Malachi and Simi stared at Jamal, clearly waiting for an explanation but his eyes were roaming the room and he was scratching the back of his head. Simi glanced at Malachi and when he just shrugged, she turned to Jamal.

"What do you mean by Elder could have been killed by them?"

Jamal's attention returned to them and the sleepiness on his face slowly disappeared. "I was just kidding y'all. Sorry, I'm still angry at him."

Simi gave him her a murder look and in a split second, Malachi had held Jamal against the wall by the neck and was increasing his firmness of grip on his neck.

"Don't you ever joke like that again. Benson might have been just a person to you but he was everything to us."

Jamal's eyes bulged as he struggled for air. He tried to reply Malachi but all that came out were choking sounds. Simi rushed to them and tried to get Malachi off Jamal. It was obvious to her that Malachi's anger issues could be dangerous sometimes.

"Kai, you're hurting him!" she pleaded with him and hit his back.

Her voice brought back reasoning to Malachi and he let go of a panting Jamal who was gasping loudly.
Malachi sat back down on the study chair while Simi helped Jamal onto the bed. She didn't really know Jamal but in some way, felt sympathy for him.

She sat by him on Malachi's bed while he got better. "Jamal, why are you involved with Dr. Forson?"
Simi asked him after a while when they all sat in silence.

Malachi raised his eyes to look at Jamal for a moment. He thought Jamal would snap at Simi the way he had snapped at him when he asked that question. But he was wrong.

Tears formed in Jamal's eyes. "I have two sisters and we're orphans. They're all I have and we were destitute. No one would help us and I had to do something to put food on the table for them. And pay our fees too."

The tears that had formed slowly trickled down his face. Malachi scoffed and said to Simi, "Don't tell me you believe that."

"Shut up Kai," Simi replied him and returned to Jamal. "Aren't there any family members to help you guys?"

"My dad wasn't on good terms with them. And our grandparents have been dead a long time." Jamal furiously wiped the tear stained face, embarrassed to be crying that much.

Simi opened her arms to him, "Come here."

And Jamal fell into them, his tears falling harder and sobs getting louder. Simi kept patting his back and stroking his hand through his head while Malachi stared at them, feeling awkward.

"I just don't know what to do," Jamal managed out between his sobs.

Simi knew firsthand how having no money at home felt like. Every year, she watched her parents struggle to find her fees and give her money for food. That was why she had to defer a year before going to the university, not because she wanted to enjoy life without school. She could have asked her friends for help but never did.

After a while, when Jamal's sobs subsided, he sat straighter and cleared his throat. Malachi's gaze turned to him and held his gaze for a while. He nodded to Jamal, his own way of apologizing for being rude to him.

Jamal nodded back to him and asked, "Where are the photos of me and Dr. Forson?"

"It's only one photo actually. And it's somewhere safe." Simi replied.

"Burn it." Jamal stated simply. "And I know Elder was too inquisitive for his own good. After he backed out of our plan to blackmail Forson, he went looking for someone else to blackmail that wouldn't involve me."

"Something involving Chill?" Malachi asked.

"Only if Elder was dumb enough to try that on his own. You guys have to be extremely careful. Forson tells me a lot so I know something about the Chill Network. You don't want to cross them or else-,"

He stopped and let the silence speak for him. He placed one hand on Simi's "I know you want to find Elder's killer but trust me it isn't Forson."

Simi raised an eye brow. "How sure are you of that?"

"Very sure. I asked him the day after Elder died and he promised me it wasn't him. You guys can continue your search but leave anything Chill out of it. Everything associated with the Chill network is very dangerous and you'd would be setting a death trap for yourselves."

"Why don't you report him Jamal?" Malachi asked him, still doubtful whether Jamal was on their side.

"Life isn't black and white. There is grey everywhere." Jamal replied.

Again with the sayings, Malachi thought.

Jamal got up, his hair still damp from the shower earlier, and checked the watch and shook his head. He would be late to pick his sisters up if he didn't hurry. He felt stupid for getting high and losing his inhibitions.

Simi got up as well and asked him, "Where are you going?"

"I have to get home or else my sisters will get worried."

"Please take care Jamal." Simi touched his elbow, sympathy strong in her voice.

"I didn't want to ask this but do you guys know the actual reason Elder almost blackmailed Forson?" Jamal asked both of them.

Malachi shrugged. "He wanted to help you?"

Jamal shook his head and continued, "I think it was because of you Simi."

"It was because of me?" Simi muttered and put one hand on her chest.

Jamal nodded. "I didn't want to say anything but I figured it might help you gain closure. He made a passing comment once on how he could help both you and me if he blackmailed Forson."

"Are you sure man?" Malachi asked him.

Jerry nodded again. "I really am sorry for your loss Simi. Elder was a great guy."

With that, he opened Malachi's door and left. Simi stared at the door, wishing in her heart that she wasn't the cause of Elder's death while tears formed in her eyes.

Discussion Area

Do you think Jamal was being truthful in this chapter? Is he really on their side? Also, who remembers that Abby placed cameras in Malachi's room?
And I guess now we might have a clue on why Elder went on a blackmailing spree.