Eighty Four

"Kamila Dickson." I replied. "I'd love to know what you know about Paige, Kam."

"Paige is innocent. She was bestie to my girlfriend. Well, Ria is out of town now and I haven't been able to reach her. She rarely talked about her, but… She is an introvert. She kind of likes to keep to herself most of the time. She plays the guitar so perfectly well yet refused to join our band because she would rather not be known too much"

"Everyone knew her as a rich dude. I remember the first day she had attended our concert. She obviously loved the song, and she stole the heart of our leader, "he went solemnly silent, and I wondered what went wrong. I checked my tape recorder of it was still on and continued to wait on him.

"I graduated this summer with Ria, her bestie and most of the other members of the band but… Henry, he liked her very much, I don't know if they finally had a relationship, but he disappeared a few weeks to our graduation, and she wasn't herself ever since."

"Henry is the name of your boss?"

Could there be any connection?

"Yes, he leads our band."

"A band." I said, remembering my college crush. What is it with musicians and love dramas?

"He writes songs?"

"We do. I heard she writes better. She sings in a church band nearby. I doubt if they've heard the news." He paused. "You see why I said she was innocent. She can't harm a fly."

"What about Henry? Did he just disappear? Is he missing or something?"

"No." He shook his head. "He left a note. She never gave it to anyuelse to read,, so we know not what was writing in it. In fact, the rest of the band were pissed. He left us like we meant nothing to him."

"But Paige, you should have seen her on our graduation, she looked miserable. Then, I didn't pay much attention, but with all that has happened lately. I had to think twice about everything single thing I observed from her."

I was quiet, and he too. I was thinking. All he said was just bits and bits of information leading to nowhere but Paige. I need Paige to speak up. And I'll do that today because we can't go on like this.

"You said her bestie's out of town."

"Yeah, Out of the country. She probably would not have heard the news, and she hasn't been reachable ever since. Once I reach her, I'll get back to you."

"Yeah. That'd be great." I immediately gave him my card.

"Thanks a lot for the info. I really appreciate."

"It's my pleasure, Miss Dickson. Are you the defending lawyer? How's her status now? Is she going to court?"

"I can't say yet. We're doing our best." I stood up, ready to leave. This was a great conversation. All I required was to listen to it all over again and think, connect hopeful dots.

"Do you see her?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to her now."

"I have something for her. Please wait." He ran up the stage into a small room and was out in no time.

He came back with a memory card.

"Here, it has all the songs that Henry wrote. I believe strongly she inspired most of his songs, so I'm thinking that if you could play some of these songs for her. She'll feel better."

I took it. "Yeah, that's thoughtful of you, thanks."

*

She looked more miserable than before. I noticed new scars on her right wrist and others on her face. She looked totally shaken, and I was moved to tears. I only left her for a week. I shouldn't have. I should not have gotten that angry with her. After listening to Samuel, I felt more like a fool for keeping off, but sincerely grateful to myself for not giving up. There's a bigger story that need to be unraveled however way, and Paige would speak to me when she wants to.

"Hi." I said almost shyly

"I thought you wouldn't come ever again." Her voice same out raspy and coarse. She obviously has lost her voice too.

"I apologize for leaving that way."

"I never said you should be sorry."

We were quiet for a while, and I allowed it. Since I'm her lawyer, I have all the time.

"I was just worried."

I blushed. She was worried about me, but why?

"No. Not about you. But your ass." She immediately added as if reading my thought.

She didn't make that sound like a joke if it was.

"I got something you'll like it to hear."

"I doubt if I would like anything now." She murmured.

I took out my phone and choose a song out of the ones present in the memory card, I was grateful to myself that I had my ear pods with me. I plugged them into her ears and waited for her reaction.

Unfortunately, I got none and I just watched, in silence. The same silence she initiated.

I listened to the songs in my car while driving to the station. Samuel was right, the song isn't a popular one, and it was glaring that he was speaking to someone. How creative? It made my heart melt. Whoever this Henry guy was, I wanted to meet him.

When she finally looked at me, she had this sober look I must have been too lucky to see. What just happened?

I smiled inwardly. Samuel was right.

Thank goodness, I wasn't deceived again.

"How did you…" She swallowed. "Get these songs?"

"I met a friend of yours."

I saw her struggle to get it off her ear since Pere hands were chained, I had to help.

"Who did you meet? And why?"

"He said he's Samuel. He sent his regards."

A tear dropped from her eyes, it got mixed with the bloodstains on her cheek and dropped to the table in the form of blood. My heart ached.

"You really want to help me?" She cried 

"Yes." I whispered. "I do."

"It's a waste of time and not just time but…" She sucked on her tears.

"I swear I killed him."

"I believe you."

"No, you don't." She said. "I can't afford to cause more trouble. You should not help me. It is better I die this way."

"Why?"

"I don't want to live anymore. I killed someone, I should die."

I was silent for a while, her words sinking into the depths of my imagination. Why do feel so much connected to this stranger? I suddenly felt like I was going to cry.

"Well, then, what about Henry? Will you still…"?

"Leave!" She yelled and I was shock stricken.