Secrets and Lies [COMPLETE]

C O N C L U S I O N

Back at the police station, everything was busy. James was taking a statement from Rosetta while two officers were half-dragging, half-shoving Gwen inside a prison cell. Other officials were answering the phone calls of either their bosses or journalists.

Detective Bones was the only one who had a peaceful look on her face. She gazed at James, who was furiously scribbling down everything Rosetta said.

James. Bones hadn't known that she could have found a lover in him. She used to love him, yes, but she thought those feelings were platonic. She realised that she was too old for him. James needed and deserved better. She was risking both their careers by doing this. Somehow, she couldn't help smiling when she thought about the things they had done.

Rosetta's call had come when they were midway through their rendezvous.

'Hi?' James had picked up the phone.

'Hello? It's me, Rosetta. Adrianna thinks Gwen is the killer. She told me to tell you if she didn't return in an hour. It's been an hour and I don't know what to do. I swear if something happens to I'll never stop blaming myself for letting her–'

'Relax, we're coming over right now. Where are you?'

'At the edge of the forest, about fifty metres away from Gwen's place.'

'Stay there, and try not to make much noise.'

James had briefed the Detective about everything . Together, they drove to the edge of the forest. While they were driving, James received the message from Gwen saying that she wanted to meet him. Bones decided that they would talk to Rosetta and then head over to Gwen. Bones had a feeling this was an ambush.

On reaching their destination, they found Rosetta crouching behind a rock with her eyes wide open. She was rocking herself back and forth.

'I saw Gwen drag something heavy into the woods.' Rosetta looked petrified. The Detective comforted Rosetta by telling her to go sit in the car. Rosetta nodded and pointed at the way Gwen had gone.

'She went that way.'

Bones put her finger on her lips and signalled James to follow here. James was confused. As they went deeper into the woods, they could hear a thumping sound.

Detective Bones whispered, 'She called you. Go in. I'll cover you. And remembered, you don't know what's happened.'

James nodded.

He went in and a twig crunched under his foot just when he was in the open.

'It's James. You called?'

Gwen swiftly looked back.

'Gwen?'

'It's Elizabeth,' Gwen crooned.  'And you, you're not Janes. You're Dave.'

The rest was a blur for Vera Bones. All she knew was that she'd saved James life from a psycho killer.

Detective Bones shot back to the present. Adrianna's body still had to be recovered. She called a few junior officers and asked them to get the bodies. 'Go with the forensics team,' she instructed.

It had been Gwen all along. Claire had been too late to realise that. Dave's memory drove her to vengeance. She had heard about Casey's murder, and that was what had inspired her. The woods were perfect, and she would be completing a circle. Emma's presence in the Trïo made her view the entire group as the cause of Dave's death. This, and the things she saw them do at school made her bolder. Her hatred grew stronger each day. She had become mentally unhinged after Dave's death. Her madness had pacified, but never really gone away. Encountering Emma again brought back her insanity. Claire knew too much, so she had to get her out of the picture. Adrianna, on the other hand, had approached Gwen with the truth. Adrianna saw the entire picture clearly after Rosetta's revelation. Lara didn't keep her diary in places where people could steal it. Someone else had kept the diary lying around like that. Nobody had easy access to her house except for her sister's babysitter, Gwen. It wasn't suspicious, but Adrianna managed to put two and two together. That led to her demise.

Bones marvelled Adrianna's courage and determination. She knew what she was doing was dangerous and had thus called Rosetta. However, she still did it. She sacrificed herself for the greater good.

Detective Bones was grateful. Her efforts had not been in vain. Her reputation that had once been tarnished would now be renewed.

And nobody would uncover the real reason behind Casey's death. All those who could, were now gone. And Vera Bones loved it when things went her way.