EVERGREEN WOOD《COMPLETED✔》

THE VICTIM

Chapter 31

As I explained to them everything how I saw Thomas Cavanaugh's son at the day of his funeral and it was no doubt that he has returned to take revenge on every single person connected to his father's imprisoning and death, their eyes became big and bigger.

"What time are they releasing him?" I asked Noah hoping that we might have some time in hand.

"Tonight at 10," he said still lost in his brain which is probably laying out the plan we are going to execute.

"So we have to make some changes in plan. We are going to get Luke out tonight and then go search Cove mansion. Because once he gets out, there's no stopping him and he might get to the brand before we do." My heart was still rummaging to the unwanted truth that revealed before me.

"Wait, if he didn't get his hands on the brand yet, how was Reyna branded?" Ivy pointed out.

"I believe this was the only truth in agent Savvaro's made up theory. There is an accomplice and he is a student here too. Otherwise someone would notice mysterious persona sulking around the hallway. If I put myself in the culprit's position, I would avoid getting in contact with the accomplice, so if one gets caught, the other carries out. So I believe, the brand is in a common place for both of them to reach out and it is the Cove mansion. Both of them can get their hands on the brand and carry out the attacks," Noah said putting his serious face on.

"What if they already removed the brand?" my throat was dry as I let out the words.

"I don't think so. It'll imbalance their plan and as he is under supervision, the accomplice will have no way to inform him of the new hideout of the brand," Noah smirked, probably satisfied with his theory.

"We are not safe. We need to act tonight. Or we might get attacked. Remember, Riley told him I was the one." I suddenly felt glad for my silliness all those years ago. I wore a red pixie wig thinking that if we got caught, I could hide my identity and slip out of there. That red wig is all that kept my identity hidden till now. Or else.... I don't even wanna think about it.

"Go home and get yourself some rest all of you. We'll meet in the woods at 8 and debrief our plan. Though he can't harm us till 10, the accomplice is out there," Noah nodded his head towards the exit and we broke the meeting.

********************

Noah and I were sitting on the floor of his bedroom. That's where we decided to spend the rest of the time considering the situation. He was browsing on his laptop hoping to find something more and I was playing everything from the day Genevie got branded on my mind.

"Bloody hell," Noah passed me his laptop and I stared at Andrew Cavanaugh's picture. Noah edited it and made his blue eye green. After Thomas Cavanaugh got arrested, his wife made his son wear a green lens on his blue eye so that people didn't recognize him as Thomas Cavanaugh's son at a glance. With both his green eyes, it could be no one else except, Alex Cove. I put bits and pieces together and it all became clear.

Alex branded Genevie.

Alex branded the guy in the mall.

Alex branded himself.

"But how could he brand himself? And why would he do that?" Noah seemed thoughtful.

"Remember, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd?" It was Agatha Christie's one of the best books in Poirot series. "The doctor himself was the narrator and the murderer. Alex had to brand himself to make his theory believable. He tried to frame you and then framed Luke."

Noah nodded. We already had packed bags hidden in the woods. So there's nothing much to do. Only sit and wait. I stared at the key which lay flat on my palm. Sure we have broken into houses before. But breaking someone out of a station cell is going to be a hell lot of stress.

My phone rang and I extended my hand to reach it from the bed side table. But Noah got it before me and received the call.

"Hello?" He paused for sometimes. The faint muffled voice told me it was some girl. probably Ivy or Skyler. But the way his face contorted sent chills down my spine. "Okay. We're at my place. Come as soon as you can."

Noah tossed me my phone and I saw Ivy written in recent calls. "Ivy's car got in an accident. It rolled over and burst in to flames. But She got out just before it started to incline. Now she's heading here with Skyler."

My throat became dry. Ivy was no doubt the bravest girl I've ever met. But still getting in to an accident and not going home seemed surreal to me. After about 10 minutes I heard ivy calling Noah from the cramped space between our houses. Noah and I rushed to the window and saw Ivy and Skyler. Noah threw down his rope ladder.

"We haven't used that in ages. It might tear off," I told him. We used to sneak in and out of the house using it. 

"It's okay. Chill out." I held my breath as the climbed over in the room and exhaled deeply once they were done.

"First aid box?" Skyler asked. Noah handed it to her which he brought from downstairs just before they arrived.

"It was done on purpose," Ivy said as Skyler was dabbing her scraped elbow with spirit. She winced a little and started again, "No car bursts in to flame just like that. There was something planted in it. besides, it was another car which tried to bump mine and make me lose control. And I had to be the victim of the team," she let out an angry sigh. "I didn't see his face, but a blonde."

"Probably the accomplice. If we are on the right track, Ivy was the next target anyway. or any of us. But we weren't driving on a traffic less road," Ivy made puckered lips at Noah's words.

We listened carefully as Noah unwrapped his mastermind plan of breaking in to station cell and bringing Luke out. he grabbed some glowsticks from his closet and handed to each of us. "We wont be able to use torches. That'll give away our position once we're inside the mansion. This'll give us enough light and let us be shadows," he grabbed a sheet which seemed like to have a series of instruction and he handed it to Skyler. 

Ivy and I ducked over it to see Noah's messy handwriting and my guess being dead on right, points of instructions.

-Meet Alex

-Ask how he was doing

-Ask if his dad visited

-Ask the nurses about his routine

-Try to merge his story with the nurse's

-Watch out for any new injuries on his body

-Ask him about taking off the seal at his mansion

-Confirm his discharge time

-DON'T PANIC

"Wait, you're sending her to him?" I asked Noah.

"We don't have any other option. I would have sent Ivy but as far as they should know, she is injured from the accident and wont be capable. And I would like to keep it that way. Even if something goes wrong, they'll expect only you and me. But in reality we'll be much more prepared." I nodded at his judgement and wondered how it felt to have everything planned inside his head. All I ever did was upon my instincts.

I see Skyler's face turning pale. She is not used to this. We might've done this type of stuffs before as a fun fact, but to her all these are red flag. I wanted to tell her it was going to be okay. But how can I when she is supposed to face the culprit all alone.

"Be sure to bat your eyelashes from time to time. I bet no one can resist that charm," Noah told her trying to shift her fear.

Skyler blinked a few times at his words like trying to say are you serious? Then she came to her senses and said, "I'm gonna do this for Luke. He saved me, I save him." Then she turned to Noah, "Also I am not a hooker."

Noah smirked and said, "Of course you aren't. You miss, are the spy."