Chapter Sixteen Cassian
I pull on my tie again. I hate the fact that I’m watching a bunch of high school students when I could be home with Zenovia. I know this is what we need to do. I just can’t keep this sinking feeling at bay.
I have to say, everyone went all out. Their costumes are something out of this world. How am I supposed to hand in my nomination when I can’t decide who looks better?
“They all look good,” one of the other teachers says.
I nod as she stands next to me. “Where’s your girlfriend, or are you single?”
I glance at her as she bites her lip, and runs her nail on my bicep.
I can’t see who she is. She has a mask covering half of her face.
All I know is she’s one of the teachers.
We all have a badge to enter areas the kids can’t go.
I step back from her and remove her hand from my arm. “My fiance wasn’t feeling well and stayed home.” I might be telling a little white lie, but I still plan on asking her to marry me. I just have to find the perfect time or create the perfect time.
She huffs as she steps closer to me again. “You’re engaged? I thought she died–” Her eyes widen, and I take a step back once again. I wave, hoping that Jaylen sees me.
“Who told you she died?” I roar over the music.
She shakes her head. “I heard it from a bunch of the students. They didn’t think you would show up. They had to take down the proposal you set up.”
“What’s up?” Jaylen stands next to me as if he is one of the teachers.
“Someone is saying that–” I’m interrupted by my phone pinging and Jaylen’s ringing. He pulls it out and stares at me for a moment before he walks off. I pull my phone out and see a video. I play it and my heart stops.
It’s a video of Zenovia sitting on the couch watching something on TV, but that’s not what scares me.
The blood on the window is what scares the shit out of me.
The video moves toward the door where one of the officers is in a sitting position, but it seems like he’s sleeping.
I hope he’s sleeping and not dead. The video cuts, and when it comes back.
I stumble a little at the horrific scene.
“No…” I watch as everything Zenovia has worked for goes up in flames, but that’s not all. I can see someone inside hanging from the roof.
“Cass, we’ve got to go.” Jaylen pulls me with him, but my eyes stay on the video. “We need to get to Zenovia now!” Jaylen roars, bringing me back to the present. It’s only then that I realize that he isn’t dressed in the costume he had on anymore.
I jump in his truck, and he speeds away. We aren’t that far from my house, but the traffic is horrible. “Where are we going?”
He glances my way only for a second before he turns his attention back to the road. “To the bakery. There was a fire and someone committed suicide.”
“It’s not Zenovia. She wouldn’t do it unless she was murdered.”
“This is fucked up. Someone is killing these people and making it look like suicide.” Jaylen pulls onto the road that leads to the bakery. The smoke is thick, and the flames are high, even though the fire department is here.
Jaylen pulls up close and gets out with me following right behind him.
He shows his badge to the captain. “Detective Lopez, It’s a loss. We did, however, recover the person. You might want to see this.”
He leads us towards the paramedic standing next to a gurney.
“It’s horrible, but this person was dead before they were hung and before the fire started.” He pulls the zipper.
“Fuck…” I gag as I watch the person. Jaylen blocks my view as he inspects what the fire captain is showing him.
“Cass, it’s not Zen.” He pats my shoulder, and I feel a little relief. She’s still in danger, and we need to get to her. “Captain, I will have forensics here when the fire is out. Right now, we need to go see the owner of the bakery.”
Jaylen and I rush back towards his truck. I swallow the lump in my throat. If that’s not Zenovia, it could only be Evy or Jordan. “Do you know who that was?” I need to know. I need to know what to tell Zenovia.
Jaylen doesn’t say anything for a few seconds before he lets out a ragged breath. “Jordan… I’m sorry.” He doesn’t look my way. I look out the window. I don’t know what to say. Why kill Jordan? I don’t get a chance to say anything when Jaylen’s phone goes off. “Speak,” he answers.
“Detective, I sent you some very interesting information about the homicide/suicide, as well as the blood results from Zenobia Moore.” Jaylen looks at me as his forensics analyst speaks.
“Give me a run down. I’m driving,” Jaylen orders.
“There was poison found in all the victims. It’s the same poison that was found in Miss Moore’s blood. Someone is murdering these people, or trying to,” he continues.
Jaylen nods as he listens. “There was a girl found in the bakery, Death by Cupcakes. Run a blood test on her, stat. I need to know if she had poison in her bloodstream.”
“Will do, sir.” The guy clears his throat before he speaks again. “Sir, there’s something else. I dug a little, and there was a case identical to all of these cases. I’ve sent you the info on the suspect. Pretty girl.” That’s all he says before he hangs up.
Jaylen looks at me and nods at his phone. “Open my email. We need to see what the lady looks like. It’ll be easier to grab her.”
I take his phone and open the email. “Fuck… no…” The phone slips out of my hand as I turn towards Jaylen. “We need to get home. Now.”