When nothing goes right, turn left

A Door Left Open

Veronica sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the stolen documents. "None of it added up."

Smith. Hilary. The cryptic agreement with R.T. The hidden legal transfer.

And now, the murder.

She knew one thing: "Hilary wasn't going to help her."

Which meant she needed someone who "would"—someone outside of this tangled web, but close enough to have answers.

Bella sat across from her, legs folded beneath her, studying the papers.

"What if we're missing something obvious?" Bella muttered.

Veronica sighed. "Like what?"

Bella hesitated. "What about someone who knew Smith before he died?"

Veronica frowned. 'Most people barely knew anything about Smith.'

But then—

A memory flickered.

She remembered a conversation, half-heard weeks ago. Students whispering in the halls. Something about "Smith showing up at the college before his death"

"Clark might know something," Veronica murmured.

Bella nodded."Then we ask him. And if he doesn't, we find someone who does."

And just like that, "Veronica had a new way forward."

She wasn't going to chase shadows anymore.

She was going to get real answers.

....

Veronica found Clark near the edge of campus, leaning against a railing, headphones around his neck, staring out into the afternoon sky.

She didn't waste time.

"I need to know what you heard about Smith."

Clark turned his head slowly, his usual smirk absent."What makes you think I know anything?"

"You hear everything, she said. "And back when this started, you kept bringing him up. You knew something then. And I need it now."

Clark sighed, crossing his arms. "You're not gonna like it."

Veronica took a step closer. "Try me."

He studied her, then exhaled. "Before Smith was killed, people said he was looking for someone. Kept showing up at places he didn't belong. Even at the college—like he was trying to talk to someone here."

Veronica's stomach twisted. "Who?"

Clark hesitated. "That's the thing. No one knows. But whoever it was, Smith was desperate to find them."

Bella had appeared beside them, tension in her expression. "You think it was Hilary?"

Veronica swallowed hard.

Hilary had met with him. "Exchanged something with him."

Was she the one Smith had been searching for?

Or was it someone else entirely?

Because if Smith was desperate, it meant he knew something worth dying for.

And Veronica had a sickening feeling she was about to find out what that was.