Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 34 - File #5.5: The Dirty Cop

Rhett

When it was announced that class 4-B had won the school's Class of the Year award, most of the audience got up from their seats to give standing ovations. I clapped proudly because a bit of my creativity helped the play to win the award that Kyle and his mom had been dreaming of. It was mostly Kyle's hard work, but without me, the set wouldn't finish on time.

Twenty eight kids from Mrs. Rory's class climbed up on stage to receive the award and medals, and gave the audience the last bow. They were all praising Alex Kane, even Mrs. Rory admitted that she had written a bad, bad script. Without Alex's demanding complain, they wouldn't be there right now.

In the middle of the triumph, I received a call from Maxine. She was asking if I was with Noel and I simply asked back, "Why would I spend my Sunday night with him?" And yet you're here watching kids' plays... At least, it was a lot better than hanging out with my hot-headed roommate.

"Really? We supposed to study together at the library tonight, but he didn't come and didn't answer his phone. So, I went to your dorm and the receptionist said you were both out," said Maxine.

"Noel is not meditating in our room the night before midterms? Huh, that's new," I mumbled.

"Well, he's probably bored and just walking for fresh air. I'll wait."

Whoa, her patience was impressive. Noel was a very impatient person and easily agitated. If he could make a girl like Maxine stay by his side, there had to be a 'good' side of him I didn't know.

Hanging up, I joined the group backstage and congratulated each of them. I was putting on my backpack, preparing to go home, when Alex popped out of nowhere, holding a bucket of flowers on his hands. It made me jump back in shock.

"Do you happen to see my sister anywhere?" He asked.

"Avery's not here?"

"She wasn't in the audiences during the performance," he told. "I asked her to look for Bruno. The dog came back but she didn't. Mom thought she watched from the backstage, but she wasn't here either."

She didn't watch the performance? She was very supportive of her brother, and if there was one person who had a bad mood today that they couldn't even stand to be here, it was me. I got to admit that I was a little mad when she suspected Chief Snell out of nowhere. I knew everyone who had known the story would think the same, but trust me, they were wrong.

"You want me to look for her?" I asked Alex.

"It's not a big deal actually, but I just don't want Mom to find out that she didn't watch it. They had a pretty serious argument yesterday," he stated, and then he stared at me with his big eyes. "It was about you."

I blinked. "What? Me? Why?"

"Mom didn't seem to like you," he replied straightforwardly.

It even surprised me. "I-I haven't even met her!"

"Now you know that you shouldn't. Ever."

Eerily, I glanced at the blonde woman who was talking to Kyle's mother. I've seen her a few times, but we never really made contact. Did she even know that her daughter's friend Rhett looked like this? What made her 'hate' me then?

I told Alex that he should get back to his friends while I would look for Avery. I got out of the hall. There was no sign of her anywhere. She could be going home, but if I were her, I wouldn't ignite my mom's fury no matter how much I hate being here.

I halted when I saw her rushing out of the school building. I approached her, but she didn't see me and just bumped into me. Oh, really, Avery? Again?! But thank God, she didn't hold anything in her hands this time.