Okay this is the update, a little bit short but hope you like it. And, thanks for the reviews and I'm glad you like/love the story :) I'll try my best to keep your interest in this story. Don't worry I'll make happy ending for everyone :D

I don't own Mendol characters. Just own the OCs and the mistakes. Today is Halloween :D

Chapter 10

She pushed the door open and stepped out. Albert told her to not come out of the room but she wanted to play outside, it was boring inside. She frowned as she saw many people around her. 'Was there a party today? But why everyone was crying?' She shrugged and looked for Albert. But it wasn't easy with her small body. She pushed the adults aside and kept walking. She wanted to play with Andrew but he didn't want to come out of his room. She looked up and finally saw Albert in front of living room door. She ran toward him and grabbed his hand.

"What are you doing here? I told you to wait inside."

He was surprised to see her. He lifted her and held her. "I'm bored. Why are many people here? What are they doing here?"

"You should stay in your room. Let's go, I'll go with you inside."

She mumbled an okay however when he turned around someone called his name. She turned her head and saw one of the maids.

"Master is looking for you. Hurry up."

The maid then turned around. Albert put her down and kneeled before her.

"You can go to your room yourself?"

She nodded her head.

"Smart girl. Wait for me inside, and don't get out. Okay?"

She nodded her head again and saw as he disappeared between people. She turned around and walked toward her playing room but stopped as she saw her aunties. Her father's sisters. She didn't like them actually. Because their smile was like witches in her picture book. They were crying though like the other people around her. She walked toward them.

"Poor Daniel. How could this happen?"

"He's dead now. My poor brother."

She tilted her head and frowned. What's wrong with her father? 'Dead? What does that mean?'

"This was her fault. She took our brother, and now see what had happened to him. My poor brother."

"That slut. Good thing she was dead."

Her aunties cried again. She didn't understand what they were talking about. 'She? Who's she? That 'she' person is dead too? And what does slut mean?' She then turned around leaving her aunties. They wouldn't talk to her anyway. She thought to go to her room but the words was bothering her. Usually she would ask his brother or Albert, but now they seemed to be busy. She then saw her cousin playing outside. She decided to ask him. Well he was two years older than her so he probably knows the word.

"Hey, what are you doing?" She asked as she approached him.

"What do you think, playing. Why are you here?"

"Why not? I want to ask you something."

"What? Hey wait for me! What do you want to ask, I must go."

She rolled her eyes and asked. "You know what dead means?"

"Dead?"

She nodded her head as she saw him pursed his lips thinking.

"I don't know, but my mom said if people dead they don't breathe. They're sleeping and won't wake up again. Like your mother and father now. Gotta go, bye."

She was confused. If people didn't breathe how could they live? So, did dead mean people don't live anymore? Why did he say like her father and mother? A voice behind her broke her thought.

"Poor girl. She lost both of her parents."

'What does that mean?' She had her parents. She had mother and father, although she never met her mother since she was traveling to far place. Then why did they say she has no parents? She has parents right? Slowly her eyes watered and she started to cry. 'Why did they say I don't have parents? I have parents'

She then ran passing the crying people. Why were they crying? Why was she crying too? She ran toward the back garden and sat on the ground behind her apple tree. She didn't care her beautiful dress get dirty. Her cry grew louder.

Her cousin said that her father and mother are dead, he said dead means people don't breathe and they won't wake up. Did that mean she won't see her father and mother again? She can't play with her father anymore? was that why they were crying now? Because her parents are dead?

She didn't have parents. Suddenly there were many people inside her head, they were crying and murmuring. And then she saw her aunties they were crying too but then they started to laugh. They said that she doesn't have parents. They were laughing at her. Their head grew bigger and they smiled like witches. She covered her ears and closed her eyes tightly. "Stop. Stop! I said STOP!"

Ray snapped her eyes open and jerked her body up. She was breathing heavily and sweat covered her body. She took a deep breath to calm her breathing and covered her face with palms. She had that dream again. A dream about her childhood, when she found out that her parents had passed away. That day was her father. She never knew that her mother died when gave her birth. They told her that her mother was traveling across country. She only saw her through her photos. She always dreamed that one day her mother would come home and play with her. She always imagined they will play together, bake cake together, she will comb her hair and she will choose dresses for her. She always waited day by day however her mother wouldn't come home. Until that day she finally knew the reason her mother never came back home.

As she grown up she finally could understand why her father kept himself busy. He would always play with her but then he got busy with his work and then she barely saw him at home. His father was blaming himself over her mother's death. Sometimes she thought he was blaming her too. To tell the truth she had the same feeling. It was because of her her mother died. If she didn't bear into this world her mother would still alive. Even now she felt guilty every times she breathed.

She rubbed her eyes to wipe the unshed tears and got out of bed. She glanced over table clock, it showed half past five. It was still early but thought that she won't be able to sleep again she then decided to take hot shower.

Nami put her belt on and grabbed her bag. Put the bag on kitchen counter she took a cup and poured coffee. She thought to grab breakfast at café but her eyelids wouldn't lift open so she needed caffeine or she would hit her car into something or worse someone. The reason her eyelids couldn't open because she didn't sleep last night. Couldn't sleep for exactly. Her meeting with Ray yesterday still kept her mind. She was glad she no longer has bad dream but the thought of the other woman kept her from sleeping.

She sat on the chair while sipping her coffee. To tell the truth she was afraid. She was afraid that Ray will choose him instead of her. Although she had seen the love but it doesn't mean Ray will choose her. In fact she had agreed to engage Shane even though she still loves her. Not to mention she still didn't forgive her. It meant the other woman was trying to forget her. Ray had said that she couldn't forget her but it didn't mean she won't try.

Of course she would keep her word as she said. Yet she wasn't sure if she could let the other woman go. She could walk away from Ray but she didn't think she can let the other woman go. She wouldn't forget Ray, forever. Maybe she should prepare for moving in case Ray chooses Shane. But where to go? To the end of the world? But where was it? Perhaps somewhere far away besides America and Japan. Her parents would kill her if she told them she will go to another continent.

However, she had no choice. She loved Ray so whatever makes the other woman happy was the matter. It didn't matter what she feels. 'Of course it does matter', her mind said. 'No, it doesn't matter. As long as she's happy I'm happy. I'll be fine. I must.'

She finished her coffee and put the cup on sink. She then grabbed her bag and walked outside.

Ray put bouquet of flowers and sat down on ground facing a grave. Her parents' grave.

"I know it's been years since my last visit," The last time she paid visit was before she went oversea. Actually that was the first time she visited the grave. After her father died she couldn't bring herself to visit her parents' grave. You couldn't blame her, it was a complicated feeling for her.

"I'm sorry." She put her hand on the cold stone hoping she could feel the warmth she never felt. "I'm back now. Andrew too."

She then turned her gaze aside but not really looked at anything. "I wish you are here, both of you." She took a breath and continued.

"Now I'm engaged to someone. His name is Shane. He's very nice man. He really cares about me. He likes dancing like you dad." She smiled a little. However it turned to bitter smile.

"And, there's a woman. Her name is Nami, she's Japanese like you mom. She once was a singer too. She…" She breathed out a sigh and added. "…is my first love."

"She was the only person who dares to scold me." She then remembered their first meeting. "She's naïve, in good way, and stubborn." She let out a soft chuckle.

"Both are important to me, but…" She paused for a moment. Tear slowly watered her eyes. "I don't know…I don't know what to choose…who to choose."

"I love her…but she broke my heart. She said the word they'd said to you." She said to her mother's grave. "And part of me couldn't forgive her for that. Even though she broke my heart I…"

She let a tear running down her cheek. "…I couldn't forget her…I tried to, but I can't."

"And there is him, I…" She let out another tear. "…I…what should I do?"

She couldn't hold tear anymore and just let it flowing down. At moment she really hoped she could speak with them. She needed to hear their voice. To reassure her that everything would be alright. Because what she felt right now was not alright at all. She wanted to run, far away from here and from everyone she knew. However, no matter how far she ran the feeling would always follow her. It wouldn't leave her alone.

Perhaps it was her imagination but she felt warmth when a soft breeze touching her skin. It didn't only touch her but somehow she could hear its voice. Yes, maybe she was imagining because there was voice in her head telling her to close her eyes. She then closed her eyes and sees…

…Nami.

All she saw was Nami. Nami was smiling her dimple smile at her. Nami was making pouting face and then let out a laugh. Nami calling her name and oddly it felt like she was whispering in her ear. Nami was looking at her with warm gaze, with eyes full of love and it made her chest warm. All she could see was Nami. And as if it could see through her eyes her heart increased its beating, as if it was screaming joyfully. Then the voice came again.

'You've loved her, and will always love her. It is time to let it go. It is time to leave your past behind.'

A cascade of tears once again running down her cheeks as she opened her eyes but there was smile on her face. A small smile.

"Thank you…thank you mom, dad."

She then pushed her body up and despite wearing her two inches high heels runned toward her car. She finally found the answer. What she wanted. What to choose. But it wasn't her that made the choice. It was her heart. This time she let her heart to choose for her.

"That must be hurt." Nami said to her partner as she looked at pool of blood with a woman lying over it at parking lot.

"Don't say it." Jason said while looking at anything but the victim body. He tried his best to not throw up his lunch.

Nami let out a chuckle and stood up as she saw Leon walking toward them. "Who's this woman?"

"We don't know yet. While we're waiting for her ID, Abi and her team will identify the body." Leon looked at the lying body and turned around at Jason. "Really man, you should get used of this."

Nami let out a laugh as her partner turned around to say something but stopped as he saw the body. He then ran toward the building undoubtedly would throw out his lunch.

"Sometimes I thought you're a man and he's a woman, seriously." Leon said.

"He's my partner." Nami said but then joined in his laughter. They turned around when they heard voice.

"I never saw a crime scene that makes people laugh."

"Of course there's no one. We're just kidding around." Leon said to the doctor. He wasn't surprised to see the doctor wore a dress under her leather jacket.

"Of course, how could you laugh seeing another people died." Abigail said and squatted beside the pool of reddish-browned liquid.

"Yes doctor." Leon chuckled lightly as the women chuckled. "I should go my partner is waiting for me. So excuse me ladies."

Both Nami and Abigail rolled their eyes and chuckled. After the detective left them Nami squatted down beside the ME. "It looks like the one at prison, don't you think?"

Abigail took a good look at the victim's neck. "You're right. Well I need to do autopsy first but probably it's same." She then turned her gaze to her friend. "You're good at observation. You'll become a good detective you know."

"You're just like Owen."

"But it's true. Trust me, remember I can read people?" Abigail let out a chuckle as Nami turned to her raising an eyebrow.

"You are not allowed to laugh at crime scene doc."

"I'm not laughing, just chuckle." Abigail let out a laugh and stood up.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway must see my partner, I'm starting to worry about him now. See you later." Nami said to the ME and jogged toward the building. She hoped he didn't faint inside restroom.

...

Nami was sitting inside café waiting for their tea. After they returned to headquarter she took pity of her partner and decided to have drink at café before go to bullpen.

"Are you okay buddy?" Nami asked the almost fainted man before her.

"Yeah, guess." Jason rubbed his chest nodding his head.

"I told you to not come with me." Nami smiled as Sam, the waitress came with their drink. After thanked the waitress she looked back at her partner. "Drink up and warm your stomach."

Jason did as he was told. The warm tea soon warmed his stomach made it better. He let out a sigh and looked at his partner. "So who's she?"

"Who?" Naim asked nonchalantly although she knew what he meant.

"Don't ever lie to a police officer. C'mon tell me."

"I'm an officer too." Nami sighed when he lifted his brows smirking. "She's my friend."

"Friend, hmm…"

"What? It's true." Well it wasn't but he didn't need to know that. She reached for her cup but mistakenly pushed the cup forward. The cup rolled over the table and then fell down onto floor.

"Are you okay?"

Nami looked up at Sam as she approached their table. She wiped the spilled tea on table while Sam picking the pieces of glass. She nodded her head as Jason asked her if she was okay. She didn't know why but at moment she had a bad feeling.

"Sorry for bothering you, do you know where I can meet Ray? I need to meet her but I couldn't reach her." Asahi said while typing on her keyboard. Today they would meet the sponsor and designer for the next project but she couldn't contact her big boss. She only had two hours until they come. She had called Ray's office but her secretary said she didn't know where she was. It was odd since Ray won't disappear without telling her secretary. She wouldn't be surprised if it was something related to her best friend.

'She's at countryside, but she called me this morning, she will be back today. Don't worry she'll be there before three.'

"God thanks. You have no idea how happy I am right now. Thanks Andrew, see you around." She said to the older Hamilton and heard he chuckled.

'You're welcome.'

She put her phone on her desk and continued her work. Problem solved.

Meanwhile at BPD headquarter Nami and Jason were joining the investigation. Nami looked at the whiteboard in front of her. On the board many pictures of the woman victim, the prisoner man victim and an officer from prison were pinned up. Two days after their investigation at the prison a prison officer was found dead at his house.

"If it was the same person what is their relation?" Leon stood behind the woman officer staring at the pictures.

"Mikey and Billy had argued before. The other officers and prisoners saw their arguing. Their relation to the brunette woman, I don't know." Brandon said from his chair.

"But isn't it odd?" Nami said and turned around to the detectives. "You think someone will kill another person just because of a mock?"

"Well in this country I don't find it odd." Jason said and saw Leon nodded his head in agreement.

"Yes, but if every officer kill prisoner who makes joke of them then nobody will leave in the prison right?" Nami said to Owen.

Owen crossed his arms before his chest staring at the victim pictures. "She's right. Something is missing here."

"The problem is what it is." Leon said and sat back on his chair.

"Mikey was killed on September 16th night," Owen wrote on another whiteboard. "Three days later, September 19th Billy was killed by shot." He added Billy on the board. "Then October 5th, yesterday, the woman was killed." He added two lines between the three victims. "Between Mikey and Billy is three days, but it's over two weeks between Billy and the woman. If the tiger is same person why did it take two weeks?"

"That's a problem too, but, we don't know yet if it was a same person. Mikey and the woman had similar wound a cut on the neck, with a stab on chest for Mikey, but the Billy dude was a shot. It means there are two tigers here." Leon added.

Nami nodded her head slightly. She agreed with the young detective, but there was possibility the tiger is more than two. She turned her gaze toward the older detective and saw he let out a sigh.

"What about her ID?" Owen asked.

"It's running, won't take long." Brandon stared at the screen. As expected the search finished seconds later but he knitted his brows as he read the screen. "I can't ID her."

"What do you mean?" Owen approached the other detective's desk and looked down at the screen.

"Her ID wasn't in database."

"What?" Leon stood up and joined his team. "She isn't in database? How?"

"It means she is an illegal immigrant or..."

"She did plastic surgery."

Nami turned around and smiled as she saw Abigail. The doctor stood beside her a folder in her hand.

"I found Gore-Tex and Silicone from her face and neck. She did surgery. No wonder you can't find her ID from her picture."

"What was that?" Leon asked in confusion.

"Materials for plastic surgery." Abigail answered and handed the folder to Owen.

"What about her finger prints?" Nami asked.

"I'd checked it and it was reconstructed too." Abigail said to her friend beside her. "But her finger print was on the gun. She killed Billy."

Nami and the young detectives turned their gaze toward the doctor. It was Owen who asked the question. "How can we know her ID?"

"That's simple. There are some parts she can't change from her face."

"Eyes." Nami said.

"Clever," Abigail smiled to the other woman before adding. "And some facial shapes."

"I think I can do it." Leon said and walked back to his desk. He then typed on his keyboard.

"Let's pray she didn't change too much." Owen said without turning his gaze from the folder.

"And the murderer of Mikey and the woman is different person." Abigail said and walked toward the oldest detective. "The murderer of Mikey is left-handed, see the picture. It wasn't a straight line, it's slightly askew. The victim was lying with his right on the wall side. So the killer has to stab his chest with their left hand and cut his neck with their right hand."

"Billy is left-handed." Brandon added.

"Yup. But the killer of the woman is right-handed. Compare it with the man, it's a straight line. She was killed from behind so it makes the killer is right-handed."

"Oh my goodness."

They turned around at Leon and approached his desk.

"She is Billy's wife."

"What?" Except Owen everyone let out a gasp.

"Wait, Cindy Morales?" Owen read the name and looked at the picture. It was her no doubt.

"You know her?" Leon asked the older detective. It was Brandon who answered the question.

"Sister of Philip Morales."

"Holy shit." Leon leaned back into his chair.

"Who's Philip Morales?" Nami asked. She had never heard the name before.

"He was one of American mafia." Owen replied. "You can say the worst one. Until eight years ago. He tried to counterfeit money at Vegas. That's a good idea considering the money circle there, however, his plan failed. The Mikey dude was one of his group. I should have seen that, damn it."

Nami stared at the pissed off detective. "So, Mikey was killed by Billy who was Cindy's husband who was this Morales guy' sister. If Cindy killed Billy then who killed her?"

Owen shook his head before replying. "Have no idea."

"You said his plan failed, why?" Nami asked.

"He tried to counterfeit a lot amounts of money, using casino. But it would be risky if use some casinos."

"So he decided to use the big one." Nami guessed.

"Yes, he chose a big company. But unfortunately for him he chose a wrong one."

"What company?" Nami asked again and saw the detective was about to say a word but stopped and looked over her shoulder toward the door.

"Ian, he's back." Owen said to Lieutenant. But Lieutenant looked frustrated.

"Worst. He got the owner."

"William?" Owen knitted his brows. Thing was getting worst if they get him.

"No, his grand-daughter, Cassandra Hamilton." Lieutenant lifted the report file in his hand.

Nami felt her breath was caught in her throat as she heard the name. It felt like her heart has stopped its beating too.

3 hours earlier

"Hey, am I interrupting your work?" Ray tried to keep her focus on the road.

'No, s'okay. When do you get back?'

"I'm on the way." She smiled a little.

'That's good to know. Come back quickly and take back your seat. I hate this job.'

Ray let out a chuckle replying. "You said you'll help me."

'Only help not to do all of these. Anyway, you sound fine.'

"I am."

'Good thing?'

"Yeah. Anyway, thanks for the help." Andrew was replacing her during her absence.

'Anytime sist, anytime.'

"I'll be there around two. I have a place to go first."

'Say hello from me.'

"I don't say I'll meet someone." She chuckled again. It seemed she was happy now. No, she was really happy.

'I'm your brother remember?'

Ray let out a laugh. "Then help me with my job."

'Aren't I?'

"Whatever."

'She's worrying about you, you know.'

"Oh," She was lost in her indecision that she never thought she will worry the other woman. She felt a pang of guilty to make Nami worried.

'Well, just bring her flower and she will lighten up. Trust me.'

She rolled her eyes a little. "She's not that type of model you're chasing."

'I'm not chasing them, they're chasing me.'

"Yeah, yeah. But I won't bring flower, that's ridiculous. I'm not teenager."

'Who said only teenager can bring a flower to their love.'

"Okay stop it now. You should go back to your job and I should focus on my driving too."

'Geez, fine. Be careful.'

"Yeah, and don't flirt with Linda."

'Don't worry I have someone now. See you later.'

She rolled her eyes again but smiling. "See you later."

She cut the line off and focused on the road. Her heart fluttered a little and after years she felt those butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't wait to go back to Boston. It was because she has someone to meet. Yes, she had her decision already. Although it might break the other person's heart but she wouldn't lie to herself anymore. She would follow her heart.

She took her phone from the mount and put it in her bag. She turned her gaze to the road in front of her and swerved as a black sedan suddenly appeared from behind. She quickly stepped on the brake but too late. She felt her body was thrown forward as the car hit fence and air bag burst out from wheel. After made sure she had no any injury she unbuckled her belt and got out of the car. The black sedan was stopping few meters in front of her car.

Ray walked toward the car and yelled as the door opened. A man with suit came out. "Are you crazy? Watch your way." But she stopped on her track as three other men came out behind him. She instantly got alarmed. "Who are you?" She heard sound of brake behind her and turned around. Another black sedan stopped and three men came out.

She took a step backward and was about to run when someone grabbed her arm and covered her mouth. She inhaled something and slowly she felt her body relax. The last person she thought before darkness envelope her was the other woman.

'Nami...'

Finally I can tell you why Ray didn't take it light about 'the word' that's why she couldn't forgive Nami, and why she hates dream. Long journey *let out a breath*

But, finally again, that's my Ray :D Yey! But uh-oh, not good.

Sorry for making clffhanger :p Thanks for reading ;)