"Can you wait outside please?" the policeman said. Mo looked at her. Only when she agreed, did he leave. Some of her nerves dissipated at his small concern. Lock had said she needed familiarity around her and Mo had taken note. Aria watched as he left. Sia really had a good man beside her.
"We heard what happened. Are you alright?"
Aria pulled her attention back to the police woman, "I am fine."
"You don't seem very scared."
Aria smiled uneasily. She knew they knew. They knew she knew what they were talking about. Going in circles was no point.
Aria pulled herself straighter with her hands. The small movement made her head heavy. "Let's be frank officers. What do you want to ask?"
The woman agreeably opened her notepad, "did you know Sia before this?"
"No." Aria's heart dropped. She knew where this was going.
"Why did you agree to take her place?"
"It wasn't my idea. It was hers. I still haven't agreed to it for more than the hospital stay."
The man said, "can Miss Sia confirm this?"
Aria nodded, slightly tired.
"Have you seen the driver, or Mr. Mirage, or anyone from their family before?"
Aria shook her head, "I don't suppose."
The woman leaned forward, "who do you think tried to poison your food?"
Aria shook her head, "Sia might have more idea than me. I simply saw the nurse using an injection material that she didn't give me but it was empty when she left."
The guy went around her and sat on the other side. The two police partners faced each other, flanking her. Half of her body felt uneasy. She tried not to shift away from him. She had to hold under their pressure, under the intimidation. The policeman asked, "When was the last time you checked in with the officer?"
"Last month on the assigned date of 10th." she answered swiftly, not looking at him.
"Do I make you nervous?" he asked.
"Yes." Aria answered honestly.
"Why?"
She finally looked at him, "you are a guy and you are sitting uncomfortably close."
Aria was prepared for his next question, "I am just as uncomfortable with Mohan Mirage. Thankfully, he has the sense to take that seat instead of this one."
The man smiled slightly. "Fierce one. Aren't you? Did you injure any of the two men there?"
Aria shook her head. "All I could think about was running away."
"Why didn't you run away that night?"
"You should have read the police report before coming. Thank you for your help. I will not be taking anymore questions from you. You can step out as well."
The man pushed off from the stool and apologised. "Sorry. We just had to make sure, it was not your doing."
Aria knew but her heart twisted in annoyance. "I am just trying to get through college here."
The police woman asked, "is it possible that there is a connection with one of your clients?"
Aria shrugged, "I am not sure if there is."
The policeman was far away from her now. "It is rare to see someone who has been through what you have been through and still have the courage to pick up their life. Sorry for earlier."
Aria scowled, "I understand but it was no less annoying."
The guy's effort to salvage the situation was not working. She really didn't want to answer any more questions. If they really took her to prison again. She might be safer there.
The man apologetically ducked out of the room. Aria gritted her teeth. The woman said, "do you know anyone who might want to harm you?"
Aria snorted. Did they think she didn't know how police procedures worked? Or did they think she had cooperated earlier so they could pressure her into cooperating again. "Maybe, maybe not. It's your job anyway."
The woman could sense she was going to be uncooperative even after her parter stepped out.
She tried one last time, "at the time you got sentenced because Mr Reyan did not show up for his testimony. You didn't pursue him after your release."
Aria didn't want to answer. She really wanted to send these useless police people back without any progress. She really did. But the sudden question of Reyan caught her off guard. She laid back and closed her eyes. She knew Reyan wasn't at fault. No matter how much she hated him, Reyan wasn't at fault. Even though she couldn't let go of the past, it wasn't his fault.
"I didn't. I already know why he didn't come. He came and explained it to me. He later submitted his statement and overturned my case."
"You mean to say, he is the reason you were released?"
Aria nodded begrudgingly.
The woman didn't leave. Didn't speak. Aria stubbornly didn't open her eyes.
"None of your files say that."
"Yeah. He didn't want it on the record."
"Why?"
Aria shrugged. "No idea."
"Do you know Mr. Reyan is Mr. Mohan Mirage's younger cousin?"
Aria's eyes flew open.
"What?"
The police woman was studying her reaction. That was the first thing she noticed. Apparently satisfied with what she saw, she said, "we initially thought there was a possibility of a grudge between you and him but since there isn't, we won't pursue this line of investigation with you."
Aria opened her mouth but neither thanks, not shock was fully formed in her mind or words. The thing she could say was, "Reyan doesn't use the surname Mirage."
"That's his mother's surname. Though he has been brought up with the Mirage siblings."
Aria didn't know what to say, except, "I didn't know."
The police woman closed her notepad and stood up. "I apologise on behalf of my partner. Rest assured, we are looking into the nurse and will get back to you. Meanwhile, we suggest you hire a private nurse or transfer to another hospital."
Aria nodded absently. She didn't take the advice to heart. What private nurse couldn't be bought off and or what hospital was safe if this one wasn't. Moreover she couldn't ask this of Mo and Sia, nor did she have the money herself.
Once Mo came back inside, Aria watched him closely. Reyan and Mo looked nothing alike. Though both were steady and responsible. Reyan had big glasses and an angular face while Mo's face was narrowed, more elongated. Reyan was studious when she knew him while Mo looked the athletic kind.
Mo asked, "what is it?"
Aria shook her head, "did the police say something to you?"
Mo looked around, "they asked me to shift you to another hospital but I think it would be useless."
Aria agreed. "So what now?"
Mo looked at her long and hard, as if contemplating weather to speak or not. Aria asked, "you have a plan?"
"The police said, even if they take the nurse, there might be others. We might need to set a trap for the driver."
Aria understood. She didn't respond. She was really beginning to hate the police that was handling the case. They didn't want Sia to be bait. They wanted her, to pretend to be Sia, and be bait. Afterall, she had done it before. She could handle it better. She had been through worse. And still, she hated the idea.
"We will not do it." Mo said.
Aria thoughts broke. "Why?"
Mo shook his head, voice rising with every word. "Do you know how dangerous it is? We are not doing it. If all police use victims as bait to catch the killers, why would we need the police at all. Everyone would do it themselves."
Aria blinked. A small knot untied in her chest. "I don't want to either."
Mo smiled slightly. "Good."
She wanted ask him about Reyan. But bringing up Reyan meant bringing up things she couldn't bring herself to discuss. In the end, she asked, "you have siblings?"
Mo had taken a seat far off. "Yeah."
"What are they like?"
Mo shrugged. "We used to fight a lot. But since a few years, we have all gotten closer. What about you?"
"Just Lock and Ke."
"They are not your real siblings."
Aria smiled, "close enough."
Mo grinned suggestively, "they really care for you. Both Lock and Ke."
Aria groaned, "why is everyone out to annoy me today? Go get me something to eat. I am hungry."
"But really…"
"Shut up."
Mo laughed. His laugh was deeper than his voice. Another knot untied in her chest.
When Aria woke up to the soft whispers of Mo over the phone. "That's great," she didn't open her eyes.
"When is it?"
"Tell me when you need to transfer the all the canvases. I will help you."
And so on and so forth, Mo kept talking on the phone. When she opened her eyes, his back was to her. The food was half open, half closed to the side.
"I will drop by tomorrow."
"It will be hard for her to come by. She had a small accident. Nothing to worry about. Hit her head."
"No. No. You don't have to. When she is discharged, we will come by. Alright?"
"Listen to me for once." Mo sounded tired.
"That's not what I mean. Come on Tanvi, you know it. I just worry for you." Mo's voice dropped lower when he turned to check on her. Aria closed her eyes.
"Alright. Alright. Then, let me come and pick you up."
Aria didn't want to listen anymore but they continued to chat.
"How about tomorrow?"
"Sure. We can go out and catch a movie or go to the stores or something, after."
"Sure. That'll do."
"How is your course hunting going?"
"Well, if you need any help from me…"
"Ah. Okay. Sure."
Aria wished they'd just end the call. The more she heard the more uneasy she felt.
The sister Reyan was trying to hire her for was also Mo's sister. That simple fact alone made her uneasy. She had turned down Reyan vehemently. She shouldn't have. Looked around and found her phone. She pulled up an old chat and texted a friend.
"Know someone who wants to hire a female bodyguard. Do you have time?"
When she put her phone away, she wondered if she was inviting trouble onto herself. Regardless, she had already asked. She out her phone away and found Mo had turned around and pointed at the phone, pointing outside.
When he stepped out. Aria got off her bed, slightly sluggish, her legs numb somewhat. She picked up the bland food and took it to the bed.
She was midway through eating when Mo came back in, "did I wake you?"
"I was hungry. Thanks for this."
Mo sat far off and asked, "Lock said your mother runs an NGO, right?"
Aria didn't want to look at him.
"You want some help?"
"Yea. Wanted to refer someone."
As much as Aria didn't want others to know about her past, he didn't want her to know about his sister either. Aria finally looked up and met his eyes. "I will give you her number. You can talk to her directly."
Mo paused, wondering if she had guessed or how much she had heard. In the end, Mo nodded. Aria wanted to say more but words didn't form. She wanted to say there was no shame. Wanted to say that his sister was lucky. She was lucky. Not all women were that lucky. She wanted to say more but in the end, she said nothing.
She picked up her phone, scrolled through the contact list and passed it to Mo.
When Mo took her phone, she wondered if his hands were cold or warm? His fingers were careful not to brush against her. She felt slightly disappointed and slightly touched. She was sure, he had noticed. How long until he guesses or finds out?
She knew she had to be mentally prepared. If she was going to hang around Sia and Mo long enough, they will find out sooner or later.