The Girl He Promised To Protect

Handsome Investigator- 2

"No. I'm sorry, Lana. I didn't mean that way. I mean, you should at least have some basics to be on yourself," He said as he put down his food, using his other free hand, he tilted his chin, forcing me to look at him. "You are going to die before entering the battleground, do you think this is wise?"

Always with his broad point of view, somehow he had accidentally become my counselor as we grew up.

Damn, I must have a serious lack of common sense.

Meeting his gaze, I'm overwhelmed that it is him from the beginning. As I drifted into his dreamy brown eyes, he broke the spell by giving me another flick on the forehead.

"Ouch!"

"Gosh, stop looking at me like that," he said, lightly pushing me away from him and continuing to enjoy his meal.

"That hurt, you shouldn't treat a girl like that," I grumbled, covering my forehead to soften the mild pain he caused me.

"Well, I treat every girl well, except you. Eat your food, I have got a new clue to share."

Jerk! I wanted to say that much to him, yet stating that he found out something delighted me. "Really? Well, tell me." I exclaimed, concentrating on what he was about to reveal.

"What kind of a person do you think the culprit will be?" He left an enigma for me to answer.

I took a sip of my fruit juice and confidently said, "A thief. He might be robbed and killed instantly."

"Thief? Why would a thief rob a security guard? And raided the security room? How can the culprit be sure where the security room is? The culprit must be a psycho, taking a sweet time some more."

He returned to me with another tricky question. "Lana, as I said earlier, that culprit is among us, they are someone from our school. And that someone is someone who intended to kill him."

"Are you sure? Mr. Genius Samuel, there are at least 300 people in the school, how are we going to find that one culprit?" I hissed, hopeless that I was going to get away from the upcoming misery.

Samuel came to sit by me, and whispered to my ear, "By narrowing the list of people in the school on that day."

The idea instantly sparked my nerves. Samuel is indeed an exceptional intellectual!

After class, everyone will be on their way home unless they have enrolled themselves in the evening self-study session which will end at 10:30 pm.

Anyone who stays in school is a suspect!

The sole evidence stays on the stolen security hard disk. Whoever has the item in position, probably knows I'm the last one to see Mr. Bong alive. The culprit might turn me into a scapegoat once he or she is discovered sooner or later. Or he or she is probably lurking somewhere. Stalking over me waiting for a chance to manipulate me.

Why am I still wondering whether the culprit is a she or not? Such horrifying murders can only be done by someone strong, like a man who loathes him so much, Mr. Bong isn't someone nice either, it's normal for someone to hold such a grudge against him.

But, who is this person? The friend he owed money to? Our teachers? Janitors? The student who got caught red-handed playing truant? How many people were involved in this?

Urgh... Anyway, neither of my opinions is important. Once the police find my trace, it will be the end of me.

"But, This is still impossible. I should just surrender to the cops for being at the crime scene..."

"Don't give up Lana, there are only three students from our class who have signed up for the self-study session. I have confirmed."

Returning to his seat in front of me, he continued, "Starting tomorrow you will be checking on Naomi, Harry, and Richie. Since you are sitting at the back, it's easier for you to watch their movements."

"How can you suspect them? How about the janitor, teachers, cafeteria crew, and some more? Are they not suspects?"

"Gosh, you become smart of a sudden. My dear, the cafeteria is two blocks away from the incident. And the teachers are also in the same block as the cafeteria. I found you at about half an hour until 8:00 pm, remember?" Samuel corrected my point of view.

"Still, how are you confident that none of them are there? What evidence leads you to suspect our friends?"

"Well, you sure have hit your head, right? The police are focusing on the adults, and eventually, we were the only class that held an extra hour's class on that day. Our block is completely isolated after 5:30 pm. Remember, Mrs. Sue had emergency leave for the whole week with no backup teacher?"

"Whoah... where do you get such clear information...?" My stare widened in surprise. "But, Harry and Naomi? How does that make any sense? Naomi dares not even kill cockroaches while Harry is only studying all day long, how can you accuse him?" I hesitated. "Yet, Richie is harsh and hot-tempered. If it was me, I would concentrate on him."

"My dear, everyone who is in the school compound on that day is a suspect. Don't worry, Nelson, Jason, and Jerry will be watching over you too."

"Your friends? Why are you sharing this with them? And why am I under your surveillance?"

"The one who is keeping the security tapes is probably watching you now." Samuel alerted me. "From now on, you are coming with me, whatever you do, wherever you are, do you get me?"

I gulped, munching down the last piece of my burger in vain. "How are you so sure about it?" I said. Suddenly, the urge to inspect my surroundings panicked me.

"Then, shall I report to the authorities about your encounter on that day? I have been contemplating what is the right thing to do. It's either expose you or protect you." Samuel is being serious this time. "What are you planning to do now? Went to the police station and surrender?"

"Sam...you are scaring me, are we in some kind of crime scene investigation?" I muttered.

He is right, if I was to be put behind bars even only as a suspect, my whole life was fated to be ruined. Society will be looking down on me, though dad might be sending me to study overseas, I will still be labeled as an ex-prisoner, ex-convicted or worse, murderer, and the dark history will be mentioned again and again as long as I'm alive. Either I'm proven guilty or not. Do I want to go further that way?

How can I bear seeing my family dragged down by my tainted status? It's unfair.

I'm not guilty, and the last thing I wish is to be freed from my family. But, not in such a kind way.

I should be able to protect myself.

Once more, Samuel had taught me another life lesson.

Samuel reached out to me, putting a hand on my shoulder, "So, don't give up, okay? I'm doing everything I can to get the details of the case. I trust you, this is the least I can do for you. So trust us, okay?"

Yes, I should at least do this, tracing any clue that might lead to Mr. Bong's murder.

Prove my innocence, before the real killer gets me.