Suspense

I walked slowly into the Principal's office, one question lingering on my mind,.. why the hell was I called here...

Good afternoon sir, I greeted the Principal, I noticed an unfamiliar face sitting in front of his table, turning towards my direction.. 'Detective', I noted,...I nod my head in greeting and he returned the gesture while observing me.

Good afternoon Mister Johnson, the principal replied, please sit, he gestured to a chair in front of his table, next to the unfamiliar man

I sat uncomfortably, still wondering my purpose here

Amari, the principal spoke up, do you have any idea why you were called to my office?

I shook my head in response, no sir..not even a little.

Alright, he replied, next to you is detective Jones, he's the lead detective on the school's peculiar case which I believe you to be very familiar with

thanks to him...., I thought, staring at the man next to me,.. how though?..,I returned my gaze to the principal as he continued,

Detective Jones here has some questions he believes you are in a good position to answer, over to you detective, he added

Thank you principal Williams, he replied... Amari, he called sitting up, I know that you know everything, I'm not here to ask how, I'm just gonna go straight to the point here,..I'm aware that you went on a trip a day ago to get answers from a certain classmate which you believe to be 'the culprit' we've been looking for,..you took a trip to a College outside of town.. Boulevard, to be exact and then we received news that a former student of this school, Cedar Creek, was found dead at a party in Boulevard that same day, he paused for a while, watching my reaction.. I'm not saying you're the killer Amari, he continued, but you could clear every possible doubts by telling me what you know or found out that night.

I stared at him, narrowing my eyes in the process...You got him, I replied

He frowned at me, confused

The culprit, I added, you've found him already

He frowned again, surprised at my deduction, and you know that how? he asked

I have my ways, I replied confidently, You know where he is, I continued, so why don't you ask him these questions directly?

I could, he replied, but I can't, due to reasons I can't disclose.

of course, Kai committed suicide,...

*attempted*, since they're still very interested in yesterday's events ...

I can answer your question, but only on one condition, I replied

That's not how this works Amari, he replied, we set the conditions here

and I'm sure you also have another means of getting your answers, I replied much too confident for his liking.

He turned to look at the principal who nodded sternly at him... what is your condition? He asked reluctantly

I need to know who gave me up and how you found out about the trip, I replied

He placed one leg on another, resting his back on the chair, a relative to one of the victims and a friend of yours gave me your name,... though not directly, he added

Sophie..I easily deducted.

We've been in contact with her eversince her sister Sierra's case, which was a peculiar one,

peculiar?, I wondered,..ah yes 'the first female and non-senior to be involved'

the last time we spoke, he continued, she seemed more willing to talk about her sister than usual, she said that she felt hopeful now because we have you working alongside us,.. wondering when and how that happened, I began to ask questions which led to learning of your latest adventure.

I see..

So, he continued, back to my question, what did you find out that night?

I sighed...I figured out Kai was going after Adrien next thanks to Sophie's help, so I went after him thinking to get to Adrien first.

Why didn't you inform the police once you found out? He asked while Principal Williams listened

Because I wasn't sure and because I didn't want you to know that I had knowledge of any of this

And you did all this alone? He asked further

Yes...well no, not totally, I wouldn't have figured it out without Sophie, I replied smartly

And what happened when you got to the party, I assume you were there

Yeah, I replied,.. I was too late, Adrien was dead by the time I got there

so you took him to the hospital, he summarized

No, his friend Zack did, he was also at the party

And you didn't spot Kai once during the time you were there?, he asked

trick question, saying a definite No would implore lying and saying Yes means talking about the recording..

I saw him once, I replied but I wasn't searching for him, I was looking out for Adrien, so I went on, after finding out it was too late, I went back to the same place I spotted him but he was gone.

The detective heaved a sigh

That'll be all for now, the principal spoke up, thank you for your cooperation mister Johnson and please do not say a word about any of this to anyone, every information presented here is vital to this case, I hope you understand

I nodded in response as I began to stand

One more question mister Johnson, the detective said, I believe you're familiar with the name Piper Hathaway

She's a classmate, I replied wondering where he was going with this

What do you know about her life outside of school

Not much, we're just close cause we seat together in class, I replied

And what do you know about her closeness with Kai?, he asked

They talk sometimes, I replied shrugging

May I ask how you found Kai, I added changing the subject

that's restricted information Amari, he replied instead, thank you for your time.

I take it that's my cue, I thought as I walked out.

..................................

Is it just me or you guys are all over me right now, I asked the three people visibly taking up my personal space as we walked out of the school gate at closing hour

Of course we are, Piper replied, you haven't said anything since you left the Principal's office and the suspense is killing me

How bout you drive me home and I'll talk on the way, I replied facing Sebastian, in case you guys forgot, I'm still grounded, I huffed.

We all got in Sebastian's car and drove off while they stared expectantly at me

Come on, Piper spoke impatiently, what happened in there?

I glanced at her and then at Liana who's been quiet the whole time,.. she's feeling guilty for some reason, maybe I'll keep up the suspense a little longer, might even get an apology..

I stared back at the road in silence

So you're not gonna tell us, Sebastian said from the driver's seat, why not?

Cause he's mad, Liana finally spoke, Amari, she called softly, facing me, whatever it is they found out, I promise it wasn't from me, I know I sounded a little determined earlier but I didn't ratt you out, I wouldn't do that, not to a friend, I wouldn't even wish for Kai to end up the way he did

He's not dead, I spoke up

how'd you know, Piper asked

Because I could read the detective, just as I could read you Liana when you spoke to me in the hallway, and I'm not mad at you, I replied

So why aren't you talking to us, she asked concerned

Just wanted to build the suspense a little bit, I replied cracking into a smile

Piper shook her head at my antics while Liana punched me on the shoulder

oww!, I exclaimed rubbing the spot

You're lucky I'm not the one seating next to you or you would've felt worse, Sebastian added from the front.

I spent the rest of the ride narrating the scenario at the Principal's office.., we finally arrived my place

thanks for covering for us Amari, me especially, Piper said as I got down

and you still managed not to bring up the recording, Liana added

I told you guys I wouldn't, I replied, they have him now, he's probably in intensive care as we speak, he can't run anymore, it's over, I assured

I hope it is, Liana replied

I'm just glad he's still alive, I wouldn't want history to repeat itself, Sebastian added before they waved me off and drove away.

I began to walk in as my phone beeped, noticing a message, I clicked on it and read through;

It wasn't suicide, it was attempted murder, please I need your help to prove it.

Sent from:

-Anonymous.

What the?!!