Chapter Eighty-One – The model, Charles.
(Third Person Narrative Intended)
The timber house was empty. After their long walk and habitual cries of fear, they ended in the middle of nothing.
“Of Course, she can’t be here. This is where her body would be. She isn’t dead yet but at the Villa” Jacob muttered to himself.
“She's not here?” Chloe held her head trying to contain so it’ll not explode.
“I’m calling the police then” Jasper sighed and began dialing. He sent a quick text to Reuben to tell him they’re okay, he had called a lot earlier.
Chris collapsed besides the entrance, both in fatigue and defeat. He brought out his bottle go take some water but it was empty.
Jacob looked around.
His mind and heart judging him for his incompetence as he’s on the way of losing another person to the Martinez's cruelty.
“Yes? Timber house? Yes, there” Chloe hung up on her phone and squeaked to the others, “Charles is outside the entrance, let’s go”.
The rest stood up at her words with questioning faces.
“His agency is willing to help spread the news of Kiera’s disappearance. She has an old classmate, Samantha, who is willing to use her influence to help” Chloe was almost flying.
“Kiera’s old classmate is the model, Samantha? And who’s this Charles, the teen model?” Chris questioned.
Chloe came closer go him to give him a load down. Chris made a face when Chloe bragged about being close friends with Charles.
She was still into her deluded obsession with celebrities. It won’t help matters when she sees this one in real life.
“I’d call dad to see if he can. You guys should go and I’d back later” Jacob turned to group at the entrance.
Jasper frowned and held him, “Where are you going exactly? Where would you find her?”.
Jacob shoved his hands slowly, “Just go. Call Reuben to bring my car. He should leave it at his mother’s supermarket. I’d take it there” Jacob smiled and went the opposite direction.
There was a honk on one of Charles agency’s cars so the team went towards it.
Some workers shared to them cold water and Chris was glad as he had earlier poured his on Kiera.
Inside was a woman they’ve never seen before. She rushed to Chloe and held her hands.
“When last did you see my Kiera? Where was she heading to?” the woman asked anxiously.
“She's Kiera's mom. Mrs. Bob Martinez” a male voice spoke, coming out from one of the agency’s cars.
It was the model, Charles, and Chris was gaping. He began questioning his sexuality when he realized he had been staring for too long.
“Hi, I’m Charles” Charles brought out his hands to shake him, after seeing him looking at him. Chris awkwardly did.
“Oh, Mrs. Bob, don’t believe the text you received. We received it too. Kiera didn’t go anywhere, she was heading home” Chloe spoke up.
She immediately felt guilty for not calming her down and letting her leave in her own.
Mrs. Bob held her heart close and nodded. Charles helped her get into the car.
“The police are on the search already. Who do you say is a suspect, Chloe? Cara? Cara Adams?” Charles asked, he brushed his hair by impulse. Jasper watched all his movements.
Chris was rather surprised that Charles had called Chloe’s name without prior asking of it.
And the fact he introduced Kiera’s mother, then it was possible the model knew Kiera and Chloe.
“Yeah, Cara Adams. She’s at school with Nancy, a friend now” Chloe reported.
Charles nodded and walked into his car. The rest ran into a nearby empty car but there was no driver.
Charles started his car and drive off by the time the driver could come in.
“You love him, don’t you, Chloe?” Jasper eyed Chloe.
She seemed taken aback by the question, “Why are you asking me that now? He’s my friend”.
“But you love him? Who wouldn’t. He has good looks though. Like last week, Kiera was showing me pictures of him and this week I saw him for real” Jasper stared into space.
“Shut up, Gay!” Chloe smacked his head.
“He's just flustered. It’s never a crime to admire someone” Chris spoke for Jasper’s defense.
Jasper ignored them and rested his head to sleep. Kiera should better be alive. All his stress shouldn’t be in vain.
His cousin, Reuben, wouldn’t find it funny to know that his first crush was killed by her family.
And Jacob, Jasper wasn’t sure what was with him and Kiera.
The pressure he was putting on himself, and the anger he was working with, was a bit out of his stubborn self.
Perhaps he was just anxious and didn’t want anyone else to die. He had had suspicions before Jennie’s death but wasn’t sure enough.
He was trying all he could to make sure Kiera’s death wasn’t a wasted effort.
“Wait, Cara Adams always talked about one house uptown that shady business were usually done” Jasper sprung from his seat and said to the driver.
“She told you that?” Chris asked. Jasper nodded.
“She just told you that? On what occasion?” Chloe asked further.
“Well, I asked her once where I could kill someone if I wanted. She said there was a building where that was done. She said it jokingly but I know it’s true” Jasper replied nonchalantly.
Chris observed him, “You’re okay right? Why’d you want to kill someone?”.
“I was joking too. It’s during those times I has a problem with Carlos that psycho kid. I used to think of horrible things then. The effect he had on me” Jasper waved his thoughts off.
Chloe and Chris gave him unsure looks. The driver was looking at home weirdly too from the mirror.
He turned to Jasper with a questioning look, “We need to ask where the location is then. Can we ask this Cara Adams?” he picked up speed.
“Yeah, ask her where murders are done, she’d tell you nicely” Chris said sarcastically.
“Yea, she would. Just be nice” Jasper added with a firm resolve.
Chloe face palmed. Why didn’t Jasper get a good humor or sarcastic remark?
The driver sighed and kept his pace, heading to their High School.