Chapter Eighteen
"I'm officer Ed Murphy from the Austin Police Department. This is officer Bob Mckinlay. We have a search warrant to raid this apartment. Are you staying here?" Asked the officer. Harry stared at them in shock.
"I'm Harry Fossett. I don't stay here but my girlfriend used to. We were just moving back to our parents' house for our engagement," informed Harry. "Please come inside."
The officers marched inside and looked at Steffi and Angela who got up from their seats, surprised to see the officers at their apartment.
"This is Angela Saunders, she just moved in two days back. She's our childhood friend," informed Harry.
The officers nodded at a gaping Angela who couldn't figure out what was going on. "How do you know Andrew Stamford?" Asked one of the officers.
"We don't know him much. The other girl living here, Whitney James is in a relationship with Andrew. We met him briefly once or twice. Is anything wrong officer?" Answered Harry.
"We have proof of Andrew Stamford being involved in illegal drug dealing. We have raided his apartment but haven't found anything. We have a search warrant to raid this apartment," said the officer, producing a search warrant. Harry inspected the warrant and stepped aside with the girls to allow the officers to do their job.
The officers summoned their police dog who was waiting outside. An officer brought him in. He sniffed the entire apartment as they waited with bated breath for what was to come.
After ten minutes, the dog barked and drew out some packets filled with a powdery substance from Whitney's jewelry chest. The officers rushed forward and tested the samples. They were the drugs that they had been looking for.
"You'll have to accompany us to the police station till further investigations are done, " said one of the officers.
"But we didn't have anything to do with these?" Said Harry, a little worried.
"You will get to defend yourselves. But right now you have to accompany us to the police station since you're the only ones here," insisted the officer.
"If you guys don't go willingly son, we have to arrest you," said the other officer sternly.
"No that won't be necessary. We're going with you," informed Angela.
They all left with the officers to the police station where their individual accounts were noted down. Angela called Alex and informed him everything about Andrew Stamford. He was furious and promised to come soon to rescue her. Harry called his dad and so did Steffi.
After half an hour, Angela's dad arrived with a lawyer, Alex and Adam to rescue her. They spoke to the officers in charge. Andrew Stamford and Whitney were absconding. The police were trying to locate them. Even Steffi's parents arrived with their lawyer. Harry's whole family arrived with a lawyer.
The officers had to release them all. Angela's dad was furious with her and so were her brothers. "You will get your things and come home with us, now. No more staying alone," growled Alex he drove her to the apartment. Her dad and Adam had already returned home.
He picked up her stuff and leaving her spare keys on the dining table, they went back to their car. Alex drove her home without a word. She knew now she had to face her dad's wrath too.
Steffi messaged her on her mobile that she was on her way to her house after collecting her things. She would update her about her engagement soon. Harry too had gone home. Angela refrained from updating Damian about the details. She just sent him a simple message that she was on her way home.
Alex drove into their house and parked his car. Angela unloaded her luggage and they went inside. Her dad was pacing the floor nervously while Adam was sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands. Angela was scared that they all overreact. Would she be grounded for a few days? It wasn't her fault that Whitney and her boyfriend dealt with drugs. It was her misfortune actually.
"You will not go and stay anywhere else, Angie. Thankfully, the police realized their mistake and let you guys off. What if they would have slapped a case against you? Your future would have been doomed," said her father, calmly.
Angela nodded,"I know. I'm sorry. I've learnt my lesson dad. I'll stay at home. Don't worry," she assured him. Adam too listened to their conversation and his tension eased off.
"It was your good luck that we could prove your innocence. Once the officers detain you they don't let go so easily," he said and Alex too nodded.
"Yes, Harry's family and Steffi's parents were also there to support us all, so they had to leave, I guess, " said Alex.
Angela went up to her room, guilty to have troubled her family so much. An incoming call on her mobile alerted her. Damian was calling her.
She picked up his call. He was too worried when he had heard the news from Harry. She convinced him that she was fine and at home. He wanted to return immediately but Angela comforted him and he calmed down at last. They chatted for sometime and he disconnected the call.
The next few days Angela was busy with Steffi and Harry's engagement. They had already turned eighteen a few months back and Harry was keen on getting engaged and moving into their own house before college started.
Angela went to Steffi's parents' house and helped with the preparations for the small engagement party that Steffi's parents were hosting. Damian and Xavion were also invited along with many of their other friends. Angela and Steffi had already gone shopping for dresses to wear for the occasion.
Harry and Xavion came by to check with the arrangements and also to spend time with them. After five days, it was finally the day of the engagement.
Angela was at Steffi's house since morning. It was a lunch event and by 11:30 all their batchmates who'd been invited started pouring in. Damian and Xavion would arrive with Harry and his family so Angela and Steffi concentrated upon dressing themselves up.
Steffi wore a red lace appliqued & tulle two-tone A-line dress with a long train and illusion long sleeves. She curled her short hair in a wave around her shoulders, giving her a romantic look.
Angela chose a coral floral appliqued lace and tulle, Off-the-shoulder, knee-length dress. She twisted her long brown locks in a soft updo and slipped her feet into a pair of sequinned nude sandals. While Steffi opted for heavy makeup, Angela just applied a moisturizer and a coral lipgloss.
Harry and his family had already arrived and she escorted Steffi to the reception room where the engagement ceremony would take place. The moment Angela entered the room, her eyes fell upon Damian. He looked so good wearing a pale blue dress shirt and a pair of black slacks. His eyes started their slow appraisal of her body, from head to toe and back up. A flush spread all over her, turning her cheeks pink. Steffi pinched her arm discreetly and Angela blushed all the more.
Steffi sat beside Harry who couldn't take his eyes off her. Angela brought in the engagement tray and the ceremony started. Angela couldn't concentrate on anything else. Every time she looked up she could only feel Damian's eyes upon her. He smiled or winked whenever she looked at him.
The engagement ceremony was over and everyone congratulated the newly engaged couple. Their friends celebrated with a bottle of champagne. Angela knew only a few of the guests, only those who were from her school. The other guests were either Harry's friends or family and the rest were Steffi's friends and family.
They all gathered around the newly engaged couple and Damian came over to her.
"You're looking ravishing. Whom did you dress up for?" He whispered in her ear.
"Take a guess?" She asked cheekily.
"Freddie?" He asked, eyeing Freddie who was looking their way as always. Somethings never change.
"You really think that after everything we shared Damian?" She asked him in disbelief.
"I thought you forgot me,"Damian said.
"Shut up and I'll go get a drink. I'm dying of thirst," said Angela.
"You go. I'll just talk to Xavion and join you in a minute," said Damian and Angela nodded and walked to the living area where a buffet table had been laid. There were alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic drinks. She wanted a fruity mocktail for herself.
There was no one near the table so Angela checked out all the mocktails. She liked a lemony, mint one which looked refreshing. As she turned around she met two girls of the same age as her. They both had heavy makeup and wore clinging tight clothes which were a size smaller. One wore a florescent pink tube dress that hardly contained her body making her boobs spill out while the other wore a black off shoulder short dress that exposed half her breasts. Angela didn't know them and she tried to pass by but their conversation drew her attention.
"Did you see Damian Anderson?'' asked the one with a pink dress.