Here we go for the chapter 7 !


It was 6:00 PM now. Ib was always resting in my arms, rolled in my blue coat, which I had pick up a few minutes ago to keep her warm. Her mother told me a lot about Ib. It was difficult for her to make friends at school, because of her red eyes. Actually I was nearly her only real friend since she was born. I asked myself what was the problem with her eyes. Okay it was uncommon, but also way more beautiful than anything, and gave her a warm look. I loved her eyes. Actually, I loved Ib as a sister. She was very mature compared to the other children of her age. I was in a hurry to take her to school tomorrow, and see what she had to bear everyday. But I couldn't feel bad for her and see her peaceful face at the same time. I was happy. Her mother came back to us, trying to hide her sadness.

"Is everything okay, Mrs Jordon ?"

"Everything is arranged, the funeral is in 3 days. I'll have to go for some shopping with Ib quickly..."

"I understand. 3 days, huh ? That's Wednesday. I'll have to ask my boss for a day off."

"I don't want to involve you in this, Garry... we'll be okay.", she said, joining her hands. Who could believe this... but I had a good reason to go with them.

"I'm afraid I have to inlay, I must tell him that everything will be alright." She smiled and came behind me, taking my head with her hands and kissing my forehead.

"You really wear your heart on your sleeve, Garry, you're a so nice person."

"You're too kind, Mrs Jordon..." We giggled together, making Ib woken up, looking everywhere with her cute half opened eyes, and smiling at me. I began to re-comb her hair, asking :

"Do you feel hungry, sweetheart ?" She nodded twice and began to rub her eyes. I stood her on the floor in front of me, and continued : "Are you ready to taste some macaroons ?" A big grin appeared on her face, she joined her hands and started to jump.

"Yes, yes, yes !" I got up, put up my coat and looked at her mother, smiling.

"That's when you want !" She got up too, took her handbag and went to the door, opening it and taking her jacket on the coathanger.

"There we go !"

"Garry, hurry up, please !" Ib was pulling my left hand, impatient to return at the Merill. She stopped in front of the door, to let me make the first step outside. As I told her "You can come" with a sign of hand, she jumped on me, wide opened arms. I carried her under her arms and turned around before let her go back on the floor. She giggled and took my left hand, and after her mother locked the door of the house, she took her right hand, and we started walking.


Zodiak's PoV

I raised a little bit my left sleeve to look at my watch. It was already 6:30 PM, it seems that I had an absence. "That didn't look like me to take a rest on a roof like that...", I told myself. I stood up, scratched the back of my head and leaned forward to check if the street was safe. At that moment, I heard a little girl laughing. It was them, Garry and his sister, maybe with their mother too. As they entered inside the Merill, I jumped in a dead end next to the café, and watched the scene.


Garry's PoV

"Garry ! We were worrying about you, what's up ? Who are your friends ?" Mrs Amber was a smiling woman around 40 years old, she was very kind to her customers, especially me, because I came here at least once a week. She was smaller than me but was always gorgeous. Her long brown hair were curled, she had sky blue eyes and her skin was tan. We couldn't see it on our side of the counter but I know she was wearing her usual cream-colored dress. I was going to introduce her but... yeah, as usual, Ib had to talk.

"I'm not friend with Garry, I'm his sister from now on !", Ib said, hugging me. Her mother laughed and started to walk in front of Mrs Amber, raising her hand for a handshake.

"I'm Ashley Jordon, and here is Ib, my daughter. Nice to meet you."

"Judith Amber, nice to meet you too. You and your girl seem to be very close to Garry !" Mrs Amber looked at me and Ib, who decided to hide her face behind me, blushing. I giggled and knelt down in front of her, my hand caressing her cheek.

"Don't be shy, Ib, say hello to Mrs Amber." Ib ran in front of the counter and started to shake her body from left to right, her hands together.

"Hello Mrs Amber."

"Ow... you're the cutest girl I have ever seen since I have open this café, you know ?", she said, carrying her head with both her hands. Ib giggled and ran back at me, taking my hand to hide her red face.

"What's your bond with Garry, Mrs Jordon ?", she asked, smiling.

"It's a little bit fuzzy because of the recent events, I think Garry should explain you later."

"I see. Don't you dare forgetting anything, okay ?" Mrs Amber made me an angry look and pointed at me. I chuckled and answered, shaking my hands as to say no :

"I won't, Mrs Amber."

"Good. So, how can I be useful to you ?" She crossed her arms on the counter, and looked Mrs Jordon in her eyes. I helped her to choose her command while Ib visited the place with her eyes.


Ib's PoV

While Mom and Garry were speaking with Mrs Amber, I took Garry's hand and turned toward the door, to observe the café. It was a pretty place, and bigger than I thought. The roof and the floor were made of dark wooden planks, the same color we had at home. On the floor there was just a red carpet, covering the floor between the door and the counter. On the white wall at my right were paintings of baskets of fruits separated by pink lights. The fruits looked like real ones, it was amazing ! Those paintings were also on the wall on the opposite side. Behind Mrs Amber was a big furniture with a lot of bottles, and another door on the left, half opened. I could see stairs behind it. I was sure it was Mrs Amber's home.

When I looked back at the entrance, I saw something outside the café, through the pink curtains. When I realized it was a man looking at us, I squeezed Garry's hand harder, looked at him and pulled his tattered coat with my other hand until he looked at me.

"What is it, Ib ?"

"I saw somebody looking at us from outside..." When I looked again, there was nothing.

"Are you sure, Ib ? There's nobody outside." I wanted to answer Garry but a man interrupted me.

"Maybe because I'm already here." Garry and I screamed when we saw the man sitting on the sofa against the wall. Our scream scared Mom and Mrs Amber, who turned to see the boy. I removed Garry's coat from my head and recognized Zodiak.

"Zodiak ?!", Garry and I said at the same time.


Garry's PoV

Zodiak was sitting there, I don't know how he could enter that fast and discreetly.

"You again ? Why do you keep staying around the Merill ?" Mrs Amber asked to him angrily. It seems that she already knows Zodiak.

"Sorry if I scared you, I didn't want to. I just wanted some... informations."

"Do you know that guy, Garry ?", Ib's mother asked me.

"He's the one who saved your girl earlier."

"I'm not here for some thanks. Garry, I have some questions to ask you.", Zodiak said.

"What do you want to know ?" He got up and started to walk forward. Ib hid herself in my coat again, and I was a little bit scared by his appearance. He checked his pocket and found out a piece of paper. When he stretched it to me, I took it.

"Private investigation. Bye." And he disappeared. I blew a sigh of relief before opening my coat, and put the paper in the pocket of my pants. Ib showed herself again, as Mrs Amber said :

"I wonder who is this guy, sometimes. He's scary but everything I heard about him was good."

"What did he give to you, Garry ?" Mrs Jordon was holding my arm, worried.

"Just a piece of paper, I'll see what it is when we're back home. Never mind that guy, we are here to spend a good time together !" I was glad to see them smiling again. We took the bag of macaroons, sat on the sofa together, Ib just in front of me, and started to eat.


To be continued...