Grand. - Episode 6

 

Present Day 

13th February 2017

Monday.

The school hallway is filled with discussion about the body found in L.Grand. As i make my way to my locker i can't help but think this has everything to do with the Ericksons fleeing, if at all Lloyd's claims are true. One thing is certain in my mind no matter how hard i try to push it . The Ericksons have something to do with the murder.

I open my locker and take books for chemistry and math which are the first classes i have today. Adjusting my glasses i sneek a peak towards where Lloyd's locker is. They are always there, the three of them. Lloyd, Jace and Paul. Lloyd and Paul are in form three while Jace is in my class. Sarah and Lloyd are the school hotest couple and usually at this time, they would be busy talking besides Lloyd's locker. Jace is always there teasing girls passing that he considerd ugly. Janey and i being one of them.

Paul is always reserved. Never seen him doing anything. Today Lloyd is nowhere. Jace is not in the usual teasing mood. They are discussing in hushed tones. It must be about Lloyd. I try to convince myself to march up to them and ask them about Lloyd's whereabouts but courage fails me. I will just wait for Lloyd to show up

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. If he doesn't i will have to go to his place. 

Pains shoots at the tip of my left finger as the locker door is slammed on it.

"Ouch!" I say in an attempt to stiffle a scream.

The pain shoots to my head. Its a miracle am not bleeding. I turn to see Molly and her crew giving me menacing glances. I adjust my glasses wiping a lone tear that escaped from the corner of my eyes.

"Someone has been caught pants down watching her crash." Samara one of the tag along says. She is half arab and has a beautiful mole on her left cheek.

"What would possibly make you crush on my boyfriend?" She lets out a disconcerting laughter and they all join in. Samara is dating Jace.

"Am not crashing on..."

"Are you exchanging words with me now?"

They move closer and the mixture of their perfumes is just too much.

"Maybe we should tell Jace he has a secret admirer." Suzie the other tag along suggest. From the mischevious grins they have, i know they are going to do it and this could be more scandalous. I hold my breath.

"No ..am here to know what you have done with my boyfriend," Sarah says, "We can tell Jace later."

Her clique steps back satisfied.

Sarah is now glaring at me. I can almost see smoke puffing out of her ears and nose. How on earth am i supposed to know where Lloyd is? For goodness sake am looking for him myself. Am sure for more serious issues than hers 

A hot slap lands on my cheek.

"Don't you dare zone out on me while am asking a serious question."

Hot tears now stream freely off my cheeks. Yasmin, one of her tag alongs look away.

"I don't know." I say amidst tears.

"What do you mean you dont know, you were the last person i saw him leave with.. he has not called or texted me since last week. What did you do to him?" 

I mentally laugh at that question.

What kind of stupid question is that anyway? Has he tried measuring Lloyd's abs against my body.  Concentrate Penny. A slap may come your way anytime.

"I don't know." I say again trying to keep my cool. I can't handle another slap from her. She raises her hand but she is stopped midway by the bell ringing. I dont wait for another. I shoot off towards my class without closing my locker.

Last week Friday

10th February 2017

We held our breath as the footsteps heading our way passed instead of entering the chemistry lab. It would be hard trying to explain what we were doing under the slab. After the voices on the corridor had passed we headed for our bagpacks that were in the locker. All this while, i had not grasped the reason why Mercy had burnt that exam booklet. 

It was 16:30, thirty minutes before pickup time. Fridays were normally busy days for dad and i normally took the bus. We stood infront of Janey's locker.

"What just happened?" I asked my voice echoing in the hallway. Janey made a gesture for me to tone down.

"We just destroyed evidence of someone cheating in exams." 

"Really?" I was clearly puzzled. I still didn't get it. I had not seen any signs of cheating on that booklet.

"But where was the evidence, i didn't see it."

"Me too but i bet the answers were at the back. He must have sneaked in the booklet with answers on the back and was going to use it without taking another booklet from the invigilator."

"Sounds dangerous."

"And that makes it more exiting." Janey responded.

"We could have easily sneaked it past the gate or maybe put it in our lockers." I said.

She shook her head.

"Its not worth the risk. They will check our lockers and even bags when we are leaving. They are pretty strict." Its safer if its destroyed. Without it they cannot expell whoever the booklet belonged to."

"Without evidence no expulsion?"

"Yeah, maybe just a week suspension."

We chatted until the boarding time reached. Janey's mum was already waiting. I stood with the other four kids waiting for the school van. Just then one of the football champions in school...his name must be Paul..no it Lloyd. Paul is the less talkative one approached were i was standing. I turned to see Janey giving me quizzical expression while their car rolled out. I inturn shrugged.

"Can i talk to you?"

"Me..?" I asked over emphasizing the word. I looked at the other four then back to me. He must be talking to me. 

"Okay."

I walked with him towards his lime green Ferrari. 

"Thanks for the help. He said softly. It dawned on me. He was the owner of the booklet we just burnt.

"You...how did you know i was the one who caught it?"

"I just know." His brown eyes met mine and words just stuck.

"Uuuh ...so whats your punishment?"

"Am supposed to bring my parents next week then they will discuss on the punishment, maybe a weeks suspension. Meanwhile i can still come to school.

I silently followed.

"You wanna ride with me?" Before i could respond, he opened the passenger seat. I slid in and he slid into his side then we zoomed off. 

I hope Lloyd is not a serial killer. Penny what did i tell you about getting in cars with strangers. But Lloyd is not a stranger. He the football star and the son of Erickson David. 

He turned on the music and i tried to relax though gazillion thoughts of serial killers criss crossed my mind.

My paranoid self.

Present day 

13th February 2017

Monday

I haven't seen Lloyd the whole day. He was to show up for his disciplinary hearing. His parents are not there though. I haven't seen Sarah either. She must have flunked school at break time. At least i got to it my meals in peace. I walk towards my locker a million thoughts criss crossing my mind. Should i go to Lloyd's place? What if the police have known Lloyds parents have escaped and are lying low to catch any suspicious activity around the place? I can't afford to be caught. I could be accused of being an acessory to murder.

I open my locker absent mindedly. Something hits me on my forehead and lands safely on my hands. I rub my forehead thinking of the hot slaps Sarah gave me this morning then look down to what am holding.

What is this?

An A5 sized diary. It has a deep red cover. The initials H.G are engraved on its cover. Hazel Grace? Thats the name on the pendant found pn the woman whose body was discovered. My heart rate speads up.

Read " Ultimate Sacrifice " by the same author ( DORSILA ANYANGO )

. I hold my breath as i try to think. I caress the deep red cover. Its beautiful. The backside has a rose engraved on it.

What is a dead woman's diary doing on a high school locker of a teenager? Not in a police door somewhere. Why is this in Penelope Johnsons locker? My heart beats doubles up.

Think Penny, think.

I should take this to the authorities. I shut the locker in a hurry making the diary to slip. Catching it mid air, a note slips of it.

Hey Penny

My special gift to you,

With this you can solve the murder and find the Erickson and how they are involved. You have a choice to make here. Rem you are almost undetectable. 

M.J

M.J?? The only M.J i know is Michael Jackson.

I look around seeking to see if someone is watching me.  Nobody. Who could have placed this here? I shove the diary in my bag and head for dad's car.

I need to get home, now.

*****

Author's note

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Till next time,

Lehitraot.