The Psycho Is Innocent | ꪜ

Chapter 6: Romeo and Juliet (2)

  Present

          ALTHOUGH THERE WAS a possibility of this plan actually working, Evelyn still grew wary of putting it into motion. She hated the fact that Ariel was putting herself in harm's way for the sake of saving someone who can't be saved. "Think about it, guys, please."

          Evelyn shook her head in disapproval. Lewis and Ariel did not need it, but out courtesy and expectancy of Evelyn's participation, Ariel persisted. "Ariel can't do this. What if Larson really is the killer? What if he hurts her? She's my best friend. I can't let that happen. W-what do we even really know about the photos you took? No one casually stuffs a bloody underwear and hair in a ziplock bag!"

          Ariel massaged her aching temple, "well good thing it's not up to you. We don't have any other leads guys, this is it. If the law enforcement isn't doing anything then who's really helping Tobias? He's all alone, and if his lawyer were of any help he wouldn't be sitting in jail right now. At this point, we're all he's got and I'll be damned if I abandon him just because you two are scared Larson hurts me. I'm not afraid of him and that's all that matters."

          "What do you fear the most in the world?" Tobias asked as he nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck. Ariel peered up from the book perched between her brightly red painted fingertips and smiled, "I can't express something that I can barely comprehend." Tobias ran his fingers through her silky hair and chuckled against her skin, "you can't comprehend fear?" She reached up and intertwined their fingers, her intense gaze burning right through his eyes. "If I could, I would never be with you."

          Parker sighed, "it's not worth it." Ariel sat still. Just a week ago he was all for their plan and now he's shooting it down. She understood that he and Evelyn did not want to shove her into the belly of the beast but in order to get certain results, sacrifices needed to be made. Plus she could hold her own even if Larson did try something, which she was positive he wouldn't.

           Ariel was growing tired of sitting and waiting. She would study him day in day out: his actions, his movements, his responses to certain situations. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as Lewis portrayed, he was normal. All the more reason to not suspect him despite the so-called photo. However, she needed to find that bag, even if it meant he went down in order to free Tobias.

          "Hi, are you guys ready to order?" The waitress asked as she stood at the edge of the sharp mahogany table. Ariel murmured her order softly, her mind drifting afar as she pictured Tobias stepping through the metal gates that separated him from the outside world. "Hey," Parker called out as his palm fell onto her pale hands. His black curls bounced freely against his head as he removed his white baseball cap, setting it down onto the table beside his hand.

          He caressed her hand softly, "we just don't want you to get hurt, that's it. We would do anything to help Tobias but not at the expense of your safety." Evelyn cleared her throat, tearing Parker and Ariel's attention away from one another. She shot up from the chair, her lips twitching into a lop-sided smile, "I'm gonna run to the washroom, I'll be back."

          Lewis chuckled knowingly. "Like I was saying, if this is all true and Larson really is the one who killed Kayla and Maria you could be next. How do you expect me to sleep at night knowing I could have prevented that, huh?" Ariel tore her eyes away from his hand that never seemed to break free from hers. Her lips pursed tightly, "do you really think I'm gonna do this unprotected? Lewis got me an earpiece so you guys can listen in on our conversation. It'll be somewhere discreet, under my clothes where he won't see it."

          "What happens if things escalate and you guys get naked?" Ariel fought the urge to laugh and instead smiled, "it won't get to that point, trust me." Her eyes swivelled to a visibly uncomfortable Lewis who was leaned back in the chair, her fingernails clamped between the two rows of her teeth as she gnawed down onto it. Evelyn returned to the table before Lewis could speak, but the moment she did, the atmosphere had suddenly shifted.