Chapter 16 Blackmail
100 %, huh?
Aoko wondered about that – she would have anticipated not having failed but 100 percent sure felt weird. She'd been too out of it on the day the exam had been held.
And then again it was weird how the teacher didn't have her paper – but everyone else's. How could he have forgotten, Aoko didn't know. Also his Nakamori-san, please see me after the lesson.
Maybe Aoko had watched too many criminal movies or maybe her senses were so heightened because of the last few days and weeks and months that she couldn't help but see criminal intent everywhere. Of course, what kind of criminal intent would her teacher probably have? She must be seeing things where there are none but too many things weren't adding up and Aoko sighed in annoyance. She had enough problems. There was no way she needed these kinds of problems at school for God's sake – this was getting out of hand.
Of course, she could be wrong. Aoko hoped she was wrong. But then again, she really couldn't wrap her head around why a teacher would have something criminal on his mind – especially if it just concerned her exam.
Well, Aoko decided to sit it out and see what Yamada-sensei had on his mind. It was probably nothing. Maybe he just wanted to tell her to study harder next time because this time she only got 100 percent because he was being lenient. That was what Aoko could imagine because there was no way she really got a 100 percent on that exam when she couldn't even remember if she had filled out just one thing. She couldn't for the life of hers remember if she'd given in her exam or not and much less if she'd actually written down something.
She felt glances directed towards her from different directions – probably Hakuba-kun, Akako-chan and Kaito. Oh and Keiko. Weird, lately she'd been forgetting Keiko a lot. Aoko wondered why that was. She used to be her best friend but recently things weren't bad or anything between them – just different. Weird. Aoko couldn't put a finger on it, couldn't name the feeling she felt – it was just off. Maybe she saw things where there was nothing because the last months had been crazy and maybe it was all her fault anyway. She was occupied with herself and the case and Ran that she actually forgot to take care of her relationships – Kaito's included.
She'd have to spend more time with Keiko though, she was missing her witty best friend anyway. Even in this craziness or maybe because of all the craziness around her, Aoko needed some normalcy in her life and if Keiko wasn't some normalcy, Aoko didn't know what was.
The lesson ended rather unspectacularly with Aoko quickly packing her things and following her sensei to his study to see what he wanted. Maybe he'd give her the paper in secret? Giving her advice in secret?
Knocking, she entered the messy room of her literature teacher. How a literature teacher of all things could be so messy, Aoko didn't know but then again, maybe literature was messier than she thought.
"Sensei? I'm here."
"Oh, Nakamori-san. Please close the door behind you."
Closing the door, huh? No what kinda stupid request was that? Aoko was tempted to tell him just that and leave but that wasn't her. Sighing, she closed the door and walked up to her sensei. No, she was a nice girl, a nice girl who was breaking laws at night which she hadn't been doing before but now she was and if this was all that was left of her, maybe she shouldn't throw that out the window, too.
Yamada-sensei stood up and smiled at her. "You look more beautiful every day, Nakamori-chan."
Aoko froze, now where the hell was this coming from – and going?!
"I wanted to tell you that, Nakamori-chan. You look the most grown up, you are more mature than all of your friends."
Putting a hand on her cheek, Aoko nearly jumped out of her skin.
"I'm telling you this because I know you'll understand. You're smarter than all of them."
His smile was getting creepy or was it just her imagination?
"Your exam was a mess. You straight out failed but such a diligent student like Nakamori Aoko – failing? What impertinence. Unheard of."
He put his other hand on her shoulder and moved his face to her. "I hope you understand that a failed exam would be disastrous on your resume and nothing would make me sadder than giving you that mark. I will not let you fail, dear Aoko-chan, but for that you have to give me something in return."
Aoko stopped breathing – if in shock or disgust, she didn't know but maybe it was the shock because she suddenly forgot how to move, her heart hammering away in her chest, freezing her to the spot.
"Please think hard about what a failed means for your future. You may think literature is not important, especially if your path takes you to science but you know how much your total grade will go down, right? You're an extremely smart girl, I'm sure you already calculated that in your head."
His head was inclining towards her, more and more, he was getting closer and closer, this slimy disgusting old bastard of a teacher. This was abusing of his power and he knew it – but he held her in his hands, didn't he?
"And – and what is the thing in return?"
Her heart was beating faster, sweat coating her skin, the closer he came until only a hair's width separated him from her. She could feel his breath on her face, his loathsome mint breath with his crooked teeth and – she was short of puking in his face.
"Oh, it's nothing much. Really, just one or two nights keeping me company in my lonely tiny apartment."
His arm slid down to her upper arm and the bail rose to her throat.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and finding her strength again, Aoko jumped a step back breaking away from his grip, breathing as if having run a marathon.
"Yamada-sensei?"
Was that Hakuba? Aoko wasn't sure.
"Remember our deal, Aoko-chan."
Aoko looked up resentfully, not remembering agreeing to any sick deal before the door was opened and in came Hakuba.
"Ah, Nakamori-chan. I'm sorry is it a bad time?"
"Ah no, of course not, Hakuba-san. We were just done talking. How can I help you?"
Without thinking Aoko turned around, hastily walking out the room and then sprinting to the nearest bathroom. She felt like retching, burning that disgusting touch of his off her skin.
Bracing herself on the sink, Aoko tried hard calming her racing heart. Taking deep breaths, the girl swallowed the bile rising in her throat.
She wondered if this was a cruel joke, a mishap of the universe. If maybe another Nakamori Aoko was meant to be tormented like this – was the case not enough? Could she not get just some peace anymore? Not even at school?
"Listen Aoko, I got it all on tape. I – I heard everything."
Maybe it was luck, maybe it was stupid of her to keep the ear piece in all the time. Maybe it was a blessing Ran was a witness and maybe it was not. She'd much rather not have anyone know about this attempt of sexual harassment.
Still breathing hard, in and out, in and out, trying so hard to keep the oncoming panic attack down, Aoko grabbed the sink with a solid grip. Her legs were still shaking too much.
"I'm sorry. I – do you want to talk about it? Are you alright? We could meet if you want?"
Ran sounded so small, so tiny, so unsure.
Shaking her head no before realizing that Ran wasn't able to see it – if she wore her glasses she could because she was standing right in front of a mirror but she wasn't – she took a deep breath.
"Mh, I'll be fine. I'm sure."
She wasn't, actually, but she had no choice but to be. Sometimes life was like that and couldn't be helped.
"I actually even have the whole thing on tape, Aoko. I mean," Ran started hesitantly. "You left the glasses in your bag or somewhere I'm not sure and I was able to see."
Sighing, Aoko looked down to her chest, finding the glasses hanging from her top.
"You can sue him. Maybe you could even retake the exam and get 100% for sure this time."
Watching herself through the mirror, Aoko saw her red, tired eyes, a resignation setting in she only knew from herself at night when her father was yet another night away running after Kid. She knew this tiredness usually only creeped onto her when there was no one else to see it. When she could drop her guard and let the darkness engulf her.
"I'm fine." Aoko said resolutely, if for Ran or to convince herself, she wasn't so sure.
"I'm not convinced, Aoko." But then the bell rang and Ran sighed over the ear phone. "Alright, let's meet after school, alright? You better be there Aoko or I'm gonna drag you there."
Sighing again, Aoko deflated. "Hai, hai."
"How are you, Aoko?"
The manga café was quite crowded with too many people possibly listening in but then again it was loud that not many people would be able to understand much anyway. It was probably fine to talk to Aoko in this environment.
"I'm fine."
Ran scowled even though she didn't want to be mean to the girl after everything. But she simply couldn't take that bullshit from her. "Yeah right and horses can fly."
"I – you know perfectly well how I am. I'd much rather know where and why you ran away last time."
Last time, huh? She barely remembered what happened and what she did. What she still knew was the inescapable darkness and later anger gripping. Those people killed Shinichi and she herself barely escaped death and-
"So? Are you going to tell me?"
Conan told her that she'd been out of it for two days basically – she had no memories of those days and Conan was being very vague on what happened. But when she came to again she'd been in Shinichi's room, in his bed and Conan and Subaru-san had been there. At first, she didn't remember why she was there but then the memories from two days ago came back and with them an anger she never knew before.
"Shinichi is dead. I needed to verify it."
That was how much she knew. She had not found his clothing, had found him to be missing from the day she last saw him – him and not some imposters. He'd been killed by the same people she was nearly killed by. She was very sure of it.
"O-kay. How come? You were so sure he was Conan-kun. Am I wrong?"
"It's as you said, isn't it?" Ran smiled wryly. "It's impossible for a human to simply shrink. Of course, Conan came out of nowhere and I don't really understand the connection – there is still something about Conan that doesn't add up."
"But you were quite sure before even though the theory wasn't less crazy before."
"Yeah, but those people we hid from? Those men in black? I've seen them before."
She swallowed bitterly, knowing she could have saved Shinichi or maybe both of them would have died but at least then she'd be certain – either dead or alive with him. But now – no one knew what happened to Shinichi or where he was – most likely dead. And if someone knew then she wasn't let in on the secret for whatever reason. But she had known, hadn't she? She had felt something was wrong. Something was very wrong – she had known she'd not see him again. She knew he wouldn't come back. And yet, and yet –
"Last time I saw them was the last time I saw Shinichi. He must have followed at least one of them – he'd run off and I never truly saw him ever since."
"Are you sure though? I mean the thought – as crazy as it is – that Conan might be Kudo-kun had to derive from something. Am I wrong? Why would you not think that anymore?"
Ran swallowed. Why though? Why was she suddenly so sure that Conan-kun was not Shinichi when before she'd known that it was Shinichi.
Shaking her head. "I don't know, Aoko. It's just there – the feeling and the possibility that Shinichi might just as well be dead."
"So now? If Kudo-kun is dead, what are you going to do?"
Maybe Aoko regretted her question when she saw Ran's look. "I will hunt them. I will find those people and I will make them pay."
"You mean kill them?"
Biting her tongue, Ran looked down. "I wouldn't call it that." She wouldn't simply kill them. She was way too good for that and she doubted she'd be able to. But there was all this anger and hatred and aggression and those people were the reason for all of her pain. She'd find those people and then – and then she'd have to decide what to do next but she would destroy them one way or another. No matter what.
"I highly disapprove and if I wasn't sure those people will hunt us anyway, I'd stop you. But maybe attack is the best defense strategy right now because no way do those people expect us attacking from the front. And I think it's suicidal. I hope you know that too."
"No more suicidal than our first mission."
Ran had left the café not much later, leaving Aoko to her thoughts. She wondered if her father was at home but she got no call and there were not police running around frantically looking for her – so there had to be another Kid heist and her father would never find out she'd not gotten home.
Maybe if things were different she'd stick to the safe side of the law. But things were the way they were and once night fell upon Tokyo, Aoko made her way home and then to her school.
Well, that bastard could suck his own dick – no way was she gonna take whatever dirty deal he was offering her. And anyway, somehow she couldn't believe she failed. She probably didn't reach 100 percent but at least 60. Either way, she would find out very soon.
"Ahum."
"What?"
"I don't quite understand what you're trying to do, Nakamori-san."
"I'd think it's pretty obvious."
"…breaking into the school?"
"Pampam! 100 points."
Scoffing, Kid leaned against the wall next to the squatting girl. "Am I getting this right, Nakamori-san? Are you trying to lead a life style similar to mine?"
Turning the hair pin one last time, a click sounded and Aoko sighed in relief. Looking up before standing up and opening the door ajar, she focused on Kaitou Kid. "Look. There … has been an incident. But don't worry."
She opened the door, looked behind to see if someone was watching her – obviously except Kid – and went inside. "I'll take care of it. That's why I'm here now."
"Hm. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to like this new side to you or not."
Aoko shrugged and went ahead with Kid high on her tail – why he was even there she didn't know.
"Why are you here? Have you been stalking me? I mean it wouldn't surprise me. You're a thief, a criminal, it doesn't take much to go from there to stalking or worse."
But in truth she feared that Kaito actually overheard her conversation with Yamada-sensei – or maybe he really just stalked her because he saw her walking past his house? Anyway, he was supposed to be at his heist and he was here and she just didn't get it.
"Isn't there a heist you're supposed to be at?"
She was unnerved by his presence, after all.
"Hmm, as usual the heist went as smoothly as ever. But while I usually enjoy a thrillful chase with your father, I felt like going home early today."
"Yeah right," she agreed sardonically. "The almighty Kaitou Kid just walking away from a chase? I think you're getting old. Otou-san was probably so close to catching you and you decided to escape instead. Taking the easy way out. As usual."
Coughing – probably trying to hide his dirty laugh? Aoko didn't know – Kid stopped next to her when Aoko opened the door to Yamada's study and went inside. Somewhere there her exam paper had to be, right? She hoped she was right. She really hoped she wouldn't have to go to his place – hopefully that bastard hadn't burned the paper or something but then again, if he did she had him all cornered. If he thought she'd cower in a corner while he got what he wanted, he couldn't be any more wrong.
"Almighty, huh? I never realized you thought so highly of me, Nakamori-san."
Turning around sharply, Aoko scowled. "I don't!"
Chuckling, Kid leaned in the doorframe and watched the girl work. Aoko hated his stare but there was nothing she could do about it now. "I'm actually surprised you know how to pick locks. Who taught you?"
Throwing book after book on the floor, she tried hard to see in the darkness. It was already nearly midnight and only the moonlight brought light but she was definitely not using any kind of light source because that might alarm someone after the last time they had broken into the school grounds.
"And you know what? If you decided to lead a life of a criminal, then at least do it right."
At his exasperated voice, Aoko turned around with a raised brow. "Now what are you babbling about again? I'm trying to work here, jerk."
Kid tsked and walked up to her. "Tell me what you're looking for."
Aoko wondered for a second if it was a good idea to tell him but then again, she was never good in hiding anything from Kaito. So in case she found her exam paper he'd be able to snitch it away from her anyway and then the secret would be out so the trouble of keeping it away from him was just not worth anything.
"My literature exam. I was sure it'd be somewhere here." At his confused glance, she elaborated. "Yamada-sensei forgot to bring it to class." She lied but she'd never tell him what actually transpired if he didn't already know. "And kind of told me different things so I want to know for myself what is true."
"Different things." Kid repeated.
"Un."
"Ok. And what does different things mean in Japanese, Nakamori-san? I may be the greatest magician but I'm still not perfect at reading thoughts, you know? Unless, for course, you'd rather not tell me. Which, in that case, won't be impossible to find out in any way, only it will take longer but I will find out eventually."
Aoko raised an eyebrow again. "And why would the internationally wanted criminal Kaitou Kid concern himself with a kid like me?"
There was something in Kid's look she simply couldn't place. Worry? Pity? Sympathy? It was so unlike Kaito or even Kid that it threw her off. She wondered if maybe she was imagining things because in the next instant he had his grinning look back on.
"Well, it would be no fun if the keibu was unhappy because something happened to his dear daughter. It'd be so boring if anyone else were to step in for him, now don't you think so too?"
Somehow it hurt. Maybe it was the truth, maybe it was what Kid was supposed to say, but it still hurt that it was all about her father and never about her. She was nothing and no one and so unimportant except to her father and it hurt. Only the truth was that even her father didn't regard her as that important – it wasn't that he didn't love her or anything and she understood why his work would always stay number one for him, but it still hurt.
"Yamada-sensei may or may not be blackmailing me." Once she said those words, Aoko felt like biting her tongue immediately. Now why the hell did she tell him that? She was fine! She could take care of it herself. She was perfectly fine with the way things were.
(Maybe she felt like she needed to be treated for who she was. Maybe telling someone that, in fact, she might be in some sort of danger would make people appreciate her more. Would give her much sought attention, not that she'd ever admit to it.)
Maybe, in this case, she needed help. And not just Ran's help with blackmailing him back but real, true help – not that getting help from Kaito was any better actually. And also it was nothing that she wanted Kaito to know about – the way he had touched her and threatened her. The thought alone made her shudder in disgust.
"Blackmailing you." Kid repeated as if not understanding what she just said.
When Aoko nodded and started going through this messy place again, Kid stopped her by grabbing her arm softly and making her look up at him.
"Alright, Nakamori-san. I don't think telling me of all people was the best choice but now that you did, I simply cannot forget it anymore. And maybe I'm the best at beating another criminal."
Yeah, Aoko instantly regretted her choice. Telling Kid was the worst possible choice she could have made.
"I – look, Kid. Maybe you should just forget I said anything. I can handle it on my own. Besides, a friend of mine knows too and if things get out of hand she's still there so it's fine. Really."
"Kuroba-kun? Has he changed his egnder?" Kid asked curiously.
Aoko gritted her teeth in annoyance. "Now, why would you think Kaito of all people would know?"
"Yes. I was wondering why he wasn't here with you. Especially since breaking in somewhere is more his métier than yours."
"Oh, and how would you know that?"
"Observation, my darling."
Wrong. Kid was wrong. Kaito sure always was the one executing things but it was always Aoko's ideas. Aoko always wanted to do this and that, Aoko wanted to go here and there and Kaito would be the one taking all the blame if things blew up on them – which they did more often than not. And actually, if Aoko was truly honest to herself, it had always been her fault and never Kaito's. But Kaito took the blame like the true friend he was and Aoko being the coward she was never put things right. But Kaito never complained so it was alright, right?
But maybe it was Kid's blunder – confirming her fears that Kid was Kaito and – no, she was not going there tonight.
"Anyway. Blackmail. What is he blackmailing you with?"
Aoko stayed tightlipped, eyes averted until Kid sighed and put his hand on her shoulder, encouraging her to tell him.
"I won't judge you if that's what you fear."
"I don't fear anything!" Another lie. "I just need to find my paper. First he told me I passed with 100% and then he said I actually failed and having my perfect average in mind he'd given me 100% though."
"In exchange of?"
Aoko cleared her throat. "Well, that's really not that important. What is important is to find my paper to see how I actually did."
"What is your feeling, Nakamori-san? Do you think you failed?"
Aoko bend down again to keep looking through the things. "I honestly don't remember."
Maybe she passed, maybe she failed. It was only one of those, the probability of one of those happening were 50/50, so –
"Alright. Now, if you allow me to handle the search, Nakamori-san. If you leave a mess – as the one you are doing right now – people will know someone broke in and once your teacher realizes what had been looked for, he'll know immediately that you must be somehow connected to it."
Pushing Aoko towards the back of the room, Kid turned to the mess she made. "Number one rule of thieving: never let the victim know something was stolen – unless that is your exact intention. That means – this mess you were making is an absolute no-no."
"Why are you telling me this, Kid?"
To say Aoko was stunned was a big understatement.
The thief was putting the things back to where they were before Aoko carelessly threw them on the floor or the bed or the table. His memory must be really flawless if he had memorized all the things in that one instant and darkness and knew where all the things' exact places were.
"If you want to go down that path you might want to do it the right way. And who is better in teaching you than yours sincerely?"
He flashed her his trademark grin and turned back to his work – cleaning her mess, like Kaito usually did.
"I'm not a thief!" she yelled in indignation even if technically stealing was what she attempted to do. Except, she wasn't sure what to do with her paper once she found it. Steal it? Leave it there? Make a double to have some proof? In the first place, she just wanted to find out what was the truth – and if she got a 100%? And if the teacher decided to fake her paper? And what if she actually failed?
Somehow, Aoko didn't want to think about any of those outcomes. In one way or another she'd have to deal with her gross teacher and that would be the real challenge. Maybe she should tell Kid, after all. But given that Kid was Kaito, how would Kaito react knowing that she had been sexually harassed? Blackmailed into – she didn't want to think what it undoubtedly would lead to.
Pursing her lips in disgust, she stopped the train of thought and decided not to let it come that far. Ran was there, she knew about it and wouldn't let her get hurt like that. She could confide in Ran and if things got too rough, maybe then she would tell someone else.
"Number two rule to thieving: be smart. Where would a teacher keep something that he blackmails you with?"
Kid turned to Aoko and watched her intensively, making Aoko's mind blank out.
"He'd put it somewhere safe, obviously. To me, safe doesn't look like here, Nakamori-san. So, where do you think safe could be?"
"At his home?" she guessed cluelessly.
"Tadam! A good guess. A quite likely guess. We can look some more at this place, of course but I highly doubt we'll be able to find anything here. So, he could have put your paper somewhere safe in his home or maybe he put it somewhere no one would ever look. Or maybe he even destroyed it but if you were to ask for it and then go to another teacher for a second correction, he'd get in trouble. Let's assume the paper is still intact, hidden somewhere safe."
Aoko nodded, following his words while Kid articulated with his arms.
"Now, number three rule to thieving: this thing called social engineering. I'm sure this term is used for cybersecurity actually, but it fits what we need to do next quite perfectly."
"Basically, ask him about it?"
"Exactly! I see, you know your way around, huh, Nakamori-san?"
Why Kid looked so ecstatic while explaining to her how to steal of all things, she'd never understand.
"But we cannot simply ask him in a direct way. We need to find out subtly. You know what that means, am I right?"
"Of course! Now, what is that even supposed to mean?!"
"I mean", he walked up to her, put his finger beneath her chin and tilted it upwards. "Leaving behind a mess like this is simply not going to work. I've seen you stealthy before so I'm sure you know what it means to be subtle but just to make sure."
Aoko pouted in return. "I know what subtle means."
"He mustn't find out what you're trying to do. A good way is to have someone else do the asking though. How about you ask Kuroba-kun about it? He has a way with words if he wants to."
Aoko shook her head and pushed his hand away. "I don't want Kaito to know. I didn't want you to know either but you just stalked me and got in here with me and made me tell you basically, so that one was on you."
Since it was Kid it was alright to blame him for everything. He had it coming anyway. It was Kid, after all.
Aoko didn't want to know what Kid thought about her comment, so she turned around and left the room again.
"So, I cannot really do anything right now, is that what you're trying to say in so many words?"
She stopped a few steps outside the room. If she was right and he kept the paper in his apartment, she'd need to go there, right? She'd either have to break in or –
Feeling the bail rise in her throat, Aoko swallowed hard.
"Exactly. You should go home now, tell your father, have your teacher fired and enjoy the rest of your school days. Breaking in, breaking the law, Nakamori-san, that simply isn't you."
Shaking her head in disagreement, clenching her fists, Aoko looked up. "You don't get it. I can't tell Otou-san. Yamada-sensei – I – you – you just don't get it. I can't leave here, I can't just go home. Because if I went home and assumed the paper is at his place then I'd – I'd –"
Closing her eyes tightly, Aoko tried to get rid of the pictures, the thoughts, the consequences. "I'd much rather be a criminal, a thief, a whatever than go – go – there."
Kid grabbed her firmly clasped hands and – when had he gotten there – "What is really going on, Nakamori-san?"
"Basically he's blackmailing me to sleep with him."
There. She said it. Aoko did wonder if that was the right thing to do, never mind if this was Kaito or not but she could hardly go to that perv's apartment on her own. Maybe if Ran went for her, disguised as her, she could overpower him but Aoko was no monster. She'd never deliberately put her in such a danger. But Kid could help, right? He was a guy and had the skills to overpower that man as well as disguise as her.
Even though asking Kid was against everything Aoko stood for, she didn't know what else to do – not that she actively asked for his help anyway. She didn't. But this thing was also way over her head and even if maybe it wasn't and even if she went to that creep's house and found her paper before he could hurt her what then? She neither had the time nor the nerves to take care of something like this too.
"But I'm fine." Because he didn't need to know that the creep had already gotten much too close to her – she'd forget it in due time if either organization didn't kill her first.
"You're not."
Looking up tentatively at the thief who still held her hands in his and usually this would have been too close for her too because he was a thief very much still but recently she strayed from the safe path she'd always been walking on and being so close to this thief she hated so much didn't feel as bad anymore.
"I'm not but I could be worse. I just need to see my paper. And I don't want anyone else to know."
Kid watched her with a blank face. "You do realize, though, that telling the police would have been the best course of action, right? Telling your father, as much as it might be uncomfortable, or even your friends, they could hold you and reassure you. You don't really expect me to do that, don't you?"
Breaking from his grip, Aoko flashed him a dangerous look. "Just forget it."
With that she turned around and stomped out of the building, never looking back at the thief, never seeing if he left as well or not – but either way, she didn't care.
Her phone had been ringing and ringing and ringing. It said Kudo Shinichi but Ran knew that it must be the imposter again. Ignoring all the missed calls and the unread messages, Ran lay on her bed and wondered if maybe Aoko was right after all? Could Shinichi have shrunk? How would that even be possible? No! There was no other explanation except Shinichi dying.
How many times had she thought Conan was Shinichi and how many times had she confronted him about it? Every damn time he refuted her one way or another. However, she'd seen Shinichi and he'd never felt different from the last time she saw him – but then again, he'd always been in a rush as if not letting her get too close to him to see he wasn't the real person.
Closing her eyes and trying to shove those thoughts away, Ran decided that no, Conan was not Shinichi and Shinichi was not alive anymore. The doubt was there and unless someone confirmed her suspicions or disproved them – she'd never know for sure. But until then she'd hunt those people, those murderers who killed more than just her childhood friend.