"I need your help" I say, planting myself in the seat in front of Deja. Oddly enough, she chooses to eat her lunch in the middle of the school courtyard, where everyone throws footballs and potentially knock over a lot of peoples lunch trays, and where girls sit on tables and flirt with seniors or make fun of others. Deja cocks her head to one side, turning off her phone, even though I see its Email or something.
"What's got you so interested all of a sudden?" she asks, leaning forward and closer to my face, her eyes are curious.
"Hey, you said you'd help me."
"Yes, I know. But I never said I wouldn't ask questions" she replies, her smile is cheeky, but cute.
"Fine, cops won't believe me on my own, even if I dig up enough evidence that proves Lachlan's death was a murder, they'll still think I'm a liar. But, if I have someone on my side who's parent is in the police force. . ."
"So. . . You want me to help because I have connections" she clarifies, tapping one finger on her chin thoughtfully.
"Is that not why you offered to help me out?" I reply, she gives me a thin smile.
"No, I just need some entertainment in my life" she says, I nod and look around the courtyard, wishing I'd see Lachlan somewhere.
"What do you want to start with?" she asks, bringing me back to reality, she pulls a notepad with a purple cover and a pen, the notebook is blank, countless white sheets of emptiness.
"What?" I say, raising an eyebrow. Deja rolls her eyes.
"We need to start somewhere, we can't just go and chase down whoever" Deja explains matter-of-factly, like I'm a child who has no idea what he's doing.
"Okay, okay, fair point" Deja pulls the cap off her pen and brings it closer to the paper.
"Now, did Lachlan do anything strange over the summer? Did he say or do anything out of the ordinary?"
"Are you just going to be drilling me with questions throughout lunch?" I demand, Deja shrugs.
"I got to do what I got to do" she replies, I smile and roll my eyes. Deja smart and resourceful, I haven't really spoken to her before this and the time at the police station, but from what I have observed, she knows what she's doing.
"He snuck out a lot, wasn't around much and never let me into his room" I tell her, Deja scribbles down what I've said.
"Is that all?" she asks, Deja sounds like she wants more information, but that's all I have, except. . .
"He dumped his girlfriend the night before he died" I add, Deja raises her eyebrows.
"Well. . . That's interesting" Deja says, closing the notebook as the bell sounds through the courtyard, freshmen hurry to their lockers and some seniors hang back.
"Yeah" I reply, standing up and waiting for Deja, she stands as well and we head back into the school.
"What class do you have next?" she wonders.
"Fitness, you?"
"Math" she replies, making a sour face.
"Well, I'll see you later, we've got to unravel this mystery" I say, Deja smiles.
"Yeah" she replies and turns down the hall.
YOU ARE READING
Knocking On Death's Door
Mystery / ThrillerWhen Mark's older brother, Lachlan, turns up dead on the riverside, police state it was a suicide, which makes absolutely no sense to Mark. Mark knew Lachlan better than anyone, Lachlan was not the kind of person to take his own life so suddenly. A...
