Chapter 43

The One Where Hayes Proves His Love For Arielle

H A Y E S

Two Weeks Later

I sit at my desk at home, absolutely surrounded by paperwork. That’s not an exaggeration in the least, because there isn’t a square inch of this desk that is exposed to me. It’s all hidden beneath folders, papers, my laptop, various handwritten notes, some flash drives, and photographs.

What was all of the stuff I’m looking at?

Well, that night when I was at Ari’s and her mother showed up, I could sense something was up. I really didn’t have a clue what it was or where to start, but I couldn’t sleep that night. My mind was consumed with trying to figure out what Vivien was doing at the coffee shop on the same day that Karl was drugged. It was too coincidental.

Even though she lied and pretended not to recognize me, I knew I’d seen her before and the fact that she lied to my face in front of Ari only made me even more weary of the woman.

So, in the last two weeks I’ve been doing what I can to look into Vivien and to try and figure out how she managed to slip the drugs into Karl’s coffee.

I talked to people, got a bunch of paperwork, copies of licenses, learned more in depth about Ari’s family—the revelation of who her step-father is was a big one—as well as done my own detective work to figure out exactly what is going on.

I get the sense that Ari is confused about why Nate broke things off with her and as much as I hate the guy, I love her enough to try and figure this all out for her. Maybe part of me is hoping I stumble into some big piece of evidence that shows Nate isn’t up to any good. But I honestly don’t think I’ll find anything and I’m not looking.

I’m just trying to piece together why everything is so damn confusing and why nobody seems to have straight answers for anything.

I’ve been studying photos and my notes for days now, driving myself insane as I attempt to solve whatever is going on. I even took the last three days off work, deciding to use some vacation time because I feel like I’m so close to getting something.

It’s been hard since yesterday, especially. Ari messaged me about wanting to hang out and I had to blow her off without acting suspicious. As much as I’d love to show her everything laid out on my desk, I don’t want to get her hopes up. Especially when I’ve only been coming up with dead ends.

However, today I’m hoping I’ve got a clue. Out of options and not being able to piece together what I’ve already got, I went to the coffee shop where I got what I hope will be the big break.

I scan over everything in front of me, trying to remember where I last saw that folder of photos. I try a few of them that my hands find first, eventually finding the green one I need alongside the USB stick I require buried under some other paperwork.

Opening my laptop, I shove the small device into the port and wait impatiently for it to be brought up on my screen. Eventually it does, and I can see the familiar cafe from the perspective of the security camera on the far side of the building. I’d gotten the security tapes from the manager. He’d been nice enough to willingly give them to me. I only had to fib an excuse as to why I needed them. One that I knew would play on his heartstrings.

I study the date, realizing that I have to fast forward a bit before I find what I’m looking for. Ultimately, I see Karl and I entering the shop in our uniforms. I observe as we sit down and order coffee, and my mind faintly remembers how Karl yelled at me because he thought I was lying to him about Ari and Nate.

That was back when he had me spying on the two of them. That wasn’t long after I was forced to watch Ari and Nate make out and then just so happened to run into them at the bar while I was on a date with Bayleigh. That night isn’t exactly something I want to relive.

I notice Karl stand from his chair, marking the moment he told me he was going to the washroom. I then see myself turning around in my chair at the voice of Nancy—who I now know is actually Vivien—offering to buy me coffee or breakfast because she was grateful for my service.

Funny thing is, she said something awfully familiar to me that night two weeks ago when she showed up on Ari’s doorstep.

I watch as a young adult approaches my table from the side where Karl was sitting. My back is still turned to the coffees as I chat with the woman who was merely a stranger at the time. I observe the young man carefully open a vial, look around and deposit whatever was inside of it straight into Karl’s mug.

He’s literally just about to put some of the drug in my coffee cup when Vivien glances at him over my shoulder. I see Karl on the other camera, doing up his fly as he saunters out of the bathrooms.

He scrambles, tucking the vial in his pocket and walking past me as if nothing happened. It’s just like I remember, because I can recall my vision of Karl being blocked out momentarily as a stranger went by my table.