It Started With a Murder

Chapter Seven

“One of us is going to have to talk to him.” Adrian pauses, “I really don’t think I have the self restraint to do it.”

There’s an awkward silence before Murphy coughs and quietly says, “Cathie, I think it would be best if you did it, none of us even know who this guy is.”

I tense up, I really don’t want to talk to Percy, especially after the last time I spoke to him. As the others begin talking about what to I’m going to say to him, an internal battle rages inside me as I realise just how terrified I am of talking to Percy, who in my mind is the most likely suspect.

But then I ask myself, what would Annabelle do?

The next day I find myself standing outside school with Murphy drilling precisely what I have to say into my head. My mind keeps zoning out, it’s like the more I try to concentrate, the more distracted I get; my nerves are getting to me, badly, I feel like there’s a small animal nibbling away at my stomach - which, unsurprisingly, isn’t a particularly pleasant feeling.

“Murphy,” I interrupt, my voice high and breathy, “Do I have to do this?”

Murphy’s face falls and the light disappears from her eyes, “Well…”

“Of course you don’t.” I swivel round to see Adrian standing behind me, leaning casually against the wall, as though he owned the school. “But just remember, Annabelle would’ve done it for you.”

I stare at Adrian for a few seconds, wondering if he could see straight into my mind or if he was just naturally gifted at hitting people where it hurts. 

The bell goes, saving me from having to think of a retort for Adrian. Without saying anything to either Murphy or Adrian, I storm off to first lesson. Behind me I hear Adrian mutter, “She won’t do it, she’s a Lenora twin.” 

I continue walking away, tears prickling my eyes, the thing that really upsets me is that I know Adrian is right, about Annabelle, she was so brave, she would’ve done this for me. I’m just being a coward, all I have to do is talk to Percy, it doesn’t even have to be in a private place. 

I just have to be brave.

Two hours later I find myself face to face with Percy, desperately trying to keep my breathing under control; continuing to remind myself that we are standing on the school playing fields, at lunch time, surrounded by hundreds of other students. Nothing could possibly happen.

Percy gives me an easy smile and I try not to flinch, “Are you okay, Cathie?”

I nod, “Yeah.” I say, having to bite my lip to stop it from trembling.

There’s an awkward silence as I try desperately to remember what Murphy had told me to say, “Are you looking for Pearl? Because if you are, you’ve just missed her, I was with her like two minutes ago.”

I frown, I didn’t realise that Pearl and Percy really knew each other,  “No, I just wanted to talk to you.”

Percy bites his lip, “Is it about… you know, the incident, between me and… and Annabelle?” He whispers. 

I shake my head, “Oh no,” I splutter, trying to think of another reason why I could possibly be talking to Percy, “I just wanted to see how you’re holding up, I know you liked Annabelle.”

Percy smiles sadly, “Everyone liked Annabelle.”

“Obviously not everyone.” I blurt out, immediately regretting it.

Percy frowns, “What do you mean?”

I shrug, “Just that, she would still be here today if everyone liked her.” There’s another awkward silence as I mentally kick myself, why the hell did I just say that! Struggling to keep the conversation going, I say, “You know, I can remember exactly where I was at the time of her murder, even though I didn’t know she was gone until the next morning, for some reason I keep remembering what I was doing at the time of her death.” I pause, then decide that I may as well continue, “Can you, you  know, remember where you were at the time of her death?”

Percy looks slightly freaked out but he nods, “Oh, yeah, sort of.”

I bite my lip, waiting in silence for a few seconds before just coming out and asking, “So where were you?”

“Oh, urm, I was just at home. Y’know, chilling out, doing homework and stuff.” Percy says, looking slightly startled at my forwardness.

“Cool.” I say, then I decide I may as well delve deeper since Percy obviously already thinks I’m a freak, “Were you alone?”

Although this gains me a very worried look from Percy, I do get my answer, “Yeah, I was alone.” 

I nod, then say goodbye to Percy. As I walk away, I’m trying to decide whether I try to stop myself from shaking at the thought that I was just talking to Annabelle’s murderer.