Hide and Seek

8 hours...

"Hello Noah," Zahara greeted the prosecutor over the phone.

'Hi Zahara.'

"Are you busy?"

'Oh, I was just showering when I heard my phone ring. What's up? Do you have another question?'

"This keeps getting harder, and more confusing. I'm not really sure if I'm doing this right."

'And with only eight hours left you decided to call me to do what? Cry?'

"It's just really hard."

'Then give up.'

"What?"

'If you can't take it anymore just give up. I mean, you'd only be going to jail for the rest of your life for something you didn't do. I hear the food there is not so bad.'

"Noah, I'm serious."

'So am I. If it's too tough for you give up, otherwise stop whining and pull yourself together. The man you love was killed and you got blamed for it. Turn that confusion and sadness into determination and anger, and find the real criminal. Don't let them get to you and don't show them any fear. Look at each of them dead in the eyes. Read their minds, stare into their souls. You'll see who the criminal is.
Then after that, only after that, can you finally cry.'

"Yes sir, I understand." Zahara sniffed and hung up.

"Let's take another five minute break," Teagan said. "But it should be our last one because we can't keep wasting our five minutes."

"Yeah, I'll go wash my face." Zahara muttered and headed for the bathroom that was at the end of their passage.
She splashed some cold water on her face and just let it drip off along with some silent tears. She inhaled and exhaled deep gulps of air.
"You can do this Zahara," she whispered, clenching her fists. "You can do this."
She nodded and wiped her face with one of the towels folded and piled on top of the sink.
She passed by the living room on her way back to the study.
Some of the Levi siblings were sleeping, while the others were on their phones. Zahara felt annoyed just looking at them.

"Myra, you're next," she called out and the woman nodded.

Zahara did not wait for her and just walked back into the study.

"And Myra?" Teagan looked up.

"She's coming."

•••

Inez and Myra were identical twins, but nowhere near the same. While Inez panicked in public, Myra remained calm, refusing to show weakness. While Inez was bubbly and playful, Myra was cold and serious. A lot of people would call Myra a mini Kaiya, which she hated.

"Hello Myra," Zahara rubbed her eyes, the fatigue kicking in.

"I'm only here because my father said so. Do not think that you have some sort of upper hand.

"Excuse me," Teagan leaned forward. "Who are you fighting? Is she not allowed to greet you?"

"Yes. She isn't. I refuse to be greeted by a criminal."

"Said one criminal to the other." Zahara stated.

"Criminal?" Myra glared at her.

"Get off your high horse Myra. I know what you did to get yourself promoted."

"I don't know what you are talking about." She folded her arms.

"I'm talking about how you stole someone else's presentation and gave it off as your own."

"I did no such thing. I worked hard and gave it my all. Is it that surprising that I could come up with something that the board liked?"

"Yes, it is Myra. It is really surprising because you are not really the sharpest tool in the Levi shed."

"Your lack of cooperation would only be a small inconvenience for us because this would take longer, but we can find out who the real criminal is without you. Now, you either lose the attitude and cooperate... or you can walk out and miss out on your father's fortune. It's up to you, but don't waste out time."

"What do you want to know?"

"Start from when you stole the presentation."

"I did not steal it. We simply made a deal..."

MYRA LEVI

'I went to Dilean's office a few days before the deadline of the competition that dad had announced. I heard him talking on the phone. It sounded like he was talking to a woman so I stood by the door until he had finished. I didn't want to disturb him since it was the first time I had actually heard him talking to a woman. And might I say that I had never in my entire life heard Dilean speak that way. He was busy saying things like; 'I can't wait to see you.', 'Make sure you wear my favourite dress.', 'I miss you.', 'I love you.'
Before he finished I tapped on his office door and went in with a file in my hand.

"Hello brother," I greeted him and he placed his phone on the table. He was a bit startled but maintained his composure.

"What do you want?"

"I need you to look at this file."

"Place it on the table. I'll look at it when I'm done with this phone call."

"I need to return with it because I have to go over some things today."

"Then I will bring it to you Myra. Put it on the table."

I placed the file, along with my phone and diary on the table.
"I can wait for it. I'm sure it won't take long for you to approve and give me your signature."

"Fine," he grumbled and opened the file. He perused through it. "This is for Eli not me Myra. Finance?"

"Oh is it?" I scrunched my eyebrows. "I must have picked up the wrong one. My bad. I'll get the correct one."

"Anything else?"

"Yes, actually. How far are you with your presentation? I wanted a bit of advice."

"I've finished. And why would you seek advice from me Myra? We are not close."

"I just needed a different viewpoint. A completely different one from my usual circle."

"Myra go away, you're acting like Inez. I don't have the time or patience for your nonsense."

"Fine." I raised my hands in surrender and stepped out, satisfied to have accomplished my goal of leaving my phone in his office. It was on the recording app, recording him.
I'm sure you can put two and two together and understand the shock I go when I retrieved my phone and learned that he was having an affair with Renata.
Renata? Of all people? Eli's wife from the slums?
Like... I'm not one to judge but do these men have no taste at all?
Anyway, it was Renata and that was exactly what I needed. I came up with an incredible proposition that Dilean coupled not possibly refuse given the circumstances he was under. I was doing us both a favour, and technically speaking, both of us were going to benefit from this.'