I can't believe it's been nearly a year since that case... I lost my first case, but it was for the right reason. Even so, I was still worried about Maya's safety. I'm so glad she got out alive. Ever since Gumshoe said that...
"Oh yeah, pal! I just remembered! I picked up four items from de Killer's hideout!"
I have wondered what he meant. We never found Gumshoe's coat after his crash. No coat, meant there was no evidence. Well, I probably shouldn't worry about it. I'm safe, Maya is safe, Pearls is safe. That case is all behind me now. Maya now lives with me, but sometimes Pearl comes around to visit. In fact, she is over here right now.
"Mister Nick, Maya burned the hamburgers again!" cried a child's voice from the kitchen.
"It's not that burnt, Pearly!" laughed a young woman's voice "A hamburger is still a hamburger!"
"Ewww! That's gross!"
I walked into the kitchen quickly to see what was happening. Maya was making hamburgers for all of us on a stovetop grill, but she burned one of the patties; she ate it anyway, much to Pearl’s disgust.
"Mister Nick! Maya ate a gross hamburger!" cried Pearl, who was now nine years old.
"It's alright, Pearls." I said in a calm, relaxing voice. "Maya can eat whatever she likes. She DOES live here, you know."
"See, Pearly! He's on my side!" Maya teased while poking her tongue out at Pearls.
"Waaaaaah!" Pearl becan to cry. "Stop being mean! Just because you're in love with him doesn't mean--"
"Pearly!" screamed Maya, unusually distraught with a blush. "I told you not to say that anymore!"
"You can't hide the truth, you know."
Maya looked over at me, still blushing. She also had this look in her eyes that I couldn't quite describe...
"Do you really--"

"WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM WITH A BREAKING NEWS STORY!" yelled a man on the television several rooms over.
"Ahhhhh! Turn it down!" Pearl screamed with her hands covering her ears. "It's too loud!"
I rushed to the living room and turned the volume down. I decided I should watch the so-called 'breaking news story' for myself.
"Local woman Maya Fey has been accused with murder!" the news anchor yelled. "Police are still looking for her as I speak. More on this breaking story at five!"

My eyes widened in shock and my heart raced. Did I hear that right? Maya accused with murder? I thought it was all a bad dream... I realized it wasn't when I heard a knock from the door. I walked over, taking deep breaths and trying to remain calm as I opened the door. It was a police officer. This was not good at all.
"Do you know this woman?" he asked in a stern tone as he pulled out a photo of Maya and held it up for me.
"N-No! I don't!" I replied nervously, knowing I couldn’t let him know Maya lived with me.
"Who is it, Mister Nick?" asked Pearls from behind me.
"N-Nobody, Pearls! Just keep making th-those burgers with May--!" I stammered quickly, before I was cut off.
"Hey! That's a photo of Mystic Maya! Are you going to keep it? Are you going to hang it on the wall over your bed? Well?"
"Do you know this woman, little girl?" the police officer asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"I sure do!" replied Pearls cheerfully with a smile to match her tone of voice. "That's her over there!"
Pearls pointed to Maya, who was still staring in awe at her cooking.
"Thank you, little lady," the officer said while tilting his cap "you have been of a lot of help."
The officer pointed at Maya and a S.W.A.T. team violently burst into the housef. The team placed handcuffs on Maya’s wrists and dragged her out of my house.
"WAIT! You can't arrest me! I haven't done anything wrong!" Maya screamed as she was forcibly dragged outside. "NICK! HELP ME!"

The last I saw of Maya was was her being thrown into the back of a police car as she was screaming. Maya's eyes were filled with fear, confusion and tears. Seeing Maya like that gave a rush of emotions. I didn't know what to think, let alone say to poor Pearls. I just sat down on the nearest couch and drifted off into thought. What was I going to do? Maya accused of murder... again. Tears formed in my bloodshot eyes and slowly slid down my face. I closed my eyes and looked down in hopelessness. I thought things couldn't get any worse for me. I was wrong...

To be continued...