Plot Twist

Chapter 4: An Ugly Speculation (2)

"My life flashed before my eyes when the bookshelf fell." James chuckled, consciously hiding a statement underneath his words for Xavier to catch. "Was a sturdy one. Didn't expect it to meet its end so early, eh?"

Seeing James lying on the white bed, somehow like how Travis' body once lay after his death, it really made Xavier feel so scared, suddenly. If the bookshelf had indeed fallen, James would've met the same end as Travis—

He was going paranoid – the fear of losing another friend was insane.

"Right. But thank God it got only your arm." Xavier sighed with his eyes downcast, observing James' cast. "How long will it take for you to come back to duty?"

James noticed that Xavier missed the hint.

"Don't worry. I could come whenever you wish – today itself if you'd like. I know you've been stressed over Travis' case. Not to mention how much pressure the department's putting on you. Just stay calm; loosen yourself a bit."

"Yeah... alright. But," Xavier said slowly, "I think I still want to talk to you about that book."

"Of course, you do."

"So..." Xavier fiddled with his fingers. "The book was actually the basic thing, and was unfinished. It was forcefully published when Travis died. The publishing company had been receiving backlash regarding that impulsive decision, so Criminal has now been taken down altogether – fifteen hundred copies sold, however. And now that you're hurt, people have missed the opportunity to have you blamed. So... they've been making theories. Currently, the public is convinced that Travis had been forced to take the guilt, since he's gone, and the mastermind has escaped – it's not helping our case here. They are taking the book's quality difference from the usual because of Travis' fear of his murderer."

James noticed that Xavier's mind was trying to protect himself from being hurt further – unconsciously. He didn't want the case to extend – but he didn't want it to end. The blame on his friend was so severe that it was understandable.

But he wouldn't be able to hide forever.

James would simply have to force the truth in, no matter how much it hurt. The sooner he understood, the better it would be for him.

He, Xavier, wouldn't believe how suspiciously Travis always behaved.

"Wow. I've always found these theories fun."

Taken aback with that response, Xavier retorted, "It's not a joke."

"Hm." James coughed. "You know, Xavier, I've been tossing around this theory myself..."

"Yeah?"

"That guy... was his writing always this bad?" James tried to make his remark seem subtle. "I mean, it's his style, alright, but the whole book was half-baked."

"Like I said, he seemed to have it unfinished—"

Xavier stared at James' cold demeanor.

He understood what James was saying.

He understood what he had to do.

He understood the truth behind Travis' writing inconsistency.

But he refused to believe it.

"Blaming him for murdering people for his characteristic 'unique' plot twist is too much! James, I understand where you're coming from, but that guy—that guy... he lived in this house... a yellow house... it can't be... I know he's killed a lot of people... and it's adding up, but... but..."

Just for books... just for money...?

Xavier balled his fists, unable to think straight. A thousand thoughts swarmed his mind.

No... but how could Travis be such a person?

Had Xavier misjudged him? Was Travis being framed? Did James simply want the case to be solved like all the others? Or were the parents, so very suspicious, the real ones to blames? The wife who wished for a divorce so frantically – was it her? Perhaps she knew Travis was like that? Did Travis commit crimes due to frustration – or due to too much drinking? Did the child know?

Was he in the wrong, protecting Travis?

—Was he really protecting Travis and the ones who deserved justice – and not... himself?

Travis' plot twists were Xavier's favorite part of the book. It was usually an imaginative way of viewing Xavier's last case. The murder was spiced up, stakes higher, and a plot twist – lo and behold! – involving some real evil mastermind behind it all.

Unlike the actual case inspiration was taken from, where it was just a terrorist gang who openly showcased their kills as their pride (most of the time it was something similar), Travis would always find a new way of looking at things – that sometimes made it impossible to realize most of his books were driven by common occurrences.

That was what Xavier thought.

He was just a fool, in the end.

"But you wanted to believe in that particular theory you told me of. I understand, dear Xavier. You're having a hard time coping. However, sometimes you need to accept and move on. For the greater good. Because we're the Heroes of Justice."

"I—" Xavier buried his head in his hands. "I so desparately want to prove you wrong..."

"I know." James patted his back. "I know."

"...T-T-Tomorrow. I'll get ahold of myself, and I'll have this theory publicized. After that, the public will calm down for a bit; and we'll search for the proofs too. Just give me a day to gather all my thoughts..."

"Certainly, Xavier. Just remember not to push yourself."

Once again Xavier missed another fact: that Travis had tried to kill James.

But James decided to let it slip – to reduce the mental toll upon Xavier.

Everyone in the department knew of the truth—

"I can't believe what kind of a person Travis was..." he whispered, his eyes watering slightly. "He lived in a yellow house, James. A ridiculous yellow house."

—Everyone but him.

***

It was the next day a new problem arose...

"—What?" Xavier was astonished. "What? You mean, the clues were fake – intentionally planted?"

...that opened the possibility of a fake accusation.

~~

= 979 words

Trivia: I've rewritten this draft four times so far. And I almost didn't make it to the deadline.