Everyone's A Suspect

What Happened to Kayla?

Alyse stayed home all weekend. She knew that on Monday, everyone was going to be talking about it at school. Luckily, Alyse didn't have to go in until 10:00. Even though her class didn't start until 10:30, Kali woke her up at 5:30. Alyse didn't miss those high school days, but of course, having a high schooler younger sibling was going to do the trick. Kali took forever to get ready for school because she was so tired.

Alyse was relieved when Kali was done making her wake-up routine racket until she heard her mom yelling at her. "Kali! Let's go! You're going to be late for school!" Alyse pulled her blanket over her head. "I love my sister, but why can't she just move it?" Alyse whispered to herself before falling asleep. All Alyse remembered after falling back asleep was a memory of her and Kayla from when they were younger. They were maybe 10 in this memory. It was summer vacation and they were playing tag, running down a hill. Suddenly, the memory went from happy to Alyse having a vision of Kayla falling off that cliff.

Alyse gasped as she sat up quickly. It was 9:00, time for her to get up. "That cliff, where have I seen it?" Alyse asked herself. She looked outside. There was a light coat of snow. After getting dressed, Alyse started her car, knowing that it was frozen over. She made herself some coffee, put her hair in a ponytail and left for school. Normally, she does her makeup and styles her hair to look professional, but she wasn't feeling up to it today. It was only about 30 degrees this morning, so Alyse did her best to move quickly.

Alyse drove carefully across town knowing that there was black ice somewhere on those roads. She parked at her school, University of Alaska Anchorage and went inside. The first thing she saw when she walked in was a huge banner hanging from the ceiling that said "Rest in Peace Kayla." Alyse looked down quickly, pretending not to see it. She knew other students were staring at her, but she pretended she didn't. She was close to making it to her classroom without anyone speaking to her until she came across Matthew Rasmussen, Kayla's boyfriend.

"Alyse! Hey!" He says, jogging up to her. "Oh, hey Matthew." She says, trying to act like she didn't know he'd be there. "How- how are you?" Alyse just looked at him. He sounded upset and rightfully so, but he had a tone to it, as if he were hiding something other than sadness. "Spectacular." She answered, sounding sarcastic. Matthew raised his eyebrows and lowered them again. "Sarcasm. That never fails to remind me why you and Kayla were such close friends. Listen, the whole school's been staring at me since I got here this morning, I suspect they'll be doing the same to you." Alyse nodded, almost as if she weren't interested in what Matthew had to say. "Thanks." She replied and carried on.

Alyse took her seat in her introduction to social welfare class. She was glad that her seat was closer to the back of the classroom, but she realized that the disadvantage was that she was easy to notice when other students walked in. Almost everyone was tapping her on the shoulder as they walked in to tell her they're sorry about Kayla. For once, she was hoping someone would walk in and leave her alone, but when it actually happened, Alyse was actually skeptical. Grace Abbott. Alyse stared at her from across the room. There was something off about her today. Alyse didn't give it much more thought because she knew that it was just an off day for everyone who knew Kayla.

Alyse was glad once her professor walked in because now class could start, giving her a reason to focus on something other than Kayla's death, but she was wrong. "As most of you know, a UAA student passed away over the weekend. If you see any of her friends or family, please give them your condolences." Just after that, the whole class turned and looked at Alyse. Embarrassed, Alyse looked down, pretending none of that just happened. Once she realized class wasn't going to actually start until she acknowledged anyone, she looked up at everyone. "Sorry Professor Bond, but I'd appreciate it if we could stay on track." Her professor nodded. "Very well. We're going to work on lesson 2, so everyone pull out your textbooks."

Alyse managed to make it through her two hour class. She had time before her next class, so she decided to get some lunch. On her way out, she ran back into Matthew. "Hey Alyse, I know you said you wanted to be left alone, but I can't stop thinking about Kayla, and I have this feeling that you can't either." Alyse paused. "Okay, so what? Do you want to talk about it then?" She asked. "Yes." He answered, as if the answer to Alyse's question was obvious.

"Okay, so what is it then?" She asked, sitting down at a nearby bench. Matthew sat with her. "I was on my way to her house to return this." He says, pulling out Kayla's red inhaler. "She left it in my car after our date that afternoon. She's kind of forgetful like that." Alyse and Matthew nodded in agreement. "She wouldn't respond to my call when I got there, so I just continued to her house. Her parents said she was on her walk, so I decided to come back later. When I heard she was found dead the next morning, I was devastated. Of course, the only question is, why would anyone want to kill Kayla?"

Alyse's facial expression went from compassionate to confused and suspicious. No one said that Kayla was murdered. "What are you saying Matthew? No one said anything about Kayla's death being a homicide." Matthew looked down. "Matthew? Did you kill her?" Alyse asked aggressively. "No, of course not! I love her!" Alyse looked away. She was remembering the day that Kayla was crying because Matthew yelled at her.

FLASHBACK

"Kayla? What's the matter?" Alyse asks over the phone. Kayla was in tears. "It's Matthew. He just left my house, yelling at me. He says I was cheating on him!" She sobbed. Alyse lowered her head and put a hand to it. "That's ridiculous, you would never!" Kayla sniffled again. "I know, but he's convinced. I don't know what's gotten into him." Alyse knew her pain. She hadn't dated since early high school because her boyfriend cheated on her. "Emergency shopping spree?" Alyse said calmly. Kayla dried her eyes. "Thanks Alyse. You're the best." Alyse drove off to pick Kayla up and they went shopping at the diamond mall.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

"Alyse? Alyse!" Matthew says, finally breaking Alyse out of her flashback. She looked back at him. "Sorry, I just can't stop thinking about that time where you yelled at her!" Alyse almost yells. "That was five months ago!" Matthew replies, standing up, his voice a little louder. Alyse was still in disbelief. "Forget it." Alyse just picked up her things and started walking away. She didn't see Matthew throwing his arms out in frustration, but once he turned around, he didn't see her give him a suspicious glare. Why would he suggest that Kayla was murdered? Now that she had thought about it, Kayla wouldn't just wander off a cliff. Someone must have pushed her. Was it Matthew? Alyse had to find out!