Games Of Hearts

44. The culprit (Last chapter)

As the week drew to a close, the familiar rhythms of college life resumed, a welcome respite from the turmoil that had unfolded. Joshua, now discharged from the hospital, was finally home, surrounded by the warmth and love of his family. His mother, a beacon of comfort and care, had arrived to nurse him back to health, her presence a soothing balm to his battered spirit.

Though I had moved back in with Jamie, my heart remained with Joshua, and I spent most of my days by his side, tending to his needs, and marveling at his resilience. The road to recovery was long and arduous, but with each passing day, Joshua grew stronger, his smile brighter, and his laughter more frequent.

Meanwhile, a beautiful friendship blossomed between Chris and Joshua, a testament to the power of forgiveness and camaraderie. Chris would visit Joshua often, and they'd spend hours immersed in games, their banter and jokes filling the room with a sense of joy and normalcy.

"Good morning!" Jamie exclaimed, her bright smile illuminating the room like a ray of sunshine.

"Good morning, sweetie," I replied, wrapping my arm around her in a warm side hug.

Jamie's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "How's Joshua now? I've been worried about him."

"Better, he's still mischievous though," I said with a wink, my smile matching Jamie's brightness.

Just then, a voice interrupted our cheerful exchange. "Eva..." The soft, hesitant tone came from behind us.

Jamie and I turned around in unison, our eyes landing on Joe, who stood in the doorway adjusting his specs. His usual calm demeanor seemed slightly ruffled, and his eyes held a hint of concern.

"Joe, are you okay?" I asked, my brow furrowing with worry.

"Yeah, I've found some leads on the case," Joe replied, his gaze shifting to Jamie. "But before I proceed, I need to ask Jamie a few questions."

Jamie nodded at me, her expression understanding. "Of course, Joe." I gave Jamie a reassuring squeeze before releasing her.

As I walked out of my class, I collided with Joe again. "Have you noticed one thing?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"What?" I replied, curious.

"Olivia has been missing since the incident," he said, pointing the tip of his pen near his mouth.

My mind raced with the implications. "Is she...your...suspect?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Joe nodded. "Yeah, she's my prime suspect I have. We have to find her."

Just then, Jamie and Chris appeared at our sides. "What's going on?" Jamie asked, her eyes darting between Joe and me.

"Olivia's missing," Joe explained. "And I think she might be involved in the incident."

Chris's eyes widened. "Whoa, that's heavy. What can we do to help?"

Joe's expression turned determined. "Let's work together to find Olivia and get some answers."

Without another word, the four of us formed an impromptu investigative team, united by our quest for truth and our concern for Olivia's whereabouts.

"Can you track her?" Chris asks Joe, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and determination.

Joe nods, his expression focused. "She's somewhere out of the city, but I can track her location."

"How long will it take to get there?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

Joe glances at his watch. "About 2 hours, depending on traffic."

I nod, making a quick decision. "Let's go. I'll ask someone to stay with Joshua and give him his medicine. We can't leave him unattended."