Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 36 - File #5.7: The New Suspect

Rhett

The sister I hadn't seen for about eight months was sitting in front of me and I didn't feel happy at all.

You know, I really hated rude awakening. I hated it even more that it wasn't because of Noel, but because of my phone was ringing loudly this morning that Noel himself scolded me. With my eyes still half asleep, I saw the name on the screen, and then rejected it. A few seconds later, it rang again.

Noel threw me a book. "Answer the damn phone!" He shouted.

I better did it before he started throwing the bed too. "I'm sleeping!" I yelled at the caller.

"How dare you shout at your sister like that!" Beth's louder voice forcefully entered my right ear, and went out through the other, making me fully awake. The last time I heard this yell was when she almost cursed at me for losing her grey Bengal cat which was, well, eight months ago. "If it wasn't important, I wouldn't call you!"

I rubbed my eyes as I sat on my bed. "What the hell is so important?"

"I'm here in Bridgewald!"

"WHAT THE—"

Another book thrown at me, hitting my arm. "TALK OUTSIDE!!!" shouted Noel.

Goodness! There were two people shouting at me and I couldn't even be allowed to shout back. I slipped my feet to a pair of sandals and then got out of the room. No one in my floor was up yet.

"Did you just say you're in Bridgewald?" I continued with a lower but more shocked voice.

"Yes! I'm at the bus station now, I don't know where to go. I can't find a single taxi here. Ugh. What kind of town is this?" She grumbled.

"That's because it's six in the freaking morning!" I stomped my feet on the floor. I felt like punching something right now, but if I did it carelessly, I would eventually be the one who was hurt like every damn time. "What are you doing here anyway? Your seminar is on Friday!"

"So I can't arrive two days earlier?" She wasn't happy with my voice. "Did you see the poster? Do I look good on it?"

Oh, the poster that made me famous for a day because my sister was 'hot'? I was impressed of myself because with those unsettling comments about her, I still managed not to vomit. I didn't reply to her and hung up instead.

After changing my clothes, I went to the bus station per her request. She was sitting on one of the chairs with her big suitcase next to her. She stood up and tightened her jacket when she saw me. I wasn't expecting a hug—I didn't even expect a big smile—but she did both anyway.

Once we were in the car, we no longer talked. She might be my sister, but I just couldn't find any specific topic to talk about. She was probably still mad about Earl, the cat I was talking about.

Eight months ago, I went home for my mom's art exhibition. Beth told me to take care of Earl because she was helping Mom wrapping up the event. Since I really hated that cat for peeing on my blanket, I put him in his cage for the rest of the day so that he wouldn't go anywhere. Even so, I still didn't forget to feed him. I didn't forget anything Beth said about cat-sitting.

But I did forget to close his cage. And the front door.

Earl left my house without my knowing and never came back, which made Beth cried for hours and refused to go home with Eddie, her husband—not until she found Earl. During those hours, she kept yelling at me, blaming me, and if Eddie didn't stop her, some swear words could escape from her mouth.

Beth loved her cat more than me, her little brother! She even treated Earl more humanly than she treated me.

"I'm staying at Grand Palace Hotel. You know where it is, right?" Beth broke the silence.