UNEXPECTED VISITOR

Chapter 5

I take a ride from Noah in his suv, since I'm not allowed to walk alone after the probable mishap. Noah pulled in front of his house.

"Looks like nobody's home. Let's hang out in your place," he said as he parked his car and we got out of it.

"Granma, Noah's here." I closed the door behind me and I saw someone sitting there with Gramps.

She wore a ash gray suit with a navy blouse. Her flat shoes indicating long hours of work. She had a small nose, olive skin and very sharp gray eyes. Her shiny black hair was twisted and hold over her shoulder with a punch clip.

"Jenny, she's here to meet you," gramps said with a subtle smile.

"Hello, Ms. Ryan. My name is Alice Savvaro. I'm a special agent working with the FBI." I shook her extended hand. She had a firm grip and rigid posture which overall said business. She then turned to Noah, "I dropped by your house Mr. Flickermen. Apparently nobody was home. I'm lucky I found you both under one roof."

"You can't expect us to be home in school hours." There goes Noah with his charming smile. I could clearly see that our visitor already liked him better than me.

"Guilty as charged." She raised her hands in a surrender gesture. "I am here today to have your opinion about the mishap that occurred in your school." She put a lot of pressure on mishap and pointed us to have a seat. Granma comes with a plate of cookies and orange juice. As she puts them on the center table agent Savvaro starts, "Mr. and Mrs. Hastings, it's been very helpful to get your opinions about the matter. If it's not too much too ask, I would like to talk to them alone."

"O sure sure. It's no biggie. Come on dear." Gramps takes off the couch and guides grandma to the bedroom.

"It's a really unfortunate event what happened to Ms. Stone. I will expect you both to give me whatever you know. Do not leave out any details."

"Anything for a nice lady like you," Noah chirps in. I rolled my eyes at him and could swear that agent Savvaro was trying hard not to roll hers.

"I heard it was your P.E. period when you found her?" Noah and I nod our heads in unison.

"What happened exactly?"

"We just finished of a dodgeball game. Then we heard a scream from the dressing room," I offered my most innocent look.

"yes, it was Ms.?"

"Riley, Riley Cragmaire." I had a bad feeling that she was suspecting Riley. But there was no way she could've done that. Sure she was jealous of Genevie because she was the Queen B. But she could not have gone that far.

"How long do you know her?"

"She transferred to Evergreen High in 8th grade. Jenny was in NY. So she knows her from 9th." Noah gives me a smile.

"So not very long compared to how long you two know each other?"

"No." I say.

"I'm gonna ask individual questions now. And I will expect the other one to remain completely silent. Is that clear?"

Noah nodded. I was a little hesitant. What was she like suspecting us now? Hello? We helped her. But I nodded anyway.

"So, Mr. Flickermen. You're the top student of your school. Soon to be running for president. Been a lifeguard at a swimming pool. Not a single dent on your record. But Ms. Ryan has a lot of records. Most of it are not so mentionable. But," she gave a scary pause. "Can it not be possible that it was one of her pranks that went overboard? After all she is known for her pranks."

"I helped Genevie. How can you expect me to do it?" I let it out a little too loud.

"It's Mr. Flickermen's turn." She gazed me down with a fearsome glance.

"Look, I know Jenny is not the sweet sunshine type girl. But there are limits to her ruthlessness. She might hit people. But only those who deserve it. She stood up for me a lot of times where I kept my head down just for the sake of peace. If Genevie was stuffed in that locker without the unconsciousness or the burn, you could have the slightest chance of suspecting her. The burn, the blood. Jenny can never face those alone." Noah says with authority.

"Who says she was alone?"

"Okay, if that's the way it's gonna be. If she had an accomplice, the only one in the world would've been me. If you're implying that I was the brain in this, that can happen."

I was biting down my lips to stop myself from howling at her. But Noah gazed at her with a confident and calm look. Done with Noah, agent Savvaro turned to me.

"Ms. Ryan, you have a motive to take revenge on Genevie. She was the reason you got sent to the principal's office. Am I right?" She raised one of her eyebrows. Damn it, am I the only one who can't do that?

I let myself take 2 breaths and start talking with the same calm voice Noah used. "Yes, right. But they never meant for it to go this far. We always tease each other. But I have nothing against her posse nor do they have anything against me."

"I heard there was a nickname they gave you."

"Star girl. Do you find it funny? Or insulting?"

"Can you please explain why is that?"

"It's because I hang out with all types of people. And I am not technically jock, nerd or a prep. Like Jack of all trades, master of none."

"I see. If I gave you a new theory to consider. Mr. Flickermen did the mishap. Maybe he wanted to make her do something, but she refused. What about the presidency election? Wouldn't having the Queen B on his side be effective?"

My mouth flew open. That was the most bizarre theory I've ever heard. If the rest of the theories are like that, even I'm gonna believe I am the culprit.

"Look Ma'am, Noah will win this election without any sort of support. He is the top student, with right amount of ambition and goodwill. And as long as I am here to do his bidding, I don't see why he would need popularity to win this. As you have learned earlier, I am quite friendly with everyone." I glance at Noah only to find him giving me a sly grin which tells me I've nailed it.

"If we didn't have any tabs on you, I would've been convinced that you two did it as a pact."

"What?" Noah lost his calmness and was furious now.

I didn't know what to think of. She thinks we are capable of doing this? Wait, they have tabs on us?

"You two were never on the suspect list. But that doesn't mean you weren't hiding one of your friend's deeds. I was here today in case you slip something knowing that you guys are under suspicion."

Well played Agent Savvaro, well played.

"Tell me what you think about this." She pulled a some photos out of the yellow envelope she had on her lap. Wait that was not there just a minute ago.

I see the pictures. All of them were of the burn on Genevie's wrist. The burn was cleaned. So the pictures were of later.

"Have you seen them before? We're guessing maybe some frat or sorority symbol?"

"Our school don't have any of those unless you include lunch tables." Noah said haughtily.

"You haven't seen them anywhere else?" Agent Savvaro insists.

"No." Noah says with a finality.

"I thought the authorities filed it as a prank." I asked agent Savvaro inquisitively.

"They were. But some other matters have come to our notice. But if it were up to me, the burn was enough to dismiss that."

"What other matters?" Noah did the obvious question I was going to do.

"That is not up for disclosure now. Since you two were there and were involved in the matter-"

"AKA helped her," Noah piped in.

"Yes, helped her. We won't be done with you. We might need your words. But for now, I would suggest you keep this meeting under this roof."

Noah and I look at each other.

"It's just so that the culprit doesn't get a heads up." She took the photos and stood up. "It's been nice meeting you, Mr. Flickermen and Ms. Ryan."

I went towards the door with her. Just before exiting the door, she put her mouth in my ear and said, "Mr. Flickermen has a lot to hide. I would advise you to keep your eyes open." With that she paced towards the car kept a good few houses front.