Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 17 - File #3.9: The High and Dry

Rhett

"One strawberry smoothies and a slice of apple pie for Detective Carver," shouted Kyle from the counter.

I had been sticking my phone to my ear, trying to call Paul's number. The number you are calling is not active or out of the coverage area. Please try again in a few minutes. "Sixteen," I counted.

"Carver? Your order is up!" Kyle yelled. "Rhett? RHETT!!"

His voice pierced through my left ear, forced me to stand up right away. "Sorry, sorry!" I rushed to where Kyle stood up and got my order.

"Who's that on the phone?" Kyle smirked, raising his eyebrows up and down.

"A very fussy lady," I nagged while getting back to my table with a limp.

Kyle noticed it and sat in front of me. "What happened to your leg?"

"I kicked Noel's desk," I replied shortly. I had been trying the number since last night. I didn't even disturb Noel with the calls, but he felt bothered seeing my actions—sitting, lying around, and walking back and forth in my part of the room while calling the number. He yelled at me to stop doing that because it was so distracting and he needed to focus to his study.

Unlike so many times before, I was truly mad of his scolding that I kicked his desk until the stack of his medical books fell, ruining his assignment. What I completely forgot that our desks were made from solid wood. So, yeah, instead of expressing my anger properly, I almost cried because I hurt my foot, again. Noel then said harshly, "Karma is a bitch, huh, Carver?!" When I thought about that, the pain struck immediately.

I tried to focus at my phone and redialed. The number you are calling— "Ah, seriously!" I slammed the table.

"Stop wreaking your outrage to furniture!" chided Kyle. "Hey, let's do something fun instead! I was helping my mom to make the sets for her play. She just called me that one of the props was broken and she needed me to fix it, so I want to invite you along. It's not that I can't fix it by myself, I just don't want to be the only grown up man there."

I arched my brows. "The only grown up man?"

"Yeah. The play is for her 4th graders."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Fourth graders. School stage. You want me to come to the place full of hazards?" I giggled even though it wasn't funny. "There are stage lamps hanging that can fall anytime; cardboards lying around that can break my legs if I slip on them; scissors, saws, and other sharp things everywhere that can instantly kill me. That's not a proper place for me, man. And who knows what little kids can do to me? They're probably the most hazardous thing a school can have."

He chuckled. "It's a play for kids, Rhett. I'm sure it's not that dangerous."

Being my best friend for almost three years, Kyle should know about this like he knew all about Bridgewald's political issues. "Sorry, Kyle, I've got a better thing to do," I quickly refused, "a case."

"Ah, that's what the call is all about," he mumbled. "Right, you have a new case with that girl. You're not going to tell your BFF about it?"

"Well..." I cleared my throat. "It's the hit-and-run case of the pharmacy janitor."

"The guy that you caught for stealing drugs?" He looked at me in awe. "I've seen the news, but I didn't know he was the victim. So, technically, the theft case isn't really finished?"

"Most likely. Now that he was irresponsibly left dying on that street, there's definitely something going on," I clapped my hands once.

"It's funny to hear you say it with excitement when just a minute before you refused to go to an elementary school."