Chapter 30: Comforting Harriet

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As soon as Lawson left the cabin, Oliver and Amelia head outside to see men and women, in dark blue uniforms, trading conversations with the scared children.

Boys, who were dressed in their casuals, stood near their cabin, describing a group of officers about what they saw, while a quartet of policewomen comforted the girls.

White police cars surround the camp, as yellow tape blocked out entrances of the woods, creek, and even the Banquet Hall, all of which seemed to piss off Jake.

Speaking of the handsome counselor, Jake Mitchell wore a white t-shirt, black gym shorts, and soft blue sandals. His dark hair was tousled, his teeth bared, and his eyes blazed in anger as he storms up to Officer Lawson, who discussing something with a colleague.

"What the hell is going on?" Jake growled. "The kids have already told you that they didn't see anything last night!"

The policeman sighed, "I know, it's just that there have been a few people who are not so good at keeping a secret."

"Oh, really?" Jake snarled. "Like who?"

Officer Lawson glanced in Oliver and Amelia's direction and said, "let's just say I have an idea."

"What is it?" Jake implied.

"I don't know."

"Okay, so why don't you leave?"

The policeman turned his head back to Jake and sighed.

"I understand you want to protect the kids as much as I do, but Ms. Fern is at stake, so we need to find her as soon as possible."

"You better," Jake hissed. "Because if you lie to me—"

"This isn't a trick," Officer Lawson promised. "we need to gather clues before all of you can return to your activities."

Jake's face soften.

"Okay," he says quietly. "I apologize for my behavior."

"Don't be," Officer Lawson insisted, "you were just doing your job."

With a pat on Jake's shoulder, the policeman gives him a big smile and resumed talking to his friend.

Watching the scene on the cabin's porch, Amelia whistled, "Wow, so much for quick and quiet."

"Shit," Oliver moaned, "Mom is going to kill us when the news reporters get here."

"Forget the bloody news reporters," Amelia sighed, watching the scene unfold.

"If Ms. Fern doesn't return soon, then we'll have a SWAT team on our arse."

Oliver glanced at her. "How do we solve this problem?"

Amelia shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea."

For once, Oliver didn't patronize his friend's statement. Looking at the scene, Oliver couldn't believe how many cops arrived at the scene.

There were at least thirty police officers outside, as they snapped pictures of Banquet Hall's damaged roof, the campfire pit, and other locations.

Using her enhanced hearing, Amelia listened to the police discussing theories as to why Ms. Fern ran away: they assumed that either someone killed her and desecrate the body, or she was hiding from the mysterious hailstorm. 

She repeats this to Oliver, who was already sick to his stomach,  though he hadn't eaten any food.

"Why do they think Ms. Fern is murdered?" he asks. "Everyone hates her, but no one has the guts to murder a teacher."

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