The Flower You Didn't See | Mystery

Chapter 30

"Ted, listen to me. You said you cared for Ruby, that she has always noticed you. So... what I'm trying to say is... please don't hurt her," Mary's heart was beating fast though she tried to appear calm.

Ted spoke, "There is something I didn't tell you." Something about Ruby."

John, Mary and Alex listened carefully as Ted spoke...

When Lee had broken Ruby's guitar, she broke up with him, packed her bags and returned to her apartment. Ted had travelled with her to make sure that she was okay.

Next day was a Saturday, and Ted was surprised to see Ruby leave her apartment so early in the morning. He knew she didn't have class which was why the surf festival was planned in the first place. He knew she didn't have work till evening. So where was she going? He wondered.

He followed her from afar, for her safety of course, as she drove alone in her car. She drove for about an hour and was quite far from the city. Soon he understood where she was heading to, because he had been there before. But he didn't understand why.

Ted watched her as she got out of the car, waved and walked into the beautiful vacation home of Prof. Thompson where he was waiting for her with a smile. Ted watched them head inside. He hid behind a tree in the surrounding woods hoping to get a clear view. But the curtains were drawn and all he could see were just a blur of people walking around. Ted couldn't even make out who was who.

But why did she visit Prof. Thompson alone? Did she have problems that she needed advice for? Were they that close? Prof. Thompson was always nice to her. He was like a father figure. Hence it shouldn't worry Ted so much that she was here alone with him, even though Ted couldn't see her to make sure she was safe.

But he had started getting anxious when it was getting dark, and Ruby had not come out. He simply waited outside, hoping to see something. He thought of calling her but then what would he say? She would freak out if he told her that he was outside.

After staying up all night, he could catch some sleep only in the early hours of the next morning. Startled by a sudden noise, he woke up a few hours into the day. The scorching sun made him realise that it was much into the day by then. Ruby had come out of the house. She looked fine, and yet there was something wrong. Had she found the solution to the problem she was looking for?

Prof. Thompson appeared like he always did. He wore a kind smile and was saying something to her. But Ruby looked a bit... nervous? He couldn't tell. Her body language was certainly odd. Ted started imagining the worst. Ruby had gotten into her car and left the place immediately.

For the next few days Ruby had been awfully quiet. He never saw her go out much. She didn't even go to Alex. She would come out to go to very few classes, buy some food and then get back into her apartment. Her smile faded, her hair limp and she was growing thin. Everytime Ted saw her, he felt like she was turning into a zombie. A beautiful zombie, but a zombie nonetheless.

A few days later, Ted saw Ruby leave her apartment in a hurry. A change from the previous days. Feeling curious, he followed her and found that she was heading to the recreation center.

When he got there, he saw what had happened between her and Alex. He thought that she had come to break up with him. After Alex had left, Ted waited for Ruby to leave. She didn't.

Ruby was watching the people that walked around the recreation centre and he spotted Prof. Thompson. His family seemed to be accompanying him. Of course! Prof. Thomson's family were the sponsors of the recreation center. But why was Ruby here?

Soon Thomson's family left the venue and Ted saw that Ruby followed them. Ted followed the two cars and once again recognized their destination, that was Prof. Thomson's vacation home. Ruby walked into the vacation home.

She was in there for a long time. About an hour later, Ted saw Ruby come out of the house and the door shut behind her. Ted hurried to his car before Ruby could see him, and waited a bit ahead by the highway for Ruby. It took her a few minutes, but she drove into the main road and had left for home.

Ted decided to keep an eye on Prof. Thompson. Something seemed really fishy. Wild theories flooded his brain but he didn't want to mistrust his Ruby. The rumours that were going around about her in the campus at the time, did not help.

But Prof. Thompson seemed absolutely normal. He went to the University, taught and returned to his home. There was nothing odd in his daily life, unlike in Ruby's. It was two days later that Ruby had dressed up and gone to Sara's house the day of the party...

"Prof. Thompson?" Mary gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

Ted continued, "It didn't matter to me that Ruby and Prof. Thompson were... whatever relationship they had. But he was married! He had a kid her age! Why would she choose him over me?"

"I will not believe this. There is no way she was in some weird relationship with that Professor," Alex shook his head.

"Why else would she visit his family? She wanted to tell them about their relationship. She wanted to confront him. And he wanted to hide it. Have you never noticed how nice Prof. Thompson was to her? It was because of this," saidTed.

Alex looked worried and Mary raised an eyebrow at him.

"He was concerned about her marks a lot. He'd occasionally check on her and ask if she needs help..." Alex trailed off.

John's heart wrenched in his chest. A professor? What was Ruby thinking? What was her relationship with him? Why would she go to his house alone? John didn't want to believe any of it.

And then it hit him. He groaned in pain.

"I now remember where I had seen those flowers. It was in one of the photographs taken with Lakshmi. These flowers were at the back," John said, trying to breathe deep.

"She must have taken it the first time they had visited his house," said Alex.

"It's framed and hung in her bedroom," John mumbled.

"But Prof. Thompson has always supported her. I always thought of him as a nice man," said Mary. Then she remembered that Ted was still on the call.

"Thank you Ted. Thank you for being brave and telling us the whole truth," said Mary before she cut the call. Alex looked at her questioningly.

"I didn't want him to hear any more of our conversation," Mary continued, "Prof. Thompson was at Sara's party that night. Do you think he poisoned her there because she wanted to expose their relationship?"

"She was not in a relationship with him. I know Ruby and I know we weren't together but I know that she liked me, not that professor. I just know it. I could feel it!" Alex shouted.

"I thought so too. But according to what Ted said-"

"Screw Ted!"

"SHUT UP!" yelled John, standing up with anger boiling within him. His face had turned red and his hands formed fists, ready to strike anyone in his path. He was not in the mood to talk to anyone.

John immediately stormed off.