21. AFTER
The next six hours after I return home are spent Skyping both Pippa and Oliver, discussing what we're all going to do next. At first, the conversation just seems to go on and on in circles, mostly revolving around the fact that Adam's mum is so blatantly guilty. Or so they both say. Pippa and Oliver are in agreement on this while I try my hardest to reason with them, try and tell them that it's not as simple as that. I've known Tina longer than both of them combined together. I've grown up watching her fuss over Adam like he was the world to her. And would it be unreasonable to say he wasn't? His death has crushed her. More than it has anyone else. This much is clear to see.
"Guys," Oliver says at one point during the third hour of our call. "We've got to sneak into her house and look for evidence."
"No," Pippa and I say at the same time, much to my surprise. I watch Oliver's face on my laptop screen contort into an impatient frown.
"Why not?" he demands.
"It's unethical!" Pippa cries like it's supposed to be obvious.
"Well, there's that," I say, "and also the fact that it's massively illegal."
"We're talking about a woman suspected of murder," Oliver argues. "I don't think the police will worry much about a little break-in if we find some dirt that could expose her."
"Tina did not murder Adam," I say with gritted teeth. Even the mere thought of that makes me angry.
Oliver doesn't respond and then Pippa goes off into this long tangent about something that I'm not paying attention to. Instead, I'm wondering why Oliver is so set on believing Tina's responsible for Adam's death. No. That wasn't the word he'd used. Murdered. He's repeated this over and over throughout our entire Skype call. Then, I suddenly realize maybe he's just in denial about the suicide. Like I seem to be. Because how is it possible that Adam Fernandes, happiest boy on the planet, just decided to jump off a cliff and end his life without so much a goodbye note? Why couldn't he have been murdered instead? Why did it have to be a suicide?
And all I've seen so far, Tina's behaviour, her random hostility towards me...well, it seems to fit doesn't it? I can't say she's entirely to blame though. Not yet. But to rule it out as a possibility, to even ignore it when it's practically a giant sign screaming 'I'M A CLUE', is foolishness.
"Oliver's right," I blurt out, cutting Pippa off. She lets out an angry noise at being interrupted.
"Right about what?" Oliver asks, though he looks pleased.
"We can't ignore Tina's behaviour," I say. "It's the biggest clue — the only clue — we have."
"Are we still going on about breaking into her house?" Pippa groans. "Because let me tell you it's definitely not as easy as it sounds. We can't exactly waltz in and out like it's a picnic. There's going to be loads of complications, not to mention the fact that Tina's most likely not going to leave her house anytime soon—"
And then she's rambling on again and I find my mind starting to drift away. What Pippa's saying isn't exactly untrue though...it's going to be hard...not the breaking-in part, because I know where Tina hides her spare keys, but the part where we actually get her to leave the house....how...
My phone suddenly lets out a small ping sound and my head jerks in surprise. Absent-mindedly, I grab it and swipe left to see who's sent me a message. Mum. She's out food shopping right now, so I'm wondering why she's texted me. The message reads:
