Elle and Rodrick approached Jason outside as the last class ends.
"Hey, what's gonna happen next? Miss Doll already gave a deadline," asks Elle, who's cheerful mood from the morning is now replaced by worry.
Rodrick follows up a question. "What if the phone's on the loose?"
"The thief couldn't have gotten rid of the phone that fast," Jason shakes his head as he answers. "The phone is still most likely in their possession."
"Why's that?"
"The thief is still testing the waters. Is it going hot or gone cold already? It's only guaranteed lost once Friday passes." Jason sighs.
"Even though it's already jailbroken, if there is such a term, they won't sell the phone right away because they were most likely expecting that they'll come to a point where they'll be forced to turn the phone in."
"So the phone will resurface on Friday?" Rodrick interjects.
Jason catches his breath before answering. "That's possible, but if it was up to me, I'd return it tomorrow."
The look Elle and Rodrick gives Jason says it all. "Why's that?"
"Because I think, if I was the thief, they'd be expecting me to turn it in on the last day– they'd be watching Miss Doll's office the whole day to find out who stole it. They won't be expecting me to do it as early as tomorrow." Jason sighs and sweats profusely.
"I'll handle tomorrow. She'll be the last piece of evidence." He stares blankly in deep thought for a few seconds. "On Friday, we show everyone the cards."
"I don't think we've got enough to point her out. Not enough proof," says Rodrick, still being doubtful.
Jason nods. "Don't worry. Friday will work out."
Elle is hesitant as well. "But what if it doesn't?"
"I'll make it work. It's impossible that it wouldn't," Jason remains firm on his statement.
The three goes silent, although Jason can still feel the uncertainty radiating from his companions.
The air was cold but the three were sweating, mostly because the big reveal creeps closer by the second, but no one could be more scared than Jason himself.
The whole class is not looking at Elle, Rodrick, or anyone else to make a mistake– only at Jason, because he spearheaded the whole 'investigation'. They want to see him fail, point the wrong student, or come up with nothing at all.
He only has one chance to get it right because he's already a nobody and if he misses the chance, he'll be an outcast.
You have no idea how that feels.
He had to break the deafening silence around them. "That's it for us today. Don't expect to see much of me tomorrow."
The two bids him farewell as he detaches from them.
At home, he recalls all he got from today...
1. Nurse further verified Elle's theory.
2. Jane's tweets are mostly about going to the hospital for the past two months.
3. Miss Doll's deadline for the phone is Friday, so expect it tomorrow.
"That seems to be everything... Today's not exactly productive, is it?" Jason sighs as he wonders.
YOU ARE READING
No Honor Among Thieves
Non-FictionA group of like-minded students gives their best to pull the thief hiding among their classmates into the light.
