Disclaimer: I do not own PRIVATE.
Author's note: Thanks for reading and reviewing, everyone. and wow. Writing is more work than I thought it would be. No complaints, though. It's fun.
During morning services, Cromwell was accompanied by a group of uniformed men. Ariana immediately recognized Detective Hauer. Whispers rose from the students, but they were silenced by the dean. Cromwell stepped up, his face solemn.
"I am sad to report that Cassielle Devers of Bradwell House has been murdered in the most brutual of ways," Cromwell said, stopping to shoot an irritated glance at some students who were still whispering. "Therefore, the police will run thorough investigations as they did the last time," he gave Ariana a pointed look.
Ariana saw the detective's face contort. He was staring at her, shocked, his gaze implying, 'What is that psychotic witch of a murderer doing here?'
'In your face, Hauer,' Ariana thought, and returned to him an expression that implied so. The students were now saying things like 'I bet it's that Osgood girl,' and 'Noelle Lange seemed to have a motive,' Noelle heard it too. Noelle and Ariana shot each other defiant looks that each said, 'I didn't do it,' Ariana noted that Noelle had forgotten to put on her mascara.
Ariana knew exactly how Noelle felt, being suspected for something she didn't do.
"I would like to remind students that they would not be allowed off campus for the time being," Cromwell said, and the students groaned before being dismissed. Ariana rushed to Cromwell's office.
"Cromwell, you are going to plant this voice recorder under the table of the interrogation room, or else," Ariana told him.
"Or else?" Cromwell challenged. Ariana took out another voice recorder and pressed play. Cromwell heard his own voice as he accepted the bribe from Ariana and his face flushed red. Ariana pocketed the voice recorder and held out the other for emphasis. Cromwell took it from her hands. Ariana walked towards the door, held it open, stopped, then turned back.
"Give it to me by the end of the day," she said, and banged the door upon leaving, hoping to create some dramatic effect.
Before stepping into class, Ariana checked her cell phone and saw that she had gotten a text form Noelle. Surprised that Noelle would bother to text her while in a sober state, Ariana immediately read the text.
URGENT. TO ALL BILLINGS GIRLS. Do not ask why. Just obey. If the cops ask u where we were last nite tell them we were all in billings, except cheyenne who had to attend to some business at bradwell. Tell them cheyenne went to see amberley last nite (twice) and they were at our place when the murder happened. Its true, and they cant expel US, of all people for doing so. That includes u, Ariana. U knw what im capable of.
Why did that sound more like a threat than a request?
Marcus Alberro stepped into the interrogation room. He tried to breathe and stay calm. He still cared for Cassielle. But someone had killed her. On the night of her breakup. To the police, he was just a suspect. He sat on a cold steel chair that he had been provided with. Instead of Mrs. Naylor, Headmaster Cromwell acted as the student counsel. Cromwell, instead of placing the voice recorder under the table, kept it safe in his pocket.
"Marcus Alberro, we understand that you are—were the boyfriend of the murder victim," Detective Haeur said, Marc nodded,
"Where were you on the night of Cassielle Devers murder?"
"I was off campus visiting my sick grandmother," Marc said.
"And the day Cassielle Devers was murdered, you broke up with her?"
"Actually, she broke up with me," Marc corrected.
"Right…, well, we're done for now. We still have the entire student body to interview. We'll call you if we need anything,"
"Sure, whatever,"
Amberley and Marc exchanged nervous glances as they walked past each other, Amberley taking Marc's place in the room.
"So, Amberley, you are Cassielle's…" Detective Haeur said, waiting for Amberley to finish the sentence.
"Roommate,"
And we understand that Cassielle was murdered when you should have been in bed. Both of you. Where were you?"
Amberley swallowed hard and recited what Noelle had told her to say. "Cheyenne came to see me early this morning and I followed her to her dorm. I mean, I had to. We went for a walk and I sprained my ankle and she took me back to Billings. When I felt better I went back to Bradwell and that's how I found Cassielle.
"I see," was all the detective could say. This case was just starting to get interesting. "You may go,"
Ivy was up next. Since she wasn't a Billings Girl, she took no orders form Noelle.
"Where were you, on the night of Cassielle's murder?"
"In my dorm" she replied casually. "All I know is…"
"All you know is?"
"Nah. It's not important,"
"Miss Slade, every bit of information counts. If you refuse to tell us, we can consider you are aiding and abet…"
"Fine. I'll tell you," Ivy said, cutting him off. "But it's no big deal. When Cassielle broke up, I heard one of the Billings girls made a scene out of the originality of the words. I don't know which, I wasn't at breakfast that day. Can I go now? It's like, three weeks till finals. You're disrupting my study time,"
"Yes. You may," Detective Haeur said. So once again an air of murderous mystery filled the high classed corridors of Billings. Detective Haeur decided that he should start from there. And he would start with Cheyenne. When Cheyenne came in, she was with Trey. The two simply could not be separated. They were like the more subtle version of Noelle and Dash.
"Okay. Your friend Amberley told me everything," Detective Haeur said.
"Really?" Cheyenne asked calmly, her expression seeming to be amused at the detective's idiocy.
"Yes, she did,"
"What, that she twisted her ankle and we took her back to Billings?" Cheyenne asked. Trey stifled a laugh.
"And what, Mr. Prescott, do you find so amusing?" the detective asked, annoyed.
"Nothing," Trey said quietly. Detective Haeur sighed. He wasn't getting anywhere. The next Billings girl on his list was none other than Reed Brennan. As Reed entered, she greeted the detective.
"May I know, Reed, which Billings girl made a scene at breakfast yesterday?"
"I don't know," Reed said, her jaw seeming stiff and her eyes tearing up. How could this brute make her betray Noelle?
"Reed," said the detective patiently. "I am inclined to believe that the Billings girls control almost every aspect of this campus, and no one would dare say a word against them except a fellow Billings girl,"
Reed twitched in annoyance. "Detective. You can't expect me to…"
"In your own time, Reed. Whenever you're ready,"
Reed sighed, giving in. "Noelle. It was Noelle . But I swear, she didn't do anything. She was with me the whole night,"
"Okay," the detective said. It was so obvious that Reed was lying to give her friend an alibi. The next person he needed to see was Noelle Lange, the diva of Billings House herself. Noelle did not come alone. Ariana waited outside the room as Noelle was interrogated. Detective Haeur was impressed at the extent of loyalty Noelle spurred in both Reed and Ariana. Actually, Ariana had just come to hear what was going on. If Noelle betrayed her in any way, she would betray Noelle. Unknown to Ariana, Reed had already betrayed Noelle.
"Noelle, good luck," Ariana said to Noelle, her eyes filled with concern.
"Whatever," Noelle said, rolling her eyes. She was back to her old self again, mascara and all. She entered the room to begin her interrogation.
"Were you out of Billings around the time of Cassielle's murder, Miss Lange?" Detective Haeur asked.
"If you want to know, you could always ask our house mother. I don't do interviews,"
"Miss Lange, we need your full cooperation. Where were you?"
"In Billings. Obviously. Where would I be, the Hamptons? I am so sick of that place,"
For a moment a queer look passed the Detective's face. Perhaps it was longing; a longing to go to the Hamptons. Noelle doubted he knew what the Hamptons was. He probably thought it was some beach resort. The poor guy.
"And the scene with Miss Devers earlier that day?"
"Look, it's not my fault if things coincide. I'm not a god, okay? Neither are you so stop acting like one,"
"Noelle—"
"It's Miss Lange to you. And I am done here," Noelle said as she turned to leave, her brown locks flipping flawlessly along with her head. Cromwell made no move to stop her. He, of all people knew that there was no messing with a Lange. Noelle exited the room, all smiles. She was obviously pleased with her work. She had needed someone to shower her snarky responses on, and the police just happened to be the perfect target. Noelle grinned and left Ariana to wonder what the hell was going on.
"Osgood, you're up next," Detective Haeur said. Ariana winced. It was now time for her past to catch up with her. It was time for her interrogation.