Chapter 6 - A New Lead

Now for my part, Cleo begins, I did some research and I've been able to come up with a standard model for a biochemical plant which I brought with me, she signals to the illustration on her phone.

It looks decent, I comment, nice work

Thanks she replies, so what have you boys been able to come up with?

I clear my throat for effect as I discuss my role in the project which involved the description of the model in detail and how I was able to do my research. Cleo and I face Kai as we await his feedback...

I'm not done with it yet, he said vaguely

Seriously, your part is probably the easiest, I spoke up, all you have to do is come up with an introduction and quote a few references and that's before we get to show professor Collin for his review

I intend to do more than that, he replied, but I've not started yet

Why not? Cleo spoke this time

He didn't say a word, he just picked up his bag and headed for the door as he replies without looking back..I'll get it done by Friday

I was about to drop a comment when my phone beeped...a text from piper;

hi...can we meet up at the drama room..

So is the drama room our meeting place..now...I swallow my words when I notice the looks on both piper and Sebastian's face

what's wrong? I ask

I began observing them before they could respond....wait! don't tell me....

another murder has occurred, Sebastian finished my sentence

I had to cover my mouth which was subconsciously open at this point, how did it happen? I asked

We don't know yet,an autopsy is being conducted as we speak, piper replied. The body was found in one of the classes by the security guard while he was making the rounds before going to bed, the guard is also being questioned by the police

Oh man! I exclaimed, but we already confirmed the biochemistry teacher isn't the killer

Yeah, piper replied, which makes me wonder, who the hell could it be?

.. there's something I haven't told you guys, Sebastian chipped in

We turn to face him

he continues, the detectives requested for the school's security footage which they were given but they discovered that the footage for the second floor where the body was found had been intercepted probably by the use of a network sniffer...he pauses, the problem is, a network sniffer is subject to legal restrictions which means only security agents such as the police have legal right to use one

So what you're saying is, the killer might be or might have been a cop? Piper asks

either that or the killer has access to police tools and is a tech expert to be able to use them effectively, Sebastian replies head down

There's more you want to say, I chip in, reading him

He sighs..I might know someone who fits the description perfectly

Who? Piper asks

'Liana Smith' he replied

your ex-classmate? Piper asks again

Who's that, it was my turn to ask questions

Liana and I used to go to the same middle school, Sebastian replied, now she goes here too, she's in the same grade as we are but she's in class B for students who major in technology,.. she's a tech pro, the best hacker I've seen and her dad's a police officer.

Hold on, I think we're getting a little ahead of ourselves here, piper says, the autopsy results aren't even out yet, we can't start pointing fingers at people

Yeah, I add, remember how it turned out the last time we did that.

Alright... alright, let's wait till the results are out then, Sebastian replies

Back in class...

Kai still hasn't pulled his head out of that book since he picked it up, he seems to be seriously interested in it, if only he could be this serious with our project...I wonder what he's reading about, let's find out shall we...i stare blankly at him.

no expressions..no reactions...no pensive thoughts...but that's impossible, shouldn't he have thoughts about what he's reading??.... not even a subconscious action....he's literally just breathing right now.....

You guys, Sebastian says shaking me out of my thoughts as he glances through his phone, my dad just sent me the autopsy results

You mean you obtained the autopsy results from the spy app you linked to your dad's phone for access to private information from the school board, piper corrected

That's what I just said...he retorts, he sends us the result via text to avoid reading them out in class.

I read through, the body's been identified as Taylor Michaelson, a senior... anyone know who that is? I ask

She sounds familiar, Sebastian replies...piper can I have your yearbook?

Sure, she says passing it to him

... Taylor Michaelson, he repeats as he searches for her name... found her....I knew it, I was right, he exclaims

What? piper asks

She's Liana's best friend, he replies

the same Liana? I ask a little confused

he pauses a little, looking at me with a smug smile on his face

I recognize this look...this is the point where he asks for a favour

Amari, he calls, I think I'm gonna need you during lunch time

there it is...

...................................

You see the girl sitting next to the vending machine, that's her, Sebastian says

My gaze lands on a mixed- looking curly-haired girl having her lunch alone

I need you to read her, he orders?.. whatever.

I observe her... she's focused on her food, she raises her head slightly as she takes a sip from her water bottle... nothing out of the ordinary..

The only thoughts she would be having right now are those of her spaghetti, I replied

Okay, Sebastian says, well I need you to keep an eye on her just in case she...

hold on, I cut him off as I observe her again....her finger slightly twitches...her lips form a visible frown as anger rises from within her..

She's thinking about revenge, I reply

revenge! Sebastian repeats, against who? he asks

I don't know, I admit

What do you mean you don't know, I thought you said you read minds, he says haphazardly

I told you I read faces not minds, stop pestering me white boy, I did what I can!..I retort back

Fine, he answered and FYI I'm half Italian.

I glanced back at Liana...she knows I'm reading her, she can sense my gaze, her eyes meet mine as I quickly look away.