Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 38 - File #5.9: The Nightmare on 12th Street

Avery

"You're still not going to answer my question about Michael Norris?" I cut my mom's way to the kitchen quickly. Ever since I asked her that, she had been avoiding me. It wasn't like we always talked when we were home, but this time she just didn't want to be bothered at all.

"I told you, he was my client." She tried to push me away, but I remained still. "Avery."

"That day when you were mad at me for going to the station... that was the day he died," I said carefully as I didn't want to chase my mom away with uncomfortable questions. "You were so upset. I thought it was because of me, but the news of his death played a part too, right?"

She sighed heavily as her face turned sullen. "He was a family friend. He basically took care of us before we moved here. So, yes, I was very upset when I saw it on the news," she replied. "Now, please move. I have to prepare for breakfast."

I let her pass through. "How did I not know about that?"

"Why would you? You were just a kid."

I was quiet for a moment. "A family friend... Does that mean Dad knew him?"

She dropped the spatula she just took from the kitchen drawer. The cold atmosphere that was suddenly surrounding us was my fault. I knew I should never mention him in any form—but Mom broke that unwritten rule at Alex's play. And now, I no longer felt afraid to even say his name.

"Why are you being like this?" She raised her tone. "Is this because of that Rhett guy? I know you and your curiosity never stay still, but you never cross a line!"

"Don't even include Rhett in this! I'm not a kid anymore, Mom. I deserve to know everything, especially if it involves my parents."

"Well, your other parent didn't give a damn about all of this!" She broke out, which startled me. She immediately calmed herself down. "I'm sorry."

"No, I understand," I said. "You were going through a hard time, and Mr. Norris helped you."

She didn't deny nor confirm it, but I knew I was right.

"Was he the reason why we moved here, to Bridgewald, eight years ago?" I asked again.

She was almost unnoticeably shocked when I said that. It quickly reminded me of Noel's words regarding how he knew that I was the witness he was looking for. 'You should probably ask your mother about that.'

"Mom," I quivered, "Did Michael Norris... know that I was in that crime scene?"

"No. I mean, I don't know," she said. "I was terrified when I found you there and your father wasn't around. That time I knew our life started to mess up because he was nowhere to be found and the police suspected him. Michael told me to leave the town, forget what happened, and start fresh—so I did." She sighed. "It wouldn't have happened to you if he didn't take you there. What kind of father does that, huh?"

The answer unexpectedly brought me to tears. I knew she was worried sick that day, waiting for Dad to bring me home from the math competition—but we never arrived. She didn't let me to be interviewed. She didn't let anyone ask or talk to me about anything that happened in the scene because, like Noel said, it was traumatic for me. She leaned towards Michael Norris in those dark days and then followed his advice to move to Bridgewald, the town which later became his residence as well.

The Exclusives and I were in the same town at the same time wasn't purely coincidence. Norris had arranged my family to be under his surveillance to make sure we didn't say anything about the murder.

He knew I witnessed the whole thing.

And now he's dead.

***