After handing Natalie her coffee, Dean went back to the counter. Bianca was at the register, and Claire was taking new customer orders. Claire would come back and give Dean the orders, and he'd get right to it. Bianca helped by getting pastries from the display case, putting them on plates, and giving them to Claire to serve.
Natalie and Janet had stopped talking. They were just watching Dean, Claire, and Bianca work, but mostly Dean. Janet glanced over at Natalie, who was staring at Dean with a strange mix of suspicion and admiration.
"Hmm, that's a pretty weird way to look at someone," Janet teased.
"Oh, sorry," Natalie said, quickly looking at Janet.
"It's fair, though. I'm interested in him too," Janet said, sipping her coffee.
"Hmm, so you've got your eye on him as well," Natalie replied.
"Yeah... he helped me out yesterday when I came in sick and even found me an apartment nearby," Janet explained.
"I see," Natalie said, looking at Janet, crossing her arms, and smiling slightly.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to make a move. He's still in high school, and besides, he's already engaged," Janet said, taking another sip of her coffee.
"Oh really, he's engaged?" Natalie asked, looking a little surprised for a second before her expression went back to normal.
"Yeah, her name's Claire. She's the one over there," Janet said, pointing at Claire, who was busy running around with customers' orders.
"Hmm, I see. She's pretty, and she looks like she's the same age as Dean," Natalie said, watching Claire.
"Don't stare too hard," Janet replied.
"Of course not. Dean is like a little brother to me. As his older sister, I have to check out who he's dating," Natalie said, sipping her coffee.
"Hmm, is that so? It's not because you like him?" Janet asked.
"Pfft," Natalie spat her coffee all over Janet. Janet quickly held up a tray to block it, then peeked from behind the tray to see Natalie wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"Wow... I guess my question hit the nail on the head," Janet mumbled with a wide smile.
"Sorry, I wasn't expecting that question," Natalie replied, trying to stay calm.
"Hmm... okay, I get it," Janet said, smiling and putting her tray back on the table.
Suddenly, they both looked out the window and saw a lot of people running. "Driiing," Natalie's phone rang. She immediately stood up, walked outside the cafe, and answered it. Dean, Bianca, and Claire could all see Natalie on the phone from inside.
A few moments later, a large moving truck pulled up in front of the cafe. Seeing the truck and its company logo, Janet immediately stood up, put some money on the table, and said, "I gotta go, my truck is here."
"Okay," Dean, Claire, and Bianca replied.
Janet walked out of the cafe just as Natalie was coming back in. They talked for a brief moment, then Janet left to speak with a delivery guy who was walking toward her with a clipboard. Natalie walked up to Dean, Claire, and Bianca, who were now all behind the counter.
"I have to go. There's a case nearby," Natalie told Dean, handing him money for her coffee.
"Okay. A case nearby?" Dean asked, curious.
"Yeah, at an empty apartment not far from here. I've gotta run. See you again soon," Natalie replied, turning around and walking out of the cafe.
After the door closed, Dean, Claire, and Bianca stood in silence, looking at each other. They could see people running outside the cafe. Dean took off his apron and gave it to Claire.
"I'm gonna go check it out real quick," Dean said.
"Okay, be careful," Bianca replied.
"Leave the cafe to me and Bianca," Claire said.
Dean walked out of the cafe and saw where everyone was running. He saw a crowd at the end of the street and a big moving truck stopped nearby. He also saw a few police cars with their sirens still flashing.
"Hmm... that apartment... that's the same one Janet got, right?" Dean thought to himself as he walked toward the apartment at the end of the street, right in front of campus.
["That's right. I put Brandon's body in one of the empty units there. Don't worry, it's not Janet's unit, hohoho,"]
"Are you insane? Why would you put a corpse so close to the cafe, especially in the same apartment building Janet just rented?" Dean shouted in his head as he kept walking.
["Hohoho, it's no big deal. Janet will be happy,"]
"Happy? What do you mean she'll be happy? Seriously?" Dean shouted in his head.
Dean reached the crowd and easily walked through it since no one noticed him. When he got to the front, he saw Natalie and Janet arguing in front of the moving truck.
"I told you, no journalists allowed," Natalie said, annoyed.
"I know, and I understand media ethics. But the problem is my unit is upstairs, and I'm moving in today, you get that?" Janet replied angrily, pointing up at the building.
Janet opened her bag and pulled out a copy of the lease she had just signed this morning. She handed it to Natalie, who immediately read it over. After she finished, Natalie took a deep breath and handed the paper back to Janet.
"Alright, but can you just wait a bit until the investigation is over?" Natalie asked.
"What? I feel bad for the movers if they can't get this done quickly," Janet replied, pointing at the mover who was standing right between her and Natalie.
"Um... maybe we can..." the mover started to say.
"Shut up!" Natalie and Janet yelled at him at the same time.
The mover, holding a clipboard, immediately froze and looked lost, unsure of what to do. He just stood there, speechless, between the two beautiful women who were locked in a staring contest. Dean shook his head, but just as he was about to step forward, a middle-aged detective approached Natalie.
"Why are you still here, Natalie?" asked Michael.
"Oh, Lieutenant," Natalie replied, turning to Michael.
Natalie and Janet immediately explained the whole situation to Michael, with Janet even showing him the lease agreement again. After they finished, Michael was silent for a moment before turning to Janet.
"You can come with us and go straight to your unit," Michael said.
"Wait, but Dad," Natalie started to say.
Before Natalie could finish, Michael held up his hand. Then he lowered it and looked at the mover.
"You guys can go ahead and start, just don't use the stairs on the right, okay?" Michael said.
"Okay, sir," the mover replied. Then He turned to Janet, looking relieved. "We can start moving your stuff in now, ma'am."
"Why did you give them permission? The building is still under police supervision for the investigation," Natalie protested.
"Come on, the victim was found on the first floor right side the building. Her apartment is on the second floor left side the building, and she can use the stairs on the left. There's no problem with her moving in," Michael said. (Then He turned to Janet.) "But no reporting on this, got it?"
"Understood, sir," Janet replied, now looking a bit relieved but holding her camera.
Seeing that the problem was solved, Dean turned around and started walking back to his cafe. He knew Michael and didn't want to be seen by him. As he walked, he thought, "What was your goal in putting Brandon's body in that apartment?" he asked the voice in his head.
["You'll find out later, hohoho,"]
"Another secret," Dean said.