Sunday morning had me meeting with Scott and Stiles at the police station, it was 7a.m and they were bringing us both to speed on what was going on.
Stiles had taken over one of the crime boards from the sheriff so he could demonstrate exactly the timeline and create visuals "So, the Walcotts were the first. At least the first that we know about. Four murders. Sean, his brother, and their parents. They were killed by a professional assassin called The Mute. Weapon of choice: a military tomahawk. Originally we thought he was the Benefactor. But then The Mute was killed by Peter Hale after he tried to blow up Derek with a Claymore mine, as you know. Next was Demarco. He delivered a keg to the party at Lydia's lake house. And got decapitated outside his car. And then last night, 23-year-old Carrie Hudson," He explained.
The Sheriff and I nodded along piecing it together, though he shot me an angry look at the mention of Peter that caused me to look at the board a little more intensely. Scott could sense the tension so he added to it "It's a dead pool," He told us pulling out a list of names with numbers by them and stuttered "A hit list of supernatural creatures. This is only part of it. The rest still has to be decoded,"
"Decoded?" I asked him. Stiles explained about the code that Lydia had been writing in her notes to Malia and that the Mute had access to.
"Banshee?" The Sheriff asked wincing.
"Banshee," Stiles confirmed.
The Sheriff nodded and went back to the list "Beautiful. All right, what are these numbers next to the names?"
"We're getting to that," Stiles answered "First, you need to know that the code was broken with a cipher key," I nodded at that "It's a name,"
"Allison," Scott told us looking sad. Everyone paused for a second to think about her.
"Allison?" I asked and looked at the names "Could it be the Calaveras again? Trying to get revenge for another Hunter's death?"
Stiles shook his head "We don't know yet. Her name only broke a third of the list,"
"And now we think there are two other cipher keys," Scott said.
"Which will give us the rest of the names," The Sheriff nodded along "Okay. So how do we get the cipher keys?"
Stiles shrugged "Same way we got the code,"
"Lydia" Scott confirmed "She's been out at the lake house trying to find the other two keywords,"
"Guys, she doesn't do her best work when she's under direct pressure," I told them remembering with the nogitsune "We shouldn't try to force it out of her,"
"Yeah well you know Lydia, she feels like she has to," Stiles sighed "Kira and Malia are staying with her to make sure she doesn't push herself too hard," I nodded in acquiesce.
"You didn't know about Demarco or Carrie, Hmm?" The Sheriff asked Scott who shook his head "And what about these other two names on the list? Uh, Kayleen Bettcher and Elias Town. The werewolves too?"
"I don't know. But Deaton said that the Nemeton would draw supernatural creatures here," Scott replied. I didn't recognize any of the names, so it didn't look like anyone else was in school with us, but that's not saying much.
"Here being Beacon Hills? Or Beacon County? The population of Beacon Hills is just under 30,000," The Sheriff continued, Stiles made an inappropriate comment about that dropping, we all ignored him "But if we're talking Beacon County, then you're looking at close to 500,000. Look, how many werewolves, banshees, kitsunes, and whatever the hell else is out there are we talking about? And what if the next cipher key uncovers not 12 names but 100?"
I couldn't help but agree, how many people could they fit on all of these lists. I worried my thumb on my lip.
"We don't think there would be that many. There's a limit," Stiles explained while Scott turned the list back over to us.
"Because of the numbers. We think that once we decode the names, the numbers will add up to 117,"
"Well shit," I said then grimaced at my use of language. The Sheriff was just confused.
"Million," Scott told him which made the Sheriff's eyes go wide.
"117 million dollars, Dad," Stiles reconfirmed for him "Stolen from the Hale vault and is being used by someone to finance all these murders,"
They discussed the list, the keys, and professional assassins. I was however reading the list of my friends' names over and over again on the list.
The Sheriff pulled me out of my musing "There's one other thing I don't get. How did this new assassin know that Demarco was going to be at the lake house?" He didn't look pleased when Scott told him he delivered kegs for extra cash to underaged kids "Ah. So whoever ordered that keg killed Demarco,"
"Yeah, it was someone at the party," Stiles confirmed
"A student," Scott added.
()()()()()()
Scott, Stiles, and I left the station together. I followed Stiles back to his house where he had a more thorough crime board in his room, which didn't surprise me.
I had been thinking about everything on the way over "Well how many people were at Lydia's part Friday?" I asked startling Stiles from where he was observing the board.
"Less than a hundred," He said thinking back "It wasn't a well-planned Lydia Martin Party.
"And you said this kid Liam, the one who is now a werewolf.." Which I couldn't wrap my mind around "He invited people to come?" Stiles confirmed "So you would think that most of them would be Freshman and Sophomores. Which I'm sure Lydia loved. Can we get a full list of those students and whittle it down from there?" I asked trying to figure out how to sus out a teenage assassin, which also sounds nuts.
Stiles was shaking his head before I finished "Normally I would say yes but you're looking at a pool of over 600 students in just those years," I sighed, well it had been worth asking "You alright?" Stiles asked as he marked another item with red tape on the board.
I nodded even though he couldn't see me "Yeah, Junior year is just a little harder than I thought it would be," I muttered.
He turned to look at me "It's been a rough couple of days too," He said lightly. I sighed and lay across his bed head in my hand.
"Yeah, can't say an Angel pancake was my favorite thing," I wince as I think about my wings which were almost healed enough. I just hope that they go in before school tomorrow.
"I'm surprised you're up and about," He told me as he sat next to where my head was so he could look me in the eye.
"Mostly healed," I told him nonchalantly "Just sore now, it would have been quicker but more serious injuries plus continuing to fight and stuff. A normal week in Beacon Hills," I joked.
I could see he wasn't buying it but he nodded "And Peter?"
I bit my lip and looked away, his hand came gently under my chin and turned my face back to him "It was scary," I whispered and got up so I was sitting next to him. I could feel him nod "I didn't think he was….capable of that now," I could feel him next to me, for once not saying anything "I don't know if I will be able to ever look at him the same again. I can see why Lydia is…," I stopped.
"He is a lot different now," Stiles said taking my hand and rubbing soothing circles with his thumb. My head snapped up in surprise at him defending him. He gave me a just wait look "He is still Peter though. Always expect the worst, he can be scary as hell," I nodded, I got that now. For someone to be able to be that brutal…. that's on a whole new level I am not experienced with.
"He didn't even stop when he was dead," I told him "He made sure it hurt him and just kept going," I rubbed my face where I could feel the blood splatter again and shivered. Stiles threw an arm around me and held me close. At least until Malia hopped in through the window.
"What is she doing here?" she growled looking straight at me with her teeth elongated.
Stiles pulled away so fast that he fell off his bed. Which caused me to laugh. Malia growled at me.
"Stiles was just giving me an update about everything I missed," I told her.
She eyed me "Yeah, I thought you said you could handle Peter," She said meanly which wiped out any amusement I had. I shoved past her which made her growl. I could hear Stiles placating her as I called out a goodbye.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
I danced in front of the mirror early Monday morning, my wings were back where they belonged and I only felt the slightest twinges on my ankle. Heck yeah! Finally something good. I called goodbye to my mom who was the only one home this morning and took off for the high school, and I wasn't even going to be late for first period.
As I got there I saw Derek starting to get into his Camaro. I pulled in next to him which made him pause "Hey what are you doing here?" I called happily rounding my car and bending over to kiss him.
His eyes searched mine and then smiled getting out so I didn't have to stay bent over "Scott wanted me to meet Liam," He told me tugging me to him so he could wrap his arms around me.
"The new werewolf?" I asked in concern.
"Yeah, angry kid. Scott is going to do well with him though," He affirmed. I nodded Scott sometimes got on my nerves, but he did try. He was also way more relaxed this year. The first bell rang and I reluctantly pulled away from him "Yeah, you'd better get to class," He said and pulled me in for a quick kiss "See you tonight?" I nodded happily and made my way inside.
Nothing noteworthy happened until Econ when the coach caught Stiles looking through crime scene photos "You know, Stilinski, if I could grade you on how profoundly you disturb me, you'd be an A-plus student," I had to give some credit to the Coach, he always seemed to just accept how weird we are.
"Thanks, Coach," Stiles said but it came out more like a question.
"Put those pictures away," He whispered tapping on his desk with a lacrosse stick. Stiles spazzed out grabbing the stick and pulling off the end. Scott and I looked at each other like, yeah he's finally lost it "Stilinski! The hell is wrong with you? Don't answer that,"
Scott leaned forward as Stiles sighed "It's a lacrosse player,"
"The killer's on the team," Scott said almost too loudly causing a kid in front of him to look at him in confusion.
After school found Stiles, Scott, Kira, and I in the equipment room going through every stick to see if they had anything in them "This... This is pointless. Most of the team plays with their own gear," Scott groaned throwing what felt like the 500th stick that we've looked at.
"Maybe instead of trying to find a lacrosse stick with a hidden dagger in it, we should be trying to get the game canceled?" Kira asked sadly since this was supposed to be her first game.
Scott shook his head "The game's the best way to catch him red-handed," I had to rethink my earlier thought that Scott had relaxed more because that sounded like a terrible plan. Stiles agreed.
"But what if he's red-handed 'cause his hands are covered in the blood of the person that he just stabbed to death? Which, by the way, could be either of you guys," He told them pointing at Kira and Scott.
Scott sighed again "Or Liam. Well, we don't have the whole list and he could be on it,"
They argued for a second "I mean, who's been out taking a supernatural census anyway?" Stiles asked flailing his hands.
"How do they even know about me?" Kira questioned "I barely knew about me,"
"They know about everyone," Scott said and they all looked at me.
I shrugged "I could be on the second or third list," Not that I am hoping for that "Malia isn't on it either," I pointed out.
It was Stiles' turn to sigh "I think Kira's right. I think we should stop the game," Scott and Kira both said they weren't afraid "Well, I'm terrified. And I'm not even on the list. Guys, these are professional killers. It's their profession," He stressed and mimed a noose "One of them's got a thermo-cut wire that cuts heads off. Who knows what else they have?"
"He has a point," I told them "If we get the game canceled it might make them angry, which could make them sloppy and easier to catch," Stiles made a thank you gesture while staring at Scott imploringly.
Scott looked like he was listening to us before his head snapped to the side as if hearing something else "Something's going on with Liam," Stiles and I looked at each other in defeat and followed him outside to where a team was coming out of the buses. Liam was headed straight for them. Stiles and Scott moved toward him but I decided to stay back since this was the first time I was seeing this kid. I could see the other team laugh but couldn't hear what it was about, it didn't look like it was friendly.
You could tell Liam was getting angry. Then Scott and Stiles were there pulling Liam back away from the team. Stiles took Liam's place to chat with the other team. They weren't impressed with him and he ended it quickly rushing to Scott and running with him somewhere.
"So no on the canceling it plan?" I asked Kira who was by my side. She shrugged "Alright well while you do that I am on my way to make a complaint to the Sheriff," She nodded. I grabbed her hand so she would look at me "Good luck tonight, kick their butts. I'll be back as soon as possible," She smiled and looked a little more focused as I made my way to my car.
()()()(((((()))))))()()()
"Sheriff," I greeted him. I sent a quick wave to Jordan and closed the door behind me to speak with him.
"Arielle, what can I do for you?" He asked looking at his watch. I know he was supposed to be leaving soon for the game.
"I'll be quick, I want to officially make that complaint," I told him. He sighed nodding as he pulled out a paper "Deputy Haigh tased a sixteen-year-old who wasn't completely in his right mind at the time,"
"Arielle, how am I going to make a complaint about that when it was your older boyfriend who was turned into his teenage self because of an Aztec ritual?"
"I have more, even though that's the most important bit. He has been lightly harassing me ever since. Implying that he's going to catch me doing something illegal. He seems to show up everywhere and he is rude," I told him.
He nodded again and set the paper down "You know this isn't going to do much by itself,"
"If I have to make a report every time he comes near me, I will," I told him "Now let's go to the game," He grabbed his stuff and followed me out the door as he answered a call "I'm leaving now. And this conversation isn't getting me there any quicker," he said after a pause. I gave him a thumbs up "Arielle says good luck," then ended the call just to be stopped by Jordan.
"Sheriff, I know you're in a hurry, but I was out on patrol and I found someone walking from Oroville to the High School,"
"That's gotta be at least 15 miles," The Sheriff commented.
He stepped aside so we could see who was behind him "She was pretty determined,"
"Meredith?" I questioned stepping forward. She stepped nervously back and told us softly "I'm looking for Lydia,"
I nodded as Jordan looked at me in surprise "Alright, I'll call her right now. Sheriff, please don't call Eichen House yet. If she's here it's important," He nodded ushering her into his office while I took out my phone "Hi Lydia, I'm going to need you to come to the station. Meredith decided to visit,"
Lydia was there within ten minutes, the Sheriff ushered her into the room explaining "I'm aware this is probably about the dead pool, but I can't let her leave the station. And, in a minute, I'm gonna have to call Eichen House and let them know that she's here," Lydia asked him for an hour "You got 15 minutes," he told her apologetically. I saw Jordan walk up to him so I concentrated on Merideth as they spoke in hushed tones. I was surprised when Jordan came into the room with us.
He watched as Lydia handed her her phone, she looked surprised. Lydia stared at her"Meredith, aren't you going to answer it?"
Meredith looked at her like she was a little crazy and leaned in to whisper "It's not ringing,"
Lydia crouched down next to her "Meredith, you came here to help us, remember?" Meredith nodded but said that Lydia called her "What do you mean I called you?"
There was a lot of confusion till Jordan asked if he could ask her something, when she nodded he kneeled too "When you need help when you need to find something, is there someone you reach out to? Maybe, someone, you call?"
"It depends. Different people for different things,"
"So maybe there's a number that can help us? Someone we can call," I smiled at him appreciatively as she responded positively "Would you be okay telling us?"
"Yes," She concentrated "It's 3,7,4,2," Then looked up at us proudly. There was a long pause.
Malia cut through the silence "Mer, we need a few more numbers," I wonder if Lydia had been tutoring her before the game. I was surprised she was willing to miss Stiles playing.
"No. That's the number," Meredith assured her. They argued back and forth.
"Meredith, phone numbers always have 10 digits," Lydia told her annoyed
"That's the number," Meredith said deflating a little.
Lydia started to argue again but I interrupted "Maybe it's not a phone number. It wouldn't make sense anyway unless she was having us call the benefactor which seems like a bad idea,"
You could hear the Sheriff and Lydia whisper back and forth "No!" She yelled out "There has to be more. What's the rest of it, Meredith? Hmm? Just concentrate!"
Meredith started to cry "But that's... that's... that's the number," I got in between Lydia and her and signaled for Lydia to back off. Meredith was starting to mumble the same thing over again. The Sheriff tried to soothe her. I turned around to help but when I reached out to touch her shoulder she lept out of the way of my hand and scooted away from me.
I held my hands out in surrender. I realized she had never let me once touch her before. She also never would look me in the eye. I stepped back which seemed to relax her more. Jordan looked at me in surprise and laid his hand on her to lead her to the hallway. We shared a look when she let him, so we both noticed her reaction to me.
I watched as he put his jacket over her and asked her to sit down to wait. I bit the nail of my thumb "It's a clue, but it could be anything,"
Malia perked up "What if it's like Algebra?" she asked. She moved the Sheriff's phone to face us "What if the numbers are actually letters?" She questioned.
"That's brilliant," I told her, she smiled as Lydia frantically started scribbling out something on a piece of paper.
"Oh, God," Lydia said, Malia and I both leaned forward as she typed something into the Sheriff's laptop. Erica. Then the names started to appear.
It was almost all decoded when the door to the office started opening I reached over and slammed it shut as Lydia was frantically typing a text to someone. Jordan gave me a weird look "Sorry, I was just seeing if you guys were okay. Any of you need a ride home?"
"Uh, no. We'll be fine," Lydia answered him. We both reached for the laptop at the same time to open it back up. The list was done decoding. We stopped short at the last name on the list.
Jordan Parrish.