Kira's POV

"Impossible." Ethan whispered in disbelief. He gave Shai an almost pleading look, "I carried that box the entire way back, there's no way it was empty when Gary gave it to us." She looked just as confused as he was. "Maybe…" Jade intercepted angrily. "Someone took everything out of the box, because you left all this evidence where absolutely anyone could find it!"

"Well I'm sorry, but I didn't want the cops confiscating all of it." She shot back. "At least we'd know where it was if the cops had it. At least it'd be with someone who could use it to arrest Elizabeth's killer."

"Hey!" I shouted breaking up the argument. "Maybe the police do have it. They could've searched the bike shed and found the box. Let's not jump to conclusions."

"Then why wouldn't they take the box too?" Alex asked. I shrugged. "Maybe we can go back to Gary. He should be able to tell us some of what was in the box." Shai offered. "The police will be watching the house," I told her. "They found out about our investigation. They want us to stop."

"So what?" She demanded. "So we could be arrested." Jade answered for me. "Face it Shai." Alex said quietly. "There's nothing more we can do." We all stood up and she looked at us in alarm. "So you're all just giving up?" Anger was clear in her voice. "All of you?"

None of us answered.

"Ethan?" She pleaded to him. He shook his head. "I'm sorry." He muttered. And with that we all turned and left, leaving her behind with an empty box.

Milo's POV

I was walking to the bike shed that night after dinner. The police had let me go the night before. Too bad it took another girl to die for them to realize I'm innocent. I needed some air after those cramped cells and a ride around campus seemed a good idea.

As I went into the shed I spotted a figure sitting cross-legged in the corner, a cardboard box at her side. "Hasn't anybody told you it's not safe to be out alone?" I asked her, leaning against the doorframe. She didn't say anything. "Trudy was in hysterics when you didn't show up for dinner. She was convinced you were kidnapped. She was about to call the cops but your entourage told her you were fine."

"My entourage?" She finally asked. I nodded. "You know your friends who follow you around like a bunch of lost puppies."

"It's not their fault. I really don't ever give them a chance to do anything else."

"Looks like they've finally had enough."

"Looks like it." I shook my head, "What are you doing out here?"

"Accepting defeat." She muttered motioning to the empty box. I snorted. She looked at me for the first time since I walked in here. "What?" She asked, a slight defensiveness to her voice. "You're so overdramatic." I told her as I tossed the box to the other side of the shed and sat next to her. "Well what else am I supposed to do?" She was definitely defensive now. "They gave up on me. There's nothing else to do."

"For them." Was my only answer. She looked at me suspiciously. "What do you mean?" I shrugged. "Well just because your puppies are gone doesn't mean you've lost everything." She still looked guarded. "Do something yourself for a change." She watched me closely for a few minutes, then she gave me a small smile. "Good idea. Thanks Milo."

She got up and was almost out the shed when she suddenly turned around. "Hey…" She said slowly. "Can I ask you something about Elizabeth?"

"Helping you twice in one day? You're going to owe me Rutter." I paused for a minute. "Ask away?"

"How close were you with Elizabeth?" She asked timidly. "Close enough."

"Enough for what?"

"To know what bad things were going to happen."

"But what kind of bad thi-" She started, but I cut her off. "You should get back to the house."

After a minute of consideration she nodded, scooped the box up and left. When I heard the shed door close I sighed.

Ethan's POV

I ran into Shai as she was coming into the hall. Or rather she ran into me. She was still clutching onto the empty box. She tried to shove around me, but I stepped in front of her and blocked her from going up the stairs. "You okay?" I asked her. "Fine." Her face held no trace of emotion. She tried to step around me again.

"You missed dinner." I tried again, blocking her off for the second time. "Not hungry." Her face was still as stone. I placed a hand on her shoulder, "Listen," I started, "I'm sorry about not helping you back there but…there's nothing else we can do."

"But there is something." She spoke with a kind of angry desperation. "We can go to Gary. He might not have anything in writing anymore but he has to know something right off the bat about whoever Elizabeth was looking into." I sighed. I led her into the living room where the rest of the house was gathered around the TV set. An overly made-up news reporter was talking briskly into her microphone, behind her was the rundown apartment building where Gary lived.

"Investigators were called to the Mill Side apartment building at approximately 11 0'clock this morning, when residents called and told police that they heard a gun-shot. Upon arrival 67 year-old Gary Coscomb was found dead in his apartment with a fatal bullet wound to his left temple. Due to the discovery of a letter addressing Gary's friends and family, Gary's death has been ruled a suicide. Next is Joseph Tailor on the economic plan purposed by the Prime Minister-" I shut the TV off and turned to look at her.

"See?" I said when she stayed silent. "Or last clue is gone. It's over." She nodded absent mindedly and left the room.

"Do you think she's gonna leave it alone?" Jade asked me. "I sure hope so." Was my only reply.

Shai's POV

I couldn't sleep that night. Something was bugging me. I glanced over to where Kira was sleeping peacefully, should I wake her up? Should I talk to her and see if she could help me clear my mind. Then, unbidden, came the image of her turning her back and leaving the shed. Of all of them just leaving me alone. And then I heard Milo's voice in my head, "Do something yourself for a change…"

My resolve hardened. I silently got out of bed, threw on my shoes and my jacket and stole down the stairs. At the bottom I hesitated for a fraction of a second and glanced down the boy's corridor. Then I turned around and headed out the door without another backwards glance.

I was walking on the main road not five minutes later, heading for the police station.

Looking back I realize how dangerous that was. There was a killer out murdering teenage girls, and there I was walking alone in the middle of the night on a desolate road, but not a single car passed me, and before I knew it I was at the station.

I walked inside, the fluorescent lights momentarily blinding me, and I walked right into detective Tanaki, who by the looks of it was just about to leave. "Shai," He didn't bother hiding his surprise, "What are you doing here so late?" I didn't hesitate. "I have some information about the case."

He frowned slightly, "I'm sorry Shai, but if any of this has to do with your mini investigation, it wouldn't hold up in court." He went to go around me but he stopped in his tracks when he heard what I had to say next. "A police officer killed Elizabeth."

He turned around slowly to look at me. "And why do you think that?" His voice was even but his face was curious. "Gary Coscomb was helping Elizabeth look into the lives of one of your cops. And it's likely that cop killed Elizabeth to keep her quiet."

After a minute of silence Tanaki said very quietly, "I found Coscomb dead in his apartment today, it was a suicide. Perhaps it's possible he gave you some misinformation to get you off his back, and then he killed himself in case you guys gave what he told you to the police."

"But Coscomb's death wasn't a suicide." I said desperately. To be honest I wasn't sure of that yet, but the more I thought about the more I realized that's what was bugging me about the news report. His death didn't add up.

"Gary was right handed." I spoke as my brain connected the dots. "He served Ethan and me tea with his right hand…And I think he was arthritic in his left." My mind flashed back to Gary's messy apartment. I remembered a large array of pill bottles on his table. "He wouldn't have shot himself with his left hand, he would've used his right."
"Maybe he did use his right." Tanaki offered. I shook my head. "The wound was on the left side of his head, he'd have to use his left hand, and he could've overdosed. He had plenty of pills, and it wouldn't have caused neighbors to call the cops. And-" I added sharply as the last puzzle piece clicked into place. "He didn't have friends or family to write a note to. He said so himself."

Tanaki seemed to consider all this for a few minutes. "You may be on to something." He admitted finally. "I'll look into this. But first let me take you home. It's not safe for you to walk all alone…."

Ethan's POV

My phone buzzed and I squinted at my alarm clock. "2 a.m?" I groaned as I reached for my phone.

I had two three texts from Shai.

Meet me out by the bike shed, I need to tell you something.

I know you're mad, but if you just talk to me I'll leave it alone.

Please.

I hesitated. Then against my better judgement I threw back the covers grabbed a jacket and slipped out of my room. I was halfway to the front door when I accidently kicked a small side table and something fell off it and crashed to the floor. I cursed and hurriedly picked it up, but not before Milo emerged out of his and Alex's room and looked at me bleary eyed. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"Getting a snack." I invented at once. I wasn't surprised when he eyed me suspiciously, the kitchen was the other way. After a minute he went back into his room without another word. I waited a few minutes before I slipped out the front door as quietly as I could.

"Shai." I called as I began to trek across the damp lawn towards the bike shed. "Shai." I called a little louder. No answer.

I got to the bike shed and peaked around. "Shai." I called louder still. "Where are you?"

Suddenly something blunt and heavy hit the back of my head and I fell to the ground. I tried to blink the stars from my vision and I looked up. "You?" I mumbled, confused and disoriented. The object was brought heavily down against my head again, and I was out cold.