3 CHAPTER THREE: The Suspect

"I'm gonna need a plan," she said.

"What are you daydreaming about?" he asked playfully.

"You just ruined the mood, Justine,"

After that, Eve went home to plan. The main point is to find out the truth and to find evidence and witnesses.

Eve prepared a whiteboard with her father's picture at the center and will find witnesses first. She searched for the young boy that her dad saved, he might be the same age as her. So, she looked, but there were 79 boys and 46 girls that his father saved, she was happy and annoyed at the same time. First, it's gonna be hard finding all of them, on the bright side, this just proved that he saved lots of lives. She didn't lose hope easily and searched for the list of names her father saved. She saw different sorts of names and came across Drake's and Harry's name. Well, you see, Drake and her got close when her dad saved him from the fire behind their house, he went to play at his neighbor's house and a fire began. They became friends after. Next, Harry. Her father saved him in the last second when the house almost blew up and helped him reunite with his family. Eve was aware that both of them can be witnesses so she added them both and went out to find pieces of evidence.

"I know that it's not gonna be enough by having Harry and Drake as a witness. I only know the both of them, might as well just try"

Eve will ask Harry and Drake questions about the incident if Drake cooperates with her.

THE NEXT DAY

Eve went directly to Harry and asked him questions.

"Does my father seem like a good guy?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know Eve, I mean he was, but If he was, why did he agree to be in prison?"

"........."

Eve realized what he meant but did not lose hope. She still wants to know more about her father. She knows him but felt he has hidden something from her. She went to Drake's hidden space and talked to him cautiously.

"I don't want to fight Drake, I need to ask you something,"

"You got 5 minutes,"

"Do you know the cause of the fire that day when my Dad saved you?"

"Yeah,"

"Was it him you saw?"

"no, it was that neighbors mom that caused it, she burned the food,"

"Thanks, see you,"

She went on and almost loosed hope then, she accidentally searched the list of names again and you won't believe what she saw...

"Justine?!" she can't believe her eyes and shouted.

"Why is he here? wait, let me look it up,"

"Wait a minute, it's Justine, but Jerkins? Why is it Jerkins? Must be another Justine, but I will just give it a try," she said to her thoughts.

THE NEXT DAY

Eve shouted and called to Justine.

"Hey, wait up!"

Justine turned around and Eve approached him...

"What?" he said coldly. "Let me ask you something,"

"Do you remember anything 10 years ago when a fireman got you out of a burning hotel?"

"I don't think so,"

"Are you adopted for some reason?"

"I might be adopted but my mother just doesn't tell me, I guess she wanted to keep this secret and I cooperated."

Well, can you ask her?"

"Wait, why are you asking me this?"

"Just... It's just, my dad. He's been in jail for 10 years and I need to find out the truth and get him out,"

"And why, do you want him out? He sure is there for a reason," he said.

"I know, I just need to know that reason, maybe he was accused or something. I'll do anything to be with him just one time, to at least hug and kiss him. Please, I am depending on you,"

"... Fine," he said.

You know, Justine seemed warm-hearted just now, I didn't actually think he was gonna help...

After school, Justine and I went to his home and will ask that thing to his mother.

"Hello Mrs. Clarke, I'm Eve, Justine's... uhh... friend... uh... classmate! yeah classmate, and I really need your answer to this question..."

"O-kay, let's get in first, shall we?" Mrs. Clarke said.

We talked and laugh because of Mrs, Clarke's humorous pep talk about Justine when he was a young boy and I started to suspect he really is adopted. I noticed how Mrs. Clarke never mentioned anything about Justine when he was a baby, so I asked her the question.

"Uhm, Mrs. Clarke, here's what I've been meaning to ask you, Is he adopted?"

Everyone except Justine froze, then Mrs. Clarke grabbed me and dragged me outside. Even Mr. Clarke went outside too, I guess it's really a serious problem.

"Why are you asking this in front of him, don't ask that again and don't show up ever in our household," she said and opened the door when Justine went out and asked.

"Mom, am I adopted? You know mom, it's really not a hard question, I doubt I am adopted, so just tell her. Please." Justine begged.

That's the first time I saw Justine begged and tearing up a little. He looked really warm and soft.

"Fine, let's go back inside..." Mrs. Clarke said.

Inside, I knew Justine was hurting, from what I saw, Justine was confused and scared.

"Here's what happened. Back then, you and your real family got in an accident, someone burnt your hotel and your parents got trapped inside the hotel, then a fireman saved you, he stated that he can't save your parents so he took you and brought you to safety. Then, policemen started surrounding the place and take away the fireman, but I didn't exactly know why and then, an ambulance took you to the hospital where I rescued you. When you woke up, you lost your memory and thought I was your mother, I didn't want to tell you the truth because you were hurting and kept hugging me until you fell asleep. After you got discharged, I adopted you and took care of you and treated you like my real son,"

Both me and Justine cried and I hugged him. Then I asked her again.

"Do you really not know anything about my dad?" I asked.

"Wait, honey, who is your dad?" Mrs. Clarke asked.

"The fireman that saved him,"

Justine and Mrs. Clarke's eyes widened.

"Oh, so you're a Collins?" Mr. Clarke intrudes.

"Do you know my father?" I asked.

"He did something bad, that's why he's in Jail," he said.

"Wait, who are you?" I asked

Then I started to remember his face and fell shocked when I recognized him...

"You're that police, that police that cuffed my father!"

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