Manipulation

#7

Kris's POV-

I was currently curled up on my bed bawling my eyes out. Why did Marie let herself be killed? Why did Carter agree to killing us both? What do those women want? Why didn't Brian come yet?

Ding Dong!!
Ding Dong!!

Is it Brian?I hope so. I scrambled up and quickly straightened myself. 

"Brian?"

"I'm sorry Kris. I-I know I don't deserve to be sorry but please here me out? Please." he pleaded. 

I took a deep breath and led him in. "Listen, you have exactly one minute to explain yourself."

"Ok. MymomkickedmeoutandIwaslivinginahotel."

"What?!" I was, shocked, and, I guess a bit sad. "You could've asked me. I would've let you stay here."

"But Kris, I would have been a burden."

"Who the hell told you that! " How dare he? I'm his friend and I wouldn't help him?

"I mean why would you take me in? It is not like we are close or anything. In a way you are just a suspect in one of my many cases." he shrugged and seated himself on the couch, leaning back.

"Is that it? Are we nothing? Not even friends? Is that what you regard me as, acquaintance?" I had just lost a sister and was on the verge of losing another. And then one of my very few friends tells me he doesn't think of me as his friend. The corner of my eyes had already started to water and I put my hand on my mouth to stop myself from crying all over again. When Brian saw that I was on the verge of crying, he tried to console me but I pushed him away.

"Look Kris, it is not like that. You are my friend but- "

"Forget it Brian", realising the immense danger Carter is in, I quickly wiped away my rapidly forming tears,"Brian, I need you to try and trace down a phone number. I guess it will be a futile search but at least we can try." I raised my hand to stop him as I rubbed my eyes.

"Why? Any problems?"

"Yes but first I need you to track the number. Only then will I tell you the problem."

"Okay" I dictated the number while he searched for it on his mobile app.

"Ok. So according to the app the number was traced to, wait. That's the hotel I was staying in. Can you repeat the number? It sounds pretty familiar." I repeated it, although a bit cautiously. The kidnapper, in Brian's hotel?

"Th-that is my half sister's number." he sputtered.

"Your half sister." I repeated sceptically.     

"Yeah. It's only been a year since I was acquainted with her."

"Tell me about her." As an afterthought I added, "you never told me why your mom kicked you out."

"Oh, that. She came to know about my visits to Granna. Mrs. Jagger told my mom when she saw me sneaking there. She ended up throwing a huge fit and me, out."

"Oh! And your half sister?"

"Portia. She is nuisance of sorts. If she is in a good mood, she can be an angel. But anger her, she becomes a volcano." he explained while showing volcanic eruption with his hands.

"Strikes at the most unexpected moment? Dormant till the critical moment?" I interrupted before he could start speaking again. He looked at me with wide eyes. "Carter was the same. She once made me draw weird things on her own homework and then threw a tantrum while blaming me.That was months after I had actually meddled with her shower gels. I never messed with her after that." I explained.

"It is the same with Portia. But what did she do?"

"Carter's kidnapped. And the kidnapper called from this number. She also had a pretty high pitched voice and was with a few burly girls."

"Are you implying that Portia's the kidnapper?"

I gave a half shrug since didn't really know her. But what I knew was that we'd have to interrogate her soon.