The sun forced its way into Cole's room, dousing the man on his bed in its radiance. Cole blinked his eyes, he had been awake for nearly an hour, but he had not risen from his bed. His mind was overclocked.
Cole rolled over, hoping that avoiding the sunlight would let his thoughts calm down. It did nothing to relax him. His mind continued racing with tremendous fury, just as it had been doing before the sun rose.
The case had decided to pick up its pace to a blazing tempo, and Cole was pouring over the details. It did not matter if he did not want to think about work on his day off, his mind was too focused on the events of the previous days.
Cole sighed, every detail they had uncovered, had taught him things about the Resource Management employees that he did not want to know. Every step that brought him towards the answer, seemingly shattered a reputation. He had been focused on getting to know the department's employees, but whenever the case spit out a new detail, Cole could not reconcile his views on the workers.
Jam Hardy had seemed like the friendly charismatic person, who cared for those around him. Cole could no longer trust that image, as his involvement with Harbor painted an entirely new image. Cole felt like the Jam he knew was a farce, created to allow the man to coast through the real world, in order to allow him to smoothly transition to virtual reality.
Cole remembered Jam's anger when he had found out about Cole and Alyx's infiltration. What was the man like inside Harbor? Did he despise reality, like so many of his fellow members?
Jam's promotion circled Cole's thoughts. A cruel part of him wanted to bring it to Mirai, and ask her to certify it. She definitely had the power to make it happen. Cole frowned at his animosity towards Jam. It was not like the man had actually done anything to him.
Cole realized that it came with Jam's connection to Harbor. He only had negative memories of his short time in the organization, and he could not understand their goal. Jam probably had his own reasons, but Cole had such a bad view on Harbor, that he could not control his negativity when thinking of Jam.
'That doesn't mean that Jam is the killer.' Cole reminded himself, trying to stay on task. It didn't matter if his relationships with the department's employees deteriorated; all that mattered was finding the murderer.
Cole's mind instantly turned to Sally Hopkins when he tried to picture the murderer. It had been such a shock to find out that she was physically abusive.
"Remove your emotion. View everything from an impartial angle." Even as he spoke the words, Cole struggled to enact them. He had never been involved with something so serious, and the connections he had forged in Resource Management, refused to free him of bias.
'Her motive is weak.' The thought was an idea that Cole clung to with desperation. It didn't make sense that Ms. Hopkins would kill Mr. Jenkins because of his ambition, or his dislike of Sara.
Unless there was a stronger connection between Sara and Ms. Hopkins, Cole could not see Ms. Hopkins killing to keep Sara around. With her position of power Ms. Hopkins could easily find another underling to torment.
Cole thought of the welt on Sara's face, maybe Ms. Hopkins really couldn't stand someone reaching for more power. In that sense maybe she would kill to keep Mr. Jenkins from succeeding. However, it felt like a stretch to Cole. Even if Mr. Hopkins was promoted, he would likely no longer work with Ms. Hopkins, the company would assign him to a new department.
Unless Mr. Jenkins had somethings that would make the company replace Ms. Hopkins, Mr. Jenkins had no way of encroaching on her power. Cole considered the idea. Maybe Mr. Hopkins had compiled evidence of Ms. Hopkins' viciousness. The theory seemed tangible.
Mr. Jenkins likely did not want to leave Resource Management, and the only way to fulfill his ambition would be to get rid of Ms. Hopkins. If there was really evidence of Ms. Hopkins' abuse of power, maybe Mr. Jenkins could get her fired, and himself promoted.
Cole stored the theory away, promising himself to look further into it. His mind had turned to why Mr. Jenkins did not want to leave Resource Management. He would lose his mistress.
Sinje Daniels had seemed like a woman who focused on her work, and offered counsel to those who asked for it. Cole had learned that her intense focus was only to distract herself, when she couldn't be with her lover. She didn't care that she was crushing a marriage underfoot.
Cole remembered Mr. Jenkins' widow; he could only hope that she would not learn about her husband's infidelity. 'Would knowing make it easier to cope with his death?' Cole didn't have an answer to his question, but he figured that it would ruin Mrs. Jenkins' view of her late husband.
Cole tried to chase the negativity from his mind by thinking of the other Resource Management employees. He had not discovered identity shifting information about Sivil, Sara, and Jan. Not yet.
However, Cole wasn't sure how he could face Sara. He had to ignore what Ms. Hopkins was doing to her, and he knew he would feel guilty around her. Besides Sara, Cole did not like Sivil, the man was too arrogant, and Jan was rarely in Resource Management for long. He did not belong to a single department, and had to go to different floors throughout his days.
Cole tried to think about something happy, but he quickly stopped himself. He knew where his mind would turn, and he was even less ready to think about that topic. Cole endeavored to focus on the case, but it was too late. His focus slipped and in an instance, all he could see was Alyx's face.
Once he focused on her, Cole knew there was no way to think about anything else, and he groaned into his pillow. Why hadn't she contacted him?
The two had spent most of their off days together, since surviving that rainy night. Cole punched his thigh, it was because of his awkwardness at her return. She had noticed that he was acting weird, and wanted nothing to do with him. Why did he have to be so flustered around her?
Cole suddenly sprang out of bed. He dressed himself in an instant. He had received a message from Alyx. /I'm at Red Melon. Want to come eat?/
Cole grabbed his necklace, swiftly fastening it behind his neck. He was out of his apartment in record time, and it was only as he was forced to be stationary in the elevator that he realized he had not found a cure for his awkwardness.
He needed to come up with a solution, if he wanted to enjoy Alyx's company. 'I am just going to tell her.'
Cole's heart pounded as he made his decision, making him glad that the elevator was empty. As his panicked heart echoed in the metal box around him, Cole refused to let himself back down. Even if Alyx rejected him, her rejection would allow him to think about something else. She wouldn't be stuck in his mind.
It took Cole a while to make it to Red Melon, and the entire journey he was battling against himself. Every step his nerve threatened to break, sending him back home in an instant.
However, he eventually made it to the restaurant, and his reward was seeing Alyx smiling as she waved him over. Soon the two were digging into full plates of delectable food, too busy stuffing their faces to make conversation.
Cole was thankful for the comfortable silence, because he had no idea what he was going to say to Alyx. He had decided to reveal his feelings, but he had no plan or script.
"I am interested in you romantically." Cole suddenly blurted out. As soon as the words left his mouth, Cole froze, his mind screaming at him. Why had he said it in that manner? What was Alyx going to think of such a horrible confession.
Cole looked at Alyx gloomily, his thoughts placing bets on the brutal way he would get rejected.
"I thought we were already dating." Alyx grinned. "You didn't say anything when I introduced you as my boyfriend in Harbor."
Cole's racing mind froze. The once busy epicenter was suddenly empty. Cole's mouth worked silently, he could not think of anything, let alone a response.
Alyx's smile only widened as she looked at Cole's dumbstruck expression. "You better take me on a proper date on our next day off."
Alyx stood up, her plate was empty. Cole looked at her dazedly, his brain too empty to see the slight flush coloring her cheeks.
Cole robotically followed Alyx out of the restaurant, still unable to come up with a coherent thought.
"Also I am expecting you to do something special for our one month anniversary that is coming up soon." Alyx turned away, hiding her smirk from Cole, as she waved over her shoulder.
Once Alyx left, Cole's mind suddenly started working again, and it was just as frantic as before he had talked to Alyx.
He needed to take her on a proper date. What did that mean? How was he supposed to know their anniversary? He had no idea when Alyx thought they had started dating.
However, those issues did nothing to pale the joy coursing through his body.