The Investigation Part 2

It was almost 4 pm when they met Coach Edward in the gym. The muscular man was busy with logistics when he welcomed them. Then, they sat on the bench while discussing the previous incident at his house. 

"I am really sorry for what happened to you, Ashley. It worse that it happened in my home. Are you okay now?"

The black-haired girl smiled softly. "I am okay, Sir."

"I am glad to hear that." His frown deepened. "So, anything that can I help, ladies?"

"We want to know if you see anything suspicious during the incident. Can you tell me where you are and whom you are with?" Florence was not beating around the bush. 

"Flo!" Ash glared at her best friend; however, the man told her it was okay. 

Coach Edward waved his hand. "It is okay. I know you just want the information. If I can do any help, I will gladly help you. Let's see… Mostly I spend my time on veranda because I was busy with the BBQ grill. I didn't keep who and where at that time because many people went in and out."

"Do you think other people aside from the basketball team enter your house?" Flo pressed further. 

The man shook his head. "No, because I only invited basketball team and you guys. I saw only familiar people inside my home. If there was any stranger, I would know. Since the only way in was from the front door."

Afterward, they asked a few more questions, which Coach Edward helped answer. Then they said thanks and moved to another person on the list. They found Jeremy and David hanging out in the university garden.

"Well, I am not sure if I could help you or not." Jeremy said.

"That is true. I didn't see anyone who suspicious." David added. 

Bianca frowned. "Then, what do you think about Ashley's incident? Do you think it was the inside job or from outsider?"

Jeremy tilted his head. "Well, if you asked my opinion. I think the culprit is from the outsider."

Flo raised her eyebrow. "Why do you think so?"

David frowned. "Why we attacked Ashley anyway? I mean we know Ashley just because Sam brought her to join the celebration."

"Yeah, it would be very stupid to do that when many people can monitor our action." Jeremy added. 

"That makes sense," Bianca commented on David's and Jeremy's reasoning. 

They said goodbye after finding no valuable information they could get from both of them. Then Ash, Flo, Bianca, and Josh discussed what they had learned from an interview with each other at the coffee shop near the university. 

"I am thinking this must be inside job." Flo insisted. 

"Why do you think like that? I mean it impossible for insider to do that. Listen, there were many people at that time. If someone made suspicious move, we could know." Josh gave his opinion. 

"But Coach Edward said the only people who were invited were basketball team and friends right? So, there is no way for outsider to enter Coach Edward's backyard." The brown-haired girl argued with him. 

"But what is the motive, Flo? What for the basketball guys did that anyway?" Then Joshua gazed at me. "Do you have any grudge with any of basketball team member?"

"What? Of course, not!" Ash denied it quickly. 

Josh pointed out his argument. "See? There is no motive they can do that."

Florence crossed her arms. "We haven't found the motive yet, but I have big suspicion that it was an insider job."

The handsome boy groaned in disbelief. "Then you need to have proofs, Flo! That is how it should work when you accuse someone."

"I don't have a proof right now, but my gut feeling tells me that is the case." Flo defended her opinion. 

Joshua raised her eyebrow. "So we should accuse the innocent because of your gut feeling?" He asked skeptically. "Come on, Flo. I thought you were not that shallow."

Hearing that, Florence gritted her teeth. "Listen, Joshua. My bestfriend is in danger! I will do whatever it takes to uncover this!"

Before the situation could escalate further, Ash quickly jumped in. "Flo, calm down, okay? There is no need for you to fight over this. It's supposed to be a discussion, right?"

The brown-haired beauty glared at Joshua before turning her face to Ashley apologetically. "Sorry, Ash."

Then Ash nodded before turning her gaze towards Joshua. "You too. Don't provoke Flo. You know how her temper is." The boy quickly nodded and muttered sorry to Florence. 

After Ash made sure that they said sorry to each other, the black-haired girl sighed. Ash didn't want their friends to fight because of her. "Listen, I appreciate that you guys want to help me this far, but please refrain from fighting each other. We don't gain anything from it, okay?"

"Okay."

Bianca, who saw that the heated discussion had subsided, started to speak. "Alright, guys. So, If I can conclude our conversation, I think from getting information from others, we have two possibilities now. One is the possibility of an insider who attacked Ashley that night. Or, the outsider who could sneak in at the time of the party."

"At the moment, we don't have any proof to accuse anyone. Given there is no further action from the perpetrator towards Ashley, we can take preventive measure."

 Flo frowned upon hearing that. "What do you mean by that?"

"What we learned from the previous attack was it happened when Ashley was alone. So, we need to make sure Ashley is not alone. Like whenever she goes, at least she is with someone."

Ash widened her eyes. "What? No, Bianca. I can take care of myself."

"At least until the near future, okay? We can't afford they attack you again, Ashy." The blonde-haired girl's face was concerned. 

"I agree with Bianca. We can take turns to accompany Ash to University, right?" Josh supported Bianca's idea.

Flo was unhappy that her friends didn't believe her reasoning, but she had no supporting evidence. However, Bianca's idea seemed to make more sense at the moment. Even though she was still wary of Bianca, the brown-haired girl agreed. 

"Okay, I will ask Sam's help too. We need to make sure one of us accompanies Ash." Flo nodded. 

The glasses girl groaned. "Guys? Seriously? I am not a child. I can take care of myself."

"I know that, Ashy. But just think it is for your safety until we figure out how to do with this unknown assailant, okay?" Bianca placed her hand on Ashley's shoulder. 

Ash exhaled in annoyance. She knew that her friends were stubborn. "Only until we figure out this, okay? I will not let you guys babysit me anymore." The black-haired girl raised her eyebrow at her friends, leaving no room for argument. 

"Fine."

***