MALIA
"Langdon is dead".
"What?"I sat up immediately "how?".
"Remember that high school he plans to attend next year?".
"Yeah. Unity High, right?".
"That's the one. He applied sometime ago. This morning,a package arrived from them, only it wasn't really from them, though the envelope had their logo on it. As soon as he opened it, he was blown up".
"A letter bomb?".
"Yes".
"How did you hear about this?".
"From Keith. He and Sofia are on a sleepover at Langdon's place".
She hesitated.
"Why is this happening, Malia? First Barbie, now Langdon. Why?".
I was wondering the very same thing. And, like a revelation from above, the answer came to me.
"Keith"I replied.
"What do you mean?"she sounded close to tears.
"Do you remember what he told us once? That he's a survivor of the Trent street incident? The Mafia was responsible for that, and has come for him".
"But if that's the case,why kill his friends instead of him?".
"I dunno. I suppose this issue is a lot personal than we know".
"Are you going to call the police?".
"I don't know,why don't you call them?".
"I think I will".
*
*
*
NEIL
Another kid from Beacon has been murdered. This can't be a coincidence. We're all seated in our office, listening to Lieutenant Farmer.
A letter bomb? Isn't that a little old fashioned? And he was a pretty kid too. Why mess up the face, of all places?
"I believe this confirms my suspicions that this is a hate crime,"Lieutenant Farmer said "both kids are pale, blonde, and such dolls. It fits perfectly".
"What if it is not the same killer?"Tasha asked.
"It has to be. Both kids attended Beacon academy, and they were friends".
"What if the hatred is directed, not at whites, but at kids from Beacon?Or Beacon itself?Or,in fact, a particular group of friends?" Annabelle said.
"Yeah, it's possible they wronged someone in the past"Logan added.
"So, you mean there could be a kid under seventeen going around initiating shootouts and handing out letter bombs?"Carlos was skeptical.
"Anything is possible"I shrugged.
Just then, the telephone on Lieutenant Farmer's desk purred.
"Detective Quinn, take the call"he said impatiently.
"Yes,sir"she went for it immediately.
"So,we should question the kids. Find out if it's a grudge", he went on"luckily,we have their names. We'll question all of Beacon if necessary".
"Aye-aye, captain,"Tasha gave a mock salute "shall we head out now?".
"They're on holidays, sergeant"Logan replied.
Tasha pouted, but before she could say anything in response, Annabelle walked back to us, excitement evident on her face.
"That was Linda Whitehorse,"she said"a kid from Beacon academy and a mutual friend of Barbara Jones and Langdon Wyatt".
"What did she have to say?"Lieutenant Farmer asked.
"She believes that the Mafia is responsible for both murders".
"The Mafia?"I asked"why the Mafia?".
"Do you remember the incident at Trent street?"she asked.
"Like anyone would ever forget that tragedy" Tasha replied.
"There was a survivor. That boy, Keith Lionel".
"What? But the press didn't mention a survivor"Lieutenant Farmer exclaimed.
"That's because they have no idea. Nobody knows".
"So come this Linda Whitehorse does?"Logan asked.
"Keith Lionel told her. They're friends, remember?".
"Is there a good reason why we should believe him?"I asked.
"Yes. According to her, the Corona family can testify that Keith Lionel lived in Trent street at the time of the incident".
"But then,why would they kill his friends instead of him?"Logan asked.
"Psychological torture,"Lieutenant Farmer answered"is a deadly weapon".
*
*
*
JADE
I had my driver wait in the car as I stepped out and headed into the building. Percy had called me just as I pulled my blanket over my head, requesting my presence at the Haudeclaire ville, so I know that whatever made him send for me must be something urgent.
I gave him a call once I was inside, and following his directions, I arrived at the fifth floor and walked down a long corridor until I saw him.
He stood just outside a room, leaning on the door. The sight of him took my breath away. It always does.
"Percy,"I called, walking up to him"what's the emergency?".
He pointed to the room behind him.
"What about it?"I asked, opening the door.
"He can't sleep,"Percy said, walking in behind me"it's been three days. Since his friend died".
I stared at Keith. He was seated at the edge of his bed, his face buried in his palms, his shoulders trembling.
"His friend died?"I muttered.
"You could always heal Lisa's insomnias. Work your magic"Percy said.
"Sure. Could you give us a moment?".
Without a word, he left, shutting the door behind him. I walked to the bed and sat beside Keith, but he didn't seem to notice.
"Keith, Percy said your friend died. Do you want to talk about it?"I asked softly.
He looked up at me with puffy, bloodshot eyes. There were terrible bags under them, and dried streaks streaked a face that seemed drained of blood.
"The doorbell rang,"he said"and I ran to the door. A mail girl was there. She asked for Langdon Wyatt, so I called him, and he came and collected the letter. He got all excited, because it had a Unity High logo. As soon as she left, he opened it... and... and...".
I held him close and rubbed circles into his back.
"There was blood everywhere... Langdon's face was...".
"Hush. That's enough. Don't say anymore".
I had already gotten the gist. A letter bomb, huh? How crude.
"I saw him"tears filled Keith's eyes, and he shut them tightly.
My heart went out to him. I reached out and gently drew his head down to my lap. He looked up at me, clearly startled, and I smiled reassuringly.
"It's okay,"I cooed, running my fingers through his hair.
I felt him begin to relax as I massaged his temples gently. I brushed a palm over his face to close his eyes. Then, keeping my voice slow and sweet, I began to sing.
I opened the door and peeked out. Percy was leaning on a wall.
"He's asleep,"I whispered"you can come in. But be quiet".
He walked in, and we stood side by side, looking down at the sleeping child. He looked so small, so tired, so helpless, and I felt sorry for him.
"I'll make tea if you'll sit awhile with me,"I said, turning to Percy"would you mind pointing out the kitchen for me?".
Wordlessly, he led the way and I followed. We walked in silence until we arrived at the large, well equipped room. It was beautiful, with the smooth marble floor and the sheer pink satin curtains.
"I'll be in the next room"he said before leaving.
I opened the cupboard only to meet so many teabags of varying kinds. I remember Lisa saying he had always loved Vanilla Chai, so I took out two bags of those and put the kettle on.
Shortly after, I stepped into the next room,a small cute parlour with red rugs,red couches and a little center table on which I placed the tray in my hands. Then I poured the tea, and its aroma filled the room.
"How surprising,"he said"I haven't had Vanilla Chai in a while".
"You haven't?"I replied, startled"how long is a while?".
"Since Lisa died".
Nearly four months.
"Ah"I reached for his cup, but he held my hand, stopping me. I looked up in surprise.
"It's fine"he said, before he picked up the cup and proceeded to drink.
I stared.
*
*
*
JADE
I know who killed Keith's friends. I could not help but try to investigate, and now I'm amazed that I didn't see it from the start. Nothing that happens in the Underworld can be hidden from me. It is my home, after all.
I pushed the golden buttons on my telephone as I picked the receiver.
"This is Jade Erlone".
"Ahhh... Madame Erlone. To what do I owe this honor?"a dusky voice drawled.
"I'm not calling to chat, Kaya Gilbert".
"It's not?"she mock-gasped"what's the matter?Am I in trouble?".
I could barely keep myself from grimacing. Kaya and I have never liked each other. She hated me right from the very first time we met, when she walked in on Percy and I in his office. It's obvious that she misunderstood our relationship, and for that I don't blame her... much, considering the position she had found us in. Percy has this charming habit of refusing to look at me whenever I bring up Lisa, so I had just taken his face in my hands to make him look at me when she entered.
From then on, she became all bitchy to me, so I wrote her off too. So when I found out that she was responsible for the murder of those children, I was absolutely livid. Because I know why she did it.
"You murdered Barbara Jones and Langdon Wyatt, didn't you?".
"Of course I did,"she had the nerve to sound nonchalant"but how come you know?".
"Nothing that goes on in the Underworld can escape me".
"In that case,"her tone turned mocking"tell me,then,why I did it".
"You hate everything Percy loves, that's no secret. And they were Keith's friends".
"Congrats, that's fifty percent accurate. I killed them because they were his friends. And yes, I hate everything Percy loves. But you're missing something. Guess what?".
"What're you, the riddler? This isn't a game, Kaya".
"Of course, it's not. I did kill them. But I was ordered to".
"Ordered to?"I scoffed"by whom?".
"Who else do I get my orders from?".
My grip on the receiver tightened. I know the answer to that question.
"That's right,"she said,as if she could read my mind"the one who wanted those pretty things dead is none other than your lover,who also happens to be my boss".
"He is not my...".
"Yeah, yeah, whatever"she drawled"now that you know, what next?".
"What do you mean?".
"Percy ordered me to kill them. So, what will you do about it?".
Silently, I replaced the receiver.
What am I going to do? I have no idea.