F.I.V.E: The mystery of the Mid-night Gunshot

CHAPTER 7

Since the main reason for our stay in the summer house was to track down Mr. Smith II, we called Evelyn's parents who were more than happy to come and get us. Just like the journey from Mr. smith II's house, we kept silent throughout. On getting home, I unpacked my things and went to bed. I was so tired and angry. I was so sure that I knew Mr. smith's brother was his brother.

I woke up to the sound of a knock on my bedroom door. When I answered it, Adrian opened the door and stood at the doorway.

"Hey!" I announced.

"Hi! Do you have any spare time? We need to talk." Adrian asked looking gloomy.

To be very sincere, I wasn't expecting him to say that. The question caught me completely off-guard that it took me a minute to answer him.

"Y-yeah sure. I was just lying in bed, so basically I am not doing anything at the moment. Come in."

"Thanks!"

When I gave him my dresser stool to sit on, he started talking most uncertainly. It was not the way he spoke that frightened me, it was what he said.

"I already know that you and your friends are working on my father's case."

"Oh! No, it's not what you think. See-"

"It's not what I think Fiona, it's what I have noticed and I have seen." He interrupted standing from his seat.

"Then you have noticed something else." I lied almost immediately "we have been working on our national competition throughout that we have no time to think about working on another crazy mission. Besides this is way bigger than us, it's a murder case."

"Don't try to lie to me Fiona; the first night I stepped into this house, you called your friends in here to have a meeting. Then, all of a sudden Iris comes to ask me the weirdest questions about my father's job."

"As if that was not enough clues to put together, they out of the blue decided to stay the night and don't tell me you had a lot of work to do on your project, because I wouldn't believe you." He concluded.

"we-ll we DID have a lot of work to do that night," I grumbled angrily.

"In my father's case you mean, in the middle of the night, I stayed up because of my insomnia. I heard and saw you and your friends sneak over the fence into my house." He said giving me an accusing stare.

"Ok, first of all, WHAT?" I said feigning confusion.

"As if that was not enough, you go on this absurd trip. Which I am very sure was a plan to carry on this crazy investigation of yours." He added.

"We went to interview the people living in that area for our project. I don't know why you just refuse to believe me."

"Maybe it's just because you are the worst liar of the century. I hacked into your laptop yesterday when you were out, and I checked the website for the competition. Your team has posted nothing. Not even a picture."

"We are working on something." I lied again. I wasn't just going to give up easily. I knew what he was trying to do- he wanted me to break. That was the only way the truth would be out. But I wasn't willing. Not when we have come this far.

"I will say it again," I said in the most courageous voice as I stood and looked straight into his brown eyes. "We aren't doing anything."

"Fine! But I advise you to stop snooping around." He answered. He turned and made his way to the door.

"Chill!" I said making him stop in his tracks. "I have quite an investigative question to ask. Where were you when the gunman shot your father?"

"Just out of curiosity!" I shrugged when I noticed the look of suspicion in his eyes.

"For your info, I was in bed," I answered coldly. In a matter of seconds, he was gone.

The conversation I just had with Adrian was just too weird to be kept to myself. I took my phone and called Evelyn and told her about it.

"Can you imagine Eve? Adrian of all people?" I said my voice barely over a whisper.

"I wouldn't lie to you Fiona; I am freaked out right now. Do you think we should stop the search and just give up?"

"Hell No! I am not turning back now. We are so close, I can feel it." I whispered back into the phone.

"Did you say Close? We hardly know who the killer is. We are literally in a blind alley right now. Adrian has a point though."

"Wait for a second, if Adrian is warning me about the killer, probably he has a clue about who he is."

"Or she, don't be so sexist right now." She muttered under her breath.

"Whatever!" I hissed rolling my eyes "My point is that we should probably search the house again."

"You told me that Adrian saw us that night right? And if we come over, he would suspect big time."

"Shush!" I hissed into the phone silencing the surprised Evelyn. I knew she was already pissed. For sure, if she were right beside me, I would be dead meat. "I am trying to think."

"Be fast about it then, or call me back when you are through." She replied coldly.

"No, wait! You have a point. We can't go in the night because Adrian would suspect right? So we would leave in the afternoon. It is better for us and safer."

"With the police and the news reporters gone...." Evelyn started.

"Nobody will stick their nose into our business." I concluded smiling "Admit it, I am a genius."

"Yeah! For once in your life." She laughed

"Thanks," I replied sarcastically. "Just text the others and meet me in the park in an hour, OK?"

"On it!" she said before she ended the call.

I opened my room door and peeped into the corridor to see if Adrian was anywhere around. Luckily for me, I heard him and my dad hit it off on a topic about football. I groaned and rolled my eyes "BOYS!" Rushing to my wardrobe, I took my backpack and stuffed the flashlights and a packet of hairpins (just in case), and an energy bar.

I looked into the mirror and brushed my hair and applied a layer of lipstick. Finally, I prepared myself for the New lie I was to tell. I got downstairs and was met with both the faces of my father and Adrian staring at me.

"Hey, Dad! I am off to the park."

"For?" Adrian asked raising a suspicious eyebrow with his elbow on the kitchen table.

"None of your beeswax, Ok?" I said crudely.

"Seriously Fiona Adams, you didn't have to be rude about it. It was a very honest question. Now please apologize to Adrian." He replied looking at me in a hurt and questioning manner.

"Fine, I am sorry!" I said indifferently "now please may I leave?"

"Be back before curfew!" dad called out.

"Sure, sure!" I replied sarcastically as I stepped out through the front door.