Mystery Loves Company

Chapter 45 - File #5.16: The Cowardly Lioness

Avery

My meeting with Noel was unexpected. Well, it wasn't really a surprise that he still insisted to stalk me, even though it wouldn't be beneficial to him anymore. He's got the biggest lead about his father's death, but the key to it was still me. I was the one who would decide whether to unlock it or not. It all depended on me.

I analyzed some options I had regarding to this decision. One, I would help him get justice for his father. For our fathers. I would throw any other things away for a while to make this one right. I would collect all the evidences and be the witness I was supposed to be. All of it sounded really easy on my mind, when in fact, it took more than enough evidences to come to the police. It took courage. It took a tough mind to dig your worst experience that even your brain with photographic memory refused to remember.

Two, leave it be. I would continue with my life, being the smartest student at school that everyone loved to hate, being the person who wouldn't mind with someone else's business unless it was for my own benefit. The consequences, however, were not good either. I would have to live with guilt for not confessing, live with inquiring mind in regards to what happened to my father, and most importantly, live with secrets. I'd hate that. But to think that I had lived with a murder scene on my mind for eight years, I wouldn't have no problem to keep more secrets.

I just couldn't decide this in such a short time, so I would do the only thing that could at least make Noel stay away from me in the meantime.

"Really? No, 'how are you' whatsoever?" Rhett caught up with my steps. "I got a spark of happiness when I saw you back there, thinking you've already forgiven me."

For accusing my mom? Never, I replied in my heart.

"So, the feeling's not mutual. I take back my smile," he talked again despite not getting a respond.

The Paste was always crowded on Sunday. Good thing that Rhett could get us a table in the corner. He let me order first, but that wasn't really the point why I wanted to go here.

"I want to see the flash drive," I said straightforwardly right after his butt landed on the chair in front of me.

The strawberry smoothies in grande cup he held on his hands slipped. He quickly picked it up before it was spread on the table. "Whoa, whoa, wait a minute," he said as he cleaned the leftover smoothies. "You know you had a whole ten minutes to explain what you came here for, right? But, unsurprisingly, you chose to be silent."

"Is that a problem?"

"Uh, yes? You ditched me, slammed my car door in front of my face, and the first thing you ask after all of that was a flash drive?" He chuckled humorlessly. "Besides, do you think I would take a flash drive with me everywhere?"

I bit my bottom lips, trying to hide my disappointment. "I thought you really did because it's very important," I said. "Where did you put it?"

"It's in a very safe place, don't worry," he slurped his smoothies. "Why are you suddenly interested? I thought you've moved on already, since... apparently, your mother's kinda involved."

"That's why I couldn't leave all of this behind no matter how mad I was... I want to help my mom too. She's still being investigated. Even though she said it was only to find more about Norris and her alibi was cleared, I feel like she's still in the suspect list," I frowned.

"She is. But, she's the less suspected person, trust me. Her name isn't even in the flash drive, you know it," he sighed. "Why did you never tell me that you were from Havenbrook?"

I was taken aback that I almost choked on the vanilla latte I just slurped. "W-what?"

"Well, since the Chief is still investigating everyone who were close with Norris, he digged more info about your mother... the fact that your house legitimately belonged to him... and so on," he explained.