Match

51: Piling Like Logs

Jonah pulls into the lot at a space right next to Liam. Luck was on his side, as it appears that several more people had the same idea of watching the fireworks by the lake. He gets out of his car, shoving his phone into his pocket. Liam told him not to bring anything as he already packed a case of cola.

"Sup."

He's not sure if he was too quiet, but then he notices Liam busy on his phone. Awkwardly, he passes by him and to the end of the tailgate of his pickup. Liam nods at him, holding a finger up to signify he'll be a minute, then gestures to the bottle beside him. Jonah takes it and crackles it open, making sure the liquid doesn't rise and overflow.

"Yeah, I'll tell him that," Liam says.

Jonah's brows perk up behind the cola he's taking a sip of. The fizzy drink floods his throat in a refreshing feeling, so he takes a larger gulp. Finally Liam hangs up and turns to him.

"Ben can't come."

He almost spits into his drink, coughing a couple times. "Huh? Why?"

"He's busy looking for his brother," Liam sighs. "He's in deep shit apparently. What else is new."

"I knew it!" Jonah lifts his hand holding the cola up in the air, almost spilling it.

Liam raises a brow at him. "Knew what? That he wouldn't come?"

He shakes his head and rests the cola behind him on the tailgate. "Ethan has to be the guy behind the arson, and the guy who's trying to put the blame on me."

There is a long pause. The wind is the only one talking between them. Then Liam erupts into a belly laugh. Jonah blinks.

"What?"

He stops laughing, clutching his stomach. "Might be, but it could also be a group."

"Huh? Whaddya mean?"

"You didn't see the big update?"

"What update??"

"Like, an hour ago," he pulls out his phone.

Jonah tilts his head to the side. He stands there like a confused dog waiting for a command. Then Liam turns his phone so the screen faces him. His eyes immediately catch the title.

"CCTV CAPTURES A GROUP OF POSSIBLY THREE SUSPECTS," it reads.

"Three of em?"

Liam nods. He turns the phone to face him briefly so he can press the video, then shows Jonah.

"The cameras were too grainy to make out who it was since it was pitch black," he says. "But they did discover it was a group of three."

"Holy shit," Jonah watches as the video shows three figures under poor quality footage setting fire to the field.

The video stops. Liam turns the phone screen off, puts it in his pocket, then grabs a cola bottle and snaps it open.

"Yeah now all they gotta do is DNA swabs on the matchsticks, check for any fingerprints on the gates, or whatever else they have and it's game."

The air becomes awkwardly quiet. Liam turns to Jonah staring at him before taking a sip.

"What? I took a forensics class."

"You're going for a minor in criminology?" Jonah smirks, taking a sip of his drink.

He shrugs. "Dunno. But anyway, it's common knowledge, or at least, it should be."

Their conversation stops when Ryder pulls up behind Liam's pickup. It may just be the three of them in the lot for now, but that'll change in an hour.