The Things We Don't Say

CHAPTER FOUR

What people don't know, they can't ruin." Ironically, I read this quote from Facebook. Small town living, leaves no provision for secrets because there seemed to be eyes and ears everywhere. Lucas, Elaine's boyfriend, is an excemption. When he first came to town, every one especially the ladies were attracted to him. Every one wants to know his life story, but he would just smile and ask about the town to change the subject. For a few weeks, people tried to get him to open up but he won't just talk and says that he just want to start over again. Months passed, and people grew tired of badgering him with questions that they have learned to just accept that Lucas will always be the town's man of few words. Maybe, Elaine knows more about him because he is her boyfriend, but we never talk about Lucas. Every time I asked about him, I remember Elaine would just change the subject as if it is not natural to talk about your boyfriend to your best friend. I know Elaine is hiding something, and she has not been truthful about how her relationship with Lucas started. I woke up early today to grab some coffee and muffins for Amy and Jackson. Usually Nana and Adam would already be sitting on the counter at six in the morning, but Adam's couch was already tidied up when I got down and I can hear Nana in her bedroom. Weird, but lately weird is starting to be my normal. I haven't spent as much time as I would like with Nana and I can feel that she's hurt. Once I have tied every loose end in Elaine's case, maybe things will be back to how it's supposed to be.
The lights on Lucas' apartment turned off and his front door opens. He looks around and put his earphones. Every morning at five thirty when it's still a little bit dark, Lucas has his morning one hour run. I know where he keeps his spare keys from the days I've spent watching him go about his day, it's by the back door at the base of a potted plant. Ok I've been watching him for three days now, I think this is enough to know that he is a man of routines. I took my time opening the door to his apartment. I don't know what I'm looking for, a clue that would give away that he has something to do with the death of Elaine. Maybe a black bottle with skulls and bones, nah! Too obvious. The modern day poisons are more discreet, or maybe sometimes glaringly obvious, but when many people are doing something wrong, it almost becomes right. Lucas has his earphones on, so it means that he has his phone in his pockets. If only I can get hold of his phone, it sure would be like a pandora's box. Full of secrets, full of intrigues. Townspeople would say that Lucas is a man of few words, but I'd say he seemed more like a man of many secrets. I don't really like sneaking around specially if it's in the house of a potential murderer. I've watched too many murder mysteries to know that if I were in the protagonist's situation, I would be caught dead and won't live another day.
I got the key in the hiding place and I kept on dropping the key to the ground. Damn this stupid sweaty hands. I tried it again and the lock clicks. I step inside and found myself in a clean and cozy looking small kitchen and laundry. The laundry basket is empty. It smells like freshly washed linens in here. There were no dirty plates or cups in the sink and the black countertop is shiny I could almost see my reflection. I went inside his bedroom to look for something suspicious. The size is just right for a double sized bed. He has impeccable taste in bed sheets with the yellow and blue chevron print to perfectly add a pop of color in the grey colored walls of his bedroom. There is an adequate size of reach in closet with vented accordion door, painted white. He has one night stand with one small drawer. It was filled with envelopes arranged neatly, they're all utility bills. There's no picture of Elaine. I browse through the envelopes in his drawer, I saw a credit card statement billed to Elaine Sommers. Attached to it is a recent bill, a breakdown of where it was swiped. I can see that it was mainly used for groceries in the K-mart and another noticeable purchase are hypertensive medications from the pharmacy. As far as I know, Elaine is not hypertensive, nor does she do her grocery shopping at K-Mart because it's wholesale. What makes sense is that Lucas is using her money to make these purchases. My God, I never thought that Elaine would do all these for love. I heard a soft click, and soft thuds in the floor. I checked my watch and Lucas is not supposed to be here for another thirty minutes. I rolled beneath his bed and close my eyes pretending that I'm somewhere spacious. I can hear his voice, he must be talking to someone on his phone because I can only see one pair of legs.
"Someone broke into my apartment," he sounded furious as he closed the drawer in his nightstand. I'm so stupid, aside from being a bad liar, I can also never be a burglar because I'm leaving a trail of clues behind. He opened the closet door with brute force "I don't know if the intruder had left. But if he is still here, he would regret the day that he ever came here." Lucas voice booms. What if he finds me here? Will this be my last day alive?
"I don't know. I don't want to get in the shower it will make me vulnerable." Lucas said going round and round his bedroom. "Okay, I love you, see you tonight." And Lucas disappeared to go to the bathroom. I rolled out of my bed trying not to make a sound. I dash towards the door but tripped on his rubbershoes on the floor, I fell in a loud thud. The shower squeaks, I quickly get up and run as fast as I could towards the back door, I left the back door open and hid in the nearest pine tree in the woods. From here, I can see Lucas, half naked in just a towel around his waist. When he did not see someone, he went inside. At least I don't have to come back here because I have captured some incriminating evidence that will make him from a person of interest to a suspect.
When I reached my car, I took deep breaths to calm my nerves. It was my first brush at tresspassing, and I almost got caught. I cannot go home looking like a nervous wreck, so I went to the bakery in the town square and bought two boxes of assorted muffins and three warm cups of cafe mocha. My stomach rumbles because I forgot I haven't eaten dinner last night because of the many things that I've discovered yesterday. I took sips of my steaming coffee. I parked my car by the side of the road infront of Elaine's house and I can see that the lights in the kitchen were on. I knocked and Jackson opened the door to let me in. The house smells of butter and warm cheese and it made my stomach rumble again. I placed the box of muffins in the small counter top. Amy smiled at me and I smiled back. I feel guilty for the many times that I've thought ill of her. In my mind, I vow to help her and be a friend to her until I have forgiven myself from almost ruining her life.
"Zola, come sit with us. I hope your hungry. I made Jackson's favorite, grilled cheese." Amy slid the plate, the triangle shaped sandwiches are toasted just right. My stomach grumbled again.
"Thanks. I forgot to have dinner last night. Amy, are you okay living in this house?" I hope Amy does not mind my question, but it seems ok with her.
"I know people have been talking why I still live here. I want to move out the moment the news broke about Elaine's murder, but honestly I don't have enough money yet to rent an apartment. So I'd rather not think about what people will say as long as I have a roof over my head." Amy said smiling putting more sandwiches in Jackson's plate. "By the way, Zola, does Elaine have any relatives? I'm expecting that people would ring the doorbell anytime, but no one comes here."
"Elaine's an orphan and she was an only child. Her parents died when she was twenty years old. I don't know if she has any cousins, but in the years that we've been friends, I've never met one." I remember the day that Elaine's parents died of an accident. Nana and I let her stay with us. Nana and I don't know what to say to make Elaine feel a little better, so we just keep quiet and let her grieve. Nana would always cook Elaine's favorite meals hoping that she would eat. Elaine grew thin each day and she just wouldn't speak to anybody. Her under-eyes are tinged black and purple from lack of sleep. Sometimes, she wouldn't go out of the guest bedroom and with all these Nana told me to just let Elaine be and that someday she would accept the deaths of her parents. Nana and I prayed the rosary every six in the evening without fail. We prayed for Elaine's strength to accept her devastating loss, and for the repose of the soul of her parents. Elaine's mood became erratic. Some friends and people in the neighborhood distanced themselves from Elaine because grief and pain had made her into something that's far from her old self. Sometimes she's cheerful like she has moved on but it shifts quickly to feeling alone. When every one turned their backs on Elaine Nana and I were the only once left by her side. Nana told me to be patient, and that Elaine needs more love and understanding.
Amy waves her hand near my face.
"Hey Zola, are you still with us? Do you want some coffee?" I stared at Amy, trying to comprehend what she just said. "Yes" I answered mindlessly. The memories that I had with Elaine would always make my thoughts drift from where I currently am. She's gone and I could never bring back what I have with her. I can feel my eyes getting warm, but I sip my steaming coffee and blame the coffee for my teary eyes.
Someone knocked at the front door, a bit early for a visitor. Jackson gets up before anybody and open the front door. I lean backward to see who it was. Detective Merill. I could not figure out what Jackson and the detective are saying. Jackson walks towards the kitchen "Amy, Detective Merill wants to talk to you."
Amy looks nervous, who wouldn't be? If I were in her place, even if I'm not guilty of doing anything. "What's it about?" Amy's voice barely a whisper making sure that Detective Merill doesn't hear her. The whole time Amy is clutching her chest while talking to Detective Merill. As usual, Merill's face is stony and with no hint of emotion, Amy is smiling but her eyes look sad. Merill's eyes try to take in as much as he can looking for the worst in a place, and faults in people and then he sees me through the small opening of the door. I nod at him in acknowledgment but his eyes bore into mine. It must be exhausting to be like Merill, always doubting, always looking for the worst in every one you meet. You can never tell where his being a detective ends and where the real Merill begins. According to the grapevine, Merill used to be the life of every party in town. All he ever cared about is his happiness that he would come home every night too drunk to drive and from the road, he would go straight to the toilet to puke his guts out. He would flirt with any woman that he fancies and when things are getting serious, he would just break up through a text message. His youth and good looks made him think that he can get away with anything. One day, Merill just disappeared from Pinegrove. People were worried and different theories were thrown in the rumor mill. It's said that he got a woman pregnant and that he was in hiding. Others speculated that he was involved in a gang that sells drugs and that he was salvaged to death and thrown in the ocean. Ten years later, Merill came back alive, but the Merill that the town has come to known is now different. His face has lines and the softness in his eyes were replaced with hard, cold stares. His smirk that comes with an air of confidence was replaced by a scowl. Every one was surprised that he came back, a detective. Nobody really knew what happened in the years that he've been gone. He lived two blocks away from his parents. I guess all it takes is not to say anything to keep your secrets, even for a place with eyes and ears everywhere.
Amy comes back and sit in the counter.
"Merill wants me to come down to the precint anytime today."
"Is it something serious that we should worry about?"
"He said that he just want to ask about the night that Elaine died."
"Do you think he knows that you're Amy Gilbert?" Jackson asked. Amy did not respond, she just continued biting her nails. "I'll stay here with you Amy, I'll just have to make a phone call to file my leave." And Jackson went upstairs.
"Zola, I have no alibi the night that Elaine died. I was alone here in the house and slept early. What if someone set me up for something I did not do? I don't want to be locked up again." I hugged Amy and she sob into my shoulder."Don't worry Amy, Jackson and I will help you. No one can lock you up again. Promise." I know it's never good to promise something that is out of my control. I gently stroke Amy's hair to comfort her and I made a silent promise to do everything I can to prove her innocence. I just don't know how at this point, but Jackson and I will figure it out.
I have a hunch that Lucas has something to do with this Amy Gilbert angle. I just needed where he fits in this equation.