April drove home and for a minute she was sure someone had followed her, but she figured she must have been paranoid since by the time she was in her neighborhood no cars were anywhere in the vicinity. April got home and went directly to her basement she turned on all her security measures on and threw her weapons, research and phone on the steel table. She leaned heavily on the table her hands in front of her and her head hung low. She was breathing heavily; her thoughts racing and jumping between all the facts she knew about this crazy town. Her side burned and she ripped off her clothes and saw her stitches had pulled and were bleeding. She was covered in her blood and sewage; she stripped to her knickers and put all the clothes in the wash, then headed to the downstairs shower. Her shower downstairs was nothing like the spa one attached to the master bedroom this one was high powered and a curtain; it was really no different from those in a school change room other than hers was clean and single stall. She put a shower down here in case of needing to clean up things she'd rather no visitors could snoop and find. The shower was hot though and the soaps down here were stronger than average allowing the sewer smell to disappear. After her shower she wrapped herself in a towel and went upstairs for her pajamas; she may be staying up later to look through this stuff but it didn't mean she couldn't be comfortable while doing it. April dressed in a simple violet silk teddy and a matching black silk housecoat; as she descended the stairs she heard a knock on the door and froze mid step and the promptly missed the next 6 steps as she tumbled to the door.
April groaned and cursed till the air was blue, then got up when whoever was at the door knocked louder and more aggressively. She picked herself up and went to the camera and laid her hand on the pistol hidden away from prying eyes in the front door table. She looked at the monitor and there stood the sheriff; which couldn't mean anything good. She quickly pushed a few button on her monitor which would close and lock her basement and then put the pistol away where she found it; opening the door with a sleepy smile hoping to not draw attention to herself.
"Officers, how may I help you?" I asked yawning for good measure and pulling my house coat tightly around my body so no one could see my body or its scars.
"Are you alright we heard a thud." Sheriff Stilinski asked as he looked around behind me as if to see if I was hiding something.
"I was hoping you didn't hear that; the knock startled me and I stumbled down the last few steps…I'm kind of a klutz." I said slightly embarrassed that I wasn't even making the story up.
"Well sorry to bother you but we need to ask a few questions about the bonfire; may we come in?" the Sheriff asked as he looked around the inside of the house as if he was looking for just one suspicious thing…I did not have a good feeling about his snooping but opened the door wider to let him and his female deputy in.
"Come on in, I was just about to put a pot of peppermint tea on; would you like anything to drink?" I asked as I walked them to my kitchen and the Sheriff observed every inch of my house.
"Coffee would be great actually." The sheriff said smiling, hmmmm I wonder if this man was single and looking, maybe my date plan for Melissa would start tonight.
"Well I have coffee not sure how good it is since I don't drink it but you're welcome to it of course." I said smiling as I put the coffee grinds into the pot and then turned on the kettle while they stood awkwardly in the kitchen staring at every nook and cranny as if a monster was about to appear.
"You don't drink coffee, how do you survive?" the deputy asked wide eyed and all I could do was chuckle; every coffee drinker always asked the same thing.
"Well I drink tea instead but trust me a bunch of high school students always keep me wide awake for fear of pranks. Speaking of school, you said you need to talk to me about the bonfire? Is it about those two students who went to the hospital to get their stomachs pumped?" I asked wondering if something had happened to them, but knowing full well in my gut that this was something much more serious than drunken teenagers.
"No I'm afraid not. Why did you leave early Ms. Managarm?" the Sheriff questioned.
"Oh well I tried to stay as long as possible but I've been fighting some form of stomach bug. I would have stayed longer to help but honestly seeing a bunch of drunk students vomit everywhere wasn't helping my nausea." I said trying to seem weak and sickly; which wasn't exactly easy since I was basically running on adrenaline from the encounter in the sewer earlier.
"Well you seem much better now." The deputy said looking me in the eye as if she'd be able to scare me into confessing whatever they wanted; she didn't know that looking me in the eye would do nothing.
"Peppermint tea and a bath; they work wonders. " I said shrugging my shoulders trying to seem innocent, which I don't believe the sheriff bought for a second; he seemed annoyingly good at his job unfortunately for me.
"By the way Sheriff, I hope Stiles is doing well he wasn't in class today so I hope he didn't catch whatever I had." I said as I poured him his coffee and myself a cup of tea; hoping I'd figure out what his son had been getting up to.
"What do you mean Stiles wasn't in school today?" the sheriff asked looking frightened and slightly annoyed.
"I mean him and Lydia Martin weren't in my class today, I figured they must have caught the same bug as me and the other teacher who I actually replaced this evening at the bonfire as chaperone. Are you saying you didn't know?" I said my eyes searching for any kind of hint of what was going through his mind and more importantly if he was just lying to throw me off; but he wasn't lying he seriously didn't know.
"No I didn't know; damn he's not picking up!" he said as he dialed his son's number.
"Well I'm sure he's fine, you know how kids get sometimes. They just skip a class to get away for a while; right?" I said trying to reassure him by grabbing his arm and squeezing lightly. The sheriff left to the other room to make a few calls while the deputy asked me about drunk students, when I left and then finally if I saw anything suspicious.
"Officers, I know it might be official business but can I ask what this is about?" I asked as the sheriff came back into the kitchen looking white as a ghost.
"We found a few dead bodies at the school, it's all we can say. However the school will probably be closed tomorrow to investigate. Um I need to go my son he's in the hospital." Sheriff Stilinski said as he walked towards the front door.
"Oh my god, well safe drive and please let me know if Stiles will be okay." I said genuinely worried about Stiles and most likely his genius sidekick Lydia.
"Here's my card if you think of anything else please give us a call." The deputy said as the sheriff was already in his car sirens blaring towards the hospital.
"Will do, and please let the sheriff know if Stiles needs anything regarding school or anything to give me a call." I said smiling which actually seemed like the first thing to convince the deputy of my good citizenship.
"You have a good night miss." She said and I closed the door after her and turned on my alarm system.
April quickly went to the basement to grab her phone and call Melissa to get any information she could on Stiles and Lydia. She called and was told they had been held captive at the Eichan house and Stiles had a concussion while Lydia was being treated for shock. Apparently the two numskulls went to the nut house without telling anyone else about their theories and worse yet if it hadn't been for Deputy Parish being good at his job; they both probably wouldn't have survived the night. Melissa was angry saying April should have done a better job at keeping track of Stiles and Lydia. April knew she was right but how was she supposed to keep track of them all when they don't even tell each other where they're going! April was stressed, agitated and her mind raced with theories and facts; she had to figure this out before one of those kids got themselves hurt; or worse killed.
April grabbed tape and markers and began writing on her basement wall; not even caring that she'd have to repaint it to get the marker marks off. Before she began she texted Melissa asking her for a favor, she asked her to get Malia and Stiles to talk; those two kids needed to work out their problems before the separation affected the entire pack. April put her house in lockdown not wanting to be interrupted while she worked on figuring this stuff out. If the school wasn't closed tomorrow she'd call in sick because knowing she almost didn't save two of these great students of hers, stilled her heart with fear. She turned up her music loud enough that all else was tuned out and began placing everything she knew on her walls.
Placing a giant question mark in the middle she worked outwards. Placing what she knew of everyone in this town and questions she had for what she didn't. She put up the conversation she overheard with Peter on the wall, and put arrows linking him and Kate together. Placing the Argent family crest on the wall she put Kate under it knowing full well Kate's main objective was power and bringing her precious hunter family together for more murderous deeds. She put connections between Lydia and her grandmother up as well as who Lydia named to break the code on the dead pool. April put up everything she had seen and heard in the last few months as well as some of the research she had found on others motives and predictable future action against Scott and his pack; plus the entire supernatural community in Beacon Hills. Still after hours poring over the wall she had created, she still came no closer to figuring it all out; she was running out of steam and more importantly theories. There was one thing that was clear to April; Kate Argent had more to do with the Benefactor and the Dead pool than she was letting on. April needed sleep so she headed up for bed, but she still had too many questions and racing thoughts to fall asleep; she put on a random DVD from her collection and drifted off to sleep within seconds of the first scene.
Her alarm blared at 7 am and April kind of murdered it with the dagger she kept under her pillow and with a dying out sound she pulled herself out of bed with a groan; she'd have to buy a new alarm clock, again. April had killed a few alarm clocks over the years even the one that ran away from the side table. She honestly hated mornings! She checked her phone, Deaton still hadn't texted her back which was a little worrisome but she figured he'd text her later in the day since it was only 7am. She showered and dressed and read the email saying the school would be closed for the day and decided to go check up on Stiles and Melissa who were both still at the hospital.
"Melissa, you know coffee isn't breakfast right?" I said as I plopped a paper bag filled with freshly baked goodies in front of her, as she shuffled through paperwork at the nurses' desk.
"Obviously you've never tried the cafeteria food here." Melissa said smiling as she peered into the paper bag where two homemade scones sat in it still steaming hot.
"You are the most wonderful human being in the world! Did you make these?" Melissa asked as she bit into the first one looking like she hadn't eaten in days.
"Yes, I learned the recipe from a woman I stayed with in London while studying abroad." I said smiling remembering the warm hearted woman who reminded me of what every grandmother should embody; love, compassion and a keen sense.
"You lived in London? Why haven't I heard this story yet?" Melissa said raising one eyebrow and slightly opened mouth with shock.
"Probably because it was from a past I'm not sure you'd recognise me from." I said honestly for when I lived in London I was not all sane.
"Well on that note, you came here to see Stiles, come on his room is this way." Melissa said looking at me with more curiosity than she probably ought to; you know what they say about curiosity.
"Thank you; and I should also thank you for keeping my true purpose hidden even after last night." I said stopping her and making sure to look her in the eye trying to show I truly did appreciate her trust.
"Yeah well don't thank me yet, I swear I almost let it slip when Scott asked about you last night." Melissa said leaning against the hospital hall wall.
"It's hard keeping secrets from those we love, and I'm sorry I'm putting you in this position especially your son. Why was he asking about me though?" I said suddenly wondering if he saw something last night at the school.
"Well he was curious why you wouldn't get them in trouble for their supposed drinking last night; that and apparently he overheard you telling Liam's best friend to turn off the music…I think he's suspicious of you, I know Stiles is. He doesn't believe it's coincidence you came just when they learned of the dead pool. Apparently on top of Malia and him fighting about her father they don't agree on you." Melissa said shaking her head mimicking my thoughts; Stiles' brain will always get him into trouble.
"Great, so me showing up is just going to add to his suspicion! Well look thanks for keeping me in the loop, with Deaton gone it's hard to be in the loop and still stay anonymous." I said looking up at the ceiling wondering if this anonymity was really helping anyone.
"Yeah , well I got to go home and get some rest my shift ended two hours ago and I have to be back here at 4." Melissa said as she pointed me towards the door Stiles was staying in.
"Well, thanks, and enjoy the scones." I said smiling and walking towards the student whose suspicions could be a serious threat to me. I entered the door with a knock and smile when Stiles' shocked faced turned towards me.
"Ummm hey." Stiles said looking around the room anxiously and as if he was trying to find an exit.
"Hello Stiles, I hope you don't mind me stopping by just thought I'd stop and check in." I said giving him a once over and making sure all vital parts were attached.
"How did you know I was in the hospital in the first place? How did you know what room I was in? Did Malia tell you? What internship and why do you care how I'm doing?" Stiles asked backing up towards his bed like the blankets could save him; honestly if I wanted him dead you'd think he'd know I'd have killed him by now!
"I'm not really sure what question you'd like me to answer first, but I knew you were hurt because your dad was at my place when he got the call about you; he was really worried about you. I never really got to know if you were okay so I thought I'd pop by while I was dropping off paper work for the new internship program." I said smirking at his endless stream of questions.
"Seriously why was my dad was at your place? I didn't even know he knew you! Oh my god is my dad dating my teacher?!" Stiles said his face contorting into confusion than to absolute horror. I'm really not sure how I'm supposed to take that last look.
"Stiles I'm going to try and not take the face of pure disgust as an insult but we aren't dating I only met your father last night….he was questioning me about the dead bodies at school. Oh and to answer a few of your other questions, Melissa showed me your room but she went home to get some rest and I wanted to know if you'd be okay because I know this will come as a shock to you; but I care about my students." I said with such exasperation that I think he might have actually realised I wasn't there to kill him.
"Oh!...sorry I didn't mean to say you're not hot…wait! I mean you're just so….god this is just coming out so wrong! I'm trying to say…" Stiles said stumbling over his words and his explanation in pure embarrassing agony.
"Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." I said chuckling at his little freak out dance when I quoted Yoda.
"Wait, you've seen Star Wars! Wait did you just read that off some kids shirt?!" Stiles said slack jawed in awe of my apparent coolness; although the only reason I watched so many movies was because I had no life outside of assassinating and school.
"Stiles it's Star Wars who hasn't seen it?" I said shrugging and laughing at his groan.
"Scott, I've tried to get him to see it his entire life! Ugh!" Stiles seemed so contrite over his best friend's lack of pop culture all I could do was laugh out right.
"Well maybe if we ever get a snow day in California I'll make the class watch it; can I ask you something Stiles?" I said trying to keep my voice from sounding overly interested in my next question.
"Sure, I think it's only fair." Stiles said sitting on his bed again.
"What happened last night, your father seemed very concerned but this morning you seem quite alright." I said hoping he'd give me something to go on that maybe I could investigate further while he stayed in the hospital.
"Police business, can't say." Stiles said instantly closing the book as if it was radioactive. He yawned and pretended he was tired and needed to get some sleep; I left reluctantly but really I just wanted some answers.
As April left the hospital she headed towards the animal clinic to find Deaton. When she arrives at the clinic she doesn't however find Deaton but instead sees movement in the clinic and goes to check it out. She looks through the windows and sees they are pitch black but can sense people moving within by shadows flickering across the blinds. She wonders who could be in there and whether they are friend or foe. However instead of being able to investigate she hears two police cars pulling into the driveway behind her. She turns to see the Sheriff walking towards her with a bone weary tired look across his face; his hand is itching to go to his gun and his demeanor extremely high alert. April wonders what this could mean but she'd guess it was nothing good for her.