Bully

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

  The safe weighed down my entire body like an anchor as I began the trek home, making my mind heavy and clouded with curiosity. What could it possibly contain? And just as importantly, who was the mysterious deliverer of the letter? Surely they must be on my side if the literally gave me the key to an unsolved mystery?

   The fact that I had the tools to open the safe now hit home, and I soon grew impatient with the route home – it was far too long. I needed to know now. For some reason I had formed an attachment to the safe, like it was something of great value. I truly believed that by solving this little riddle, I’d have a much clearer light to look the rest of the mystery on. So with these thoughts filling my busy mind, I deterred from the walk home and searched for the nearest private place I could find.

  Nestled between the stately homes of Queen Street and a small yet smart cafe, was a park. And it was an empty one at that. The park was far from a perfect place to ease my curiosity – I hadn’t a clue what the safe contained and being in an environment built for kids wasn’t ideal if it stored something dangerous. Imagine if a few children skipped in to find me pulling a bomb or gun out?! However I was just too impatient to wait now, and decided I must be extra weary of the safe, and if anyone was approaching.

   Hopping over the bright yellow park gate, I made my way across the Astroturf and to the shelter of the climbing frame, thinking that it would be better if I hid underneath that as opposed to being out in the open, and easily targeted by the human eye. Maybe it was paranoia, but I still felt as if I could be easily spotted. Moseby had his way of keeping an eye on my movements, and the last thing I wanted him to find out about (besides Emily) was this safe. It almost felt like a lifeline, like it was promising me something big.

  I dug both the key and safe out of my deep pockets before placing them on the frosted ground, my heart beating rapidly. I don’t even know why I was so wound up by this safe – it could be nothing. Hope and delusion could have built me up to think it actually contained something significant. Maybe that was why my heart was beating so fast? Maybe by opening the safe, that hope would have been murdered and that was why my heart was beating so hard.

  Only one was to find out.

   I slotted the key into the lock, and to my utmost relief if fitted perfectly. How teasing would it have been if this was not the key to the safe? Almost hesitantly, I turned the key and a small click sounded before the door swung open. I peered inside of the metal box with furrowed eyebrows because at first glance it appeared to be empty. However upon closer inspecting, I noticed two pieces of paper blue tacked to the top of the safe.

   This was it, I thought. This was the big clue I had been trying so desperately to break out. Maybe it was a message from Jonathon Saunders himself? Written when he knew for certain he was on a hit list. I flicked the pieces of paper over, only for my face to sink into a deeper frown. This was no message. In fact, I wasn’t even sure it was a clue.

  They were tickets. Plane tickets to be exact. To Paris. Had all of this just been for Jonathon Saunders holiday tickets?!

  I felt cheated. Enraged. Whatever happened to this massive clue I was supposed to get?! I was positive the safe contained something vital, something that should have a massive impact on the case. And instead all I had discovered was a middle-aged mans holiday plans! In a rush on anger, I yelled out loud incoherently and then threw the safe as hard as I could, resulting in a shrill bang as it clashed with the fence which bordered the park.