The Search

29. Claire

They say your life flashes before your eyes when you are about to die. My life was flashing before me alright but I was on no verge of dying. Although I was indeed regretting everything I had ever done in life. I regretted never making my own decisions. Now I was the one responsible for everything bad that had happened in Prutha's life. I was the one responsible for Prutha's attempt of suicide. 

I felt sick in my stomach once again as I glanced in the backseat of the car where Prutha had coiled herself. Her head was buried between her knees and she was still weeping lightly. 

Matthew was sitting beside me, driving the car. I wonder how he was feeling about all this. I wouldn't be surprised if he were disgusted by me. I was the one responsible for every bad thing that had happened to his childhood best friends. I was the daughter of the man who had killed his mother. 

These days, Matthew and I had almost become friends, but that was all ruined now. After knowing the truth, I would be nothing but a villain to him. 

"Mattie, should we go to the Tennant's first?" Prutha asked between sobs "should we tell Ayden's parents? Or at least Butt?" 

"No" I replied quickly. That was something James had clearly forbidden us to do. As much as I hated it too, Ayden's life was indeed in danger and I didn't want to risk anything. 

"Why not?" 

"Ayden's parents might not know. Do you really want to tell them and risk pissing James off?" I asked them "We have a way of saving Ayden, Prutha. All we have to do is follow James' directions, give him his stupid money and take Ayden back with us." 

"I don't like the sound of that. I don't trust James" Matthew said with venom in his voice "And we have no reasons to trust you either, Claire" 

That literally stung in my heart. 

"I know, Matthew. I know I have done nothing but hurt all of you. But trust me, I would never go this far. I had no idea James was the killer. It was a shock for me too. Had I known it, I would have never helped him, I swear." 

"Why don't I believe you" Matthew said sarcastically "I think we should involve police in this" 

"No, Mattie" Prutha spoke up "I don't want to risk anything happening to Ayden. James has killed more people than I could imagine and he wouldn't hesitate to kill one more. I don't want to risk it. If giving him all the money can save Ayden, I'll give up all the money in the world" 

"But Prutha..." 

"Once Ayden is safe, we can call the police" Prutha said firmly. 

Matthew nodded hesitantly. 

Prutha wiped the tears from her eyes and sat up straight. She had determined expressions on her face. 

"Where do we go first, Claire?" she asked me. 

I took in a deep breath. James' instructions were clear. 

"We have to go to Smith and Wilson securities first, where they have all those lockers, you have to then gone in and find your fathers locker, open it and take out all the cash there is" 

Prutha's features covered in confusion. 

"My father had a locker there?" she asked "But how can I open it, I don't have a key or any sort of combination." 

"All you have to do is ask them to open it for you" I told her 

"But how?" 

"Don't you realize how James timed his plan, Prutha? Today is your eighteenth birthday. You are of legal age to make your own decisions. The power of attorney expires today and all the property which James has been managing is back in your name. All you have to do is produce your ID card and they have to open that locker for you, Prutha"