Page 41 of Trial of Deceit

Who was she becoming?

What would she tell Senior?She couldn’t think of a good lie.There was never a good reason to kill a civilian who was unrelated to the case.

Her eyes opened when a vehicle pulled up.A few seconds passed before footsteps stopped by the hut.She didn’t have to look to know it was Jediah.The strong aroma of tobacco was very telling.Only he would smoke such high quality cigars.

She stood, keeping her gaze straight as she walked past him to the car.Jediah offered her a hand, but she declined and entered the car.He sighed before he entered after her.He glanced at her before driving away.She quietly looked through the window as they journeyed to a nearby building.Ashari was so busy studying the structure of the one storey house, she almost didn’t notice when Jediah opened her door.Her eyes dropped from his face, unable to bear his unreadable stare, and settled on his outstretched hand.Irritability surged inside her, and she pushed his hand away, causing him to sigh again as she hopped out of the vehicle and moved a short distance away.

Jediah walked past her.“Come,” he grumbled.

Ashari wrapped her arms around her body before complying.Dried blood on her skin made her desperate for a shower.

Jediah held the door open for her to enter.After taking a few steps inside, Ashari froze.She snapped her head to the side, her breathing short and fast while panic surged into her eyes.She dropped her arms to her side, keeping her fingers outstretched so she could easily grab any object and turn it into a weapon of defense.

This was the building Dimitri had killed Charlie in.

Ashari couldn’t die here.

“J-Jed—”

Jediah slammed the door shut and ignored Ashari.He walked past her to enter another hallway.Ashari apprehensively chased after him.

“Whatever you need will be in the room,” Jediah said while motioning his head toward a closed door.“Meet me out there when you’re finished.”He motioned his head down the hallway they came from.

She nodded and opened the closed door.It was a bathroom… One that had a shower.

Her lips parted in surprise.She glanced to the side to catch Jediah staring at her.Ashari licked her chapped lips, making bitter blood wash over her tongue.“Thanks.”

Jediah’s eyes darted to her eyes.

There was that mix of emotion again.

How he always looked at her every time he professed his strong, unrequited feelings.

Ashari scowled and entered the bathroom.She shut the door, stripped from her clothes, then entered the shower.A long sigh escaped her mouth as the warm water beat against her skin, washing down her body and rushing to get to the drain.Ashari watched as the water changed from ruby red to a pinkish hue until she was unable to look anymore.

Closing her eyes made new images flash in her mind.

Jaia.Charlie.Romar.Stranger.

Who was next?

The door opened, yanking her from her thoughts.

It was Jediah.Ashari covered her breasts and lower region with her arms while he approached the shower with his gaze locked on the floor.Jediah stooped and picked up her clothes.As he straightened himself, he met her eyes.

Ashari’s lips parted slightly.The hairs raised on her skin as his eyes raked down the foggy shower glass, before landing on her eyes again.He inhaled a big breath, then released it quietly.

“You’re showering,” Jediah mused.

“I’m not nasty,” she said, and his face blanked.She looked from him to her toes.

“Hurry up,” he hissed, and she swallowed as he turned and exited.

She looked at where he was standing, her brows pulling together.“You confuse me, Jediah…” she muttered before finishing her shower.

She grabbed the clothes he’d left on the counter for her.She put them on, then exited.She paused at the door, looking in the opposite direction of where she should be going.Shuffling and the stench of something burning drifted toward her.Ashari was curious to check what it was, but she refrained.

Exhaling a heavy breath, Ashari went to the room Jediah had told her to wait in.She sat on the chair before the desk, fumbling with her fingers for a while until Jediah entered the room.

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