CHAPTER 9

First of all, I want to apologize for taking so much time to update. I've had the most complicated week and I didn't have time to sit down and finish the chapter that I had already started until today.

As I've said before, we're getting closer to the main event of this story and it's getting a bit harder for me to get it out right, but I'll do my best.

Until that moment comes, here's chapter 9! Enjoy!

The place wasn't too crowded and she chose to sit near a tree that provided enough shade so the inclement sun of Hawaii wouldn't be too much of a bother while reading the pages of the chemistry book she was currently holding in her hands.

From the spot she had chosen, she had a perfect vision of the main entrance to the building and so she could see every student that walked in and out of the building.

After texting Steve letting him know he didn't have to pick her up right after classes because she was going to meet with Keoki later that day, she had strolled by the cafeteria to get something quick to eat. That morning, before leaving the house, she hadn't been planning on staying after lunch hours so she had to improvise once her stomach had started protesting by the lack of food at the time.

Now, stomach satisfied and some time to spare, she was going through the pages of chapter nine from the textbook to try and at least pretend that she understood even a fraction of what Keoki would be explaining soon. Speaking of whom, Annabeth saw Keoki heading out of the building and walking in the general direction they had agreed on meeting. When she was sure she could catch his eyes, she waved and motioned for him to come closer.

- Hey! Howzit? – she asked cheerfully.

- Hi… speaking like a local already? – he asked, amused by how the common Hawaiian greeting sounded like with her accent.

- Wherever you go, do as you see, right? – she replied.

- I guess… - he sat down next to er and signaled to the book on her lap – any progress with the subject? – he asked.

- Only progress I've made so far is opening the book – she said, somewhat apologetically.

- Well, that's the only way to start – he conceded and then they both dove into the subject.

They were at least forty-five minutes into the study session when Annabeth decided to get bolder ad get serious on her job of getting information; it was time to narrow down the list of suspects from absolutely every and anybody on the island, to someone with a real motive or opportunity to do it.

- I heard that the girl's boyfriend is having a really hard time coping. You know, the girl who got killed… Leia – she made sure to study his reaction in case she needed to back down a bit or if it was okay to keep digging into the matter like that.

- She didn't have a boyfriend – he stated and she had a hard time deciding if his tone of voice sounded mad or, actually, disinterested.

- Really? I must have misunderstood then.

- People like to talk about what they don't know. Making stuff up to give the impression of having information that other people don't – he explained.

- Did you know her well? – Annabeth kept pressing. He took a few seconds to ask, deciding then to stop looking at the chemistry book and fixing his eyes up front.

- Not much but I can tell you she was sweet, smart and pretty – he described, using a tone of voice that suggested he actually did know her well, despite the words leaving his mouth. Annabeth didn't quite know how to catalogue his answer.

- Do you know if she had problems with anyone? Why would someone want to do this to her? – she continued to ask. Keoki looked at her.

- Geez! You're starting to sound like the cops now – he said it laughing, as if it was a joke but she took that as her cue to back down a bit and change her tactics – why are you so interested in her anyway?

- I don't know… it's just... – suddenly an idea popped into her mind and although she didn't like it, she knew it could be effective to get him to open up more about Leia – I lost someone really close to me some time ago. He was young too and they never caught who did it so, hearing about the students getting killed here made me curious because I still don't understand why someone can be so cruel as to end such a young life, and I want to understand… I've always wanted to understand… – her tone had gone down a notch and her expression had become solemn. She may have been using her own story to explain her interest in Leia's murder, but the emotion behind those last words were every but as true as the sun coming out every morning. She could see that her idea and her words had worked because Keoki's expression turned soft and he let out a long sight, as if he had deflated from his resolve not to share what he knew.

- I lost someone too – definitely not the information she had been expecting. Her surprise showed on her face and so, he elaborated – last year my girlfriend went on a weekend trip and she died in a car crash. She… she told me she was going away with her family but she actually went with another guy, some idiot from Chicago. They both died and I guess I never really knew if she was actually cheating on me or not – to say that the mood of the conversation had turned depressing was an understatement.

- I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you remember that – she apologized.

- I remember it every day – he stated. They both went quiet for a while, each of them looking at a different direction. It was after almost a full minute that he spoke again – you look like her, you know that? Sound like her too – Annabeth frowned.

- What do you mean? – she asked.

- You and my girlfriend. You look a lot alike and you speak like her. Same accent. We're in Hawaii, there's not a lot of people who speak with your accent, unless they're tourists – Annabeth wasn't sure if what she was hearing was a compliment or an accusation, but her mind had started working on a thought that had suddenly struck her. Something about what he was saying screamed the word "connection" to her but, connection to what? Between who?

- Amm I… - she started saying but was interrupted when her phone began to ring. The caller ID showed that it was Danny and a picture of his face appeared on the screen. Her phone had been placed right in front of them on the grass and the conversation between her and Keoki died down immediately. She picked up the phone and slid the answer button – I'm sorry, I have to take this – she said before getting up from the floor and walking a few paces away from the spot she had been previously sitting on. What she missed was Keoki's angry glare when he recognized the guy's picture: Dr. Sanders.

Not the best of cliffhangers but it was the best I could do. I needed to end this chapter here because starting from now is when things begin to get interesting. Care to guess what's gonna happen next? Some answers about the case will be revealed but that's all I'm gonna say for now. I'm gonna start writing the next chapter now but won't be able to finish it until tonight. I will do everything in my power to finish it after work and posting it right away… As always, reviews motivate me to post faster so feel free to leave a review letting me know what you think of this chapter and what you think it's gonna happen next!

Until next chapter then!