Page 23 of Silent Trail

The referee hovered nearby, his hand poised to slap the mat as he counted down the seconds. Jade's face was a portrait of raw intensity, her eyes fierce and unyielding as she kept Hailey pinned.

"That's it!" the referee said. "We have our winner!"

Despite this declaration, however, Jade maintained her iron grip on Hailey for a few tense seconds. Then she let go, pushing the other girl away as she rose.

She didn't want to let go, Sheila thought. She wanted to hurt her.

"Wow," Finn said, clearly impressed by Jade's performance. "That was intense."

"Definitely," Sheila said as the crowd clapped. "She gave it everything she had."

As Hailey struggled to stand, she offered Jade a congratulatory handshake. However, Jade merely glanced at the gesture, her expression cold and aloof, before turning away. The crowd applauded as Jade was presented with a gleaming trophy, a testament to her hard-won victory.

"Come on," Sheila said to Finn, her gaze fixed on Jade. "Let's see if we can catch her before she leaves."

They maneuvered through the throng of spectators, keeping their eyes on Jade as she posed for pictures with her family. Sheila could sense the pride radiating from Jade's relatives, but couldn't help noticing the tightness around Jade's eyes, as if she was holding back some deeper emotion.

Before Sheila and Finn could get any closer, Jade, still glistening with sweat from her match, left the gymnasium and disappeared down a hallway. Sheila and Finn followed closely behind through the near-empty corridor. They passed several closed doors before finally catching a glimpse of Jade entering the pool room.

As they stepped inside, Sheila was met by a wave of humid air, along with the sharp scent of chlorine. The large Olympic-sized pool seemed to dominate the space, its water reflecting the dim lights overhead, casting rippling shadows on the tiled walls. Rows of empty bleachers lined one side of the room while the other hosted various pieces of swim training equipment. The sound of a faint drip echoed through the otherwise silent room.

"Jade!" Sheila said, catching the attention of the young wrestler as she headed toward the showers.

Jade turned around, her eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you want?" she asked. "I need to get cleaned up."

Sheila stepped forward, watching the wrestler carefully. Finn was on her left, standing at the edge of the pool that shimmered gently, blue as the sky on a summer's day.

"We need to talk to you about Kristen Lee," Sheila said.

The mention of Kristen's name seemed to strike a chord within Jade. Her expression flickered with anger and uncertainty, but it was quickly replaced by a hard mask of determination. She glanced back at the shower entrance, her fingers clenching and unclenching.

"Why do you want to talk about Kristen?" she demanded, her voice tight with suspicion. Her eyes were dark pools of emotion, wavering between anger and fear.

Finn shifted his weight from one foot to the other, a hint of uncertainty. "We heard that you threatened her," he said, choosing his words carefully. "Is that true?"

Jade hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking back and forth between Finn and Sheila. The silence stretched on, the question hanging heavy in the air.

"Did you threaten Kristen, Jade?" Sheila pressed gently, trying to keep her tone non-confrontational. But despite her best efforts, she could feel her own frustration bubbling beneath the surface, fueled by the urgency of their investigation.

Jade walked toward Sheila, her eyes hard. Everything about her posture screamed to Sheila that the girl was on the edge, ready to attack at a moment's notice. Sheila resisted the urge to shift into a fighting stance, instead behaving as casually as she could manage.

"What did you just say?" Jade asked in a low voice.

"It's just a question," Finn said. "Why don't you come down to the station with us, and—"

Before Finn could finish, Jade turned and gave him a two-handed shove. Caught off guard, Finn stumbled backward, his arms windmilling in a futile attempt to regain his balance. He hit the water with a resounding splash, sending droplets spraying into the air.

And then Jade ran.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Sheila's heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted through the dimly lit halls of Coldwater Community College, her breaths ragged and heavy. The sound of Jade Larson's retreating footsteps fueled Sheila's determination to catch up with her. She could see Jade's muscular form weaving around corners, a blur in the darkness.

"Jade, stop!" Sheila shouted, but Jade only increased her pace, surprisingly quick giving her stocky build.

As Sheila rounded another corner, she spotted Jade disappearing into a large room down the hall. Upon entering the room, Sheila found herself surrounded by solemn faces. Students gathered in clusters, their eyes red-rimmed and filled with grief. The air vibrated with the hushed tones of whispered conversations.

The room was awash in soft candlelight, casting shadows against the walls, which were adorned with photos of Kristen. Her bright smile seemed so full of life, making it hard to believe she was gone. Posters and banners displayed messages of love and remembrance, and a table near the entrance was strewn with flowers, handwritten notes, and mementos.

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