Cassie lay on Tyler's chest and smiled at the beat of his heart. She had her arms wrapped around him and she shut her eyes and enjoyed the moment as they both lay on his bed. The lights were dim and the air conditioner was turned on, the low buzzing sound coming from it soothing. She gently grabbed his shirt and took a long sniff from it and sighed with a smile on her lips. She could feel Tyler's body move up and down as he laughed.

"Did you just sniff my shirt babe?" he laced her hair around his finger.

"You're supposed to be sleeping," she put her hand over his eyes "and yes I did, it's not my fault that you smell so good." He took her hand off his eyes and placed it in his, he played with the tips of her fingers and then placed a kiss on it. She pulled her body up, causing the sheets underneath her to get rumpled. She placed a soft, sweet kiss on his lips. He put his arms around her shoulder.

"I couldn't sleep," he sighed " My coach has been howling at me for a long time, and then there's work. I didn't bargain for all this, my life was easier with my dad around," he turned to her. It hurt her to look at the great pain in his eyes as he spoke those words.

"Aww, babe." She pouted. She sat up and rubbed his belly soothingly. "How about Peter, can't he help out with your dad's company?"

"He doesn't have a business mindset. My dad thought me all I know, Peter rebelled all his life, he never wanted to be involved. He's tried, but it just didn't work out." He sat up "My mum says me and my dad are the same, she says I'm the only person that can take over."

"But is it what you want to do babe? Run your dad's company."

"It is, but it' not all I want to do. I take my sport very seriously, it's right at the top of my list, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if all my father built crashed because I was too busy kicking balls into a net."

"It's not just kicking balls into a net baby," she took his hand and placed it on her laps, "it's what you love. I'm sure you'll figure things out with your dad's company," she nodded. He did too, although he didn't seem convinced enough. He was so conflicted, between two things that he loved,  he knew that diving even halfway into one was affecting the other.

Tyler stood up from the bed and picked up his comb from his table and continuously passed it through his jet black hair, a bit too quickly.

"Your hair is perfect babe," Cassie said in a teasing tone and laughed. She pulled her knees up to her chest as she watched him as amusement glistened in her brown eyes.

"I'm carrying out my frustration on my hair," he said and continued combing. Cassie got off  the bed and walked to him. She put her hands up and grabbed the comb that was in motion due to the frantic combing. She dropped the cob to the ground and wrapped her arms around Tyler's neck. "You'll figure things out because if you don't you'll comb all your hair out and you'll be ugly."

He laughed " will you still be with me if that happened?"

She shook her head "nope," she laughed and placed a peck on his lips.

"Well I guess I'd have to figure things out," he took her hands in his. "Thanks," he said looking deep into her eyes, like he was trying to reach into her soul, into her core. "I love you, Cassie."

She smiled "I love you too babe," she said, and then rested her head on his chest. Everything about that moment with Tyler felt perfect, but she had a feeling that she would ruin things by going on with Avril's case. She bit her lips, she wanted to open up to him, she wanted to open up to everyone, to people she actually trusted. Instead, she was stuck with Joseph, someone she could not even stand. 

Sometimes she would reminisce about how supportive her friends always were about her dreams. She remembered the time when they were all encircled around the cafeteria table two years ago when she informed them about the mysterious detective that asked her to work on a case. They were so supportive, happy for her. One incident changed everything, it was unfortunate that the first door she passed through had behind it threats, deceit, and an array of danger lined up for her friends. That one incident made the existence of the support they once had for her not even matter anymore, the incident was an aggressive blowing wind, and hiding inside it was their support, which got lost in the wind.

She lifted her head from his chest and looked up at Tyler, she got on her tiptoes for one more kiss. "I have to go now babe, I'm meeting Phoebe's planner soon," she sighed and pulled her face down in a deliberate frown. It was going to be Phoebe's birthday soon, and as her best friend, Cassie knew she had to plan the most extravagant birthday for her extravagant friend. She picked up her purse, gave him a quick kiss and bent her back down to the ground, she picked up his comb and place it in her purse. "Just so you don't go bald before I see you tomorrow." They both laughed.

She hopped into her car and immediately drove to the venue where Phoebe's party was being planned at. Cassie had rented a room at a new and lavish hotel in Freetown called Grandeur, it had only been running for a month. It was the biggest and most lavish hotel that Freetown had ever seen. Each day, people from out of town would go to the hotel just for the experience of being there. The spectacular thing about the hotel for the people of Freetown was that it was right inside the town, it wasn't on the outskirts  unlike other lavish places, and so it made it easier for people to enjoy the luxury it offered. More people came into Freetown just to stay there or to have amazing food. It was owned by a wealthy man in Freetown, he didn't want to build a hotel in another town, he wanted to attract more people to his town, to get more people to notice and appreciate Freetown. It had a beautiful restaurant with an amazing chef. Cassie had rented a beautiful room in the hotel to celebrate Phoebe's day.

She parked her car in the parking space of the hotel and walked to the magnificent building. Behind the glass door that had the name Grandeur engraved on it, she could see a smiling doorman awaiting her entrance. Once she was close he pulled open the door, and she returned his smile. "Welcome to Grandeur," he told her. 

She walked onto the blue rugged floor that had the hotel name in large gold letters emblazoned right at the middle. The hotel colours were royal blue and gold, and it was very evident from the blue chairs and gold tables, and the blue and gold decorations and ornaments in the lobby.

She walked  to the elevator and pushed the button going up, it soon opened up and there was a young lady with a child in there, Cassie smiled at them and got into the elevator.

"What floor are you going to?" the little girl tugged at Cassie's skirt and she smiled adorably, and revealed two missing teeth in front. She was an adorable redheaded girl with pigtails.

"I'm sorry," her mother apologized and brought her daughter closer to her, with her hands crossed around her daughter's chest. "She loves pushing the elevator buttons," her mother laughed and smoothened her daughter's hair.

"It's alright," Cassie smiled at the little girl's mother and then at the little girl." I'm going to the sixth-floor darling," Cassie bent her back to the little girl's level, with her hands placed on her knees. The  girl smiled, clapped her little hands together and pushed the button for the sixth floor before pushing the button to close the door. Cassie giggled at her enthusiasm and rested her back on the elevator mirror, as she watched the numbers count from the first up to the sixth floor. Once the door opened Cassie smiled at the girl and her mother again before walking out. "Thanks," Cassie said to the little girl and waved at her.

"Bye," the little girl beamed at Cassie and waved her hands at Cassie as the elevator doors slowly came together.

The space outside was really big and beautifully decorated. There were tables lined up with beautiful flower displays on them, placed in beautiful marble stone vases. Lined on the walls were a lot of beautiful, colourful paintings. The floor was covered with a beautiful royal blue carpet. Cassie walked to the right where some rooms were, and where the room she was renting was. There were no rooms for guests on that floor, it was a floor for events. There were a few rooms that could be rented, and then rooms for entertainment; a game room, a music room used mainly for guests to relax, and have cold drinks and watch the television. That floor was known as the relaxation floor. Each room was soundproof, so an activity in one room would not disturb an activity in another room. The floor was divided into various sections, with different elevators leading to each section, in order to avoid it being too crowded.

Cassie walked down the corridor to the last room, which was the room she rented for phoebe's party. She opened the door to the  room to find the planner, Courtney there. "Hey Courtney," Cassie called from the door. Courtney was talking with two people before Cassie called her. Courtney smiled as soon as she saw Cassie, she left the people she was talking to and walked over to Cassie.

"Cassie," she beamed "so glad you're here," she hugged her "now I can show you what I've come up with," she clasped her hands together.

"I'm so excited to see what you'll do, you plan my mum's events so perfectly," Cassie smiled.

"Honestly, I think I'm so perfect at what I do because of your mum, she's always a wonderful pain in my tiny butt," they both laughed. Courtney was an event planner for most of Cassie's mum's biggest events, her modelling events especially.

"Yeah, she's a pain in my tiny butt too," Cassie rolled her eyes while she laughed. "So can I see what you've come up with for this crazy Bollywood Indian wedding themed party?"

"Sure, my plan's over there on that table," she said and then pointed to a table at the end of the big room. They both walked over to the table and stood over it. "So," Courtney said, "out of curiosity, how do you know this is what your friend will want, you seemed very sure over the phone."

"Oh, she snuck into my room one day and whispered into my ears, in detail exactly what she wanted," Cassie rolled her eyes and shook her head "she also whispered it to our other friends, and she sent a kid to tell me what he thinks my best friend will want for her birthday,"

"She's hilarious," Courtney laughed.

"Actually, I think she's bordering on crazy now, but I love that crazy girl, so here I am," Cassie put both her hands up with her shoulders slightly lifted up, then she dropped her hands to her side.

"I wonder what she'll whisper into your ears when she's getting married."

"I wouldn't know," Cassie said "I plan on drowning myself once she's engaged, I can't bear to be around for that," they both laughed.

"Okay, let me show you what I have," Courtney said between laughs. She picked up a board and rested it on her left palm, Cassie leaned in to see the plan properly. There were various colourful pieces of A4 paper taped to the board, filled with so many images and items. "So," Courtney placed her right index finger, painted with baby blue nail polish down on the first paper on the board. "Over here is basically some pictures I have gotten online from some Bollywood wedding scenes," she said "and the rest of these are what I have picked out from some of these pictures." Taped on a piece of paper was strips of colourful material from drapes and curtains, there was a picture with beautiful furniture and food, colourful beads, beautiful bright lights; all some elements that made up a beautiful Indian celebration.

"Wow," Cassie's eyes widened and she nodded her head, impressed. "I love all these colours and beads," she touched the silky, colourful material "I feel like I'm in India already," she did a little dance.

"Happy that you like it so far," she took the board from Cassie and placed it back on the table. "Now you need to leave me with my team to do some more planning, this is really the only time we have to check out the room before your friend's birthday."

"Yeah sure," Cassie hugged Courtney "so glad you're doing this, I completely trust you and your ideas."

"Thanks, I promise you that and your friend will love it."

"She better," Cassie growled.

================================================================================

Cassie opened the door to her house and dragged her feet inside. Her mum was sitting in the living room reading a magazine. "What are you looking at mum?" Cassie leaned on the backrest of the couch her mum was on.

"Just looking at some of the pictures from the photoshoot from two months ago," she told her and then placed the magazine down. She picked up a white envelope that was beside her on the couch. "This came in for you today," she turned around to give Cassie.

"Oh," Cassie said before collecting the envelope "I'll be in my room if you need me." She said and then ran up to her room.

She hopped on her bed and tore open the envelope, not bothering to look at who it was sent from. Inside the envelope was an old photograph, the photograph was torn at the edges and a bit dirty, she turned it around and was confused for a moment before the epiphany hit. She dug her hand into the envelope and pulled out a smaller piece of paper. On that paper was Brianna's name. She looked at the image again and the dots started connecting. On the photograph was a ring, an ancient coin ring. It looked nothing like the one on the charm bracelet, but it was an image of a ring sent to her by Brianna, and that was all Cassie cared about.

She picked up her phone and immediately dialed Joseph's number. "I see you're finally warming up to me," he said from the other end of the line.

"I don't have time for your nonsense, we need to meet. I think Brianna is finally reaching out," she stood up and paced about her room, she took glances at the ring and couldn't help but smile "she just sent me a picture, a picture of a ring," she spoke quickly.

"Come over to my place, we'll talk then," he said.

"Okay, I'll be there soon," she said.

"wai—" he started to speak but she had already cut the call. She was too excited. She put the picture back in the envelope and picked up her things before walking down the stairs. Her mum was not in the living room by the time she got down, she was so relieved. She did not need her parents to suspect that she was working on a case, even though they had acce[pted the career path she had chosen for herself, she knew they'd disapprove of her trying to find Avril's killer and answers to why she was killed.

She climbed into her car and with excitement, drove off.

By the time she got to Avril's parents' house, she basically jumped out of the car. She skipped up the stairs and rang the doorbell once she was at the door. She waited outside with the envelope in her hand. She rang the doorbell again and when no one opened up the door, she knocked, but there was still no one, and so she turned the door knob. To her pleasure, t was open, and so she let herself in.

 There was no one in the living room and so she walked up the stairs. She was about to text Joseph to ask him where he was, but her curious self and wondering legs walked down to Avril's room instead. She found the door ajar and then she peeped in, it was empty, and so she pushed it open and walked in. She slowly walked into the room, gently sliding her fingers over the furniture and everything she knew that Avril touched.

"What are you doing in here," an angry voice rang through her ears. She turned around to see Avril's mum looking at her with angry eyes, she moved back a bit.

"I'm—I'm sorry, I knocked but no one answered, I'm here to see Joseph," she said.

"Joseph doesn't live here and you know it," she rose her voice. It was then that Cassie remembered that Joseph did tell her that he didn't live there. She understood that she made a mistake in going there since Joseph did not stay there, she also knew she was wrong in letting herself in and snooping, but she was slightly taken aback by the way she was being talked to. The last time she was there, Avril's mum was so friendly to her, she did not understand what had changed, why she was being so harsh.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave," Cassie said and then moved forward. Before she got to the door, a man with a tall built walked into the room. She immediately recognised him as Avril's father. When she was younger, he'd sometimes carry her up on his shoulders, she remembered always being terrified of falling down.

"Who are you?" he furrowed his eyebrows at her and then walked to his wife. 'Who's this honey?" he asked her. She was a bit disappointed that he did not recognize her, but she knew that she looked so different, as she should look. He stood behind his wife and placed his hands on her shoulders, and looked at Cassie, as he waited for her to speak.

Once he placed his hands on his wife's shoulder's, Cassie couldn't help but notice something on his left thumb, it was a ring, not just any ring, the exact same ring that was in the picture in the envelope she held. She rose her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side.

"She's about to leave," Avril's mother said, and then she held her husband's hands as they were on her shoulders.

"Yes, I am" Cassie nodded and then she ran out of the room and out of the house.

 She knew that somehow she had to get a hold of that ring.