Addict and the Thief

They find the road as Wendell leads them a few blocks down the road. The buildings slowly shift to more residential. Most of them are large apartments made of well kept red bricks. Wendell stops in front of a building and points up at a window facing the street on the second floor, "Pretty sure it's that one." From the outside they can see the shimmer of pink curtains covered in sequins.

Cole nods as he looks for a front entrance, possibly with a buzzer panel.

There's a brown plastic panel under the overhang of the front door. On it is a small grid of buttons and a speaker. The buttons list 1-8.

Cole looks over at Wendell, "You know her number?"

Wendell stares up at the window, "Uhhh... Unless you mean phone number, no."

Cole sighs heavily and backs up to the street and counts the windows left to right until he reaches Rosey's window. Going left to right, it is the second window. But there's only 4 windows on the front of the building. Cole sighs and walks back up to the panel and pushes the second button. There's a buzz and an almost instant click of the door unlocking.

Cole opens the door and holds it open for Wendell, "Even if that was the wrong apartment, someone is always expecting someone."

Wendell steps in, "Noted." They find a small cramped stairwell with access to each apartment door.

Cole heads up the stairs as he mutters, "Let's hope I don't have to kick a door today."

Wendell stutters a bit as he follows, "W-what?" On heading up they see the door with the plate numbered 2.

Cole walks up to the door as he looks over his shoulder, "Nothing, not important" he looks through the peephole

Looking back he sees a familiar dilated eye staring back.

Cole sighs as he stops looking through the peephole, "This is Rosey's apartment alright."

"Good." Wendell reaches forward and knocks on the door. There's a long pause as it's quiet.

Cole taps his foot as he waits, fiddling with his gloves slightly. There's still no response as Wendell growls a bit. He goes to knock with his fist again but with a lot more force. The loud bang of the knock is strong enough that a small line appears in the wood of the door.

Wendell raises his voice and clearly sounds mad, "ROSEY BALAKIN. I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE." They hear shuffling before the door cracks open. Rosey is standing at the door with a bit of a scared look, "I get it I get it, clam down!"

Cole snickers and folds his arms at Rosey, "You wouldn't happen to have a silver ring that Lochlan gave you?" Cole's hands tuck inside his jacket.

Rosey's voice seems to go up a pitch, "Ok look. She didn't know any better, I wouldn't put it against her- she's a great person once you get to know her!"

Cole glares at Rosey as he leans forward slightly, "WHERE is the ring? I didn't ask for you to say that she's a good person I asked where the fucking ring is."

"It's in here it's in here!" Rosey steps aside.

Cole smiles at Wendell as he motions for him to follow as he steps inside.

Inside the apartment is just as pastel and dreamy as Rosey's aesthetic. Cheap but cute decorations line the shelves along with plush happy stuffed animals. The furniture with pastel blue cushions are filled with soft and comfortable pillows and throw blankets. One table however is a pastel yellow with a bit of white residue on it and nothing else. But sticking out like a sore thumb is Lochlan sitting on the sofa. Her grumpy expression is a harsh contrast to the happy atmosphere. Lochlan looks over at them.

Cole glares at Lochlan as he glances around for Wendell's ring.

Rosey picks it up and holds it out to them, "It won't happen again I swear."

Cole takes the ring and offers it to Wendell, "It better not." Cole inspects the ring as best as he can before Wendell takes it.

The ring is silver with text on the inside in cursive. Wendell quickly takes the ring and puts it back on his finger. There was an indent where the ring last rested that let it fit perfectly in place again.

Cole looks back at Rosey, "Now, you weren't gonna sell that ring to an antique item warehouse on the outside of town for coke money right?"

Rosey huffs, "Ok not everything I buy is coke related. You guys act like that's my whole personality!"

Cole glares at Rosey and points at the coke stained yellow table, "Uhuh, I'm sure it's not..."

Lochlan adds, "If I had known Rosey was friends with him I would have never taken it."

Wendell grumbles, "Its a fucking ring. 90% of those are sentimental as hell."

Rosey stomps her foot, "I didn't have time to clean up with you two charging in here like you did!"

Cole folds his arms, "Yeah? With your nose?"

Lochlan mumbles, "Just for the record I don't touch that shit."

Rosey rolls her eyes and sits back down at a seat while sorting through some papers, "Humans use your eyes instead or something?"

Cole looks over at Rosey with a confused look as he shakes his head, "No... I don't use coke or any drugs for that matter."

Lochlan growls under her breath, "Well you sounded like you were insinuating that with how focused you were on it."

Rosey glares at Lochlan, "He never said that, stop assuming things."

Cole looks even more confused as he blinks a couple times, "I'm...just gonna go, I came here and I did the thing so," Cole starts to walk out of the room.

Wendell nods at Rosey and Lochlan as he follows behind Cole, "Have a good day you two."

Cole walks down the stairs and out the front of the building as he looks over at Wendell, "I don't mean to be nosey but... you mind telling me the story being that ring?"

Wendell walks beside him on the sidewalk. He holds out both of hands in front of himself, showing a ring on the pointing finger of one hand and a ring on the thumb of the other, "Oh I just have two wives."

Cole blinks at him in slight confusion, "...So those are engagement rings?"

Wendell chuckles, "Nah I'm just messing with ya." He puts his hands back in his pockets, "They were my parents' rings."

Cole snickers as he smiles, "Ah, family bakery I'm assuming?"

He shakes his head, "Uh, actually no. They never got to see the bakery. It's a bit new."

Cole nods, "Well I'm sorry to hear about your parents, though I'm sure you're making them quite proud."

Wendell nods, "As proud as they'll ever be."

Cole smiles at Wendell as he walks back to the bakery, "Aside from that I'm glad I could help you find your ring."

Wendell stops in front of the bakery doors, "Thank you. Though I was honestly surprised I got it back. Lochlan didn't seem to like me yet was fine with handing it over."

Cole raises an eyebrow as he asks, "What makes you think she doesn't like you?"

Wendell sighs, "I've tried to talk to her before but she never even acknowledges me. Like outside here one day she was standing over there. I opened the door and offered for her to come inside while she waited cause it was cold out. She just stayed looking ahead with her arms folded."

Cole nods as he sighs, "Probably just day dreaming if I had to guess."

Wendell nods, "Anyways, I won't keep you out here talking forever."

Cole chuckles as he starts to head off towards the tower, "I better go back sure something isn't on fire."

Wendell waves as he heads back into his bakery, "Stay safe."

Cole glances over his shoulder to make sure Wendell isn't looking then quickly pulls the syringe of blood out and puts some on his fingers. He snaps his fingers and disappears.