Chapter Twenty Six

                                    

                                          

Chapter twenty six
                          
It was a cool morning, and Layla was spending it in the woods. Somewhere she'd visited little throughout her investigation, so what better place to start a fresh. 
                          
Half of the riverbank was taped off where they'd found Awuoi's body. Pulling her purple coat around her tightly, Layla hurried past, not wanting to dwell on the guilt consumed Will whom no one had seen for a few days after locking himself in his flat. 
                          
Layla felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Dan smiling down at her. 
                          
"Hey." 
                          
They trudged through the woods slowly. Their hands intwined, Dan softly humming, walking along steadily. 
                          
She still found him crying every so often, when he thought she wouldn't hear him. Kyle was still a sensitive topic for everyone. 
                          
Janna was busy boxing up her belongings, no longer wanting to live in the house she'd shared with Kyle. 
                          
Woody kept himself occupied by smashing out beats on his drum kit, whilst Chrissy went out to the university. 
                          
Everyone had a different way of coping. 
                          
When they turned a corner Layla froze, Dragging Dan back. The trees had yellow tape, ripped and ragged, still hanging from them. 
                          
The works seemed to freeze, all noises blurring into the background. There were flowers piled up in the middle of the small, leaf littered clearing.  
                          
Layla turned to Dan who was looking back at her. He pulled her into him, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. 
                          
They stayed in their silent embrace, both studied the scene in front of them. There were many letters and a couple of cuddly toys. Then, at the centre of them all, was a picture. The girl in the picture was smiling, her eyes happy and bright, ginger-blonde hair straight and long. 
                          
Nothing like the girl who'd been laid out dead on a cold metal table in the morgue. 
                          
"She was seventeen." 
                          
Layla whispered. 
                          
Dan gently kissed the top of her head. 
                          
She turned to him. 
                          
"I-I think whoever killed her, killed Awuoi, and Kyle too." 
                          
Dan had a drawn expression in his face as he let her continue. 
                          
"The killer knew Kyle, and Awuoi, but I don't know why Abby... Why Abby?" 
                          
"How do you know they knew Kyle?" Dan was puzzled, his face slowly turning from confusion to understanding whilst she explained. 
                          
"There was no forced entry to Kyle's house. They had a key. And they knew Awuoi was close to finding out who did it. That's why they killed her." 
                          
"And Abby?" 
                          
"I-I don't know... Dan?" 
                          
"Yeah?" 
                          
"If you know anything, please, you'll promise to tell me right?" 
                          
"Yeah, of course." He looked sincere. 
                          
"Can I tell you a secret?"
                          
His eyes lit up. His hand cupped Layla's cheek, "sure." 
                          
Smiling up at him, "I'm close to finding out who did it. But I think Will is too. He's been trying to find out ever since Kyle died. The thing is, how do I know it isn't him? That he could just be a really good actor and none of us have realised he's the murderer yet."
                          
Dan nodded. He was quiet today. Kyle had died just over three weeks ago, and although Dan had tried to hide it, his eyes had been red from crying this morning. 
                          
"I'm going to Kyle's later, there are a few things I need to go over. It's almost finished Dan. All of this." 
                          
His sad smile said it all. 
                          
"I'll see you tonight." She tilted her head up and kissed him on the nose before ruffling his hair and exiting the clearing. 
                          
*********
                          
A/N 
                          
Writing the last few chapters at the moment, and I'm not prepared 😳 
                          
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