Zenon's Game Chapter 315

"Track it," I replied, "Your dad's a police officer. Can't you use localization?"

Roneal nervously replied, "But then I'd have to get my dad involved."

Why else does he think I tasked him with this?

I've gone out of my way to befriend the worst sophomore player on our team because his dad's a police officer - and I need help finding a criminal. If Roneal thinks we've become friends out of the goodness of my heart, I don't know what basketball hit him in the head.

Seems to be a recurring theme lately.

He plucked at his braces nervously before saying, "Ok, I'll try again."

"You do that."

Roneal pointed at the stage, "Can I stay to watch the..."

His words trailed off as I shook my head. I didn't need to say more. He understood and left. If Roneal doesn't pull through, I'll have to ask his dad, Officer Patel, instead.

I thought today was the day I'd get the blackmailer's name. Maybe I needed to have a more serious conversation with that Julia girl. Just when I thought this day couldn't get worse, I watched Jake step onto the stage. My ears were about to be assaulted by another one of his screeching lullabies.

I should've brought ear plugs.

I don't know why people give that watermelon head any airtime.

I looked over at Candace just as the lights dimmed and Jake started to strum his guitar. I wanted to hear her ordering me to be nicer to my brother. I wanted to feel her hand in mine. She was at the bar with Axel. Their backs were towards me as they ordered drinks.

The only reason I came here was for her. So we could finally talk. But then, Jake decided to sing.

Coming home but I don't want you here,

All you do is bring back the fear,

Forced into your world,

Thought it's already starting to tear.

This is more painful than being punched in the face. I'd rather fight that Alpine gang than listen to this.

Has no one taught this guy that songs don't need to rhyme?

Jake has family issues. What's new? The verse has my dad's name on it. Maybe mom and I can take some credit for "bringing back the fear". We're all just so well loved by Jakey.

It could've been different, but different doesn't mean better

She made a mistake, but I stood by and let her

Took my heart and gave it to the weather

If only she knew how much of her I treasure.

And killing you, Jake, would be my pleasure.

A bad rhyme doesn't make a verse good. Doesn't he sit in English class with Candy? What are they learning?

That Malik kid from summer camp wrote a better love poem than this - and his inspiration was Stacey. Jake's here talking about Candace and this is all he comes up with? Weather and treasure?

The weasel is still singing about Candace. He can't say it to her face, so he goes around spreading his feelings by song. Some things are better kept private.

There's a pain in my soul as I break from a whole,

And lose control of the mind that they stole:

I'm still here.

Living in the fear but I'm still here.

Want to talk about pain to the soul? This song is pain enough. And I'm still here.

When you're eighteen but you don't know what your dream is,

When you're broken but you get broken again,

Watch those parts get turned into art,

And they give medication to make the healing start.

That feels personal. I've taken a lot of pills to heal my knee and keep going down a path I wasn't sure I wanted. I haven't talked about that much, except with Candace, when I took her to my physio center. It was one of our less conventional dates.

I glanced over at her again, still next to Axel. This time she was sitting on a bar stool with a glass in her hand, staring at Jake with her adorably trusting expression, while he continued to screech.

I couldn't believe all the pain she'd gone through. I guess we all had. And the medication to heal...

I froze as my mind started to turn back and piece together a part of the puzzle I had missed before.

Mother f*cker.

I drove away from the bar, keeping my anger under control. I gripped the steering wheel, trying to think of the shortest route. I left without saying goodbye to anyone.

I picked up speed on an empty road and the cold air rushed in through an open window.

My phone automatically connected to Bluetooth and Candace's UK grime playlist blasted out of the speaker. I didn't understand half the words they were saying and turned it off at the next red light.

It's been right before my eyes this whole time. With so many distractions, it's easy to miss the details. But I shouldn't have missed this. I've been replaying those incidents over and over to catch something we've missed.

I cursed, "Medication, it's the f*cking medication."

I swerved onto private property and the tires crunched over pebbles. I parked next to a row of three cars and slammed the door loudly as I got out.

I approached the entrance, rang the doorbell three times while knocking aggressively on the front door.

The door opened, and a man asked, "Are you in a rush, young man?"

"I'm here to see Bryce."

The man took a deep breath that felt like an hour and said, "Mr Chadwick Junior is currently unavailable. May I take a name?"

"You know my name, Irvin."

I walked past him, ignoring his objections, and into Bryce's parlor. I looked around, up at the staircase and yelled, "Bryce! CHAD!"

Irvin hurried after me, "Mr Albert, I must object to you yelling in-"

"CHADWICK!"