It's been over 3 months since Zada passed.
3 months since I fucked up so badly, it cost the life of the one person who didn't see me as this overprotective, violent monster.
Every fucking night I have nightmares about that night.
Seeing her lifeless body in that hole.
Seeing how her parents and friends reacted to her death.
I just couldn't take it.
I left.
I was in such shock at what happened, I literally sat in the hospital parking lot for over 4 hours trying to piece together what happened.
The agency obviously had me give up my badge and everything.
I just didn't know how to feel anymore.
I still don't.
I still can't process the fact that she's dead.
She was probably so fucking scared and she was alone.
I think that's what kills me the most.
Knowing that she was alone.
I've spent the last three months just trying to get back on my feet.
Finding work is almost impossible since I have a girl's death on my record.
The only thing that helps a tiny bit is working out.
I barely eat or sleep.
I feel like I'm just a zombie, living my life until death.
Nothing is enjoyable since the guilt is practically eating me alive.
Mr. and Mrs.Phoenix have not shown their face in the media ever since Zada's funeral.
I obviously wasn't able to go but some of the asshole paparazzi had the audacity to take photos.
Suddenly I hear a knock at my door and pause midway through my push-ups.
Uh...I didn't invite anyone over.
I walk over to the door, making sure to grab the gun I keep under the coffee table, before opening it.
"Get that gun out of my face before I shove it down your throat." Sahar's familiar voice scoffs.
I immediately put my weapon down and stare at the five of them with wide eyes.
"H-how did you-"
I don't even get the chance to finish my sentence before I'm shoved out of the way and they make their way into my apartment.
"Make yourselves at home then-" I mutter before shutting the door.
"Where the fuck have you been Theo?" Sabrina asks.
"Uh- here?"
"Zada fucking died and you're acting as if nothing happened?" Luca asks with a scoff.
Is he fucking joking?
"Are you kidding me? I've spent every fucking day for the last 3 months thinking about Zada!" I snap.
"If that's truly the case then why haven't you reached out to us?" Rosie asks.
"I wasn't allowed-"
"Bullshit! I read your fucking contract and the only thing you're not allowed to do is reach out to the family and since none of us are related to Zada by blood, you are allowed to reach out." Sahar says.
She read my contract?
Of course, she did.
Why am I not surprised?
"I thought I was being respectful!" I argue.
"What have you been doing over these last few months?" Luca asks.
"Literally nothing- why does it sound like you're fucking interrogating me?" I ask with a raised brow.
"That's because we fucking are," Sahar says.
"WHAT?! Why?" I ask.
"Because we know you're the one who killed Zada and the one who's been threatening us over the past few months."
Wha- HUH?
My first reaction was to burst out laughing, which is exactly what I did.
However, I quickly realized that was a bad idea because they all glared at me.
"Dude, all evidence points to you," Jax says and I immediately stop laughing.
"What evidence? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Just fucking give it up Theo! We know everything." Sabrina scoffs.
Ok...now I'm super confused.
"We know that you're one of the stalkers, we know your real name is Ethan Wilson, we know you murdered your sister and blamed Zada, we know that you've been tormenting us for months-"
"Are you guys fucking okay? I work for the fucking government-"
"Which is exactly why you would be the perfect criminal. You can get away with any crime." Sahar says.
"Are you fucking kidding? That makes me an easier criminal to catch!"
"Jesus, Theo just give it up already! We have so much fucking evidence against you, there's nothing you can do to try and claim your innocence."
"Yeah? What possible evidence can you have?" I ask.
"Let's start the night Zada went missing, shall we? First of all, you didn't check on her the entire day, you left the front door unlocked, your alibi about going on a run made absolutely no sense and you had no witness to back you up." Luca says.
Okay...so that does look bad.
"Look, I was in a rush and I told Zada to lock the door as soon as I left-"
"Are you fucking serious Theo? It takes like 2 seconds to lock a door." Jax scoffs.
"Also, why were you in such a rush to go out on a run?" Sahar asks.
"I- I wasn't going for a run-"
"I KNEW IT!" Sahar yells and I roll my eyes.
"I was running late for a meeting with my boss."
"What kind of meeting?"
"I told him I couldn't be Zada's bodyguard anymore."
"What? Why?"
"Because I- I was starting to grow feelings for her and I wanted to quit my job so we could be in a relationship."
Everyone's face drops a bit and I sigh.
"I had to say I was on a run because my boss couldn't let anyone find out that I was planning on quitting," I add.
"Alright, how about when you attacked me in the subway?" Sahar asks.
"What? Someone attacked you in the subway? When?"
"Don't play stupid Theo! We tried to sample your blood and didn't find you in the system...you're the only one who could possibly remove yourself from a government system."
"I am in the system."
"Yeah? Prove it."
I walk into my room and grab my laptop before opening up to the system they were talking about.
I type my name and everything comes up.
"How do we know you didn't have it temporarily taken down?" Luca asks.
"I mean you don't but it still doesn't mean I killed anyone, what the fuck!"
"Then how do you explain that?" Sahar asks as she points at a scar on my lower abdomen.
"What about it?" I ask.
"That's the exact place I stabbed the guy who attacked me."
"I've had this scar for over 2 years."
Once again, they're quiet.
"Okay...why did you kill your ex-boss?" Jax asks.
"How do you guys even know about that?"
"I'm a very smart girl, Theo...now get to explaining," Sahar warns.
"The guy was a piece of shit." I shrug.
"We need a bit more than that," Rosie says.
"He was involved in human trafficking, mainly with children...let's just say he and his disgusting friends did a lot of shit to them."
Everyone cringes, including myself.
It blows my mind how someone can do that to such innocent children.
"Well, how do you explain this?" Luca asks before handing me a picture.
Three children that I've never seen before?
"Who are they?" I ask.
Everyone looks at each other while I sit there dumbfounded.
Luca quickly snatches the picture from my hand again.
"I mean- they don't really look alike." He mumbles.
Who?
Do they think I'm one of those kids?
Sahar quickly gets up and begins pacing around my apartment.
"Guys...what if it's not him?" Sabrina asks.
"Do you guys seriously fucking think I'm the one who killed Zada?" I ask.
"Yes." They all murmur and my eyes widen.
"Look, as hard as this may be for you all to believe, I did seriously care for Zada...I may have even loved her and I promise I didn't do anything to her."
"What doesn't make sense to me is why the hell you didn't check on Zada the day she was kidnapped and why you left the door unlocked, I mean you were constantly breathing down all our necks about safety," Rosie says.
"I already told you guys why I couldn't lock the door."
"Something isn't adding up then." Sahar mumbles.
"They're clearly trying to pin everything on me so they can get you guys to get off their backs."
No one replies, they all just sit around and continue thinking while I sit there awkwardly.
I didn't kill Zada.
End of story.
"Theo...do you mind if I look around- and before you answer I'm probably just gonna end up looking around anyways," Sahar asks and I roll my eyes before nodding.
"If it can prove to you guys that I'm innocent then go right on ahead." I shrug.
And that's exactly what they do.
They search the entire apartment while I sit on the couch waiting for them to finish up.
"What the-" I hear a gasp come from my bedroom.
Everyone, including myself, walks over to my room.
My eyes widen when I find Sabrina holding up a ghost face mask and everyone immediately backs away from me.
"What the fuck! That's not mine!" I quickly defend.
"Then why the fuck is it in YOUR room?"
"They must have planted it there!"
"Are you kidding me, Theo? Do you really think they're stupid enough to break into an ex- bodyguard's apartment? Plus, there's no sign of a break-in." Sahar says.
"That's not the only thing..." We all turn our heads and I find Jax holding up an accessory.
"Th-that's the headband Zada was wearing the night she died." Rosie gasps in horror.
Holy fuck this looks so fucking bad.
"Guys I swear-"
I was cut off by another gasp and this time I found Sahar holding up a piece of paper.
"It's a birth certificate...with the name Ethan Wilson on it." She says before flipping it around and showing everyone.
"Are you still fucking innocent...Ethan?" Luca asks.
"I didn't do anything."
Suddenly I'm shoved onto the floor and Luca pounces on me.
"YOU KILLED ME BEST FRIEND!" He yells as he begins throwing punches.
I immediately shove him off and hold the side of my face.
"I told you, I didn't do anything!"
"How could you say that when all the evidence is here?!" Rosie yells.
Suddenly my front door bursts open and in swarms over a dozen cops.
"EVERYONE ON YOUR KNEES! HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEADS!" One of the cops yells and we all quickly do as he says.
"Theo Everett Knight, you are under arrest for the murders of Amelia Wilson, Zada Phoenix, and Finley Atwood." He announces and my eyes widen.
Finn is dead?
"I didn't fucking do anything! Don't fucking touch me!" I argue as I try to rip my arms out of their grip.
Suddenly I feel a shock at my side and I immediately collapse in pain.
They manage to overpower me and lock the handcuffs around both my wrists.
I look up and find all five of them staring down at me.
Some in shock, others in anger.
The cops roughly pull me back up on my feet and I'm dragged out of my apartment.
My neighbors all watch in horror as I'm dragged out of the building.
Some people on the street are recording the interaction, and others are whispering amongst themselves.
"I didn't do anything." I continue repeating as they practically shove me into the backseat of the cop car.
I was fucking framed!
We all watch as the cop car drives off with Theo.
It's over, we fucking did it.
We got justice for not only Zada but for Amelia and Finn too.
And now Theo is going away for life.
I reach into my back pocket and open my messages.
I go down to my messages with the unknown number and send a text.
Sahar: Never underestimate your opponent.
A smile makes its way onto my face when the message turns green, meaning my number has been blocked.
Everything is going exactly how I planned.
"We can finally go home, guys," Rosie says happily.
Yes, we fucking can.
----------Author's Note----------
Every criminal gets caught eventually...or do they?
Was Theo framed or is he just a great actor?
I mean all the evidence does point to him...
If he was framed then who is Ethan?
Could it be Jax? Or maybe Luca isn't as innocent as we thought?
Here's a plot twist, what if it's one of our girls?
Also, I know some of you may be frustrated on how the gang questioned Theo but put yourselves in their position.
They're scared and all they want is justice for their friends plus, how would you react if you found all those things in the person you suspected's apartment?
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter!
Love you all <3
-Hanna
Word Count: 2001