CHAPTER 6

I had moved to bed with the contents of the envelope and turned on my laptop. I looked at the flash one more time before plugging it in with shaky hands.

There was a number of folders on it. Some about Voss & Pierre Industries, phone bills and records, “Pierre and Voss case”.. I realized my body was shaking, I clicked on that folder.

“The Holly Voss murder”

 I would never forget the day she passed. I skimmed through.

The phone rang just as I was about to close the laptop. I froze. It wasn’t my phone. The sound was louder and unfamiliar.

For a second, I just sat there, my heart picking up pace as the ringing continued. Then I realized. The burner phone.

It lay on my bed where I had left it, dark and still except for the screen now lighting up with each ring.

"Unknown number".

My throat went dry. I hadn’t touched it since I turned it out the envelope.

It rang again, and again. Whoever was calling wasn’t going to stop. I reached for it slowly, like it might burn me if I moved too fast. For a brief second, I considered letting it ring out. Pretending I hadn’t heard it. But something in me already knew that wouldn’t change anything. They would call again.

My fingers wrapped around the phone. I stared at the screen.Then I answered.

“…Hello?” Silence. The kind that makes you aware of your own breathing.

Then, “You took your time.”

The voice was calm. Low. Distorted just enough to make it impossible to place.

My grip tightened on the phone. “Who is this?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. There was a pause.

“You’ve already been given more than most people would know what to do with.”

My chest tightened. The photos, the flash, the phone.

“You left those,” I said, not a question. Another pause.

“I made sure they got to you.”

My pulse pounded in my ears.

“Why?” I demanded. “Why me?”

A quiet exhale came from the other end. “Because you’re the only one asking the right questions.”

My brows pulled together.

“I don’t even know what I’m looking at,” I said, frustration slipping through. “Those files, the timestamps, none of it makes sense.”

“It will.”

The certainty in his voice made my stomach twist.

“Start with the time of death,” he continued. “Then ask yourself why it doesn’t match what you’ve been told.”

 A chill ran through me. I had already seen it, he knew that.

“You’ve been watching me,” I said quietly.

This time, the silence stretched longer. There was no denial, no confirmation. Something worse.

“Be careful who you trust, Keira.”

My breath caught. He said my name so easily. Too easily.

“Wait—”

The line went dead. I pulled the phone away slowly, staring at the blank screen. My heart was racing now, faster than before. This wasn’t just someone sending clues. They knew exactly what I was doing, what I was thinking, and where to push next.

I looked down at the phone still in my hand, then at the laptop, then at the photos spread across my bed.

My chest tightened. This wasn’t a coincidence or luck. I was being led.

A sudden knock on the door made me jump.  I quickly threw everything scattered on my bed into my tote bag.

“Keira?” Marti called, knocking again.

My pulse settled. I hurried to open the door. I didn’t realize it was after 10.

Marti filled me in on how her day had gone. Her date was a mess that was why she had returned earlier. I could barely focus on what she was saying after that. My mind was on the envelope. The contents of the flash and the photos. She had noticed and asked if I was okay. I only said it was probably because of the hangover earlier today and I just needed some more rest. She mentioned she was exhausted too and was going to retire to bed early.

Marti showered for bed and I did after her. By the time I was out the bathroom she was already snoring softly. It was only 11:02pm. I guess that date must have really worn her out. I changed from my bathrobe to my pajamas.

I checked again that Marti was still asleep before grabbing my laptop and the bag in which I’d earlier put the contents of the envelope. I sat cross legged on my bed, still pondering on the call I had received. I turned the bag and the flash, photos and burner phone tumbled out.

The number was gone from the call log. I was confused.

I turned on my laptop and went back to the article I was reading.

“Investigations showed that Mrs. Voss’s car was hijacked at 9pm. Time of death was 9:48pm…” I froze. I quickly picked up the photographs and looked at the time stamps again.

21:41:03 and 22:01:35, they still read. How?

Hot tears had begun to cloud my eyes. Was there a crack in the investigation? Why hadn’t this been been taken note of during investigations? Why hadn’t this been admissible to the case? Father had no alibi from the moment he’d stepped out of the house the day of the incident, to debunk all the evidence against him. Who was the man with the hat on?  Was there or had there been something big at play, it was either that or these photos were photoshopped. I knew deeply it wasn’t the latter. My blood was pounding.

A sudden thought gripped me. The day of the murder, father had said he was going to be at the office that evening, but investigations had shown he wasn’t that night. Even when I and mama pleaded with him behind closed doors to tell us where he’d been, all he’d murmur was “I didn’t do it”.

I couldn’t hold back the hot tears any longer. I got up and pulled on a short and sport’s shirt, grabbed my phone and hurried out the room careful not to wake Marti. I made my way with tears streaming down my eyes out the dorm. I ran and ran until I came upon a lawn and set myself on one of the benches wrapped my arms around myself and began to sob. It was a few minutes from midnight and no one was around unless they had the kind of issues I had. I rocked back and forth still weeping. When I had agreed to come here. I didn’t know what I was signing up for. I had always believed my father’s innocence. I knew it was going to be hard, but it was so heavy tonight.

“Help me father! Help me! I can’t do this alone.” I cried out. It was such an a sorry thing to do, but I couldn’t help myself.

I thought of mama, and more sobs broke out. Everything was beginning to look bigger than me. I felt so alone. Yes, I had Marti as a friend, but even she had no idea who I was and what I had vou on. The only ones who did, would rather I hastily join my father.

I heard a soft footsteps on the grass. I was so drained that even if it were an attacker they would have gotten me before I looked up. A dark silhouette stood before me, the lamp behind me only casting a soft glow on a part of his face. Adrian stared at me only for the first time not like he wanted to quench my existence, but inquisitively. I looked away and sniffled.

“Keira it’s midnight.” He said.

“What are you doing out?” I asked being too exhausted to be snarky.

“You shouldn’t be out alone this late.” Adrian only continued.

“It’s safe here on campus.”

“Not for someone like you.” His eyes shared more than he would care to share with words. I understood.

“Are you following me?” I asked.

“You’re only too easy to sight.” He said tucking his hands into his sweatpants. His chest rose as he took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Why are you here?” He asked again, searching my face like sharp eyes.

“Here to ruin another person’s life.” I sarcastically said, staring back at him with tired eyes.

“This place with eat you up Keira.” His face serious this time.

“Go back to your room.” He finally said turning around and walking away.

I watched his back retreat until he disappeared in the shroud of darkness. Then I got up and slowly made my way back to the dorm. I got into bed and fell into a troubled but deep sleep.