I parked my car in Valerie's driveway and walked towards the door. I have been visiting her almost everyday to make sure she doesn't feel lonely or if she ever wants to talk about the incident.

The one thing she never did was reminisce that night ever again. As much as I wanted negative thoughts steer clear from her, she once told me that talking about a trauma or even venting about it was necessary. It portrayed the current mental state they were in.

But Valerie did what she was best at, ignoring her emotions till they were flushed out of her system. It was a very unhealthy coping mechanism, but it always worked for her like a charm.

Blake opened the door and greeted me with a small smile. It was his signature smile.

"Hey, Blake." I cheerfully wished him. "Is Val awake?"

"Yes. She just woke up. I should warn you, she is crankier than usual," he informed and abruptly walked away.

Usually, I would storm behind him and demand a little respect, but I was accustomed to Blake. I was aware that he is not much of a talker and there are only a handful people he likes to converse with and Valerie had recently been added to his list.

I made my way to the brunette's room and took a seat next to her. She was minding her own business and sipping on her drumstick soup.

"Blake complained about you being whiny today. What's up?" I started the conversation.

"I am super frustrated with everybody breathing down my neck. I feel suffocated. I just want to be left alone for a while," she blabbered.

"Well, they are just worried about you. I'm pretty sure they are not doing it on purpose. We are worried about you, babe. We were so close to losing you," I said, trying to make her talk about it.

"But I'm right here and I'm okay. I've got two detectives living with me," she retorted.

I looked at her scrunched up face and sighed. There was no winning this argument. She had already made up her mid about getting some space.

"Fine. I'll tell you parents to only enter your room if they are bringing food. I'll steal your Mr. Bodyguard and ask him to accompany me to visit Jordan and I'll let Kelly stay here and work on the case," I suggested calmly.

"I was hoping to spend some time with Blake," she mumbled and pouted, trying to melt me with her adorableness.

"No can do, honey. You made a choice. Either we all stay or we all leave. No exceptions," I smugly replied, earning a slap on my shoulder. "I can't believe that Lenny hasn't visited you."

"I know, right! It just confirms my speculations. I wouldn't have been so bothered if it was a casual mugging or something, but the fact that we had grown closer and promised to stick together makes me worried. The killer literally said that he tipped off Caleb to attack me."

"How do you feel about that?" I questioned, hoping that if she lowered her guard, I could maybe get her to talk about the incident.

"I feel violated. I discussed visiting the bar with Jordan. It was filled with securities but the fact that the information still got leaked or how the killer was aware where I was going makes me feel super unsafe. For all I know, this place could be bugged or we could constantly be under surveillance."

"That is freaky. But how do you feel about being attacked? You know..."

"Oh, I am over that. No grudges," Valerie said and shrugged it off. I could not believe the words that left her mouth.

How could she be over it? She was stabbed with a knife, her head was banged against a stack of alcohol bottles and she was punched. Her eyes still had a faint purple bruise and her abdomen still had the mark where she was hurt. How could she not suffer from PTSD? Was I being worried about nothing? What was I doing wrong?

"Alrighty, then. I should get going. Jordan still has no clue what happened to you," I smiled and gave her a small hug, before leaving.

"A little tip, by the way," Valerie spoke and I turned around and gave her a dazed look. "If you're ever trying to make somebody open up to you, you don't make it obvious. Ask questions related to the incident if directness does not work."

I let out a small laugh and thanked her. I was happy that she acknowledged my effort of trying to be a better friends.

My next stop was in Kelly's room and I walked in on her and Blake arguing about something. I furrowed my brows but knocked anyway.

"You guys feeling alright?" I asked.

"We were just having a small disagreement," Kelly replied and shot Blake a firm look.

"About what? I know it's not really my place to ask, but I was hoping if I'd get an answer," I explained.

"Kelly wants to go back to the city," Blake muttered.

"What?" I quickly looked at her with my eyes wide in shock. "You can't go back. We haven't solved the case yet."

"That's exactly my point. It's been almost two months and we are nowhere even near to find a break on this case. As much as I want to stay back and help, I have to return to my real job. This is an unofficial case and it doesn't really count," Kelly spoke, her voice had sadness but she was pleading for us to understand.

"I can't believer that we are no where close," I whispered, feeling a little unmotivated. "But we have a new lead, Lenny. Blake and I will drop by his house on our way back and if it turns out to be another dead-end we won't stop you from leaving."

With that little hope, Blake and I exited the house. The entire car ride was silent. It was a comfortable silence since we both had thinking to do. We had a mission now and it was to find something to convince Kelly to stay.

As much as I understood her need to go back to her actual job, we needed her desperately. It was a little risky but Valerie did mention that her boss loved her and so she couldn't be fired that easily.

Once we reached the prison, we hurried to see Jordan.

He was already seated on one of the tables, a sturdy security guard, standing next to him with his hands folded.

"Jordan!" I chirped and he reciprocated the same happiness and he got up and wrapped his hands on my waist. "You've lost some weight and orange is definitely your colour. Once you're out, we are gonna go shopping."

"It's good to see that you're still the same since I last saw you," he remarked and I rolled my eyes.

"Couldn't you have decided another time to be smug? I've got a lot to tell you."

"Sure. I'll keep the sassy comments to myself. What's new?"

"Let's begin in the ascending order," I spoke. "Blake and Valerie are dating. We think Lenny killed Rosalind and Valerie was beaten up by a guy called Caleb who happened to be in the same gang as Lucas who was arrested for raping Rose."

"Hold up. Did you say that Blake and Valerie are dating?"

"Get your priorities straight, mister. But why? Did you have a thing for her?" I lowered my voice and popped up my eyebrows.

"No, I just thought that Blake is incapable of emotions."

"That man is a hopeless romantic. It's kinda cute."

"Is Valerie okay now?"

"Not really. She was hospitalized and didn't wake up for two days. She was stabbed in two different places and had some internal bleeding. She isn't doing mentally fine either. I think she is really shaken up. I mean I've known her for a long time and she is really happy but something just seems off," I confessed.

"I wish I could see her. Oh god, I feel awful. She went to the bar with an idea to free me," he said and massaged his forehead exasperatedly. "I feel so useless sitting behind a bar and doing nothing."

"Blake's working on something that may help to bail you. Don't worry."

"Valerie told me that she was suspicious of Lenny and I had some time to think about it, I don't think she has a faulty thinking. It makes so much sense. Him being Rosalind's boyfriend gave him access to her house without seeming sketchy."

"I know and it also adds up why he wanted to get rid of all of us before we came up with a plan to unveil who it is. He was aware about the plan and he started working on it. We all trusted the wrong guy. This is all so messed up."

"Do you think Blake's plan will work? Because I can't wait to get out of here."

"Of course it'll work. I can't believe I've been acting responsible and optimistically. It's like I'm possessed by Val's spirit."

Jordan chuckled at my little observation and we spent another five minutes talking about how he had been handling prison. Luckily nobody bullied him since he belonged to a gang.

After my time was up, as promised, we made a pit stop at Lenny's place. My heart was ready to tear out of my chest but Blake just patted my back awkwardly, making an effort to comfort me.

Mrs. Grande opened the door but instead of her usual glow, dullness had taken over her face. Her cheeks were patchy with dried up tears and her eyes looked sleep deprived.

"Mrs. G, are you okay?"

My tone was filled with nothing but concern. The fact that it had been a few days since the killer last pulled a stunt made my stomach turn. Judging by the look of the petite woman in front of me, I assumed the worst.

"Lenny. He's been abducted."

Hello Angels.

So, Lenny has disappeared.

Jordan finally made an appearance.

I thought that since Val's testing, we should let Brianna take charge.

Honestly, I love Bri so much.

See ya in the next chapter.

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