The Villain's Sister - Chapter 50

— Ah. Are you perhaps the one who lived here before? I heard a woman lived here before me.

“Do you know where she moved to?”

— I don’t know that much.

All Tristan knew was Giselle’s home phone number.

But someone else now lived at that number.

And only one woman?

As far as he knew, Giselle lived with her older brother. Including their friend Maria, that made three of them.

It was also why Maria answered the phone when he called.

“When did they move out?”

— It’s been more than ten days. But why are you asking?

“Ah. I’m sorry. My mother is in critical condition, and she’s been desperately wanting to see my ex-girlfriend.”

The truth, slightly mixed with a lie, was met with a sympathetic voice.

— That’s unfortunate. I heard she worked at some cabaret. As a singer or something… Anyway, I heard she quit and moved somewhere close to her new job, so the place became available.

Cabaret?

Why would a cabaret come up here?

“I see. Do you happen to know which cabaret it was?”

— I wouldn’t know that. But if it’s a cabaret in this area, there aren’t many.

“Do you know the address there?”

He’d once dropped Giselle off in front of her home, but he had a feeling that wasn’t the real address.

There was something being hidden.

And he had to meet Giselle, who he couldn’t reach, as soon as possible.

***

The cabaret Tristan found was located quite a distance from Death Adder’s territory.

That didn’t mean it belonged to another underground organization.

It wasn’t Death Adder’s property, but it was close enough for them to exert influence.

‘Giselle’s place was the same. Right next to Death Adder’s territory.’

All his years as a cop were sending him a signal.

Whatever Giselle was hiding, it would seriously upset him.

It was just turning afternoon, and the cabaret hadn’t opened yet.

Tristan went next door to a restaurant and asked around.

“Excuse me. May I ask you something? Do you know anything about the cabaret next door?”

“Huh? The cabaret?”

“The singer who used to work there—do you happen to know her? You must’ve seen her come and go.”

The restaurant owner shook his head with a sour look.

It wasn’t so much ‘don’t bother me during a busy time’ as ‘I don’t want to get involved.’

“Ah, it’s nothing shady. I’m just trying to check up on my ex. My mom’s critically ill and really wants to see her. I just came back from the hospital.”

In a situation like this, saying he was a cop wouldn’t help.

No one running a business near Death Adder’s area would cooperate easily with the police.

“Please. Even the smallest thing helps. If you know anything, I’d appreciate it.”

“Sounds like you’re talking about Maria…”

Maria. Giselle’s friend.

“Short, with curly blond hair—do you mean that Maria?”

“Ah, yes. Maria Rodriguez.”

Short, curly blond-haired Maria—Giselle’s friend.

Her last name is Rodriguez?

“Maria Rodriguez? Are you sure about that?”

“How could I not be? Even the cabaret owner doesn’t dare mess with her.”

“What?”

“You should be careful. A misunderstanding could land you in danger. That girl is nice and kind, but still…”

The owner looked around and lowered his voice.

“She’s under Death Adder’s protection.”

“Miss Maria? I’ve never heard that before.”

“Maria’s like a sister to Raphael’s younger sister. That’s why if anything happens at the cabaret, Raphael sends his men to take care of it. Wow, you really didn’t know.”

Tristan couldn’t make sense of why Death Adder was being brought up.

He was just trying to find Giselle—how had Raphael gotten involved?

He’d been chasing leads on Raphael’s sister, but didn’t expect to catch a thread like this.

Was Giselle using the name Maria?

Or…

“The woman said to be Raphael’s sister, do you know what she looks like?”

“That, I don’t know.”

Lies.

Tristan had met enough criminals to recognize when someone was pretending not to know for their own safety.

Raphael usually avoided messing with civilians, but he’d never forgive someone who leaked info about his sister.

Tristan decided to stop asking about Raphael and focus on the original goal.

“Miss Maria moved and I haven’t been able to reach her. Have you heard anything about the new job she got?”

“No. I wouldn’t know about that. I just learned now that she even quit.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Tristan left the place with nothing but more confusion.

***

The new house was incomparably more luxurious than the previous one.

Just the two of us—Raphael and I—living here, and yet there were so many rooms and bathrooms, it made me wonder if they were really necessary.

“I never thought I’d eat cold pizza in a mansion like something out of a movie. I guess having the right friend lets you experience things like this! But hey, do you think we’ll get caught for swiping that bottle from Raphael’s collection?”

“We only took a sip anyway. I filled it with water, so he won’t notice.”

At my words, Maria burst into giggles.

Yesterday, while trying to open a bottle of wine to celebrate Maria’s audition success, we got curious and messed with Raphael’s liquor instead.

It was the kind of thing teenage boys might do, but both Maria and I found the situation quite thrilling.

“I need to start a new list of things that’ll get us in big trouble if Raphael finds out. It’s growing by the day.”

“If it’s just the liquor, he’ll nag and let it go. But Tristan must never find out. That goes to the grave.”

“Make it work with that guy. He’s good-looking.”

“Will it work? I’m not so sure. He’s a tough one in many ways.”

As I shrugged and finished off the remaining pizza, Maria tilted her head and asked, “Deva, you told him about the move, right?”

Ah. Oh no…

“Am I an idiot?”

The only number Tristan had was the landline to Maria’s old place, but Maria hadn’t updated her phone number.

So even if he wanted to contact me, there was no way.

Realization hit like a slap to the head, and I groaned out loud.

“I was thinking of going out this afternoon after we eat. Come with me. I need to buy some clothes, and you—go see that guy.”

“Hmm… no. I should go to the hospital first.”

I’d missed seeing Linda last weekend because of a wedding, and it had been bothering me. This was a good chance.

I’ll just leave a message at Tristan’s office.

***

Seeing Linda’s darkened eyes made me feel strange.

In just a few days, death had etched itself onto her face so clearly it felt unreal.

Waves of guilt crashed over me for not visiting more often.

“Giselle! I told Tristan I wanted to see you, and you came right away.”

Linda greeted me warmly.

I gave her a gentle hug and thought to myself—

There’s no way I can ask something casual like, ‘How have you been?’ anymore.

“Have you eaten?”

“I haven’t had much of an appetite.”

“If there’s anything specific you’d like to eat, please tell me. I’ll go out and get it.”

I tried to sound cheerful, but the attempt felt meaningless and my chest ached.

If only my ability could cure illnesses too—but that was beyond me.

“Giselle. I called you because I have a favor to ask.”

She called me? That must mean Tristan is looking for me.

A vague anxiety pounded in my chest like a drum.