Chapter 56: THE BASEMENT MURDER

Platinum 88 was quieter than usual when I arrived, the early morning rush yet to kick in. The tinted glass doors slid open smoothly, and the scent of expensive perfume and freshly brewed coffee greeted me as I stepped inside.

Tabitha was already waiting near the entrance, her arms crossed, looking like she hadn’t slept much. As soon as she spotted me, she straightened and walked over.

“Good morning. Your bag’s in the office,” she said without preamble. “Everything’s been handled.”

I nodded, following her to the back where my backpack sat neatly on the desk. Picking it up, I gave it a quick once-over, making sure nothing important was missing, and nothing implicating was in it.

I turned back to Tabitha, adjusting the strap on my shoulder. “If things go south, expect a call.”

She nodded, her lips twitching. “Yeah, I'll keep my phone on and the door open."

I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned and walked out, my heels clicking against the marble floors.

By the time I walked out, the morning sun was already bright, casting shadows along the pavement. I stood near the curb, and watched as the guard pulled my car around. The engine purred smoothly as he brought it to a stop in front of me.

He stepped out, handing me the keys with a nod. “It’s all clean, Miss.”

I took the keys, slipping a few bills into his hand. “Thanks.”

He nodded again and stepped back as I climbed into the driver’s seat.

The familiar scent of vanilla filled my nose the moment I shut the door. I inhaled deeply. The man must have sprayed it after cleaning.

I adjusted the mirror, started the car, and pulled away from the curb, driving smoothly into traffic.

\-------------

The drive to school was almost quite if not for the occasional ding of notifications on my phone. I ignored them, keeping my focus on the road ahead. Today was going to be long one, and I needed to reel my shits in.

As I pulled into the school premises, I tried to swallow down the mix of emotions that settled over my chest. Half of me was still buzzing from the invitation for the Eden trip, the other half was super anxious about how the day would end. I've never been this anxious since I turned eighteen. And the anxiety intensified when I saw cops standing near the parking lot, deep in discussion with one of the school’s disciplinarian council member, the school security guard, and the vice principal. The feeling only grew worse.

They were too close to the only near, and open space in the lot. If I drove further to park somewhere else, it would look suspicious—like I was avoiding them. And the last thing I needed was to draw unnecessary attention, and suspicions to myself.

So, I pulled into the space, my hands gripping the wheel a little tighter than necessary.

The moment I killed the engine, I sat there for half a second, inhaling deeply, pushing down anything that threatened to creep up, and brushed my hair with my fingers. Then I stepped out, grabbing my backpack before shutting the door behind me.

I had barely taken three steps when the vice principal’s voice rang out.

"Miss Torres, I would like you to wait in my office."

I turned to look at him, schooling my face into a neutral expression.

"Sure," I said simply, not giving her anything else before turning away and heading toward the school building.

As I walked, I kept my pace normal. No rushing, no hesitating. Just normal.

Inside, the hallway was already filling up, students chatting and moving about as if today wasn’t different from any other. I reached my locker, punching in the code. The door clicked open, and I shoved my backpack inside, not bothering to adjust anything.

Then, without another pause, I shut the locker and made my way upstairs to the vice principal’s office.

The vice principal’s office wasn’t exactly intimidating, if anything it was cute,with yellow, and green stuff, he must be into nature. It was my first time stepping inside, though I’d come close before—close enough to hear people getting chewed out, close enough to see students walk in all high and mighty and walk out looking like they’d just been sentenced to life in prison.

Now, it was my turn to sit in the chair facing the main desk.

I took it without hesitation, settling in and crossing one leg over the other, taking in the space. The walls were lined with neatly organized bookshelves, and a few framed certificates hung behind the desk. Everything about the room screamed nature, from the wood furniture to the stupidly large school crest mounted above the vice principal’s chair, to the flowers by the window, flowers by the door, flowers on his desk, flowers by the shelf, and on the shelf.

With a small exhale, I pulled out my phone and started scrolling, acting like I was calm, and definitely didn't commit any crime. They could be cameras somewhere around here, and being sent in to wait first might just be a test to study my body language, or see if I'd make a suspicious movement or call.

A few minutes passed.

Then, the door clicked open.

I uncrossed my legs and turned slightly, glancing over my shoulder just as the vice principal stepped inside, followed by two of the cops from the parking lot.

Well…

I stood as they entered, my grip tightening slightly around my phone, though my face stayed neutral. The vice principal walked around his desk, settling into his chair with a sigh before gesturing toward mine.

“Sit, Miss Torres.”

I did.

The two officers remained standing, their presence over me like a bad omen. One of them, a stocky man with graying hair, clasped his hands in front of him. The other, taller and younger, flipped open a notepad.

The vice principal cleared his throat, folding his hands together on the desk. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way his fingers tapped against each other, like he was trying to mask his own unease.

“These officers are here regarding an unfortunate incident that took place on campus,” he said, voice measured. “They just have a few questions for you, if you wouldn’t mind.” He paused, then added, “It’s about the basement murder.”