Criminal

Chapter 13: Confrontation

The next morning, Kari took her notebooks and left for school. Someday, she would appreciate that time like I did. I peeked at her closet, assuming she wouldn't mind if I borrow an outfit for today. I took a lavender sweater and a black skirt with leggings to try something new.

Wandering around the house while looking for the shower, I got a sense for the layout. After showering and getting dressed, it was time to finally meet Dr. Sawyer. I could get the answers I've been looking for since my horrible birthday.

Gretchen chuckled at me wearing her little sister's outfit as I walked through the living room. "Is it bad?" I buzzed with anticipation to see Dr. Sawyer, so I wouldn't fuss over some clothes.

"No, it's just different. Going home?" She stopped watching TV while sitting on the chair.

"I'm meeting Dr. Sawyer. He did an analysis on my mom, so I'm checking the results." He must have the actual results, and I had to get it from the source, since everyone else was so secretive.

"Good luck. I'm sure you will figure it out soon." She looked back at the TV. It seemed everyone knew, but me. I already had a good guess but I needed confirmation.

I drove to his office with nervousness and excitement overwhelming my stomach. It felt like forever to arrive at the small, white doctor's office that seemed innocuous without knowing the strange witchcraft there. I approached the main desk in the office with beige walls and tiled floors where a man and a woman were sitting. "Is Dr. Sawyer here?" I asked the woman with reddish curls.

"That's me." The man sitting next to her rolled his chair toward me. He had a knowing face like he knew who I was and why I was here. He had that grandpa look with grey hair and wire glasses.

I spoke low, even though no one else was here. "Do you have the results of the murder involving Fay?"

"I brought them to Nick. He's your father, right?"

Nick said the doctor had them. Why were they being dishonest? "Yes. He said you have them. Can you just tell me who did it?" I was getting more eager and annoyed. I hoped some rule wouldn't stop me.

"Okay." As he was about to say, someone entered the building. He turned his attention to the person who came inside. "Bridgett, you came back."

She smiled as she walked to him. "I'm ready for my donation to your restaurant."

Suddenly, she wanted to offer her blood to the vampires. She hated them, so this was an odd change in her thoughts and behavior. Sawyer was pleased. "Wonderful, I'll get things ready. Follow me." He gestured her to a smaller room behind us.

Before I reminded him of me, he went into that little room. I narrowed my eyes at her, wondering why she sabotaged my chance for answers. She whispered in my ear. "I know who did it, and I'll say it."

After a few seconds of her looking away, I nudged her. "Well?"

"Alex has the results." She headed straight to Dr. Sawyer. Now, I have to visit the guy who almost killed me yesterday. Why didn't she tell me who? I could almost kill her for this.

I drove backed to Gretchen's, so I could get his address. She stayed at the TV, watching a movie. The restaurant might be the main time she went out. I figured she'd be very sociable, but we had things in common. I also rather watch a movie at home than go anywhere. "Where's Alex's house?" I asked directly, still frustrated at this chase Sawyer and Bridgett made me do.

"It's the blue house closest to mine." She pulled her hair over her shoulder and started playing with it. "Why you ask? I should go with you." She moved off her chair.

"Bridgett said he has the results. He's gotten involved with my mother's death, so I must confront him alone." I gestured her to sit.

"Alright." She sat. "I'll trust you to be okay."

Arriving at his place, no car was there besides mine. He shouldn't be home. His front door was unlocked. Was this a trap? I should've taken Gretchen with me, but I reached his bedroom with no trouble. The results sat on his bed. I flipped through pages of medical jargon until he walked into the room. "Made yourself in okay?" He walked up to me, holding a bottle.

"Did you do it?" I asked, suddenly, all the confidence in myself I built over the years melted. Even the friendships I made were useless compared to the security I had with my mom. She wouldn't have hid the answers I needed. Those people I trusted hid the truth, so they left me in danger. I let my guard down and should've never opened myself to other people.

"No." He tossed the contents of the bottle on me. It was a powder that made me sleepy. Was this the powder that affected Darren's parents? "This makes even you weak. Bridgett created it." Bridgett wanted me and Fay gone? I suspected she turned me. He pulled a bookshelf down on me, causing me to faint.

"Shelly, wake up!" I cracked my eyes open to Bridgett, shaking me. I sat up to gather my bearings. The stench of gasoline hit me and below me were ropes, and a circle of rocks in a dry clearing in a forest. Alex was about to set me on fire. She yanked me up and ran. "He's about to get the matches. We need to hurry."

We ran across the forest. I could've been faster than her, but my resentment toward her and my disorientation made her far ahead. She stopped, and I caught up to her. "I'm not positive about what happened." I started, "but you must've turned me, and Darren and Alex worked together to murder Fay." Alex was helping Darren, and Nick would cover for his son.

"It's Darren. He killed Fay and tried to kill you, but I saved you by turning you. I didn't want to, but it's the only way to save you. You shouldn't have to die because of Fay's personality."

I didn't want it to be him because I pitied him. He became my first friend. Why did he hate Fay and me so much? "You waited so long to tell me. Why he did it?"

"I'm not innocent. It was my idea because I saw the future of Fay causing a major increase of vampires with her refusal to keep quiet about them. Dangerous people would get dangerous power. When I mentioned it to Darren, he wanted to resort to killing since she's too stubborn. He must've felt guilty about splitting up your parents until he discovered how irresponsible Fay is."

She was right about my mom, but this was hard to accept. Fay caused problems, but it shouldn't have to end this way.

She continued explaining. I felt the effects of her power with her frantic speaking. "When you visited your dad, Darren and I sneaked into your car. We waited, and I watched as he attacked your mom, then you. You weren't supposed to be involved at all, but you came to defend your mom, so he tried to eliminate witnesses or any chance of retaliation. I discreetly cast the vampire spell on you, as you didn't deserve to die."

"You think my mom deserved to die?" I didn't sound as angry as I meant to, but it still made her shuddered.

Looking at the ground, she spoke. "You're right. I'm sure it was a mistake. I'm so sorry. When the results came in, Darren was found guilty, but his parents didn't want you to kill him, so they hid it. We were all afraid of that. Darren got Alex to kill anyone who could spoil his secret, including his parents, me, and you. Darren also tried to kill me and Gretchen last night."

I thought about revenge, but there's been enough violence already. It wouldn't fix the past. Killing anyone would ruin the almost good future I have now. I just needed to save myself from Darren and Alex. "Did you set up me almost getting burned by Alex, so I would spare you?" She shook with a pink face. A cunning girl she was under that shy manner. I savored watching her squirm in terror while I pretended to decide her fate. Putting my hand on her shoulder, I comforted her. "I won't hurt anyone, but I need to talk to Darren." She sighed in relief as she followed me out of the woods.

Exiting the woods, we stood behind Gretchen's place, so Darren was close by. The eagerness to confront him overshadowed everything else. I ran faster than any human could to his place, leaving Bridgett no chance to catch up to me. It's time to finally face the one who murdered my mom and almost me.

A/N: Only two more chapters left. I couldn't tell if it was too obvious that the murderer was Darren. I'd be thankful if someone could tell me their opinion.