Brodey video called her. Alyssa sighed, before tapping the screen. Why was he calling her at midnight? Sure, she was a late sleeper and so was he. But he knew she was staying at a hostel with two room-mates, who, she might add, were already dead asleep.
And Alyssa was grateful for that. She didn't want her friends to get an inkling of her hidden past.
This time, Jen wasn't with him. And he looked upset enough to set her to worry. "Where's Jen?" were her first words to him.
"On a date with Ashton. But don't worry about them. They're safe."
"And should I worry about Jen's innocence?" Alyssa asked, raising an eyebrow, wondering why the hell Brodey looked so tense. Ashton was Jen's boyfriend of few months. Though Alyssa didn't like him much, her dislike was only due to his rather unnerving fashion sense. Disregarding that, Ashton was a great person and boyfriend to Jen.
"Nah," Brodey said, gagging at the thought Alyssa's words had brought up. "I doubt she'll do it now. Anyway, that's not the topic now. Thing is," he hesitated. And Alyssa knew what was coming.
Brodey wasn't a professional detective yet. But he liked to solve cases on his own. he had been working on Alyssa's case ever since it began.
Before Alyssa could say anything, though, Brodey had grabbed his screen and was glaring at her. "You are going to listen to every word that I say and not start moping, okay?" he said, emphasizing on each word that he uttered.
She nodded, though her throat bobbed a little.
"Good. So the police say it's Ken Evans. My investigations about him have brought out some more information, which I have submitted to Mr. Moyer." Seeing her confused expression, he merely said, "I've taken up an internship under him. That's a story for another time. Anyway, about this Ken Evans, you say he had silver eyes with a sharp face, shoulder length, matted hair?"
Alyssa nodded, as he repeated those descriptions. The professionals who'd investigated earlier had actually seen Ken Evans' body, but Brodey hadn't. So he'd had to rely on her descriptions.
"Well," Brodey held up a picture. And he didn't dare or care to continue. Alyssa's expression of horror and terror, shock and barely controlled tears were enough to give him the answer he needed.
He gave her ample time to compose herself, before he continued, "I did a little background search on him. Anything that would explain why he decided to target your family. Especially you."
A shudder overwhelmed Alyssa.
Brodey's next request was the hardest of them all. "Tell me the whole story. New York to Winchestor to commit this big a crime? That too, of the people who were near celebrities here? The famous theatrist and one of the most well-known lawyers? It doesn't make sense, Liz! I need to know everything there is to know; every word or action that might make me understand. And you are the only person who can help me."
His eyes flashed and he panted a bit as he finished his side of the argument.
Alyssa's mind reeled. Brodey knew all that after the background check. And if it all was indeed true, it really did not make sense.
Liarane did not have any enemies. She was one of the sweetest people Alyssa had ever known. Ander did have enemies, but they were all people whom he had put to jail... criminals one way or the other. But this Ken Evans hadn't been a criminal. Then why?
But it was more than effort that would be needed if she were to revive the story of the past few months in details. Even the parts that had literally torn her o shreds.
She wasn't ready. But she was willing. For the sake of their memory. So she took a shuddering breath. "Once and for all, here you go."