The Advice

"JOSH dear.", Maria started as she knocked on the door. She had been pondering on what to tell him to get him out of the state he was in and she finally had it. Josh was her son, she birthed him and even if the man who fathered him doesn't care about his offspring, she does.

She couldn't bear to see Josh in the state he was in. He came back to their house two days after the murder and he had been in his room for the most time. He rarely stepped out of his room and she had to tell their maid to be taking his food all the way to his room while she ate at the dinning table.

Ever since Maria was a little girl she had a vision for how she hoped her family would be. She would marry a handsome man who she loved and would love her in return. They would birth as many children as they could take care of. She was from a rich family and had fortunes to her name, so taking care of her children wouldn't be a problem.

They would raise their children together in love and one thing she vowed to keep was that they would all eat together at the dinning at least twice a day.

But all those dreams were shattered when her father told her she was to get married to his friend's son. A man she never knew and had only met countable times before they wed.

Carter was handsome for sure, but that was the only good quality he possessed. He never cared for her and only wanted a son, not even a daughter, a son. And once they had gotten Josh, he never stepped into her room till this day.

She had long accepted and resigned to her fate. At the beginning of the marriage, she still tried to make it work between her and Carter but when she had realised why her husband would never love her as she hoped was because he loved another, she resigned to her fate.

She for one knew how you couldn't force a person to love someone when their heart and soul loved another. She had witnessed it in her brother's life.

Her brother Julius , was more successful than her in the love department He had found his true love and defied all odds to marry her. She on the other hand had never experienced love.

Sure she had some crushes and little feelings for some men she had met along the way but it was nothing ever serious and she knew it wasn't. But when she gave birth to Josh, she experienced a different kind of love and even though it wasn't the same as the one shared between a husband and wife, it was the one between a mother and her son.

Though she never found out who it was that had Carter's heart, she was contented for now, with her son.

"I'm coming in.", she said though it sounded more like a question. A displeased mutter was what she took as her answer before she stepped in.

She looked around, his room was a mess. He hadn't left it for a long time now. There were empty bottles on the floor and the great stench of cigarettes.

She kicked some clothing away as she made her way to the bed.

"Josh dear, it's midday, I hope you aren't drunk, again?", she asked.

"I've been drinking at any time of the day mother.", he spat. His speech didn't sound slurred and his gaze wasn't disoriented. He must be sober.

Maria was happy, talking to him while he was sober was so much easier than talking to him when he was drunk and would be throwing things around.

"Oh so you're on a hangover let me get you some....",

"No. I've taken some already and it's better.", he said and then, "But I'm not.", he said and Maria looked at her son.

He sounded sad. He looked sad. Her heart broke for him. She didn't know what she would have done if Carter was murdered much less someone who she would have loved as Josh loved Sarah.

Maria had nothing against Sarah. Unlike Carter, she thought Sarah was just the kind and gentle soul her son needed in his life and she was grateful that Sarah graced this town and her son's life with her presence.

"Okay Josh that's it.", she said as she started clearing the clothes and putting away the bottles in one corner of the room.

"First, you're gonna go have a shower.",

"But I..."

"I don't care, you're going to have to remove this stench and leave this room to be aired and cleaned."

"And where am I going?", he asked.

"To get your life back. You're gonna go out and do what you normally do, what you've always done.", she said and Josh looked at her knowing what she meant.

"Yep. Before Sarah, you were never at home for more than an hour if you were not sleeping. So go out there and mingle, flirt. Do what you do best. Socialise.", she said answering his thought.

Josh was quiet for a while as his mother cleared the room. How would he just go out there and just start flirting and mingling? He knew almost all the girls in the town. And he had flirted with almost all of them.

It seemed silly but it was what he had always done, that was till he met Sarah. He was stopped from thinking about her, as his mother dragged him gently from the bed and pulled his towards the shower.

"Now c'mon. You don't need to consider it. Plus, you'll find tons of girls who'll be willing to talk to you. Or you can call any. I don't know just get out of the house for once. You'll love it, you'll see.", she said as he stepped in before shut the door.

She waited till she heard the shower rushing before leaving with his clothes and bottles.

》》》》》

Sidney was talking to some parents about their child's rude behaviour when someone knocked and came in. Ever since, Sarah had reprimanded her in the hallway of her own school about how she handled the bully case involving Betty, she had sought out to change her principles and redraft her list of priorities. One thing that was atop the list was the welfare of the students.

So she made sure she became involved in what happened at her school and she made sure the teachers were involved and would let her know of any issues that arose in the classroom that was too big for them to handle.

The door opened and the receptionist entered.

"Yes"

"You have a guest.",

"Tell him to wait.", Sidney said.

"He says he wants to talk to you, now.", the receptionist said.

"Who's it?", Sidney asked.

"Mr Peters.", she said.

Sidney went rigid for a moment. Then she tried to hide her anger.

Sidney had always told him not to meet her at the school since he didn't have any child and he didn't have any niece or nephew who was young enough to go to school.

"Mr and Mrs Charles, I've told you about your son's behaviour, if it should continue he would get suspended.", she said curtly, trying to mask her anger.

"Alright Principal Callister, we would try to curtail him.", Mrs Charles said.

"Thank you for letting us know.", Mr Charles said as they both stood and after exchanging goodbyes, they left.

As if he was waiting at the door, Eugene immediately entered. He thanked the receptionist and closed the door. Then he rushed over and kissed Sidney.

She was taken aback at first but then returned it. She pulled him closer, they missed each other, it was obvious. But then as if he hurt her, she jerked back.

"Why did you come here? You're not supposed to be here.", she said and he sat at her table.

"I missed you.", he said and something about the way he said it so casually made her heart swell.

"Oh how I wish I could kiss you now.", she said and he leaned it.

"Then do so.", he said but she shoved him back.

"Go take a seat. If I do, I won't stop and you know where it'll end.", she said and Eugene wiggled his brows before going to sit.

"So what was so important that you had to one to my office even when I have insisted that we shouldn't meet her at all?", she asked and Eugene got a bit nervous to tell her.

How was he supposed to tell her that he had just brought in one of the best detectives to solve the murder she was kind off related to?

"So I visited the Sheriff today.", he started carefully.

"Why?", she asked.

"I know you're gonna get mad, but my nephew Miles had told me to do something for him and you know how much I love him, he's like the son I never had, so I couldn't refuse.", he said.

"What did he tell you to do?", she asked slowly not liking how things were sounding.

"He said I should get the best detectives to help the sheriff."

"You what?", she said standing

"I called in the best detectives to...",

"Oh my God, why did you do that? Do you know how much trouble you've put me in", she said careful not to scream and started pacing around.

"Well you said you'd found what was gonna keep you off track and you didn't tell me how it went with the Sheriff, so I assumed that it was all good and with Hugh being a suspect and him running away just solidified his spot on the list of suspects.", Eugene said.

"So? We both know Hugh didn't do it. If you brought in the best don't you think they'll find out.", she said.

"W... well...."

"Plus, they found my necklace there."

"What? Where?", he asked.

"The house. Of course, I lied I was at the school but no one can agree that I was so they're probably thinking I'm lying.", she said.

"So what are you gonna do?", he asked.

"Me? No, you're the one who's gonna do something. You're gonna get those detectives out of here.", she said.

"How would I do that? I was the one who brought them here.", he said.

Sidney sighed and sat down ending the pacing she had been doing.

"You should've asked me first Eugene, you should've.", she said and placed her head in her hands.

》》》》》

Lisa stopped at the house and got down. Pablo looked at her, she hadn't said a word since they argued before leaving the station.

"You coming in?", he asked.

"Yeah. I'll wait.", she said simply. She didn't seem angry so Pablo just shrugged and opened the door.

She had been to his house but she was always with Raven or other friends. It had never been just her and Pablo, but she didn't seem to mind or so Pablo thought.

"I'll just get ready.", he simply said.

"Sure.", she said and he left.

She served herself a cup of juice. As she waited she thought of calling the others, Miles and Raven. They could all go to Hugh's house, that might just be better.

She gave Miles a quick call. He said he was at work so he couldn't. After apologising because he couldn't come along, he said they should all meet at the diner if they got anything and that he also had something to tell them.

After that, she called Raven, but Raven said she was giving extra lessons at the school today. She was a teacher at the high school where Sidney was the principal.

After a long wait, Lisa got tired and decided to check on Pablo. Since it was just two of them going, they'd better get going.

She knocked and entered.

"Pablo where are....", her statement got caught in her throat as she looked at Pablo standing only in a towel. His hair dripping wet and his chest was very visible.

Lisa stood there stunned by the sight in front of her as she slowly turned pink in the cheeks.

"Lisa, what's up? Why'd you have to come?", he asked and she forced her gaze to go up. She shouldn't be looking there, she had a boyfriend, she reminded herself.

"Um...I...uh...just uh....". Why were the words not forming? She muttered never mind which he obviously didn't hear and just turned around. But then she thought she would look stupid coming and going without saying anything.

So she turned around and looked behind his head so it would look like she was looking at him.

"Uh...I called the others and they're busy so since it's just two of us. I thought to tell you to hurry.", she said.

"Oh okay.", he said and he turned to put on a shirt.

You couldn't have done that since, she thought.

"You say something?", he asked.

"Oh, no. I'll...I'll be in the dining.", she muttered and left making sure to close the door.

She face-palmed. Why had she done that? She should have knocked and waited, what was she thinking entering the room like that? Urgh!

》》》》》

Ian parked the car in a free space in the parking lot. It was between a very shiny pink car and a shiny black car. His that was dull blue looked awkward.

"I would like a black car.", he said to Madisyn as they came out.

"And I would like a pink car.", she said sarcastically.

"No, I'm serious. I would.", he said.

"Then go buy one it isn't hard if you want it so bad.", she said

"I said I want one, not that I want one so bad.", he said and she rolled her eyes.

"Why do you have to be so negative and sceptic about things?", he asked as they went towards the gateman at the entrance.

"Negative! I am not negative. I dyed my hair red to show you that.", she said.

"And I will keep asking, how does dying your hair red show that?", he asked sounding bored but his lips tugged up a bit.

"It shows that I'm fierce and....", but she stopped when he cracked a laugh.

"Fierce. Okay that's not the word for you.", he said and she wanted to say something, probably to support her point, but they had reached the school security who was giving them warm smiles.

"Hello.", Ian said.

"Hi to you both. If you're here to register your kid, you can go inside I'll...",

"Kid?", Ian laughed and looked at Madisyn who was giving him a look, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Oh no. We're detectives from NYPD.", Ian said showing his badge.

"Oh I'm sorry, you just looked like a couple, but never mind me. So how can I be of help?", the man asked.

"We're investigating the murder of Sarah...",

"Oh, a nice lady she was. May the Lord bless her soul. She was so kind, whenever she came to pick Betty, she always gave me cookies, a nice lady she was.", the man said and Ian's brows shot up.

"She had a kid?"

"Oh no. Betty's the sheriff's daughter. Sarah used to pick her up sometimes. She wasn't so busy so she volunteered to help the sheriff."

"I never knew he had a kid. He didn't strike me like the father type.", Ian said to Madisyn who shrugged in response.

"So, were you here on the night of the murder?", Ian asked.

"Yes. Yes, I was."

"And what of Mrs uh.."

"Sidney.", Madisyn added.

"Oh, she's a Miss.", the man corrected. "Yeah she was here in the morning, but she left early.", he said.

"She said she went to see Sarah in the morning.", Madisyn said.

"I don't know if that was where she went because she didn't tell me, but she didn't come back. She didn't even come the next day and when she came the day after, she said she was ill.", the gateman said and for the second time Ian's brows went up.

"Well would you look at that.", Ian said to Madisyn.

"So she wasn't in school on the night of the murder?", Madisyn asked.

"No. Not that I know of. Unless she snuck in, but why would she sneak into her own school.", the man said and laughed and Ian laughed with him while Madisyn smiled.

"Yeah, okay thanks for that. Is it possible for us to see her now?", Ian asked.

"Oh let me call the desk to know if she's on seat.", the man said and went to make a call in the small office he sat in. It was a brief call as he came out soon after.

"Sorry, she is not on seat now, but the secretary says she would let Miss Sidney know that you both came her today.", the man said.

"Alright then, thank you. We'll be on our way now.", Madisyn said and they bade him goodbye before leaving.

"So she lied.", Ian said as they drove off.

"She definitely had something to do with the murder.", Madisyn said.

"Well if you ask me, I'll say she did visit Sarah, but it was not in the morning.", he said.

Hmm. Ian and Madisyn seem like a nice pair, don't they? What do you think of Maria's advice to Josh? Would it be wise of him to follow it?

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