Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 28 - File #4.8: The Rules of Enforcement

Rhett

Dude, Avery freaking Kane just asked me about a movie! Is she finally being normal?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She howled.

"Sorry. I never thought this day would come," I replied with a slight overreaction. "Uh, about Al Pacino—yes, he was playing the villain in Ocean's Thirteen. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

She pointed at one of the highlighted name, looking really agitated. "I helped him with his bag earlier. There were two DVDs among his stuffs. Let me guess, this Pacino guy also played in Stand Up Guys?"

"Bingo!" I clapped. So, the suspect really was a fan of Al Pacino. Gosh, I'm getting good at this!

She huffed, "He did apply for Bensworth, just not last week. God! I can't believe earlier this year Mrs. Dench offered this chance to him, not me!"

"Why are you so mad about that? She offered that to you too, but you didn't take it," I referred to the fact that she actually didn't apply.

"She did that a thousand times before, though, but I wasn't just that interested... until now," she frowned. "I thought Jake was the nicest one in my group. Turned out to be just another backstabbing jerk."

"Hey, remember what I told you. Before you accused him, gather some proofs. You can't turn him to your principal with DVD as your evidence."

She nodded. "I'm still doubting his alibi from last Thursday, but I'll ask his friends to make sure."

"Maybe you should get his confession and recorded it because... you're kinda good at that."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

I noticed a girl coming out of the school's entrance. She looked around and finally focused her sight on us. "Uh... There are two of you, I'm sure you can find a way."

Avery turned around to find the brunette girl walking towards us.

"I looked for you in the clinic. I thought you were really not feeling well!" said the girl. "Instead, you're sneaking out to meet some..." She looked at me from head to toe, and suddenly put on a wide smile. "Hi, there."

I said hi back, but Avery came between us. "I'm in the middle of something here, Danna. I'll get back to the class."

"So, this is the famous Danna Jennings?" I chimed in, stunned. In her story, Avery made her like she was the Regina George of Bridgewald High, while in reality, she was not more than a normal high school girl.

Getting recognized, Danna looked flattered. "Yeah. I'm sure you've seen a lot of me on TV because of my dad."

Well, a normal girl with a very famous father. If Kyle didn't talk about it all the damn time, I probably wouldn't even know who Peter Jennings was.

"Actually, I don't really watch TV, especially about politics," I chuckled. "I know you because you're the poor girl who has to share the dreadful situation with Avery."

"Then you must be Avery's Bensworth friend!" She guessed excitedly, and then whispered to Avery, "You didn't tell me he was cute!"

"Because he's not," Avery replied callously, with disgusted face.

"Can't you just let me have my moment?" I sulked. Compliment was one of the hardest things to achieve for me, so I had to seize it when there was a chance. "Alright, then. If you guys want to discuss about this, go ahead. I have to make a stop to the station."

Avery stopped me before I went back to my car. "Thank you so much, Rhett. I don't know what I'd do without you."

I couldn't help but noticed the awkward tone in that sentence. She must've never said that before. I patted her shoulder. "Hey. Partners work together. But friends... They help each other."