More Than One Way To Die

Chapter 16 Makeshift Investigation

Kameron's POV

I take my hand off of the Bible as I look around the room at the anticipating faces surrounding me. "Ok.. now that we have that out of the way.. Since Samantha obviously hasn't joined us yet at our agreed time.. I say we head up there as a group. I'm not saying I don't trust any of you to be all alone right now.. I'm just saying that we don't know what to believe yet in this death, with who even did this or why and we don't want to give that person the chance to hurt anyone else.. if they can. So I just figured with us all together it wouod be harder to get away with anything at least for now if that makes sense.. So I'm not picking favorites but to make sure we get up there in no time at all I'm carrying Violet up the stairs and we can just collect Samantha. Then come back down to this room to discuss what we are going to do for the funeral and the investigation as a group. It's all of us involved at this point since we can't get any outside help at the moment so I figure everyone should have a vote in what we do next.. does that sound alright to everyone?" I ask the group as they all nod not saying anything out loud just silently agreeing to my terms.

"Ok let's head on up to the room and Chad can you please lead the way because I don't know what room was given to you two." I ask as he nods and walks in front of the crowd. I wrap my arms around Violet swooping her up and into my arms, just holding her tight into my chest.

I know with all my heart that Violet wouldn't do anything like this because of the person I know she is.. But also because of the fact I have been with her almost every second since we have been together.. even here so I don't know how she could have done that to her mother with me carrying her everywhere and being with me almost every last minute.

I just hate that I have to treat her as a suspect until the details really come out.. that's just not right with me.. It doesn't seem to settle well with my heart or conscience but I do pride myself on being a man of my word and she knows it too. So when I say I'm going to do something I make sure I do, to the best of my abilities. So all this means is that we just have to figure out as quickly as possible who really did this so we can clear her suspicious name.

I feel her lean into my frame nuzzling in as her hand goes to my chest touching it lightly but not saying a word. We quickly ascend the stairs since there are multiple of us trying to get up to the room, so no time to waste. I just want to get this done and over with.

Every single one of us get up the stairs in no time at all as we make our way down the hall like the weirdest train you have ever seen. We get to the room assigned to Chad and Samantha as I watch him open the door. I gesture for him to walk in and he does. But then quickly comes back out with a genuinely confused look on his face. "Um.. she isn't in there."

"Do you know where she went?" I ask as I quickly walk into the room to confirm that she really isn't there. I guess everyone else decided to do the same as me, because soon enough the room is filled with people looking in every single corner as if she is playing hide and seek from us.

"I have no idea where she went.. like I told you she started the shower as I left the room.. I don't know." He says with so much confusion present in his voice.

"All of her clothes are gone." Barb says coming out of the closet. "Really? All of it?" Chad asks as he quickly makes his way into the closet and looking around. He slowly walks out of the closet as he says in a shocked tone as if he is just trying to convince himself of this, "All of her stuff is gone."

"Why would she do that?" Lydia asks from the center of the room. "Isn't it obvious.. she knew Chad was going to leave her for the money since she isn't worth more than it to him and left." Brad explains as Dennis scoffs at that comment.

"She must have wanted to leave him before he left her." Richard states to everyone as just some nod.. "No isn't it even more obvious.. she killed Vanessa and wanted to get away with it so she left the first chance she got." Dennis spats to the room of people so spitefully.

A denying Chad, shaking his head at those comments before replying, "I know she wasn't the best person, but she wouldn't kill anyone.. She was a b***h, yes.. golddigger, yes.. but killer? No way. I have been with her for years I would know out of everyone."

"Would you though?" Dennis questions his response just as much as I do. "But wait.. I never heard anyone leave and I have been downstairs almost the whole time " James states as I nod and taking a look around the room. There is no sign of a struggle or misunderstanding of the situation.. and all of her things are gone. All signs really are pointing to her leaving the scene of the crime and there are multiple reasons she would leave for, if not all those reasons put together..

"Let's see if she snuck out and took the car you both brought, without us knowing." I say to them as we all leave the room and make our way back down the hallway, then the stairs until we are at the front door. James opens it for us as we see the downpouring storm that hasn't quit or even let up remotely since yesterday.. it's pouring so much rain out still that It now looks as if we are living on a river..

"Well.. um.. there's my car.." Chad says pointing at one of the cars parked out front. Before pressing the lock button on his keys, making the lights light up on the car, showing what car they belong to. "Ok.. well if there is your car, then that obviously means she didn't take that.. So.. James is there a vehicle missing that you know of?" I ask turning around with Violet still in my hold because even though things feel like they are taking forever. It's actually not taking that long.. I would hold her as long as she would let me anyways.. you don't have to tell me twice.

"I can go check the garage if you want to join." James answers as I nod, then looking around.. "I think we should see if she left with a different vehicle if all of you don't mind to keep wandering, getting clues with me. " I state as most nod at me so I turn and they follow James trailing right behind. I'm the curious type of person.. and have never been a person to just sit around waiting for what everyone else figures out, just hoping they are right.. I like to be apart of the solution no matter what the problem is.. side by side solving the issue as best as I can. So I'll just do the best that I can to hopefully get past all this as fast as possible.

We walk to the garage as James opens it up for all of us to enter one by one. He steps forward putting his pointer finger out as he silently counts all the cars and motorcycles. I watch him turn then open a metal box that's padlocked and attached to wall right next to us.. He then takes each key hanging up and pushing the lock button multiple times, to make sure every single one of the vehicles light up just for good measure. "We have all of our vehicles here." He answers for us as everyone starts to look back and forth between each other.

"You don't you think she went out there in that awful storm do you?" Barbera asks to no one in particular with just more worry in her voice than anything as she stares at the window. "Oh she wouldn't do that.. she was a princess in every single sense of the word. I couldn't get her to go outside even if it was barely sprinking just because she didn't want her hair to get poofy or messed up.. something about the humidity or something along those lines." Chad replies waving his hand around as he mocks.. Vincent then adds. "Not unless she was desperate to get out of here... for one reason or another."

Whispers are erupting around us with everyone not really knowing what to think at this point.

"Ok so we have one dead person and another one missing and no way to contact the police right now.. ok.. this officially is the worst funeral ever." Dennis groans in a mocking tone to himself as I think about this for another moment.

"Ok hypothetically speaking.. if Samantha didn't leave here, but is not in her room then where would she go? Maybe another room?.." I ask suggestingly as everyone looks back and forth.

"So what are we suppose to do, just check every single room in this huge mansion then?" Vance complains in a whining tone.

I nod with his question."Yes I guess that's our only choice with a full day of being stuck in this place because if the weather all the way around, with nothing else to do.. so how about we split up into groups of two and one group of three since there are 13 of us in this place and we can get through the rooms easier and faster than as one big group going from room to room together.. and then we will meet back here in two hours whether your done with checking the rooms or not.. I just want to make sure everyone is ok.. but when you're checking the rooms be sure to check everywhere, under the bed, the closets, behind the doors, the bathrooms attached, everywhere.. does everyone understand?" I suggest then ask clarifying as everyone looks around at each other. I watch everyone nod as Richard who has been quiet most the time spats out, "Groups of two huh? does that mean your going to pick favorites and make your team with Violet?" Everyone gets riled up at that suggestion.. of course that's what I wanted, I won't admit it to everyone because I'm sure they already know this anyways.. but obviously I can't have what I really want now.

"But she is hurt I have been helping her up and down the stairs." I tell them as her father steps forward and states for everyone to hear. "I can do just that instead of you Kameron. Violet will be my partner." I swallow the lump in my throat slowly setting Violet down to her feet.

I don't know how I feel about leaving her with the one man who left her when she needed him most when she was young.. and he was the last person to be seen with Vanessa before she died.. this honestly is freaking me out to no end.

"I'll be ok Kam." She says softly to me I think because she can feel how tight my protective grip is on her hand at this point. I nod reluctantly letting go of her hand as I hand her the crutches and she of course willing takes them so she can now get around on her own to my dismay.

"Ok then with Violet and Peter together as a team.. how about Barbera and Brad are together... Lydia, Vincent and Vance as the three part.. Richard and James.. Chad and Dennis.. and I can be with Gramma's lawyer, sorry I don't know your name..." I say looking at the lawyer as she smiles a small smile and replies. "My name is Jordan and it's fine."

I shake her hand as I look at everyone around who has now separated into their groups. "Is everyone alright with their groups?" I ask as no one answers outloud just nodding in response.

"Ok now that we have the groups figured out we need to seperate into different parts of the mansion ro really sweep through making sure she didn't go anywhere else.. How about James and Richard check out the kitchen back area and storage and the garage, since you know that better than anyone James.. Violet and Peter will stay on this floor to make things easier on her, so please both of you check out the game and meeting rooms along with Gramma's office.. Chad and Dennis please check all the rooms on the 2nd floor and Barbara and Brad check out all the rooms on the 3rd floor.. Jordan and I will take the attic and lastly Lydia, Vance and Vincent can check out the basement." I say as everyone passes glances back and forth between each other but still no argument and all nodding in response.

"Ok just please everyone stay safe no matter where you are at and if you need anything just yell.. I guess and we will try to help as soon as we can.. I'm sorry there isn't a better way of doing this.. but this is all I can think of.. unless anyone else had any other ideas?" I curiously inquire as everyone shakes their heads.. I guess it's good that I'm kind of leading at the moment because I don't know what we would do if I wasn't.

"Ok lastly.. Let's just make sure we thoroughly check everything that's the whole point of all this.. and also make sure to be back here in two hours..on the dot please." I watch everyone instantly check their clocks that are either on their watches or phones before nodding.

"Alright see you all soon." I say as I turn getting Jordan's attention waving her to follow behind me. I start towards the stairs as I stop abruptly looking around catching my gaze on Violet's frame. I quickly make my way to her side as I hug her tight and whisper in her ear. "Please be safe."

"You be safe! I'm fine I can take him if he tries anything." She playfully says this to me as I smirk and sigh. "I will see you in 2 hours my love stay safe and keep your wits about you please.. I will flip s**t on everyone in this place starting with your father if anything happens to you." I reply as she presses her soft lips to my cheek. Followed by, "I know you would but know I would for you too. I love you just be careful." She says back so sweetly as I nod.

"I love you too." softly leaves my lips with her in such close proximity, knowing she can hear me but no one else can because this is just for us to be apart of.. not anyone else.. Even though I do feel their prying eyes on us. I let out a deep breathe, peeling myself from my more than lovely lady, while I reluctantly turn back around then nodding at Jordan letting her know we cam go now silently.. as we amd some of the others ascend the stairs to get this makeshift investigation underway.