Chapter 6

The rest of the week went by in a flash. I attended classes, worked, and took Ailish home in the afternoons. I practised with my cello and studied as usual. Except that one day when I went to the police station. My mother wasn't wrong. They asked me where I was and what I was doing when Seth disappeared. I didn't lie, I just played with the time a bit. As a result, I was barely home that day and had no time for murder. Well, I would have had the time to kill someone, but I would not have enough time to get rid of the traces. I think I did very well. But only time will tell.

Then I looked for a lawyer. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth it. Mother was a bit upset because I did some things by myself and didn't let her handle everything. But in the end, Seth's money will be ours and our financial problems will be over. Well, maybe I am a bit money-hungry, but only someone who has never wanted more can throw stones at me. Anyway, when I have enough money to not worry about it, then I will worry about whether or not I am too materialistic. But not before.

„Hello!" Shannon sat across from me. She was late, but she was always late. Nothing new or surprising. „Sorry! It was Tim's fault. He was begging for forgiveness for a long time today."

„And you won't?" I asked but I was sure of the answer. Her face became almost frighteningly rigid and her eyes froze. It wasn't the first time I'd seen it, but it wasn't common.

„Of course, I won't!" She snapped. „He tricked me and then wanted to blame it on someone else. I hate men like him. The only thing I regret is that I didn't realize what kind of person he was before." Actually, Timothy had not committed such a big crime but Shannon was adamant. If I were her, I might do it differently, but I am not. Fortunately.

Besides, it is easy to forgive sins as long as they are not committed against us. I know well. We easily dismiss other people's problems and don't understand how they can't solve them, while we can't handle our own. And I would be the last person to take any man's side.

„Have you ordered yet?" This jolted me out of my thoughts and I shook my head. „I'll do it then." She made up her mind and called the waiter.

I let her order whatever she wanted. She wouldn't have asked for anything that I disliked. There are dishes I like and some I don't, but I do not make a big deal out of it. If it wasn't a necessity, I probably wouldn't even eat. Flavours aren't important to me. I can't really enjoy food. I find it a bit sad but I am used to it. I will never be one of those people who think eating is an adventure.

„And, how are you? Are you okay?" She looked at me again. I told her everything about Seth's case, except that I was the one who killed him. She probably thought this was a difficult situation for me. I can't blame her for that.

„I never liked him." This much honesty is still acceptable, after all, there are many things I keeping from her. „I will be fine. You don't have to worry about me."

Are we really friends? There are so many things she doesn't know. Can we call a relationship friendship if one of them is always secretive and never honest? Shannon will never be able to completely understand or know me. Is this really friendship? Or is it just a pathetic imitation? I am sorry, but I can't give you more than that. It's not that I don't want to, or maybe that plays a part too, but I just can't do it. The words, I now know, never find their way out of my throat. I accepted it.

„You can tell me not to worry, but I will." Her emerald green eyes watched intently. „No matter what you say, I am sure, it is not pleasant to be harassed by the police." In fact, I haven't seen any of them since the interrogation. He didn't come to the cafe. „I will be by your side no matter what." I just stared at her for a moment. 'No matter?' I don't think so. But I am still grateful. So much so that I reached for her hand and squeezed it. Only for a moment.

„Thank you." I looked deep into her eyes, even though I didn't like eye contact. I'm the type who walks down the street with my head down and prefers not to look at the person I'm talking to. If I did, the other person would be able to read my face or eyes. But I didn't know and never wanted to know what they might see.

Shannon opened her mouth to say something but the waiter came back with our order. After he put it down, we started eating. We sat back satisfied after an hour.

„When I become rich, we will eat at a restaurant every day." She stated. „That will be the golden life. I will never lift a finger again, just let the staff take care of everything."

„For that, get rich first." I muttered disappointingly. Maybe someone else would have been offended, but she just grinned. Hurting her feelings wasn't easy, but it wasn't impossible either. She is a tough girl, but not invincible.

„Honestly, I just want to finish university." She sighed longingly.

„Would you rather throw yourself into the world of work than study a little more?"

„Exactly!" She didn't hesitate. „The end is so close that I am just getting more impatient every day. I feel like I have learned enough for a lifetime. When I am done I'll be sure to tell Mr. I-have-been-a-university-professor-for-more-than-20 years-you-little-nobody everything I have been holding back."

„I like my life the way it is." There is nothing wrong with it. Now.

„This also shows how different we are." She smiled at me. „But it's normal. If I weren't me, I don't think I would like myself. How can you tolerate me?" I also smiled in response, but I didn't find it funny. Shannon is a great person, even if she doesn't think so sometimes.

„You are my best friend." I said very seriously. „You would be even if I discovered that you were a corpse robber or whatever else. I can't imagine not having you with me."

„Do you want to make me cry?" She became serious and a little moved. „Don't say things like that." She asked. „Otherwise, you will get a hug attack and others will judge us."

My smile was no longer fake. I think. Sometimes I don't know if my smile is real or just a well-practiced, automatic lip movement. I was so used to smiling without meaning because people around me expected me in certain circumstances, so I didn't know anymore. It became an unconscious thing like breathing or blinking. At this point, it was like a reflex.

„Then you better hold back yourself a bit." I suggested and she winked at me.

„Don't worry, baby. You will get what you deserve later." She said in her flirtatious voice and drank her drink. „Shall we go? Have you finished?" Not everything disappeared from my plate, but I finished it. I have never been a big eater.

„A moment." I took out my wallet and put enough money on the table to cover our consumption. „I am going to the bathroom, so please pay our bill." I got up and went there. No one was in, so I finished quickly.

But as I opened the door, I almost bumped into someone. Golden spots. I stopped and just stared at him in disbelief. This can't be real. Struck by lightning. That was the first word that came to my mind as I looked at his face. He seemed as surprised as I was. Rhys Karston. I sighed. It's you again.

„Sorry." He murmured and stepped aside.

„No, it was my fault." I said and avoided his gaze because it somehow embarrassed me. It was intense, penetrating but not intrusive. I went around him carefully, not even wanting to accidentally touch him.

„By the way, how are you and your family?" I looked at him confused. Not because of the question. His tone was too polite. He wasn't this stiff the last time we met.

„Wonderfully." I answered with sarcasm and forced a smile on my lips. „And how are you?" I asked back as respectfully and distantly as I could. His eyebrows twitched. I didn't know why, but for a moment he seemed very grumpy.

„Likewise." He nodded and wanted to go, but my question stopped him.

„Has there been any progress in the investigation?" He looked back at me over his shoulder.

„Unfortunately, there isn't." He replied. „We'll let you know as soon as we figure something out." And with that, he disappeared behind the bathroom door. I went back to Shannon, who was impatiently waiting for me.

„Diarrhea?" She jokingly raised her eyebrow.

„Nope." I waved it off. „I just ran into someone."

„In the bathroom?" Her eyebrow rose even more and I grinned at her.

„No, before it."

„And who was it? Do I know them?" She asked curiously and I shrugged.

„One of the detectives working on Seth's case." Her eyes started to sparkle and I got a bad feeling.

„I want to see him!" This could have come from a willful five-year-old. „I have never seen a detective before."

„We wanted to go." I reminded her but she paid no attention to me. She fixed her eyes on the door behind which were the washrooms. I sighed resignedly. She won't budge until she sees him. Fortunately, the detective returned pretty soon so Shannon could observe him.

„If every detective looks like him then I want one for myself." She noted it.

„The other one looks good too." I said because it was true. „But I only recommend him if it doesn't bother you that he is over thirty. And anyway, his attitude is the bigger problem. Too arrogant and egotistical." She grimaced.

„No thanks." That was my opinion as well.

He continued to look at the detective, then growled in frustration when he took a seat across from a blonde woman. The woman had her back to us, so we couldn't see her face.

„Damn! Of course, he has someone. Good and handsome men are never single. If so, they have some serious problems. For example, they are psychopaths or have commitment issues." Or maybe they are just unlucky in relationships or they are perfectly fine being alone. But I didn't say anything. Not that she meant it. Shannon was rarely serious.

But at least she was willing to go now. We said goodbye to each other in the parking lot.

„It's unfair that you have a car." She measured my van. She did it often. As always I didn't mention to her that I bought it with my own money. True, she didn't have a car, but neither did she have a job.

„Not the best, but still a car." This is undeniable.

„Good thing I live close by." That's why we chose this place. „Be careful." She asked me earnestly. „Don't have an accident or anything." She jokingly threatened me, but she meant it.

Despite complaining that she did not have a car, she would never get in one. She lost her mother in a car accident when she was seven years old. So she would never get behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. She preferred to walk everywhere. She has an irrational fear of losing someone in the same way. It's kind of understandable. I mean, I am full of irrational fears.

„Of course!" I started the engine. „I am always careful." This is true, and not just while driving. „Take care of yourself." I waved and drove away.