Chapter Three: The New Case
Luce woke up with a terrible headache. She looked down at her cellphone that woke her. Tracy was already up and left some breakfast for her.
"H-hello?" She said in a sleepy voice.
"I'll be later at the office today. I have a meeting in the SPR headquaters. We have a new case."
"A new case?" Luce yawned.
Noll sighed.
"My absence is no excuse for being late. I don't want this to happen again or else I have to pay you less."
"What? What time's it?"
"BEEP-BEEP…"
"This jerk! He could be at least a little comforting! And anyway, where did he got my number from?"
Luce looked at her cellphone. It was eight o'clock.
"Shit!"
She walked down the main street and went to the office. She unlocked the door (with the key Luella gave her yesterday).
The whole office was silent.
"Lin, are you there?"
No answer.
She looked into his office and it was empty.
"I'm alone, huh?" She said to herself.
She took off her darkblue coat and her grey wool cap. It snowed today and London just looked wonderful.
She prepared some tea and went to the mainroom to order the files she started yesterday.
It's Saturday and I have to work.
She sighed and took a sip.
Then she looked over the door to Noll's office. She couldn't help but to walk inside.
The whole room was totally cleaned. On the left side was a huge bookshelve with over 1000 books. They all had grey or black covers.
She took one book. The supernatural.
"Who reads stuff like that? This boy is a total freak."
There were other books named The paranormal research or Mysteries of a ghost.
She put the books back to the shelve, being carefully that no one could see that she sniffed around.
She closed the door and went back to the files.
What starnge files. They would have freaked the hell out of me.
Cases like haunted schools and mansions.
Is this really the right job for me?
The girl suddenly yawned and felt tired. She laid herself down on the black couch.
Olli won't notice that I'm taking an little nap. I'll be awake as soon as he returns…
Noll wasn't very pleased when he found his new assistant fast asleep at his couch.
She talked in her sleep. "No, don't curse me."
Although she looked like an angel, Noll showed no mercy. He walked up to Luce and whispered into her ear: "The spirit will haunt you."
"WAAHH!" Luce jumped and was wide awake now.
Naru just glared at her and she gulped.
"I-I'm very sorry!"
"Just make some tea and bring it to my office."
The girl did as she was told.
"Here's your tea, boss." She said cheerfully.
Noll just took the cup.
What an idiot…
"We have a new case at your university."
"Really? What happened?"
"There were some students attacted by flying shelves in the library."
"Huh?"
"I didn't know you were that dense. You go to this university and you have no idea."
"Of course I have no idea I'm only visiting my courses!" Then her expression turned from angry into concern. "Are they badly hurt?"
"As far as I know they only had some bruises."
Luce sighed in relief.
"Where's Lin anyway?" She asked.
"Still at the headquaters." Luce wanted to ask what he was doing there but she changed her mind when Noll stared at her.
"Soemthing else?"
"Uhm, no…"
"Then you may leave."
"I can leave for today?"
"No, don't be stupid. You can leave my office."
Luce growled and walked outside.
"Jerk!" She said.
"What did you say?" Noll asked.
"Nothing!"
Calm down, Luce. Think about the money…
"Oh, good morning, Lin." Luce greeted the tall man who just closed the door behind him.
"Good morning. Is Noll there?"
"Yup, Olli's in his cave."
Lin almost chuckled. The girl reminded her of Mai. He missed the girl, too and her loss hurt him but he had to be strong for Noll.
Then he realised something.
"Olli?"
"Uhm, well…"
"This is a german nickname for Oliver, isn't it?"
"Oh, really? I had no idea. I just heard it from a friend."
Lin still looked suspicious.
She has no German accent but she's not from London either.
"Where are you from?" Lin asked.
"I'm from America."
Lin just nodded.
I don't really believe her…
Then Noll came out of his office.
"We're packing things up now. I want this case to be solved as soon as possible. Lin, you can get the van and Luciana you help me carrying the equipment."
"Okay, boss." The girl said and Lin went outside.
"How much cameras do we need? 1000?"
Noll put a huge camera in Luce' hands.
"Uhf! This is way too heavy for me!"
"Stop complaining, you're getting payed." Noll said.
"You've got a point there…" Luce sighed and started carrying the huge camera.
She waddled outside and slipped because of the snow. She hit the ground but the camera didn't broke because someone took it out of her hands and let Luce fall down.
"Autsch!"
"What?" Noll asked, the camera in his hands.
"You…!"
"You should be grateful. This camera is very expensive."
"You just let me fall down!" Luce yelled upset and stood up to glare at her boss.
"Did you want to pay a broken camera?"
Noll didn't wait for an answer and walked to the van where Lin was waiting for them.
"Well, at least I don't have to carry this monster-camera anymore." Luce said to herself.