Chapter 12 Investigation
Kaitlyn, the girl who bullied me on my first day at Gravenmoor Art Academy. I never knew she was Sally’s elder sister, or the High Prefect, president of the Student Council. Not that she earned it. Her family name got her everything.
She ruled the school like royalty, alongside Naomi Greaves, the vice president and the principal’s daughter, and Evander Kingston, P.R.O, Publication Relation Officer, a.k.a the face of Gravenmoor.
Evander was the golden boy of the Gravenmoor Academy. Every girl and boy in this school adored him. Especially Jamie, who followed him around like a puppy.
Jamie’s obsession had gone off the rails. He ran errands for Evander just to feel important among other students who wished to roll with Evander. His uniform, I found always gross, was always too tight, his tie never in place, sometimes on his waist, his lips shining with gloss. His voice was light, almost girlish.
He had a “friend” named Melanie, more like a victim than a friend. He bullied her endlessly, making her do his and Evander’s assignments. He found pleasure in breaking her because she couldn’t fight back.
My class was mostly filled with students from wealthy, powerful families, that’s the reason why Kaitlyn, Naomi, and Evander held top positions even before their final year. The senior students, though rich, took lesser posts: event coordinator, disciplinary enforcer, welfare warden, and scholar warden.
One slot was left, Sally Hansen’s. Still missing.
And now…
The door burst open without warning. Jamie strutted in, hands on his hips, gum popping between his teeth.
Melissa and I froze, waiting.
“Who the hell is Lexie Lambert?!” he demanded, as if he were making an announcement.
Melissa’s gaze darted to mine, her eyes screaming don’t answer.
But I did. “I… I am.”
He tilted his head, a cruel smile curling on his lips. “Then—”
Before he could finish, Kaitlyn shoved him aside. “Move. You’re ruining my grand entrance.”
Naomi and Evander followed behind her, their presence filling the tiny room like royalty entering court.
“Evander, hold your pet,” Kaitlyn said sharply.
Evander’s tone was cool. “Get out, Jamie.”
Jamie hesitated, tried to reach for Evander’s half-unbuttoned shirt, and Evander instantly smacked his hand away.
Kaitlyn’s boots clicked against the floor as she approached me. The air seemed to thicken. When she stopped, we were only inches apart.
“You crossed me again, charity case,” she said, her voice low, sharp as glass
{The Principals Office}
“Where did you see her last?” Principal Greaves asked firmly, his voice cutting through the silence.
“I…” I swallowed hard. The sobs of Sally’s mother sitting behind me rattled in my head, each cry pulling at the edges of my thoughts.
“We’re waiting for your response. Where is my sister?” Kaitlyn snapped, her tone sharp enough to slice through the air.
The sheriff, Mr. Fitzroy, a broad man with a weathered face and eyes that looked like they’d seen too many ghosts in this town, stepped closer to my side. His badge caught the sunlight that leaked through the half-opened curtains. “Go easy on her, Miss Kaitlyn,” he said quietly.
“But she’s not making it easy for us! We need answers, she’s giving us silence!” Mrs. Hansen yelled, almost lunging toward me before her husband caught her wrist.
“Calm down, darling,” Mr. Hansen murmured, trying to steady her trembling hand.
Sheriff Fitzroy turned back to me. “Miss Lambert, what happened the last time you saw her?”
“Nothing happened,” I began, my voice shaking slightly. “We had class yesterday. We were grouped for an assignment…”
“Where was this class held?” the sheriff interrupted.
“In the woods. We were to observe nature and make a dialogue about it. Sally volunteered to join our group.”
“How many were in the group?” he asked.
“Four,” I said, holding up four fingers. “It was near the end of the activity when I noticed she and Adrian were missing.”
I stretched out my right hand and showed them the injury on my wrist. “I got this last night when we went back into the woods to look for them.”
The sheriff’s gaze narrowed. “We? Who was the fourth person?”
My throat went dry. I didn’t want to say Oliver’s name, I wanted to end this with me.
“I was the other person,” said a voice from the door.
We all turned. Oliver stood there, still as stone.
“And you are?” the sheriff asked.
“Oliver,” he said, stepping forward. “The fourth person in the group.”
Kaitlyn lunged toward him. “Where did you keep my sister?”
“Whoa, slow down,” Oliver said, raising his hands defensively. “I have nothing to do with your sister. Lexie and I were finishing the assignment when we realized they were gone. We looked for them, but they’d already disappeared.”
Sheriff Fitzroy sighed, rubbing his temples. “These kids are making up stories,” Mr. Hansen muttered, dragging a tired hand through his hair.
“No!” I protested, stepping forward. “We’re telling the truth. I have no idea where Adrian and Sally went.”
The sheriff’s gaze hardened. “Miss Lambert. Oliver. You’ll both come with me to the station for proper investigation.”
“No… no, I’m not going anywhere…” I started, but Oliver placed his hand gently on my shoulder.
“Lexie,” he said calmly, “we’ll go together.”
Sheriff Fitzroy gestured to his deputy. “Call their guardians. And I'd like to speak with the teachers.” Cold metal circled my wrist and Oliver’s as the handcuffs clicked shut.