Chereads / Charis Institute / Chapter 12 - Chapter 11

Chapter 12 - Chapter 11

Natasha roamed her weapons closet, swiftly touching the knives and gun inside. Turning around, she headed to her table where her latest weapons are in progress of making.

Natasha first started training with weapons when she was 6. Her mom had just died from an unexpected robbery while visiting the bank. Ever since then, her father and her had gotten closer.

A knock on the door silenced her thoughts as she went over and opened it to see Lucifer and Caroline standing in front of her. It was a rare sight, even though they had known each other for the longest time, they were never really close. The reason behind that is because she was quiet when she was little, and Caroline had Scarlett, and Lucifer had Isaac.

"Hey, what're you doing here?" She asked, letting them inside.

"We have news!" Caroline said enthusiastically.

"What is it?" Natasha asked with a faint smile.

"Jack's coming," Lucifer said, an admiring smile on his lips as he thought.

"Jack? Gosh, I barely remember how he looks now," Natasha said, sitting down on her bed.

"Really? I assume you would remember, based on the many magazines he's been on these last few years," Caroline said, taking a seat beside her. "Are you excited?"

"Of course I am, Care. But why now out of all times? Chaos is ensuing here and he's coming?" Natasha wondered.

"I called him this morning, as I usually do, and he insisted," Lucifer said.

Natasha nodded, "Well, that's great. I missed him a lot. The last time I saw him face-to-face was my mother's funeral and I was six," She laughed at the memory of her crying, and Jack hugging her as he lifted her.

Lucifer smiled, remembering his also deceased mother, "I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

Natasha smiled, as if saying thank you as someone else knocked on her door.

"Come in," She called.

Kaiden came in, holding papers in his hands and said, "The detective needs you for questioning."

"Alright, I'll be right there," She said, saying goodbye to Caroline and Lucifer.

"Who's next, Care?" Lucifer asked, hooking his arm around Caroline's as they walked out of Natasha's room.

"Isaac!" She answered, smiling brightly.

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"Detective?" Natasha peeked her head through the door.

"Yes, Ms. Ivanov. Come on in," Detective Bassi said, motioning for her to come in.

Natasha quietly took a seat in front of her, a faint smile on her lips because of what Caroline and Lucifer had just told her.

"Do you know of any personal conflicts between people at Charis and reporters?" She asked.

Natasha thought, recalling her memories, "Of course. We all do. I mean, being followed by them since we were young did not make our lives easier."

Bassi hummed, writing her notes. "Do you know of anyone who might have a motive to kill?"

Natasha shook her head, "We might be short-tempered but not one of us would murder someone. And even if we would, what do you think that might do to our reputations? Our parents would disown us," She said with a bitter laugh.

"And what about the teachers? Can you think of anyone who might want to do it?"

"Well, no. I've known the teachers here since I was 4, we're quite fond of each other. They wouldn't do such a thing from what I know," Natasha answered.

"And the maids?"

"That I'm not sure of. I trust most of the maids, but the newer maids, I haven't gotten time to know yet."

Detective Bassi nodded, "Thank you, Ms. Ivanov."

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Lucifer and Caroline walked calmly over to Isaac's room.

Lucifer motioned for Caroline to knock on the door.

"You knock and I'll open," He said.

Caroline looked at him with a baffled look, "What is this? Primary school?"

Lucifer shrugged, "It might be. Just knock on it!"

Caroline knocked on the door and heard Isaac's voice from behind it.

"Just a minute!"

Caroline looked at Lucifer with a raised eyebrow, "Wanna bet that Scarlett's inside?"

"Oh, please. We both know she is," He said with a smirk.

The door opened to see a slightly sweaty Isaac with his messy hair and ragged breathing.

"You okay, Ice?" Lucifer smirked suggestively.

Isaac flushed but quickly covered it up with a serious expression, "What are you doing here?"

"We have something to tell you," Caroline said.

Isaac nodded and Caroline frowned.

"Are we not allowed to come in?"

His eyes widened as he looked back into the room. "Of course you can. But my room is kind of a mess right now."

"It's fine," Lucifer said, pushing him aside to get inside the room. "Hey, Scarlett."

Scarlett came out of his closet blushing, "Hey."

Caroline followed Lucifer into the room and turned back towards Isaac once she saw that the room was neat.

"The only thing messed up in your room is the bed!" Caroline called him out for his lie.

"It's still a mess," Isaac shrugged, closing the door and sitting down on the couch. "So? What is so urgent that you had to interrupt?"

"Jack's coming! He'll be here by tomorrow," Caroline informed.

"Care, I know," Isaac said.

Lucifer furrowed his eyebrows, "Scarlett told you first, didn't she?"

Isaac looked at Scarlett who was sitting on his bed, "Yeah, she did."

"You just took the fun out of it," Caroline pouted.

Isaac laughed, "Alright, tell me again and I'll be more enthusiastic."

"Jack's coming! He'll be here by tomorrow," Caroline repeated, just as enthusiastically as before.

"What? I'm so excited! I haven't seen him since I was 6! I miss him so much!" Isaac exclaimed.

"Yeah, whatever," Lucifer rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

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"Marcel," Detective Bassi greeted with a nod as Marcel came in and sat down.

"Alright, Detective. Hit me," He said, slouching down his seat.

"Do you know anyone who might have a motive to kill two reporters?"

"No. Do you?"

Detective Bassi squinted her eyes at him, "This isn't 21 questions."

"You're right. Continue," He said.

"How about the newer maids? Your friends have said that they are quite suspicious."

Marcel raised an eyebrow, "The newer maids, as in the maids that have just been hired last month?"

Detective Bassi nodded an answer.

"Well, they're right. They do tend to gossip about us as we walk past, so maybe they know something," Marcel said.

"And you have known your teachers since you came here, yes?" She asked as she checked her notes.

Marcel nodded, "Since I was 13."

"Anyone you can think of that might do this?"

"No."

"And your friends?" She pressed.

Marcel shook his head, a disbelieving smile on his lips, "You think we would risk our reputations to kill two people who serve of no importance to us?"

Bassi only raised her eyebrow in response.

"We may hate reporters and the toxicity of the media from the bottom of our gold-filled hearts, but we care about ourselves way more than we hate this world we were thrown into. So no, I don't think any of my friends would kill someone out of anger."

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Moniqua found it hard to breathe as she neared the interrogation room. Thoughts like 'what if I mess it up again?' raked her brain and her hand shook as she knocked on the door.

"Come in," She heard the detective's voice from inside the room.

Moniqua turned the handle slowly, her heart thumping harder with every angle turned.

"Detective?"

"Yes, sit down, Ms. Quesada," The detective ordered.

Moniqua complied, sitting down in front of her.

"Who do you know that might have a motive to murder two reporters from the same company?" She started, "We did some research and SGE Entertainment has a connection to EZQUESADA."

"What do they have to do with EZQUESADA?" Moniqua asked, confused. She had never heard of a business deal or anything between these two companies.

"Your mom asked a favor from the head of SGE Entertainment to help her start her business 20 years ago," Bassi explained.

"I don't know anything about that. Do you want me to call my mom and ask her about it?" She asked, worry seeping through her words.

"No, LAPD is already on it. But we just thought that you might know something."

"I'm sorry. I wish I could help," She said, a regretful mask over her face.

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