Here is is. Now I know I said Percy was a crime scene detective, but I don't think they would be working on the case like this. So for the sake of it being more realistic I changed Percy and Nico's occupations to FBI detectives
I apologize for the spelling errors, my beta is currently spending the summer in Ukraine.
Annabeth's POV
"Can I get a caramel mocha?" I asked the man running the cash register. He looked to be about twenty five. He rang up my order and gave me an appraising look. I cringed internally, accepting the coffee from him.
"Have a nice day," he called after me as I walked away. I could feel his eyes boring into my back as I walked away.
I sat at the table that I generally occupied whenever I came here. My bag made a loud thud as it fell into the chair across from me. I pulled open my laptop and pressed the power button. It fired up with a loud bell noise and I clicked on my google chrome icon. I waited for it to load and looked around the cafe. Most of the tables were empty, but then again it was only seven a.m. in the morning. A lot of people had the weekends off and so did I, but I just couldn't stand the thought of waking up late. There was just too many things in the day to do.
My inbox pinged with a message. I opened the email and looked inside hopefully. Yes! The new draft plan assignment had come in. My architecture teacher had been hinting at giving us a special design project and I had been checking my email constantly for it. I quickly scanned through the requirements and smiled, this was going to be a piece of cake. He only wanted rough designs of the St. Louis Arch. They just had to have included improvements to enhance the arch.
Flipping open my bag I pulled, out a piece of drafting paper and all of my pencils and tools. Growing up with a love of architect meant that paper and pencils were never far away from me.
Taking a sip of my drink, I noticed something on the side. Written in black pen was a phone number. My nose scrunched up in disgust, it's so cheesy, and not to mention annoying, to have that guy write his number there. Like I really want to see his messy handwriting every time I take a sip of my drink.
I carefully placed my cup on the far side of the table as if it were a ticking time bomb. I spent the rest of the time just sketching out my now arch. I was making it have a more sleek look. It was going to be able to light up at night and have some pretty unique lighting techniques.
"There," I sighed I had all of my drafts finished. Now I just needed to go back to my apartment and sketch out all of the final plans. I looked down at my watch, and was taken aback. It was already ten. I had been sitting here for three hours. A sigh left my lips and I began to pack up my things.
To my left I heard someone walking my way, but I didn't pay any attention. That was a big mistake. The person tripped over a messenger bag that someone had left in the isle way. I looked over and saw his undrank coffee spill all over my laptop and my plans.
I gasped shocked. Then the anger set in. I had worked for three hours on those plans and that laptop was a gift from my parents as a going away present. Looking down, I saw a man with black hair looking up at me. I set my eyes into a glare taking all my anger out on him.
His sea green eyes looked up apologetically at me and I softened a bit. It really wasn't his fault if he tripped over the bag. I looked over and law that the coffee was leaking all over my papers.
"Shoot," I hissed and started to frantically wipe up all of the mess.
"I'm so sorry," a deep male voice said, "I guess I wasn't looking where I was going."
"It's fine, and it's not your fault anyway," I insisted for his benefit. The truth was although it may not be his fault it was not fine. My papers were stained and practically ruined. Not to mention my computer was no doubt fried. I started to move my finger frantically around the touchpad. The screen stayed still and black as night.
"I'll buy you a new laptop," He said. His tone was very apologetic and I could tell that he felt bad.
"No it's okay, you don't have to do that," I protested, the guy takes one unlucky tumble and now he had to buy some stranger a new laptop. I just couldn't do that, I knew how it felt to have bad luck like that I mean look at the fried computer in front of me.
"But I just killed your laptop, are you sure? At least let me pay for it to get fixed or pay for some of it." His eyes pleaded with me. I noticed that we were causing somewhat of a scene. I started to pick up the rest of my things and collect all of my soggy papers, some of them seemed legible and not too unreadable, maybe they could be salvageable.
"Really its fine, I needed a new laptop anyway," It wasn't really a lie. Mine was already a couple years old , but it still worked fine and I loved it. Well atleast untill now.
"Great let me buy you a new one then." He really wouldn't give up would he?
"If I say yes will you shut up?" I snapped. His head nodded quickly and he smiled. I grabbed my bag and began to walk out towards the door. I could hear the guy walking behind me.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Annabeth Chase," I offered. I looked down at the mocha cup in my hand and smiled. I looked at the guy behind the counter and threw the cup away. See how he likes that. Apparently he didn't like that because the minute I threw it away a frown appeared on his face. That only made my smile grow wider.
"Aren't you going to tell me your name?" I asked the man who was walking with me.
"Oh yeah right," he blushed, " I'm Percy, Percy Jackson."
"Are you here on vacation?" I asked looking him in the eye, "New Yorkers aren't a very kind or generous race. Especially if they have to pay money," I commented smiling at him.
"No I was born and raised here, but my mom always had a, you wreck it, you fix it,, or you'll be in trouble, motto," Percy explained with a fond expression. Now a guy who was kind and loved his mother that was just about unheard of in New York City.
"What about you," he questioned.
"I've lived here my whole life, and now I'm going to Columbia University" I answered, "But I've got a question, how can I trust you? You're just a stranger, for all I know you could be that creepy guy that's been killing all of those girls and now you're out to get me." I quired. Percy laughed but his sea green eyes darkened.
"Trust me I'm one-hundred percent safe, in fact I'm one of the investigators working in the crime. and we have absolutely no evidence as of right now" Percy admitted his expression still dark.
"Well if you're an investigator them where's your shiny FBI badge," I joked trying to get him to laugh. It worked. He smiled and pulled out his wallet. He flashed it to me like they did in the shows, but then handed it to me. I looked at it, then handed it back.
"Do they give you any of those cool aviator glasses,"
"No, but my partner Nico bought himself a pair a couple months ago. Don't tell anyone this but he wore them every day singing the CSI theme song as he walked into work. Then they mysteriously disappeared though," I laughed.
"Did you take them?"
"No I swear I didn't, though I think it was his girlfriend Thalia. She always glared at those glasses. I'm pretty sure he went to her house and sang that song one too many times." Percy grinned.
"Where are we going," I wondered aloud. Percy blushed.
"Oh I don't know," he rubbed his neck, "do you know any computer places around here?"
"Well I do know one place, but it's generally crowded so we may have to wait a while in a line if that's okay with you."
"Yeah that's fine." I led Percy down to 54th street. He read the sign.
"Best Buy, really Annabeth?" he snorted.
"Hey they have the best selection," I defended, leading him in the store.
Percy's POV
Annabeth was really great. When I first looked into her captivating grey eyes I'd have to admit I was scared. I mean I didn't know if she was gonna hit me or throw a drink in my face. But she really didn't seem all that mad at me for accidentally ruining her work.
I pushed open the metal door to my office and saw Nico fuming.
"Percy why are you so late? Did you happen to know that while you were gone another body was found?" Nico's rage wasn't per say directed at me, but more at the fact that this killer had just murdered another girl and we were still fumbling around in the dark looking for clues.
"Who was she," I asked.
"I have no idea the lab is still running missing person files and DNA samples. All we know is that she is somewhere around twenty two to twenty five and blonde," Nico held his head in his hands and sighed.
My thoughts immediately went to Annabeth. Quickly, I pulled out my phone and called her number. It wrung five times before she picked up.
"Hello,"
"Hey Annabeth it's me Percy-"
"Oh hey Percy what's up?" Nico shot me an odd look.
"Um well I just wanted to make sure that you were safe... we found another body today and I wanted to make sure that you're being extra careful."
"Percy I'm fine you don't need to worry about me," she assured me. Really I did need to worry. The only connection that all of these women shared was going to columbia college. But they all came from different dorm rooms and were following different career paths.
"If you say so, but be very careful and don't talk to strange creepy people," I replied sternly.
"Well then I should probably hang up this phone because you sir fall under the category of strange and creepy," I could practically hear the smirk in her voice. Laughing I responded.
"That's not funny I'm serious,"
"Yeah I'm real sure now I have to get back to class." Annabeth hung up the phone.
"So who's the special lady?" Nico teased.
"She's just someone I met when I accidentally spilled coffee on her laptop," I replied sheepishly.
"Real smooth man, the way to a girl's heart is always through property damage." He chuckled.
"Whatever," I rolled my eyes. I made my way over to my desk to find yet another file. It had pictures of the girl. Her body was bloated from being in the water for so long.
"How much longer can we keep this from the public? I mean they know about two of the murders, but they don't know that they're connected. We can't go on much longer." I shook my head and sighed.
"I don't know Perce, there's already nine dead and that guy could already have more bodies in the water. For all we know he could have already killed a dozen more-"
"No he's killed nine and no one else is going to die. He's going to slip up, and when he does we're going to be there to get him. When you have already gotten away with nine murders and the police aren't even on your trail, you get cocky. They leave clues for the police just to trick them." All we had to do was stop the murdering and wait for the guy to slip up. It didn't seem hard, but at this point the chances seemed slim.
"Well if we're gonna stop him we have to go on any lead we have," Nico said a glint in his eye.
"Nico am I going to regret what we are going to do?"
"Quite possibly, but if you want to catch this guy you'll do it."
"Whatever it takes."
So there is the update. Sorry it took so long I had finals this week and a Darren Criss concert. I will try to have the next update within a week possible two if procrastination is involved. Please review
Field of Lies
