Red Rose: Chapter 6

Hazel rushed across town and burst through her dorm door, crawling up on her bed to look closely at the painting above her bed. She held up her phone next to it, studying the brush strokes and froze in horror. They all swiped clockwise...as if painted by someone left handed. Looking closer, the brush strokes themselves looked the same in size and amount of paint used. There was no denying it now, she knew exactly who was the murderer now.

"Sebastian...how..."

Before she could finish the thought, a pair of arms circled her from behind, putting a nasty smelling rag over her mouth and nose. She struggled as hard as she could until she blacked out. 

When she came to, she discovered her hands were bound and the room was empty. She pulled herself up to onto her knees as the door to her bathroom opened and Sebastian emerged, carrying a shotgun. Hazel drew back from him as much as she could.
"You don't have to do this, Sebastian. Don't you think you've killed enough innocent people?"

He leaned down, so they were eye level. "Oh they weren't innocent."

"Then what was Rin's sin then? Why did she deserve to die?"

"She beat me out for the spot in the gallery...but when I asked her to give up her spot so I could have the chance for at least one in four years I've been here to have the recognition I deserve...she said no...and no one tells me no."

Hazel gave him a fierce look. "That was your reason? That's ridiculous. You're psycho."

Pissed off, he backhanded her across the face. She cried out as her lip split and she tasted blood. 

"I AM NOT PSYCHO." He roared.

He stepped away, beginning to pace, and ran a hand through his hair, collecting himself. Hazel wiped the blood dripping from her chin onto her shoulder.

"You killed Rin and you didn't even get the spot. It was given to Goth. So it was all pointless."

He stopped pacing and looked at her in malice. "Yeah...he was next on my list. But then someone pissed me off even worse than Goth or Rin." He leaned down again as Hazel spoke.

"Camilla? What did she do to piss you off?"

"She didn't. See when I went to the ballet studio that night...I wasn't there for her...I was looking for you, Hazel."

"....It because I rejected you..."

"Of course that was the reason, Hazel! I played along for years being your friend, even dealing with your annoying girl friends. I finally decide to make my move, give you a great gift, comfort, and then you tell me no," He growled, grabbing a fist full of some of her hair and pulling her forward so their faces were a breath away from each other. "Do you have any idea who I am? I'm Sebastian fucking Pemblebrooke! My family owns this school and NO ONE tells me no. Especially not some poor orphan bitch."

At that statement, Hazel spit a wad of spit and blood in his face, causing him to let go and rear back. She braced herself, thinking he might hit her again as he wiped his cheek. But instead he pressed the muzzle of the shotgun onto her forehead. Hazel didn't even flinch as she stared up at him.

"I think I figured out the red roses too. It was your way of bragging and a middle finger to the cops. But mostly...you couldn't help yourself...you just had to sign your 'work' of art."

Sebastian scoffed at that giving her a small smile. "You really are the smartest girl in the school, Hazel. It's one of the reasons I fell for you. But when I realized I couldn't have you and missed my chance to kill you...I had to frame you. So I stole your dance shoes, killed Cam with them and now...you're going to confess to it all...in your suicide note. The cops will be satisfied that they closed the case quickly and move on. I'll get off completely."

He sighed as he inspected the barrel of the shotgun and cocked it. "It's a shame really. We really could have been something together. Goodbye, Hazel."

She closed her eyes, preparing herself for the blast, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Put the gun down now!"

Detective Lock aimed his handgun at Sebastian. "Don't be stupid, you know I can shoot faster than you."

He paused for a moment before bending and placing the shotgun on the ground at Hazel's knees.

"Now step away." He complied, a blank look on his face. Detective Lock motioned to Detective St. James who had just entered. "Book him." 

As his partner cuffed Sebastian roughly, he walked over to Hazel and untied her, helping her to her unsteadily to her feet. 

"You okay, Miss Key?"

"Yeah...yeah...I am.." She breathed, suddenly feeling a little nauseous. 

Detective Lock, rubbed her on the back in slow circles, looking empathetic. "It's okay...slow breaths...you're okay now." 

He waited for her to collect herself before speaking. "I thought about what you said about artists mixing there own paint. So as a shot in the dark, I ran the sample collected from both bodies. They matched and from there, I looked up the manufacturer. It was a high end brand purchased by only one student. Sebastian Pemblebrooke. I was coming to tell you the good news."

"It's a damn good thing you did."

"No kidding. I'm just glad you're okay."

Hazel motioned to the painting above her bed. "That was why I had to come back. The brush strokes, they're in the clockwise direction. Obviously painted by the only left handed painter in the school, Sebastian. I had actually taken a photo of Cam's red roses and matched it."

For the second time, Detective Lock looked beyond impressed. "Well, we will have to take that painting into evidence."

"Go ahead. I don't want it anymore."

He shrugged. "Understandable," He let the silence stretch between them for a moment, giving her a sad look. "You've been through a lot, Hazel. But you're an absolute natural detective. I could really use someone like you on my team. When you get a little older, of course."

He handed her his business card. "In case you lost the last one. Call me when you finish school. I may have a spot in the detective agency I'm starting."

He turned to leave. She thumbed the card with the words 'Red Rose Detective Agency' scrolled across in silver cursive. 

"Detective Lock?"

He turned back. "Thank you."

"You take care of yourself, Miss Key."

  

Red Rose: Chapter 5

After Hazel collected herself, she moved closer to Camilla, stooping down to look at her.

"Oh God, Cam...no...not you too..."

She brushed the newly fallen tears from her cheeks and pulled out her phone, deciding to collect her own evidence. Fuck Detective Lock, this was now her second friend murdered and she would rather die herself than suffer any more loss. She snapped pictures of the studio and then zoomed in to take the final pic of the red roses painted on Camilla's arm.

"I'll found out who did this to you Cam, I swear."

Determined, she left the room to call the police. 

Detective St. James arrived less than ten minutes later and let Hazel change before talking to her about what had happened. When he allowed her to leave, she immediately called Sebastian and met up with him outside her dorm room. She ran down the hall to him, letting him wrap his arms around her in a bear hug. Hazel spoke as they pulled away.

"Oh my God, Sebastian...I don't know what to do..."

"It's going to be okay, Hazel." He said, trying to comfort her. Suddenly, he paused, staring in worry over her shoulder. Hazel turned to see what the trouble was to find Detective Lock and two officers marching towards them.

"Hazel Key, you're under arrest."

"Are you serious?"

Detective Lock held up a pair of handcuffs, dangling them from his fingers.

"Please put your hands behind your back, Miss Key."

Hazel flinched as he clicked the cold steel around her wrists.

"You're making a mistake!" She insisted, twisting to try and look at him.

"Everything will be explained in interrogation."

At the police station, Hazel was placed in an all white tiled room. After a while, Detective Lock returned, sitting opposite her. 

"I was looking at your school file. You're a good student, accomplished ballerina, very impressive. So what would drive such a star student to murder?"

"What are you even talking about?," Hazel snapped. "I didn't murder anyone!"

Detective Lock leaned back and crossed his arms. "We found your ballet shoes in the studio, Miss Key, and it seems it was the ribbons on those shoes that strangled Camilla Ramirez."

"That doesn't mean I killed her. Why would I kill my best friend?"

He shrugged. "Teenage girls can be cruel. Perhaps Miss Ramirez and Miss Mastuhara shut you out of their trio. Shunned you. People have killed for less."

"So what? Now you're blaming me for Rin's murder too? That's ridiculous! What about the red roses? You're looking for a painter and I can barely draw a stick figure."

Detective Lock stroked his chin in thought. "You do have a point...but any good prosecutor will have no problem building a case against you. Even without the red roses." 

He shook his head as a knock came from the other side of the mirror behind him. He stood up from his chair. 

"I'll be right back." He said as he left the room.

 When he was out of the room, Hazel pulled out her phone to look at the crime scene photos she took. There had to be something Detective Lock missed. If the prosecution could dismiss such a huge detail, there must be something else to help clear her name. As she landed on the photo of the painted red roses, she zoomed in even closer and noticed something that chilled her to the bone. She was pulled out of her hypnotic state by the door opening and Detective Lock returning. She pocketed her phone quickly and stood up. "You have to let me leave right now."

"No way, I'm not done with you." He replied, taking his seat again.

"Please, Detective, I think...I think I know who the murderer is. But I need to double check my findings before I tell you."

He furrowed his brows and pinched the bridge of his nose before saying, "Okay, if you clue me in on your evidence, I might be swayed."

Hazel cleared her throat. "Well...let's see...a painting is filled with little things that make them unique to the painter. Everything from the amount of paint they use to how hard or soft they press down on the canvas that creates the brush strokes. Some artists even make their own paints themselves. It's as identifiable as a fingerprint. I...I think I know who it is because I've seen the roses up close. But I don't want to say names until I'm absolutely sure. Please...Detective..."

Detective Lock leaned back with an impressed look on his face. He sighed slowly.

"Because of the evidence against you, Miss Key, I can't release you right now."

At Hazel's defeated look, he took another breath before adding, "But here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to get some coffee. Now let's say I forgot to lock the door when I left...oops...stupid me. I could be gone for say...an hour before I notice you're gone."

He rose from his seat again to leave. "But what about the guy behind the two-way mirror?"

He paused at the door. "Oh, I sent Ben to get us lunch." He gave her a rare smile as he turned the knob.

"Good luck, Miss Key."

Red Rose: Chapter 4

The next morning there was a knock on Hazel's door. She opened to find Detective Lock.

"Hello, Miss Key." He said, letting himself in.
"Um..hi Detective Lock, what can I help you with?"
He wandered over to her desk, looking at the picture of Rin and herself.
"I hear you've been busy."
Hazel paused before replying, biting her lower lip shyly. "I guess Headmaster Dupree called you?"
He turned back around to her and sighed. "Of course he did. He wanted me to speak to you. I need you to stop investigating."
"Well if you did your job correctly, I wouldn't have to step up."
He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Hazel, Detective St. James and I are working around the clock to solve this, I promise you. And I don't need you putting yourself on the killers radar by getting too close to this. Do you understand?"
Hazel looked at the ground and sighed. "I guess."
"Good. You have a nice day, Miss Key."
He walked toward the door, as his hand clasp the doorknob, Hazel remembered something.
"Oh! Detective? I heard you guys took in Alexander Goth. I wanted you to know that Cam and I found out that Alex was actually in love with Rin and so he couldn't have done it."
He paused at that, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Well...his parents haven't let us talk to him so we didn't know any of this. Now we can save time by looking at other students. So...thank you."
"You're welcome."
Detective Lock gave her a respectable nod before finally leaving.

Hazel followed Detective Lock's demands, throwing herself into her dancing and staying away from the topic of Rin's murder. Eventually the time came for the auditions for the recital's prima ballerina. Hazel proudly won the spot. As she got ready for Camilla and Sebastian to take her out to eat in town to celebrate, there was a knock on the door. She answered and was surprised to find Sebastian carrying a framed painting.
"Hey, Hazel. I brought you a gift."
She smiled brightly as she stepped aside to let him in. He held up the canvas proudly and said, "I wanted to congratulate you on your big win. Painted this myself just for you."
"Wow, Seb, it's beautiful! I'm going to hang this up right now."

Sebastian helped her hang the painting and then they sat down on the edge of the bed to wait for Camilla to arrive. Hazel looked up at the painting and reached over to wrap his hand in hers.
"You really did a great job, Sebastian. I love it."
He flushed and smiled. "Yeah not too bad for being left handed huh?"
She snorted and then sighed. "Rin would be proud of you, you know?"
Hazel choked back a sob and looked away. Sebastian stroked her shoulder with one hand, caressing her cheek with the other. "I think so too..."
At that, he leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers. Hazel pulled back abruptly giving him a confused look. "What are you doing, Seb?"
His expression flashed a second of anger then changed to hurt. "I...I thought...," He paused before continuing. "I mean, we're so good together. I thought maybe we could become more than friends."
Hazel stood and backed away from him, flustered. "I'm sorry, Seb, but I just don't feel that way about you. We've been friends for so long now...I don't want to ruin that."
He dropped his gaze to the floor for a moment before standing. "Wow...I...think I'm going to go now."
"Seb, please, I'm sorry." Hazel pleaded as he left but he didn't turn back.

As soon as he left, Hazel called Camilla to cancel the dinner and tell her what had happened with Sebastian.
"Holy shit," Camilla breathed. "Who knew he had the balls to just come at you like that?"
Hazel snickered. "Cam, that's beside the point. I had no idea Sebastian liked me like that. He was so hurt when I turned him down..."
"You know how Sebbie is, he'll pout and then bounce back in a few days, he never stays mad about things for long."
"Yeah you're right."
There was a sound on Camilla's end suggesting she was settling on her bed. "Well, if we're not going to eat then I'm going to work on a project for school. Oh! And I was wondering if you would switch personal studio times with me tomorrow. Your slot is only an hour before mine but I need the extra time for the project. Is that okay?"
"Of course, Cam. That's fine."
"Alright, thanks, I better get started then."
They exchanged goodbyes and hung up.

The next day Hazel came to the studio at her new time slot. Entering she scrolled through her phone.
"Hey Cam, did you get a good practice in?"
When she was met with deafening silence she looked up...

...and screamed.


"

Red Rose: Chapter 3

Soon Hazel became obsessed with finding anyone who would have a motive to kill Rin. She began searching every pixel of Rin's social media over and over to find even the slightest bad comment or even thumbs down, to give her a hint. 

Suddenly there was a knock on her door. She answered to find Camilla and Sebastian.

"I knew we'd find you here," Camilla said as she entered.

"Come on, Hazel, we're going to the library." Sebastian piped up behind her.

"No guys, I think I'm going to stay in tonight."

"Don't tell us you're going to be combing through Rin's feeds again?" Camilla ask, exasperated. "You need to back off, Haz. You haven't been yourself. You're barely sleeping, skipping class and ballet. It isn't like you."

"And what? Let the Detectives drag their feet while Rin's murderer runs free?," Hazel snarled. "I'm not sorry for being the only one who still cares that Rin's gone."

Camilla froze, looking deeply hurt. "That's not fair...you know Rin was like a sister to me."

Hazel sniffed, holding back tears as she said, "You're right, I'm sorry, Cam. I didn't mean it. I'm just frustrated."

"We all are," Sebastian spoke up. "We miss Rin too. But she wouldn't want us to sacrifice all that we've worked for to be here. Think about what Rin would want for you, Hazel."

He was right, Rin would be pissed at her if she knew she was skipping ballet because of her. She'd scold her as the responsible one of the group and make her pinky promise never to do it again. She teared up as she hugged Sebastian. 

"Thanks, Seb, you always know what to say."

He smiled as he pulled away, "No problem. Now I think you should get out of this room, lets go."

They all moved to the library and as Hazel browsed the shelves, she couldn't help but stop on the newest edition of the Academy's yearbook. Pulling it from the shelf she sat down next to Sebastian and opened it to the Art department's section. Then began scrolling through the names trying to think of anyone who would want to kill Rin. It obviously had to be someone in the Art department because of the painted roses on the body. All that was left to do was narrow down who it could be. She jumped slightly as Camilla looked over her shoulder and ask, "What are you looking for?"

"I wanted to think of anyone who had a motive to hurt Rin."

"Let me see, as a fellow painter, I know everyone in the Art department personally. " Sebastian replied, moving closer and moving his finger down the names list. "You know, Alexander Goth has been acting weird lately. He's been sneaking out of the dorms at night a lot. I hear him walk past my door almost every night now."

"And I heard he was taken in as a suspect yesterday," Camilla added. "But they couldn't hold him because his parents lawyered up. He's back on campus right now."

Hazel gave them both a irritated look. "And why am I just being told this now?"

"Well, when you actually come to class, you can learn things like this, Hazel." Cam said condescendingly. 

"Well lets go question him right now then guys."

Hazel bolted out the door, Camilla and Sebastian struggling to keep up.

They found him leaving his dorm room and Sebastian got to him before Hazel could. 

"Hey, Goth!" He shouted from down the hall causing Alex to turn and sigh.

"What do you want?"

"I got some questions for you. Like where were you the morning Rin was killed?"

"In my dorm like everyone else."

"Can anyone vouch for you on that?"

Alex's expression turned from depressed to angry really quickly.

"What the hell you suggesting, Pemblebrooke?"

"I'll give it to you straight, Goth. I think you killed Rin because you knew she was a better artist than you. You were pissed she beat you out for the gallery opening so you did her in."

Alex looked pissed but turned to leave. "I don't have time for your shit, man."

To spite his mood, Sebastian followed him. "Hey, I'm not done with you."

"Fuck off." Alex growled and walked away.

Hazel rushed over. "Why'd you have to piss him off? Now he won't tell us anything."

"He wasn't going to anyway." He snapped and stormed off.

Camilla finally caught up to Hazel as she spoke. "I think we need to follow Goth and find out what he's doing at night, he might be trying to hide evidence."

"You're right, let's follow him tonight."

Hazel and Camilla met up outside the boys dorm rooms around midnight bracing themselves for what they might discover. Right on time, Alex emerged an hour after curfew and they followed, careful to stay far enough behind him not to cause attention. When he entered the main campus, they were confused. Would he really be stupid enough to return to the scene of the crime? He finally turned down the hall to the Art studio and Camilla pulled Hazel back whispering sadly. "This might be a waste of time, Hazel. He's probably just working on his piece for the art show." 

"No, I don't think so. Lets go inside and look."

Camilla shrugged and followed. But when they came close to the studio door, Hazel stopped, turning to Camilla. "Do you hear crying?" She ask, quietly cracking the door open. Inside, they were shocked to see Alexander Goth sobbing deeply in front of a painting that had flowers and lantern candles around the base. At that moment, Camilla accidentally hit the door with her toe, causing it to creak and Alex to jump and look over at them. 

"What the fuck are you two doing here?"

"We...we...um..." Camilla stammered.

"Are you okay, Alex?" Hazel ask, stepping into the room. 

"To be honest? No..," He said sadly, turning back to the beautiful painting in front of him. "This was Rin's final painting...she was...so talented."

"You're crying for Rin?"

Alex mopped his tears with his sleave as he answered. "Yeah...I...um...I was in love with her. We had just set a time for our first date on the phone that morning before she left and then...yeah."

Rin hadn't even gotten the chance to tell her best friends about it. She must have been so excited because she had always wanted to date Alex...and now she never would.

"So to spite what that idiot Sebastian Pemblebrooke might think, no, I didn't kill her. I was excited for her that she got the spot in the gallery and when she died they offered me the spot but I turned it down in order for Rin's final piece to be displayed," He turned back to the painting, a depressed look in his eyes. "Who could ever hurt such a treasure like Rin?"

"What are you kids doing up after curfew?"

Everyone turned in shock towards the door to find a tall very studious looking man glaring at them. 

"Headmaster Dupree, we're sorry we just wanted to see Rin's last painting."

His expression softened. "Listen, I know you girls miss Rin, but you can't be breaking rules and investigating campus on your own. Now head back to your dorms."

They rushed off before he changed his mind and gave them detention.