Hide and Seek

14 hours...

"I don't know what to do with this family," Zahara mumbled, taking a large gulp of her water.

"What do you think about Kaiya? Could she have done it?" Teagan asked.

"It's possible. To cover up for the accident. He was the only witness."

"Yeah, but that would sort of make her a suspect then. Killing the witness."

"I can't even think straight right now. Will it keep getting worse and worse with each story we hear?"

"You need to calm down detective. Don't let your emotions get the better of you. You need to focus."

Zahara slid her phone close to her and tapped on Noah's number.

'Zahara,' he answered on the second ring.

"Hi Noah, I have another question."

'Go ahead.'

"So, we've just spoken to Kaiya Levi. She hit someone with her car and paid someone else to take the blame. Ezra knew about this, could it be motive enough to kill him?"

'It could, but I'm sure you know by now that the culprit is very clever and calculating. If Kaiya is the culprit, then she would know that killing the only witness to that accident could potentially make her a suspect.'

"Unless the crime is covered up, and someone else takes the blame. Then this witness isn't really needed." Zahara pointed out.

'But since the whole thing was covered up and someone confessed, would it be necessary to kill the witness? If someone confessed to a crime, even if they did not commit it, and the evidence points to them, then they are guilty right? So, even if your boyfriend were to try and reveal what he knew, it wouldn't hold much weight because a confession was made.'

"Yes sir, I see your point."

'Good. Don't go into this with too much emotion. I know you're angry at them, but you have to remain calm.'

"Thank you sir." She hung up and took another gulp of her water. "Next up, Dilean," she huffed.

"Hey Zee," Dilean greeted her as he took a seat.

"Hi Dilean." She smiled softly.

"Teagan," Dilean turned to her and she nodded.

"So, Dilean," Zahara started. "Of all the Levi children, you're the one who was closest to Ezra, right?"

"Yeah, we were close. Even when we were kids, we hung out more than the others and he talked to me the most." He pushed his glasses back with his forefinger and rubbed his hands together.

"But then you two started going through a rift right? You had a falling out?" Zahara narrowed her eyes at him as he cleared his throat and licked his lips.

"Ummm... yes, but that was a long time ago," he said.

"Sure, but it's something that caused you two to stop talking. It must have been big for you to stop talking like that. You were Ezra's favourite."

"Yes, but I promise you that what happened back then is in the past. He's the one who chose to bring it up again and that's why I had to meet with him that day."

"Okay, just tell us what happened... back then," Teagan folded her arms over her chest and leaned back.
Dilean let out a deep exhale and pushed his glasses back. "Okay..." he whispered. "Two years ago I made a mistake. A mistake that Ezra found out. I fell in love..."

DILEAN LEVI

'I met her at a workshop that the company hosted. I already knew who she was, but I had never spoken to her before. Well, except for the occasional, "hey how are you?" at family dinners. But that workshop was when we had our first really long conversation.

"Are we the only ones attending this thing?" She asked me.
I had not realised that she had come over and sat next to me as I had my face buried in the book I was reading. I lifted my head and saw her smile down at me. It was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen in my life. The sun seemed to shine through her, warming my heart.

"Yeah, it looks like it," I replied. "Ezra had said he was going to come but now I'm not so sure."

"Do you mind if I sit with you?"

"Not at all." I moved my backpack from the chair beside me and she perched herself on it. She exuded elegance, and, with the utmost grace, she crossed one leg over the other and angled her body to face me.
"What are you reading?" She asked and I handed the book to her. "The Fifth Mountain," she muttered. "Pretty good."

"Have you read it?" I asked.

"Yes, I have. Twice."

"You like it that much?"

"No."

"Then why read it twice?"

"Well, I'm trying to understand how their love is described as freedom. How exactly does love liberate you? Because some people feel like they are in prison. There is no freedom."

"By 'some people' do you mean you?"

She huffed a laugh and looked away. "I'm sorry, I think I just..."

"Don't apologise. I'll delete the memory of you saying that if you want me to. But if you want to keep talking... you can."

She gave me a small smile and through her eyes I saw her pain. It was as if with that one look I could share all that she felt.
We talked until the workshop started, and through it. We were like school kids passing each other notes. I still have the notebook we used. We talked about everything. She is amazing and funny and just..."'

"Your brother's wife." Teagan cut him off.
He cast his eyes to the floor.

"How could you do that Dilean?" Zahara asked. "You may not get along but he's still your brother. You guys share a father."

"Zee, it's not like what you think. We did not do anything. Okay? I just wanted to know what it felt like to love and to be loved."

"By someone else's wife?"

"I couldn't help who it was, okay? It just became her. I did not do it on purpose. I realised too late that I was in love with her and I could not just let her go. I could not help it."

"How did Ezra find out?"