Rose And Aaron : Shadows Of Rosewood

Chapter 6: The Suspects

Rose and Aaron huddled in a secluded corner of the library, the hum of whispers and shuffling pages providing a familiar backdrop. They were poring over a list of names, individuals who had regular access to the library. The list was short but promising—potential suspects who might have information about the mysterious figure in the surveillance footage.

"Well, look at this rogue’s gallery," Aaron said, smirking. "You’d think the library was a hotspot for criminal masterminds."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Right, because Emilia, the library assistant, screams 'criminal mastermind.' Let’s start with her."

They found Emilia shelving books near the back of the library. She was a petite girl with glasses that magnified her wide, innocent eyes. She looked up as they approached, her expression curious.

"Hey, Emilia," Rose said, offering a friendly smile. "Got a minute to talk?"

"Sure," Emilia replied, adjusting her glasses. "What’s up?"

"We’re trying to get some information about the night Leana died," Aaron said, cutting to the chase. "You were working here that night, right?"

Emilia nodded, her face clouding with concern. "Yes, I was. But I didn’t see anything unusual. I left right after closing, around 8 PM."

"Did you notice anyone hanging around the library that shouldn’t have been?" Rose asked, watching Emilia’s reaction closely.

Emilia shook her head. "No, it was a pretty quiet night. Just the usual crowd. Why are you asking?"

"We found some surveillance footage," Aaron explained. "There’s a figure who might be involved in what happened to Leana."

Emilia’s eyes widened. "Oh my gosh, that’s terrible. But I promise, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. I was here the whole time, except for a quick break around 7:30."

Rose and Aaron exchanged a glance. Emilia seemed sincere, and her alibi was solid.

"Alright, thanks, Emilia," Rose said, offering a reassuring smile. "If you remember anything, no matter how small, let us know."

"Of course," Emilia replied, looking genuinely troubled. "I hope you find out what happened."

As they walked away, Aaron sighed. "Well, she’s off the hook. Who’s next?"

Rose checked their list. "Jaden, the basketball star. He’s usually in the gym around this time."

They made their way to the gym, where the sounds of squeaking sneakers and bouncing balls echoed off the walls. Jaden was in the middle of a practice session, his tall frame dominating the court. When he saw Rose and Aaron approaching, he called a time-out and jogged over, a cocky grin on his face.

"Hey, what’s up?" Jaden asked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Come to watch me practice?"

Rose smirked. "Sorry to disappoint, but we’re here on official business."

Aaron stepped forward, arms crossed. "We need to ask you about the night Leana died. Were you in the library at any point?"

Jaden’s grin faltered. "The library? Nah, I was at a team meeting and then hit the gym for some solo practice. Why?"

"We’re just covering all bases," Rose said, her tone casual but probing. "Did you see anyone acting suspiciously that night?"

Jaden shrugged, his eyes darting away. "Can’t say I did. I was focused on my game."

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? Because we’ve got footage that might say otherwise."

Jaden’s jaw tightened. "Look, I didn’t have anything to do with Leana’s death. I barely knew her."

Rose could sense Aaron gearing up for a more confrontational approach, so she placed a hand on his arm, grounding him. "Alright, Jaden. If you think of anything, let us know."

Jaden nodded curtly and jogged back to his team, his evasiveness leaving a sour taste in their mouths.

As they left the gym, Aaron let out a frustrated sigh. "He’s definitely hiding something."

"Agreed," Rose said, her mind racing. "But pushing him too hard might make him clam up even more. We need to be smart about this."

Aaron glanced at her, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "You always know how to handle people. I’d probably just end up punching them."

Rose laughed, the tension easing slightly. "Good thing you have me, then."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the mystery and danger seemed to fade, replaced by a warm, unspoken connection. Aaron reached out and took Rose’s hand, his touch sending a thrill through her.

"We’ll crack this," he said softly. "Together."

Rose squeezed his hand, her heart pounding. "Together."

As they walked back to the library, hand in hand, they knew their journey was far from over. With a list of suspects and a growing sense of determination, they were ready to delve deeper into the mystery, no matter where it led.

And with each step, their bond grew stronger, forged in the fires of danger and discovery, and perhaps, something more.