runner."
"She's running from the police."
"The case is closed," I said, continuing. "Imelda called the case off, when you stepped back."
"Yes," Daniel said. "Everything was ruined. No reason to hold on."
"But…"
I trailed off.
"It seems Imelda knew if Clara was found, she would lay her cards on the table."
"Proving Imelda is the master-mind," I continued.
"So, Imelda made sure she never came out."
"Four years," Daniel said, sighing. "She's been on the run for four years."
"Well, bad always has its way to make you pay, she got her check."
"Looks like she's been on the run ever since." I said leaning back.
"She disappeared right after I backed off," Daniel said.
"But," Daniel says with pinched eyebrows.
"I don't get it," he continued. "Even if Veronica isn't in the records. And what you said about them taking her name would only implicate them—"
Daniel had the right to talk about Veronica as she was the delivery person involved in the stealing of his designs.
But, unlike Clara, she wasn't in it with a motive.
She was forced.
So, taking her name would make me angry.
"I mean, she was the one delivering," Daniel said. "Even if she disappeared after four years–"
I cut his words.
"Veronica's matter is different."
"You don't have to bring her into this," I said in a tone that was enough for him to understand.
I said leaning back.
"She has no record anywhere to link her to this case."
"Only the clients, and officials," I continued. "Can recognize and if they do, they'll be implicated as well."
"As for why she left," my voice was low. "It's her personal matter. I won't say it has nothing to do with Imelda, but this case is not the reason."
"Different situations," he said. "huh."
He didn't push any further.
I also let out a sigh of relief.
I wanted the same…
For now at least.
As this has nothing to do with her.
If there is any connection, it's me.
"Okay," I said, straightening up.
"Let's get back."
"She's rotating everything."
I said continuing.
"Her work. Her stay. Her cell number."
"Places. Work. People."
"All that can tag back to her."
I paused.
"Nothing overlaps long enough to track her."
Daniel let out a small hearty laugh.
"Looks like she learned a lot over the years."
"She sure did," I said.
"But," Daniel said leaning forward.
"Clara is different. She's the type…if she's panicked…she makes mistakes."
It's a fact.
Panic leaves fingerprints behind.
Fear on the other hand causes mistakes.
But hers ..
It was a discipline.
I studied the screen again.
I glanced at him.
Then…
I turned the screen towards him.
"This isn't random," Daniel said.
I glanced at him.
"People who panic repeat mistakes."
He turned the screen slightly toward me.
"She doesn't."
I studied the files again.
"What are you getting at?"
He sighed and leaned forward.
That's when I realized it.
Everything about her…
It was controlled.
It was carefully measured.
Built around her.
"She made it sustainable enough," I said.
Daniel nodded.
"Enough for her to last this long."
"Look," he said, leaning forward.
"The last three entries," he said.
"Same city, same locations, almost."
"Looks like she's slowing down," I said.
"Maybe she's tired." Daniel said.
I didn't reply or react.
Cause I knew that as well.
"But, I'm not sure it's her," Daniel said leaning back.
"After all," he said. "There's no specific name or record."
"Yes," I said exhaling.
"We're back at square—"
"We're not," I said, holding my gaze at the screen.
"Here," I said as I pulled up some of her last three name signatures.
I zoomed in on them.
I let out a small pathetic laughter.
It was barely visible.
But consistent.
Once could be a coincidence.
Twice…a mistake or a deliberate pattern.
Third time…it's a habit
"The last stroke in her name Clara is curved slightly upward," I said.
"Her last three names," I said, continuing. "Have the same incline."
"It's not necessary."
"It's not intentional."
"It's her habit while signing her name, no matter which one."
"These…" I trailed off a bit.
"It's her," Daniel didn't argue.
"It's Clara."
"Then what are we waiting for?" He asked me to get up.
"Who do we get to—"
I cut his words again.
"Daniel," I said in a stern voice.
"We can't hire anyone," I said.
"I'm sure you don't want to cause any problems for her."
He looked at me with a tilted look.
"Daniel, having someone else involved might put her on the radar," I said.
"No, we have to do this personally."
"If so," he said. "What are we waiting for?"
"Relax," I said.
"We have three possible places."
"And one moving target." Daniel added.
"Jonathan," Daniel said. "All we have to do is go to the place where she's at now."
"According to her previous records, the longest she stayed was at that avenue." "Her current place is nearing its limit," I said, continuing.
"It will take us at least two days to reach there, by then…"
I trailed off.
"If she follows her plan, she'll leave. And we'll miss her."
"But," Daniel said. "She's shifted to practically every town in the city."
"Now…she can only move out of the city," he said, continuing.
"If she does that—"
I cut his words.
"She won't," I said.
"Four years," I continued. "she's staying back for something. If so, she'll won't leave."
"Now whichever town she moves to, we'll find her."
Clara's POV
I wiped my hands against the apron as I stepped back from serving the customers and went to the backroom.
The cafe was quiet today.
Good for me.
Less people,
Less interaction.
No questions.
No attention.
That's how I have been keeping it for the past four years.
Four years.
No one called me.
Every step I took felt like it was borrowed.
Every face that I saw…seemed to be a risk for me.
No one remembered I was still…alive.
Even my parents disowned me.
And maybe that's best for me.
Even if I'm alive in this world..
No one is concerned about me.
"Clara, time's up. See you tomorrow."
The cafe owner called out.
I smiled back, picked my bag and stepped outside.
I pulled on my hoodie, and walked into the evening crowd.
I kept a low gaze as I didn't want anyone to ask me anything.
Worse…recognize me.
I just wanted to be the other person on the street.
No one should care about walking among them.
And…
I hoped this would stay like this for the rest of my life.
Just another face.
Just another human.
Unnoticed…
At least for now…