They heard Mrs. Conolley being welcomed by Mrs. Grey, Lynda's mother.
"Where are they? I'd like to speak to them," said Mrs. C. "Though I think it's preferable if your daughter doesn't listen."
"Oh please," cried Mrs. Grey. "Lynda won't cause any trouble, I promise."
"No she won't." Lynda said. She left Zach and Eliza in her bedroom. She smirked and stared at Mrs. Conolley's disheveled hair. The grey roots were easily visible, and it looked too unhealthy. Zach and Eliza came downstairs. Now everyone was in the kitchen standing, sharing glances.
Once Mrs. C. realized it, she screamed: "Oh my God! Are you all right? What happened to your arms?"
Each of Zach's forearms were wrapped, covering the wounds. He even had stitches to close a cut on the edge of his forehead. (Which none of his friends had yet discovered)
"And my belly too," Zach said. "It happened few nights ago..."
"People in China knew about what happened to Zach. But clearly you do not engage in any communications with any of your neighbors unless the matter revolves around Little Prince Brian." Lynda gravely said and with a loud voice.
"Hey, watch your tongue, girl," Mrs. Grey warned. "You said you won't cause any trouble."
"I'm merely stating a popular fact." To her friends, Lynda's sarcasm was just on point. However, the adults considered it coming out from a girl who lacked decorum.
For a few short minutes, they all uttered no words, until finally Mrs. Grey decided to make things a little bit more placid.
"I do apologize for my daughter's ill manners, but I suppose we all are too much worried about Brian."
"Has anyone seen him?" Mrs. C. asked. Her voice was broken and she seemed like she was looking for the tiniest string of hope to hold on to. "When was the last time you guys spoke to him?"
"I can answer that!" Lynda's excitement was irritating Mrs. Conolley. "The last time I spoke to him, no he spoke to me, was exactly eight days before today. He texted me just to say: You're a liar, BITCH. And guess what I sent back. A smiley. Do you know why? Because I literally smiled at his formal words. You really raised a good young man, Mrs. Conolley. Job well done." Lynda raised her right thumb.
Eliza turned her face away, then all of her body, so she could furtively laugh.
Zach was really confused. Brian never treated him that way. If anything, Brian was one of the kindest people Zach knew. Well, Zach had to admit to himself, Brian did sometimes act like a stuck up guy, but that must have its own explanation. Nevertheless Zach never knew the explanation until recently. Until perhaps it was too late....
He said: "He was at mine the day my accident happened. We were talking about Friday plans after school and the tv series we were excited about. He asked me what junior year would be like. Just a casual conversation, nothing suspicious." Zach was lying. He knew far more about what was going on with Brian that night. But spilling out everything would do more harm than good. No, actually it would cause nothing but danger threatening Brian, and most importantly himself. He forgot that Mrs. C. still was ignorant of the accident he was involved in that night, so he explained everything.
She was so stunned to learn that Alex could do something as monstrous. Then Zach asked her if there is still a place she hadn't searched yet, a place where Brian could be at.
"There's Landmay's Lake," She said abruptly. Her eyes glowed in hope. "Yes! How did I forget? Landmay's Lake is Brian's favorite lake!" She ran out of the front door, into her car, and just before she started the engine Zach said he was coming too. Then Eliza said the same thing. And since Lynda didn't like facing a maternal wrath, she cried: "I'm sorry Mrs. C. I didn't mean to be rude; was just panicking and overthinking about where might your son be." They all sat in the backseats. Mrs. C. hysterically drove to Landmay's Lake. It was now almost 11:45 p.m.
There were only 3 torches in the car which is strange enough and not enough either.
The search which consisted of loud calls and looking in the smallest places a person could hide in, was unfortunately fruitless. Lynda was with Zach, and each Mrs. Conolley and Eliza were alone. When they all grouped together, they shook their heads, an annunciation that Brian was not found. In huge disappointment, Mrs. C. left the three teenagers alone and drove away.
"Fucking bitch, I hate her and her son," cried Lynda. "Who on earth cares where he is? I bet he ran off with some girl to fuck."
Eliza said: "Guys I'm too tired to think about this anymore. I just want to sleep."
But Zach couldn't tolerate Lynda. So he said in a strong voice: "Listen Lynda, I do not know what he has done to you or you have done to him to hate him that much, but this is serious. He's missing. And if the police start searching for him, we will be the first people to be interviewed. We are the closest people to him whether or not you like it."
Eliza wasn't willing to join the conversation which soon would be argument, so she watched and remained silent.
But Lynda said: "I'm not so sure about that."
"What does that suppose to mean?"
"It means, Zach, that your little friend is not close to any person. Okay? Do you understand? He's a nosey bastard who doesn't care about anybody but himself. And guess what! He enjoys watching people suffer. He's a blackmailer, and the world would be better off without him." Lynda couldn't handle the anger within her. And now all the the sufferings' pain Brian had inflicted on her in the past, were returning all at once. She collapsed and sobbed.
Eliza hugged her tight while Zach stood still.
The three located themselves next to the pond which they all, including Mrs. Conolley, forgot to search.
YOU ARE READING
Twin
Mystère / Thriller18-year-old Zach has finally got what he always wanted: get rid of his haunting nightmare. Ever since he was just an innocent little child, he never was able to receive the tiniest bit of his mother's attention. It all was directed and granted to Al...
