《Broken Alibis》


 Warning

    Before reading you should know this is heavily fairytale based, without the magic but isn¡¯t necessarily a retelling.


    This story is not suitable for all ages.


    It may mention things that make people uncomfortable.


    So I decided to mark this mature to play it safe. Sorry kiddos.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    It will mention the following topics but will have a trigger warning before triggering scenes.


    Includes the following:


    Blood


    Murder


    Suicide


    Self harm


    Underage drinking


    Kidnapping


    Drugs


    Trauma


    This is based on the prompts from Wattpad''s Open Novella Contest 2024


    Edit: I almost forgot...


    Copyright ?? Juleove 2024 All Rights Reserved written on Wattpad, Inkitt, Ao3, and RoyalRoad. So if you see it anywhere else it¡¯s either A stolen or B you¡¯re at risk of a virus.

 Prologue

    Ember''s POV


    Eldoria is a country known for its beautiful countryside landscapes. The breathtaking mountainous range was a perfect backdrop among the beautiful green shrubbery; it was nothing like the bustling, drab cityscape. That''s actually where I come in.


    It was another boring Friday in the precinct, and my stepmother Vanessa kept blowing up my phone. She needed someone to watch the twins.


    After the incident, my mother took refuge in abusing substances. My father, who was my biggest supporter, remarried the wicked witch of the east, and of course, she put on an act in front of my father.


    My fingers wrapped around the half of a pendant that hung around my neck. My amber eyes skimmed across the screen of my smartphone. "If you don''t come home this instant, then I''m throwing your bed in the pool." I read the text in my head and scoffed; my eyes rolled out of habit. She was all talk and no bark. She didn''t believe I''d leave the precinct so she could go out drinking with her friends and spend my father''s hard-earned money, did she?


    "Chase, I need you to stay late again. We got a report on a wolf eating a grandmother, and I need you to go through the case file," my boss, Mr. Stiltskin, stated before he threw the reports on my desk. "It''s a strange one."


    "I''ll get to it right away," I replied, looking over it, The only witness seemed to be the granddaughter, a little girl in a red cloak named Carol. The poor girl must have been traumatized. She mentioned that her grandmother would complain about a hunter who would kill her cats. Strange indeed.


    There was nothing wrong with being a records analyst, but I wanted to be out on the field. Be the one who actually did something to make a difference in people''s lives, not slaving away over paperwork. I''m quite sure I would make a decent detective. Victim or suspect? I mean with no living relatives inheritance will go to none other than the granddaughter. "I want it on my desk first thing Monday morning."


    Maybe I could find the little match girls who seemed to be going missing. Grace would be proud if she were still here. Hell, she''d probably be the first on the case; she''s always loved a good mystery. I suppose I have her to thank for this job.


    "Sure, a thing, boss," I replied, fiddling with the loose thread hanging from the sleeve of my navy blouse. My natural kinky curls were held up in a nice, neat ponytail. "Actually um... Mr. Skin I had a question?" I stammered wringing my wrists together.


    He looked around before his eyes landed on the clock on the wall, "You have a minute of my time."


    "I''m good at my job right?" I asked as he gave a slight nod.


    "The best analyst we got, what''s your point?"


    "I want to go on the field, imagine how much time we''d save if I was on the scene."


    "I''m sorry but I can''t do that," he coldly stated.


    "But why not?"


    "If I allow a kid to go out on the field then the company will become a joke, let alone a girl." Sexist.


    Minutes turned into hours, and before I knew it, it was half past eleven. My bag that sat at my feet was now on my desk as I gathered everything before I drank the last little bit of the mango smoothie I had gotten with lunch.


    Many of my colleagues had already left. I overheard some of them talking about going to the bar after work. I however rather not get into legal trouble for publicly drinking underage.


    Being the youngest employee here sucked. No one ever took me seriously. My ears perked up at the sound of the copy machine whirling and hushed whispers. Someone''s getting frisky.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    I cringed at the foul language that was used. Jasmine and honey filled my nostrils; it was the secretary''s signature scent. She was a married woman I knew for a fact that whoever she was with wasn''t her husband. Not my business. Her annoyingly pushy voice was accompanied by the new hotshot accented detective. I put in an earbud to drown out the obscenities.


    The heels of my ankle boots clacked against the floor as I walked passed the copy room to exit the precinct. Eldoria was the crime capital, but lucky for me, I didn''t live too far away and always kept a taser and mace in my bag. I didn''t want to end up like one of the girls who got sent to the morgue.


    (TW: Blood)


    I crossed the threshold for Cinderella Enterprise. They made some of the most stylish footwear and apparel for women. It was suspiciously quiet with the only voices that were heard were the faint ones from the roof of CE. Having some sort of rich people party. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. It was just about midnight, and my intuition kicked in, telling me something bad was about to happen. Quickening my pace, I stopped abruptly when a woman fell in front of me. Her blood splattered on my new boots and slacks. I let out a scream and nearly jumped out of my skin.


    <hr>


    ****


    Kai''s POV


    "Happy Half-Birthday!" My uncle and aunt shouted in unison while they waited for my cousin Lee to blow out her candles. They thought celebrating half-birthdays was more extravagant than the real deal. More expensive if you asked me since they happen every six months instead of once a year.


    After the accident, they took me in as their own. Of course, Aunt Mei was five months pregnant with Lee at the time. "Lirahn!" Aunt Mei called out. She''s been calling me her little Lirahn since I moved in. Lirahn meant starlight in her mother tongue. A language my parents never got the chance to teach me.


    "Yes, Emomi?" I replied, and a forced smile appeared on my face.


    "You look preoccupied. Is everything alright?"


    I ran my hand through my silky, dark brown hair. Her dark brown eyes locked onto my own and filled with concern. "Just preoccupied with work," I replied.


    Honestly, though, work was the least of my worries. The closer it got to the anniversary of my parents'' deaths'', the more I thought about how the scumbag who killed them was still out there running free. Probably murdered more innocent people by now.


    "It''s just after seven," uncle Jim said as the news played in the background. "I wonder if they found those missing kids... yet," he mumbled.


    "Papa," Lee began as she handed him a slice of cake. "Kai really is the best baker. It looks professional, look at the flowers spelling out my name,"


    "I''m glad you like it, Leeann," I replied, flashing her my signature smirk that was only reserved for her.


    "Don''t call me Leeann, Kaiya!" she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. I frowned, My mother named me Kaiya because she wanted a girl.


    I turned to leave the room but stopped in my tracks. The words that came out of the news anchor''s mouth caught me off guard. "Ella Glass, CEO of Cinderella Enterprise was pronounced dead early midnight this morning..."


    "Lee does not need to see this sort of thing," Aunt Mei said, turning the knob on the television.


    I made my way to my room and logged onto my desktop computer. Crime and mysteries have always interested me. I thought maybe if I paid enough attention, I could figure out who killed my parents by looking at the clues they left behind. That was before they deemed it a cold case.


    There was this website I discovered, called; ''Show Crime'' It''s where mystery junkies like myself discuss local crimes amongst themselves. I made quite a few friends there, but no one was like MangoSmoothie07. She claimed to live in the same state as me.


    She was offline. She was probably at work; I wonder where she worked. I sent a quick message for her to see later.


    PeachRiscotto12: So an heiress died this morning; people are saying it was suicide. What do you think happened?


    The green dot next to her icon appeared, symbolizing that she was on for a split second and disappeared without reading my message.


    I closed my browser and scrolled through a news website. ''Local cannibal woman arrested before eating neglected children.'' "Good for them," I muttered, ''Children continue to go missing, as a local gang known as ''The Lost Boys'' are yet to be identified.''


    "Kai?" Lee asked as she knocked on my closed door.


    "Yes?" I answered, closing the browser before going to answer the door.


    "It''s time for me to go sell matches," she began as I nodded.


    It was Saturday, and because she wasn''t a teenager yet, the only way she could make pocket money was by selling matches. "Let me get out of my pajamas," I began. "It''ll be best to avoid Uptown. It will be swarming with cops."

 Chapter 1

    (TW: Blood)


    My palms grew sweaty, and a lump filled my throat as I watched the blonde woman''s blood pour into the snow-covered concrete. It was a scene I thought I would never see happen in front of me. This may have been my first dead body, but it wasn''t my first dead body with all the trips I took to the morgue whenever a young girl who would have matched Grace''s description met their ends.


    The faint sound of a siren was heard in the distance. I looked up to see where she could have fallen from. The building had to be at least ten stories high. Did she fall from the roof? Wasn''t there a railing up there?"


    I tried to replay the scene in my mind. She landed on her stomach side first. So wouldn''t that mean she had to have been pushed? Was this a real-life murder was I finally getting my big break?


    The woman I identified was Ella Glass. She had to have died on impact with the way her body laid there, deformed, I swear I heard the sound of bones breaking upon impact. Her wedding ring was missing, and there were scars on her arms that looked to be self-inflicted. Her feet had cuts all over them, maybe from the glass slippers she seemed to always wear. Behind her ear was a small tattoo of a bear. I have no clue what that means. A calling card perhaps? There was a name tattooed on her right inner forearm. Pied Piper? I swallowed hard; it was a name I had long tried to forget. I took a picture of the evidence I found on my smartphone.


    A car door opened and closed. I looked up for a split second, seeing my cocky coworker exit his luxury vehicle. He could have at least tried to look more presentable. His fly was undone and his shirt wasn''t properly buttoned. "Were you in the middle of something?" I asked as he approached. He smelled like sweat, Jasmine, and honey. Caught in 4k.


    "Chase ya go home," Jasper said heavily accented as he approached smelling like sweat, Jasmine, and honey. Caught in 4k. Jasper D''Alessio. The world''s best detective. Or so people seemed to believe. More like an egotistical womanizer.


    "That''s what I plan on doing, D''Alessio," I said nonchalantly, looking away from him. Ella Glass was my role model. She taught me that girls could come from nothing and still end up on top.


    "Er, why don'' ya go gey cleaned up and I''ll call a yaxi for ya. Can'' have a kid walking ay yhis hour," he flashed me a fake smile as I returned it still in my squatting position by the body. I checked for a pulse but there wasn''t one.


    "Cleaned up?" I asked my eyes met his again.


    "Goy blood ''n yer shoes," he stated and pointed down to my boots. "Where woz ya clueless, or woz iy a fashion s''ayement?"


    "Oh, thank you," I said as he nodded, "Your fly is down, by the way, was that a style choice or do you just have rice krispies for brains?" I asked, he glared as I flashed an innocent smile. He hated my guts and I loved how I wasn''t even twenty yet but got under a thirty-year-old man''s skin.


    I asked the security guard the direction of the bathroom. "By the way, there''s a dead person out there, so you may want to get your story straight before you get written up," he frowned, I smiled. There was something about grown men who hated teenage girls telling them how to do their job that I found so thrilling.


    The floors were a nice white tile with sparkly cyan intricate designs; it was almost too tidy for a public restroom. The shade of blue on the walls matched that on the floor.


    A hum escaped my rose-tinted lips, I made my way over to the sink and grabbed a handful of paper towels, I turned on the faucet to scrub my boots. My heart raced, and my mind played the scene in my head on repeat.


    There was a blunt force trauma wound on the back of her head, her fingertips had a blue tint that only pointed to the illegal drug sapphire. Now why would the most beloved heiress in the country get involved with such a thing?


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    The last stall creaked, which startled me, I nearly jumped out of my skin. The memory of the last time I saw my dear sister entered my mind.


    "Grace, we should be going to bed; we have school tomorrow," the Seven-year-old me stated as the doll-eyed six-year-old continued to jump on my bed. Her blonde curls bounced with her every jump.


    "Wouldn''t it be amazing to go on an adventure?" She asked, trying to pull me up from bed.


    "No, that''d be dangerous," I groaned trying to hold on to the headboard so I wouldn''t fall onto the floor.


    "But think about all the mysteries we can discover; the woods are basically in our backyard," She beamed, "My friend Cari said her grandmother brought her a bb gun to use in the woods near her home to scare away the wolves that attacks their chickens,"


    "Mysteries get people killed," I stated as she sighed and went to sit by the window. "Go to sleep, tomorrow is important."


    "A secret is a secret," She mumbled as I turned and faced the wall. She mumbled something I couldn''t quite hear.


    "Go to sleep, Grace." I muttered, trying to get comfortable in my bed and get some rest, when a creaking noise entered the room.


    At first, I tried to ignore it before I heard an unknown male voice that made me freeze and nearly pee myself, "Emmmmm-ber," The male voice said, drawing out my name like a haunting melody. "Beware, Ember. The shadows hold secrets darker than you can imagine. Little Grace has ventured where she ought not. Heed my words, lest you too become lost in the night."


    I instinctively curled up in a ball to cover my ears before crying, "Mama! Papa!"


    A sigh escaped my lips as my boots were now as clean as they were going to get. Grace''s last words repeated in my head "A secret is a secret," I''ll find you, Grace, I promise.


    My attention shifted to the mirror, which had a business card sticking out of the corner of it. Hatters Tea Room?


    I hated being alone. It left me feeling uneasy, "Emmmmm-ber," The voice echoed in the back of my mind causing me to grip the sink, I felt a cold sweat dripping from my forehead. It''s the same voice I heard when Grace disappeared. My classmates said it was because I was psychotic and I probably murdered my own sister because I was jealous, but she was my best friend and the last person I would want to see disappear.


    Once I calmed myself down, I grabbed the card and turned it over to find a riddle on the back and read it out loud. "Twisted like time. I wear my hat with pride. A tea party of riddles where truths may hide. With whimsical madness and a grin so wide, Who am I? Let your curious mind decide." So odd.


    The stall door continued to creak; I can go give it a quick look over. Every step I took clacked against the tile. The sound grew louder the moment I pushed open the door. The walls were covered in all kinds of graffiti. I read a few lines here and there. Die! Ella Glass? More like Ella Trash. Homewrecker! Backstabber. Snake.


    I raised a brow continuing my investigation, the whole stall was covered with hateful messages. I fished my phone from my pocket and snapped a couple of quick pictures.


    A knock echoed, "Ya done in yhere kid?" Jasper asked, his voice laced with impatience from the other side of the door. It snapped me back to my unfortunate reality. "Whay yook ya so long, Chase?" He asked as I opened the door.


    "The last stall is filled with graffiti, so you may want to have someone check it out; that might be a clue," I stated putting the business card on the receptionist''s desk since I saw no need for tea at the moment. Or ever; I never cared for the beverage. Besides I had more important matters than checking out a tea shop. If Mr, Stiltskin wouldn''t put me on the field then I''ll crack the case myself.


    "Yeh shure," He stated, "Yer yaxi is here," He added, as he moved aside so I could exit the bathroom.


    "Her wedding ring is missing, so you might want to check there," I began, "I suspect drugs were involved,"


    "Yes Chase, ya go home, leave yhis yo yhe profeshionals," he stated holding the door open for me. "Be safe ya hear."


    I let out a sigh, making a breath cloud. My eyes shifted to the now pink stained snow. I guess they took her already.


    The snow crunched under my feet and left footprints that led toward the parked taxi. The door closed with a thud. "Where are you headed, miss?" He asked with a cigar that hung out of his mouth.


    "23 Evergreen Lane, please."


    "Didn''t a girl go missing from there eight years ago?" He asked, "I hear that place is haunted."


    "Eleven," I corrected, "It was my little sister, and not haunted unless you''re referring the wicked witch and her little demon spawns."


    "Oh, I''m sorry for your loss,"


    I forced a smile. It was always the same. People would either say I''m sorry for your loss or, oh, that must stink having to bury your little sister. In actuality, no body was ever recovered. I knew Grace was still out there somewhere, lost and scared. I was determined to find her. Hence, why I decided to work at the local detective agency.

 Chapter 2

    The old wooden bathroom door creaked as I pushed it open with what I planned to wear for the day. Which was just a plain black t-shirt and a pair of dark gray cargo pants, "Lirahn, if you''re planning on taking a shower, the hot water isn''t back yet," Aunt Mei shouted from down the hall as I nodded.


    With the number of bills and the economy doing wonders for lower-class citizens like us, things like basic cable and hot water were nonexistent in our cramped apartment. It looks like it''s another cold shower kind of day. Can''t wait,


    Aunt Mei and Uncle Jim have been so kind. They took me in and treated me like their own. Guilt plagued my consciousness; I was nothing but a burden, I gave them another mouth to feed. My job at the local coffee shop, ''The Frosted Faun Caf¨¦: Where Every Sip is a Story'' paid okay, but it wasn''t enough, for me to live off on my own, "Okay, Emomi, I''ll be quick."


    I set my clothes on the counter before I closed the door that didn''t lock. Winter was the worst season of the year, everything from the tile floor to the doorknobs was too cold.


    It was also my mother''s favorite season, that woman loved her hot cocoa almost as much as she loved baking a fresh batch of cookies. She swore it was what made winter so great. I loved the way she made her hot cocoa.


    The smell of chocolate chip cookies filled my nostrils as I entered the kitchen. "Mom, what are you making?" I asked, sitting down on the island.


    "I just decided to put on a batch of cookies. I was going to bake a cake and surprise your father when he gets home," she replied as I pulled my schoolwork out of my backpack.


    "That''s right, today is your wedding anniversary."


    "Mhm," she hummed in response.


    "Does that mean I can get out of going to school today?"


    "Nice try, go get dressed," she chuckled, "Oh and Kaiya, your father and I are going out later so your uncle Jeff will be picking you up from school today."


    "Aw, man," I grumbled, marching to my room as my mother answered the phone that rang.


    "Hello? We''ll be right there."


    That was the last day I ever smelled my mom''s fresh cookies.


    A knock snapped me out of my thoughts, "You almost done in there, son?" Uncle Jim asked, "I need to use the can."


    I turned to the mirror and gave myself one last look, looking good, Kai. My hand reached for my pajamas that took the place of the t-shirt pants that I was now wearing and opened the door. "All yours, is Lee ready?" I asked.


    "She''s waiting in the living room, please convince her to wear a coat. We wouldn''t want her to catch pneumonia again."


    "Will do, Uncle Jim."


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    The living room also doubled as the kitchen and dining room. We were lucky enough to have three bedrooms and one working toilet. Well, two bedrooms. I took over what was supposed to be the study. "Lee, don''t forget your winter coat," I began as I grabbed it from the coat rack by the door along with her earmuffs and my beanie."


    "Thank you for taking her out, Lirahn, I would have done it but I got called into work at the last minute," Aunt Mei said holding her cell phone to her ear, she was identical to my late mother, they were twins after all.


    "It''s fine I don''t mind, Emomi. I don''t have to be at work until one, so I can take her for a few hours."


    "Take her to the coffee shop with you, We''ll both be at work later today, and she''s too young to stay home by herself." There was no law against it but we lived in a shader part of town where anything could happen.


    "Lee want to come to the coffee shop with me?" I asked while I turned my attention to the ten-year-old girl who sat on the makeshift couch. She had just turned ten meaning my parents'' memorial was eight months away. The couch was made from an old frame and a couple of mattresses. She had a few boxes of matches, which sat next to her by her feet.


    "Will you make me a coffee cake?" Lee asked getting up from the couch as I helped her put on her winter coat.


    "Lee, you''re too young for coffee!" Aunt Mei scolded before she headed down the hall to get ready for work.


    "How about a cupcake?" I asked while I opened the door. I stuck her earmuffs on head as she looked up at me. Her brown eyes met mine for a split second as she gave me a dirty look.


    "Do you need gas money, Kai?" Lee asked, "I can give you some of what I saved up."


    "No, it''s fine."


    My car may have been a few years old, but it still did its job. I descended the steps with Lee, who trailed behind me; she counted out loud. "3...4...5"


    "Where do you want to go first?" I asked, waiting for her to catch up.


    "The bookstore!" She said, before she jumped down the last three steps, she nearly fell on her face before I caught her. She dropped her boxes, but I helped her pick them back up.


    "Hey, be careful! Your mom will have my butt if I brought you home with a busted lip."


    "Haha! You said butt." Lee laughed as I gave her side-eye before spotting a group of homeless men arguing.


    I moved Lee in front of me so I could keep a closer eye on her. "I don''t think the bookstore is open this early, It''s only a quarter before nine," I quietly replied.


    "Can we go before you go to work then?" She asked as she turned her head to face me. She gave me her infamous puppy dog eyes.


    "I don''t see why not," I replied while I pressed the unlock button on my car key that was in my coat pocket.


    "Can I ride shotgun?"


    "Sure, just don''t tell Mei," I replied. I opened the passenger door for her so she could get in. "Don''t forget your seatbelt," I added manually locking the door before shutting it.


    A sigh escaped my lips as I made a breath cloud. I tried to mentally plot out the best route to take before I rounded the car to climb into the driver''s side.


    "Kai, can I have cheesecake when we get to the coffee house?"


    "You don''t like cheese, though," I stated.


    "They use actual cheese?" She asked as I just laughed and snorted in response. "Who puts cheese in dessert?" She asked as her voice squeaked, it always did that whenever she was in disbelief.


    My head shook while I fastened my own seatbelt. I inserted the key into the ignition and turned it as the car hummed while it started up.


    I knew small business owners most likely wouldn''t buy any matches since they had their own expenses to worry about, whereas bigger chain businesses would cast us aside for being urchins before they called the cops on us. She''d be lucky if she got one sell-in.


    Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, then society chewed you up and pooped you out. "We can go to the laundromat, the owner called me adorable and said that she would buy matches from me next time."


    "Well, you are adorable, Lee."


    "Kai, what''s love?" She asked as I pulled away from the curb. She hugged her boxes on her lap.


    "Sometimes it''s what drives you to take your next breath."


    "And other times?"


    "It''s revenge."


    "Well, that''s dark."


    "Sometimes things have to be grim before you get a satisfying answer."

 A/N & Chapter 3

    "Would you like to buy a match?" The little brown-haired girl asked, offering me a box that she was selling. Her big brown eyes stared into my very soul, she seemed to be no older than twelve. It is dangerous for such a young girl to be out by herself. "I''ll throw in a second box for twenty percent off," She added before playing with her dark twin braids, twirling them around her finger nervously. I couldn''t help but notice the dirt smudges on her tattered clothes and the worn-out boots on her feet. A guy stood a couple of feet away on his phone, he looked up at us every now and then, he resembled her, so he must have been a relative. Her brother, maybe? Wait he''s tall, had to be six foot at least.


    A pang of sadness tugged at my heartstrings. I was lucky enough that my father made a decent amount of money and had important colleges. Growing up, I didn''t have to be out in the dangerous, cold streets selling matches. My hand slipped into my trench coat pocket when my little half-sister Zoella opened her big, fat mouth, "Ew, why are you dressed like that? Are you homeless?" I cringed at my sister''s insensitive remark, feeling a mix of embarrassment and guilt wash over me. As I glanced at the girl, her eyes welled up with tears. The guy nearby was now shooting daggers at us. Thanks a lot Zoey.


    "Zoella," I snapped, turning to the eight-year-old girl. "That''s not nice! Apologize right now!"


    "I don''t want to," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.


    I shook my head in disappointment. Zoe was a carbon copy of her mother and a brat most of the time. If I didn''t do anything she would become a despicable woman much like her mother. Zachery, on the other hand, clung to my left arm. "I like your earmuffs," the soft-spoken boy began. I smiled at Zachery''s compliment, grateful for my brother. He was definitely the better twin to deal with. I love you my little Zackroo.


    He was nothing like his mother or twin sister. Zachary was quiet and didn''t speak much, just how I liked it. I fished out some money from my pocket and handed it to the girl. "You can keep the matches, I''m sorry about my little sister, she runs her mouth before thinking."


    The guy approached us and snatched the money from the girl. "We don''t need your pity!" He huffed, shoving the money back into my hand. I was taken aback by his aggression. Zachery held onto my arm tighter. I could feel his unease through his grip.


    "No Kai, we need it," the little girl pleaded.


    "Look, dude, this isn''t out of pity, I just really love matches." I lied. The guy''s expression didn''t soften, and now the girl and the twins were in tears. What a jerk. I handed the girl the money back. "I''m so sorry, sweetie. I know it''s not much, but it''s all I have to give right now," I turned my attention to the guy. "I hope you feel good about yourself. You just made three kids cry. Congratulations on being the world''s biggest douchebag," As I glared at the man, he seemed unaffected. It infuriated me to see someone who lacked empathy and treat children so harshly.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    I pushed Zoella and Zachery inside the bookstore, ''Goldielocks'' Book Nook'' where they continued crying. "Welcome to Gol- Oh, howdy stranger, why the long faces?" My best friend, Jordan, greeted his smile faltering when he noted the twins'' tear-stained faces. "What''s wrong white Tweedle Mute and Tweedle Glam?" He asked running a hand through his dirty blonde hair as his blue eyes shifted from the minions to me.


    "Just a douche scared them," I stated with a frown, "Can I hang in the back?" I asked, "I need to figure somethings out."


    "You don''t even have to ask Em," he replied with a nod. I guided the twins to the children''s section, where they could pick out books that interested them to keep them busy while I got some work done. As Zoella and Zachery began scanning the colorful shelves, their tears gradually subsided. "You''ll tell me what happened though, right?"


    "Anything I can share will be public knowledge in due time," I replied, I loved my job but I hated keeping things from him. Friends don''t lie to each other.


    "I don''t mind keeping an eye on them while reorganizing the shelves," Jordan offered. I smiled gratefully at him and nodded, knowing that the twins would be in safe hands. As I watched them explore the books I turned on my heels to the backroom that was reserved for staff. I couldn''t help but feel grateful for Jordan''s unwavering support. The bookstore had always been a sanctuary for us, a place where we could escape from the troubles of the outside world. Jordan worked here since his sophomore year of highschool, and the fact that Goldilocks was his mother''s good friend helped him get his foot in the door. He always made his love for me known but our relationship was merely platonic.


    I looked over my shoulder and watched the trio before I headed into the staff lounge. I brewed a pot of coffee before I set up my laptop and pulled out the Manila folder to go over the case. Saturday was my day off, but that doesn''t mean I took the day off. The home screen of the crime website I frequented popped up as I logged in. A notification chimed, which let me know I had a message.


    PeachRiscotto12: So an heiress died this morning; people are saying it was su*c*de. What do you think happened?


    We''ve been exchanging messages back and forth for a year now, but I never met him in person and didn''t plan on it. He could have been a fifty year old perv for all I knew or a woman. I bit the inside of my cheek and pushed some loose curls out of my face. That''s right, he lives locally.


    MangoSmoothie07: Yeah, Ella Glass. I guess you saw the news.


    They were offline, but knew they would see it sooner or later. I opened a new tab and searched Ella Glass'' and wrote down a list of her relatives'' names.


    The pot of coffee beeped, letting me know that it was ready, but I barely noticed. My mind was consumed with finding any clue that could confirm my suspicion. I opened a new browser and logged onto my work website, trying to pull Mrs. Glass'' case file, but was denied access. That''s never happened before.


    I sent a quick text to my boss, ''Hey, so I was trying to open the Mrs. Glass case file but was denied access. Do you know why?''


    I turned my attention to the coffee machine and grabbed a disposal cup before adding sugar and creamer. After I took a sip of the liquid heaven my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out checking the message. ''It''s a glitch, don''t worry about it.''


    He brushed me off, which only made me worry more. It couldn''t possibly be that simple; could it ? Something about his response left me with more questions than answers. Was he hiding something from me?