THE FRIEND

ROBIN sat in the cold cell. His eyes were dry but the paper was a bit wet. Some of his tears had fallen onto it.

He kept reading it till he stopped crying. Then the door of the cell opened and he looked up to see a policeman. Then the man smiled at him.

"You're free sir. Your bail has been paid.", the man said. Robin stood and thanked him. Then he left he would want to see who did this for him.

He came out and he saw Betty his daughter who ran and hugged him. He looked up and he saw the last person he ever thought he would see.

Sandra.

What was she doing here?

"And what is the name of this interview gonna be? 'Cause I'm sure that's what you came here for.", he said.

"Actually, I was the one who paid your bail.", she said and his eyes widened.

"Along with some help.", he heard and turned to see Rohan.

"Why did you guys?", he asked both of them.

"I heard Sandra had started looking for a way to pay your bail so I decided to help. Despite everything that's happened, you are my cousin. And you and Betty are my family.", he said.

Robin was touched by his cousin's gesture. He hadn't truly forgiven him after what he had done but this showed that Rohan was ready to start over and maybe he should too.

"But why you. Why?", he asked.

"First I quit my job. After the article, I wrote last about Ana's death and all. I had a couple of run-ins with people and I realised I had been doing the wrong thing all along. So I decided to do something right for once.", she said and Robin nodded.

"So what are you gonna be doing now that you quit?", he asked.

"I'm moving. I'm leaving this town. I'll start over somewhere else. But I'll stay till Ana's burial.", she said and immediately Robin felt this painful tug at his heart.

Small tears formed in his eyes but Rohan came and pulled him into a hug. They hugged for a while before Betty joined them.

》》》》》

Sidney sat in the bar that evening. She had spent the whole day there. She was at home preparing to go to school when she heard what had happened to Lisa. Once she heard, she just had a feeling it was the murderer. Just as she was about to leave she felt a terrible ache and not long after saw blood running down her thighs.

She knew what was happening and she only went to the hospital to get a doctor's advice on what to do next, if there were any changes she had to make after a miscarriage.

She was distraught and relieved at the same time. Happy and sad but now she had a drink in front of her. Some days ago she wouldn't have thought about drinking given her condition but those days were gone.

She was staring at the report in her hand. It was the one that confirmed her pregnancy months ago. But now the case wasn't the same.

She once thought of aborting it, but with time she grew fond of the baby and would sometimes find herself imagining what it would be like to be a mother. Even though the father no longer contacted her. They had split up for sure and he never knew she once carried his child.

The doctor had said that she lost the baby due to the stress she was putting herself through. And she knew exactly the cause.

Sarah's murderer.

She cursed the day Sarah died. If she had just left. Why did she even visit Sarah in the first place to tell her about her abortion decision? She should have just called. If she did she never would have seen the person and like everyone else, she would have not known the identity of the murderer.

But no. She did.

She took a huge gulp of her drink. Her life sucked. It was a mess and if she was gonna get caught, which she was sure would happen, she would have nothing to lose cause she had already lost it all.

The love of her life, her innocent record and finally, her baby.

》》》》》

Pablo was now sitting outside the ward. Hugh was still with Lisa. After he left, Hugh went in.

He was playing the message again when Hugh came out.

"Uhm you wanna go get a drink?", he asked Pablo who was startled that he was asking him. "I'll pay if that's what you're thinking about.", Hugh added.

"Uh okay sure.", he said and stood.

"I know you'll be up for a free drink.", he chuckled then turned to Miles. "You coming?", he asked.

"Nah. I'll stay.", he said. "I'll stay for the night. We can't leave her alone not when the killer might want to come and finish up. You guys go ahead, don't worry.", he added and Hugh and Pablo nodded to that.

Then they left as Miles entered the ward. The sky was already darkening. The car ride was silent for a while.

"I'm sorry.", they both said.

"No I'm sorry.", they both said then laughed.

"Okay I'll go first.", Pablo said before Hugh could say anything. "I shouldn't have kissed Lisa while knowing she was dating you. And I never wanted you to find out the way you did. I'm really sorry I messed up.", he apologised.

"No, I was the stupid one. I always suspected you had a thing for her but I never asked you about it. You're my best friend and I shouldn't have left without telling you anything. Plus I'm sorry I punched you.", Hugh said.

"I deserved it though. You can't lie about that.", Pablo said and Hugh looked at him.

"Yeah you did.", he said and then laughed.

"And you do throw a mean hook. My jaw still hurts.", Pablo said and joined him and after a while, they arrived at the pub.

They got down and shared a brief hug.

"It's good to have you back.", Pablo said.

"Yeah, you too. C'mon let's get some drinks to toast to our friendship.", Hugh said and they walked in.

They had ordered and got their drinks when Pablo turned and saw Sidney at a table. The person they were looking for. He tapped Hugh and nodded in the direction of Sidney. They looked at each other and headed over to her table.

They sat and she looked up to see them. She drank again and it was visible she was drunk.

"You're here to arrest me right? Well then get to it.", she said and put her hands together in front of them like they were going to cuff her. The bar was pretty scanty as not much people were around.

"Um. It's Pablo and Hugh, not the police.", Pablo said.

"Well you're obviously working with them aren't you.", she said and drank again.

"Okay that's enough.", Hugh said and took the bottle from her. She tried to get it back but it was far from her reach.

"Give me back. If I drink Ana wouldn't come and torture me for what I did.", she slurred.

"And what did you do?", Pablo asked.

"I took something very precious from her. If I didn't she would still be alive.", she said and before they could ask what it was, she passed out.

They looked at each other.

"We'll take her to my place and tomorrow she has to fess up.", Hugh said and Pablo nodded. Then they got up and took her to Hugh's car before they left.

》》》》》

Carter came in. It was late and he was coming from Gwendolyn's house. He saw some suitcases in the living room and he knew they were Maria's. He was confused and then she saw her coming down the stairs with her bag.

He looked ahead and saw some suitcases. A lot. What was she doing?

"Where are you going?", he asked.

"I'm leaving.", she said. Though her eyes were dry it was very obvious from her voice that she had been crying.

"Where are you..."

"Since it's late now, the movers will be coming tomorrow to get my things. Let them do their job when they come. And the day after, my lawyer would be here with divorce papers. You better sign them.", she said and made to leave but he held her back.

She pulled her hand free from his grip.

"Why are you leaving?", he asked still shocked.

"Because I don't want to stay with a cheat of a husband.", she said her voice louder. 

"What are you talking about.", he said.

"You think I wouldn't find out? Even after your secretary said nothing was going on I wasn't settled. I had to make sure myself. Did you think I wouldn't find out about you and Gwendolyn? Well, I did!", she yelled this time and started dragging her luggage.

Carter watched her go and when she came for the last suitcase he spoke.

"You... you can't leave.", he said. How was he going to stay in this big house all by himself? First, his son left and now her. As proud as he was, even he didn't want to be all alone.

"Why? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't?", she asked as she faced him.

"You're... you're the mother of our son.", he said and she laughed. A cold humourless one.

"No. My son.", she said with a straight face. "You never loved him and you know that's true. And why, because you never loved me. All you saw him as was a mistake. A bond to an unwanted marriage. I regret ever marrying you. You used me and you did for so many years.", she said and her voice cracked at the end.

"Where are you going to go?", he asked.

"That's none of your business. All you have to do is sign the divorce papers. And I don't want any of your money. It's as dirty as you are.", she spat and without so much as a backward glance, she left.

》》》》》

Pablo and Hugh watched as she stirred herself to wake. The police were gonna be here anytime soon. They just wanted her to tell them what she knew.

She sat up with a hand to her head. Hugh pushed the tray of medicine that had a glass of water to her. She looked at it and looked at them. She noticed Pablo holding a paper. That must be the report.

She took the medicine and they were all silent for a long while.

"So you're pregnant?", Hugh asked.

"Not anymore.", she replied quietly. Pablo and Hugh looked at each other. There was no need to talk on the subject, it's not what they wanted to know.

"Are you feeling better?", Pablo asked and she nodded slightly.

"Good. Now you're gonna tell us everything you know. First, what did you take from Ana?", Hugh asked.

Sidney put her hand in her Jean pocket and brought out a piece of paper. They opened it and it was a note which Ana must have written.

"To get it I had to...", she didn't have to finish her statement for them to know what she meant. She had murdered Ana because of this note.

But what was in it that she had to kill Ana for?

"It was proof. Proof of what we had done.", Sidney said and then continued. "Ana had overheard us and threatened to tell Robin. I kept an eye on her and I kept telling her not to. The day she... I snuck into her house and when I found it, she had come in with Miles so I hid. When he had gone I wanted to go. I was just gonna take the note and go but she didn't let me and I...", Sidney didn't finish her statement and she burst into tears.

Pablo and Hugh opened the note and started to read.

Meanwhile, Miles was in the ward. As he stretched himself awake someone hit him with something on the head and he fell.

The person sat next to Lisa and took her hand.

"I didn't mean to do this. I just tampered with your car so you won't have anywhere to go. Why did you go speeding? I always told you not to.", the person said in a cold voice.

Miles stirred as the hit wasn't so hard. He knew that voice.

"I didn't mean for it to happen, to Sarah. One thing led to another. I was just there to warn her. I didn't mean to...."

"You!!!!", Miles said as he saw who the person was. Before he could say anything, the person pushed past him and ran. He immediately called Pablo.

They had finished reading the note and both were quiet with shock. The only sound heard was Sidney's sobs which got louder as the distant sound of police sirens was heard coming closer.

They looked at each other. Before any could say anything, Pablo's phone rang. It was Miles.

"Pablo. I know who it is. She just ran. She came to see Lisa and tried to knocked me out. I know who it is. It's...."

I know. I know. That's the worst way to end a chapter. But it was the only way. To quote Marvel's, Doctor Strange,

"This was the only way."

Imagine it in his voice.😂

The next chapter's what I call the big reveal and that's why I did a double update. If this was a cliffhanger that would have been demonic. 😂😂😂

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SJ💝