Secret Mission: The Suspect

"You have bewitched me, my body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on," said Ed, his hands drifted from my shoulders to my hands. His eyes twinkled as he held my hands gently.

"Your hands are cold," I stated and glanced at Shaun who was standing at the entrance of the auditorium.

"Claire, are you a robot? How can you be so stiff when the love of your life is proposing to you." Emily nagged.

"I am trying, Em."

"Let's do it again, but with more emotions this time."

We began rehearsing the scene again. As I was about to walk up to Ed, the stage light above us fell on the stage with a terrific thud. The light hit Ed, on his shoulder and the shattered pieces of glass flew over me, lacerating my arm.

I heard Ed yelp as he fell down on the stage. I grasped my bleeding arm and walked to him.

"Ed! Ed!"

Emily, Shaun, and everyone in the auditorium ran up to us.

"Claire, are you alright? Shaun flopped down beside me." You are bleeding!" he cried.

The other students carried Ed, who was passed out on the floor, out of the auditorium.

Shaun carried me to the infirmary where the nurse treated my wound.

"Are you feeling any better? Does it hurt a lot?" Shaun asked me as soon as the nurse left. His face was pale, his brows furrowed and eyes filled with worry.

"It seems like you are the one who is hurt. Relax, I'm alright."

"Claire, did you get your wound treated? Is it really bad? Can you move your arm? Are you hurt anywhere else?" Emily barged in the room.

"One at a time Emily." I chuckled seeing her alarmed expressions. "It's just a small injury, I'm fine. Don't worry."

"Ah, it's such a relief." she sighed.

"How's Ed?"

"He is hospitalized. He fainted from the shock, but unfortunately, his shoulder is injured pretty badly. The doctor has strictly advised bed rest for at least three weeks."

"I hope he recovers soon, we should visit him tomorrow I said.

"How did the stage light fall? Did you look into it?" Shaun questioned Emily.

"I checked with the auditorium staff and they said there wasn't a problem with the lights before. It was striking for them too. Well, I have informed the administration. They said they'll find the person responsible and take adequate measures."

"Did the director hear about the incident?" I asked, thinking of Dad, he must be really worried.

"I don't think so, he's out of the school for a meeting I heard," Emily informed me.

"Thank God." I thought to myself.

Emily and I went to the hospital the next day to see Ed.

"Ed, look whose here," Emily announced as we get into his room.

"Claire, what a pleasant surprise." he smiled brightly at us.

"How are you doing Ed?" I said sitting close to his bed.

"I'm all good now that I have seen you." he took my hand.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"If I say yes, will you stay longer with me?"

"Sorry, I didn't come early."

Emily gave a discreet cough. "Guys, am I invisible to you?"

"You were here too Emily?" Ed gave a silly laugh.

"You've got blinded by love, my friend."

"I certainly am." he gazed at me. "I forgot to ask, how's your wound, Claire?"

"It's healing fast," I assured him.

"I'm glad to hear that."

"I'm sorry, I cannot participate in the contest anymore. I'm upset about it. I really wanted to do it with you, Claire."

"It's alright, Ed. It isn't your fault. Don't worry about anything and just recover well." I patted him consolingly on his hand.

"I need to find another good looking actor now. There isn't much time left for the competition. I wonder who could be a good choice." complained murmuringly.

"I'm sorry Emily for causing for the trouble."

"I told you it's not your fault, stop apologizing Ed. Emily can you stop making him feel bad." I snapped at her.

"I'm sorry! Ed she's right, don't be like this. I'll take care of things, you don't need to worry."

*****

I was going through the shelves in the library searching for a book when someone tapped on my shoulder.

"Claire, I'm going to ask around about the paper we found in the staffroom. Do you want to go with me?"

"Okay, but let me first find the book I'm looking for."

"Let me help you. What's the title?"

"There it is, I found it, without your help." I bragged.

It was placed in the top compartment of the shelf. I stood on my tiptoes to reach the book but I wasn't able to get even near it.

Shaun came near me and from standing behind me, he raised his hand and took out the book. I turned around and finding him so close to me, my heart skipped a beat.

"I guess you overstated." he handed me the book.

"Thanks." I walked away from him, trying to hide my flushed cheeks.

"Pull yourself together, Claire," I said to myself, fanning my face with my hands.

"Should we go now that you have got your book." Shaun came from behind me.

"Y-Yeah." I faltered.

I followed him as he walked to the campus building. We stopped at the art room on our way, to inquire the art teacher about the paper.

As we walked in she was working on a painting.

"Good afternoon students, what can I help you with." she greeted us warmly.

"Sorry to disturb you but we were wondering if you know where we could find a paper like this. We thought of you as the most suitable person to ask it about." Shaun took out the paper and asked.

She took the paper and examined it carefully.

"This type of paper is rarely used for art, you won't find it here but I think I have seen it before. Let me think." she paused for a moment. "Yes, I remember now, I saw it in the stationery room. I think someone from the teachers has a specific requirement for this paper. You can ask the staff from the stationery room to help you get some." she explained.

"We'll do that, thank you for your help."

We walked out and went to the stationary room straight away.

"We wanted to know if you have this type of paper here? I asked one of the staff and showed him the paper.

"We had it until yesterday, it's bought in limited quantity on a teacher's demand," he informed us.

"Can you let us know who the teacher is?" I inquired. He looked at us skeptically.

"So that we can ask them for some, we need it for our project." Shaun broke in.

"I see, it's the maths teacher."

"Joseph, you mean?" I confirmed.

"Yes."

Shaun and I both looked at each other in astonishment.

Does that mean, Joseph is that person in the black hoodie, he is the one behind all those notes, he is the one who tried to kill me?