Glowing in the Dark

5 | I didn't actually step on poop

If Anthony isn't dead yet, I'll kill him myself. I know Ryan will stop me but I still want to try.

If he didn't go to our classroom that morning, he would've been killed already and it would be easier.

I gulped, staring down at my feet.

We left all our backpacks to side. Honestly, I forgot I was carrying it. Nothing but a single notebook was in it anyway.

"Do you have any idea who this "she" is?" Morales asked.

I shook my head slowly. That was the only lie I've answered so far.

A moment of silence, then Morales ordered all the men to leave and search for clues. They also took the security guys with them.

I scanned the room, twisting the ring on my finger.

Lyla turned pale and was leaning into Oliver for support. His eyes were distant just like every time he was calculating for a very hard problem. While Tylor's expression was hard to read.

I wanted to apologize to them. Tell them that I didn't mean to bring them into a tighter spot. If only I knew that it wasn't just Kate but the only thing I managed was a whisper of "Sorry."

Then, Ryan took my hand and squeezed it. His eyes were dark just like the last day the air was this cold.

"You can ask them to leave." Morales said as he turned to the monitors. "If that would make it any easier."

I opened my mouth to speak but Lyla interrupted.

"I'm staying." she said. I stared at her. "I-I want to know."

"Me too." Oliver said. "If that's ok."

I managed a smile for them.

"Yeah," Tylor shrugged. "This'll be interesting."

I thought of a response. It ranged from punching Tylor to saying sorry for blaming him and to asking him to leave.

Instead I said "I still don't trust you."

"Now, that that's over with." Morales started, taking a chair. "I have a few questions. I was assigned to investigate about an incident four years ago-"

"Wait- you're not really working for Kate?" I said.

"Yes and no." He clicked on the keyboard and the monitors went into real time. "I'll be asking the questions here."

Ryan made me sit on the other chair.

"Anyway, about the incident four years ago." He eyed me and Ryan. "We know there's always trouble in Daniels Lane but there was a . . . family feud that caused an explosion that killed about 50 people. The only ones who survived was a man and two kids."

I felt a lump in my throat.

"One of my coworkers only caught a glimpse of the kids so we didn't believe him." he continued, scanning the room. "Until I found out about the man's son and the daughter of a couple that died there."

"One was thirteen. The other was twelve." He looked at me expectantly. "My first question: what exactly happened that day?"

I glared, forcing to steady my breathing.

"First of all, who's paying you?" I said.

"That's none of your business."

I shrugged. "I don't know what happened."

He stared until his lips formed a sneer. He chuckled.

"Okay then, what do you-" He smiled at all of us. Then his eyes landed on Ryan who clenched his fists. "Know about Maricel Castillo?"