Unravelled

[CHAPTER 41]

CHAPTER 41

Charlotte's POV

Things was clearly getting out of hand and I did not know where to start fixing. Everything was just out of place and I had no one to turn to for advice or help. I could ask Andrew but telling him the issue I was having now would probably just confuse him and make me feel even worse about my situation. I could go over to Daniel's place more often but that would just make him keep his guard up, if he was actually hiding something.

I kept bobbing on the balls of my feet, my knees hitting the bottom of the table more vigorously than the one before. My forehead was in both my palms, I was undoubtedly getting really anxious. Terribly anxious.

What should I do? What could I do? More importantly, what should I not do? I did not want to add in fuel into the fire.

I let out an exasperated sigh, glaring at my homework. It was Sunday and I wasted the whole day yesterday thinking about what happened to Daniel. I thought I could get some work done today but I did not think I would be able to at the rate I was going. Since the first day of school, I seldom bumped into him anymore. Yes, I did see him from a distance but rarely came face to face with him. I knew it had only been a week but this feeling I had was really triggering me that something was fishy. I had to plan. I had to talk this out. But who?

"Hey Andrew," I said.

"Anything new?" he said.

"That was what I wanted to ask," I replied.

"Well, nothing much on my side except repetition of things we've spoken about before," he said.

"Are mum and dad home?"

"Nope, dad's at work and mum is out getting groceries before dinner."

"Right," I said unintentionally cutting of the conversation. Over on the other side, I could hear the constant tapping, obviously unknown to Andrew that there was this weird silence between us.

"So, what are you working on? Another project they gave you?" I asked, 'they' obviously meaning the agency.

"Nope, this time it's a group work. They wanted something fancy for our presentation so I'm doing a simple programme. I don't get why though, I mean it's not worth any points but for this, doesn't take long so it doesn't really matter," he said everything out in a mouthful.

I paused at his long sentence not sure what to reply. "Oh, okay. Good luck with you presentation."

"What's troubling you?" he asked, clearly sensing by my replies. I guess I am not that hard to read.

I finally let out a tired sigh. "So many things, Andrew," I said.

For a short moment he did not give his reply and continued his tapping on the keyboard. I sat there and waited for a respond. "Hold on a sec, let me get this done then I'll be all ears."

"Sure," I said and waited. Within minutes, and a couple of more clicks he finally said he was finished.

"Well, I'll probably spurt out everything and I'm pretty sure there are a couple of things you don't know so stop me anytime, alright?" I told him and he nodded his head so that's when I went on with everything.

"I knew something was off but I could not tell because I was really fresh with all of it. I did try to get at least something out from Daniel but I really couldn't. I was really doubting myself if there was actually anything wrong because no one can actually hide that well, you know what I am trying to say, right? And every single time that I do get something it's because of the slip up he does and even so, it's so very minor. I can't possibly do anything about that except to try see it from a different perspective and maybe see it as a double meaning but if that worked I wouldn't be getting tensed up about it. Then now, the biggest hint I'm getting is this and I'm lost. I don't know how to move on from here," I rambled, then at last I was able to stop and take in a breath.

Andrew kept quiet and I pitied him that he had to interpret all of that and it's not even his problem. I sighed again ready to back him out of my own troubles.

"Maybe you're looking at it wrongly?" he said before me. "I mean, I know you say you do look at it in a different perspective but maybe you just got the whole thing in the wrong way. When you were rambling everything out non-stop, I felt as if you're taking this to literal. It's just a gut feeling so don't take everything to heart," he said and immediately it got me thinking. What he said did apply to me. I was after all basing all the evidence I got from one source and one source only. I suspected it myself but did not really make an effort to proof that my instincts were true.

"I think I get what you mean," I said, my mind still going through all my thoughts.

"Maybe if you do need any reconfirmation you could just go through me, though I may need some time because I'm not too familiar with the connections between Thompson and his members. I haven't even got anything on Justin Newton yet and it's been days already. Don't you at least know who he could be connected to despite Daniel Watson?" he said as if pleading.

I shook my head. "Sorry, but that's about it but I'll tell you as soon as I do."

"Of course you will! I've never taken longer than a day to find out about someone before. The longest I took was two days and only because my guys infiltrated his members and only his members, thinking they would somehow connect. But you know how information can be tweaked. Turns out, I was supposed to looked into one of his member's family and apparently he was married to one of their in-laws," he babbled which got me suddenly thinking.

"Do you think Justin is somehow in anyway connected to Thompson?" I said only earning a soft sigh. "That's what I thought too and how stupid I was thinking that maybe he could be connected to the other members but turns out he was not. I mean he's quite young. What was I expecting? Him married at such a young age?"

Curious, I asked, "How old?"

"Only turned twenty a couple months back."

"Wow, I didn't expect that," I said.

"By the way, I got to go. Dinner time," he said. "Also, shall I tell mum and dad you said hi?"

I hummed, "Hmm, I don't think that's a good idea. I'll just worry them."

"That's what I thought," he said then ending our call. I laid back on my chair thinking what I could do now with my head at least a little more organised as I was explaining to Andrew.

An old idea suddenly popped into my head. I've had seen a lot in movies and I have done it once or twice but it was only because I was desperate. I reckoned this could be my last resort. Never was very effective but it was worth a try.

Tomorrow after school, I was going to spy on my own partner.