"Avril, love, you were really awesome."
Avril's Mom was repeating the same line the seventh time since the play. After the crew stuff ended, her Mom had ran over to her and hugged her tight. Why was she being so lenient?
Avril's mother was one of the busy-all-business Moms who received ten phone calls during every meal, was always driving, and spent their leisure time having pedicures. Mrs. Kahn was never out of order.
But today seemed different. Today seemed normal. Instead if having a quiet lunch with loads of interrupting phone calls, and voice mails as Avril was concerned, they were talking. Not the usual business or school stuff, but normal stuff. Like normal families.
"So what do you think about a party?" Her Mom tried.
A party would do great. It could be a fascinating Shakespeare based event with a Hamlet stage, old fashioned cutlery like chalice or goblets and may be they could arrange for the same chandeliers as in the 2015 production. Awesome.
"Yeah maybe Robin Lough comes too."
What? That was impossible. The Robin Lough. Did Dad think he was a person who would attend any normal party? "You're kidding, right?"
"Nah Honey I'm serious. His cousin Ernest Lough is a friend of mine. Maybe he convinces him." This cant be happening for real. "Cool." She managed.
The door creaked open. Sasha, the housekeeper entered with a yellow manilla envelope in hands. She handed it to Mrs. Kahn.
"I guess it's yours Avril." She never got mails. Maybe it was from Rutgers...
Her Mom handed her the envelope. Of course, it was addressed to Avril Kahn. No, to Avrel Kahn. What the hell? She teared open he envelope and stared at the photo inside. Oh my God. It cant be. It cant be her. Staring right at her was Cathy. Or Tori Hastings. She wore a St. Blaire's uniform shirt with her hair tied in a tight ponytail. Tori Hastings. Oh Hell. Avril searched for a name tag from where it was sent but it was just labelled, "love, TH" TH stood for Tori Hastings, right? Then she saw it. With the photo was an accompanying note.
Hey Avril. It's Cathy. I'm really sorry I lied. But now that you know everything, I'm really sorry. I heard about your brother. And I felt you may think I killed him. But believe me I didn't. And I think I know who did it. I'm sending this secret note to you without a label because I'm trapped. And I think my kidnapper is Ashton's murderer. Can we meet? I'm not sure which place this is where he has brought me but its an old warehouse in Ohio. All I know is there's a market nearby called The Fields...Meet me. Help me Avril. And find your enemy.
Love, TH
Oh.My.God. Tori Hastings was innocent. And she was in danger.
"You seem tensed. What's wrong? Who sent the mail?" Courtney inquired. "It's just the press. You know how they..." she stuttered off. No one had opened up this topic since Sunday. Shit. She was so stupid. She gazed at the others' reaction. Her Mom just stared. Her Dad cleared his throat. Courtney made a silly face. "I...i'm sorry." She said.
"Never mind Avril. It must be hard for you. You the most."
Yeah. She was the victim if everything. And now who was this Tori Hastings and what did she know about that night? Of course she couldn't trust the cops with it. They would go get Tori and force answers out of her. And she will say nothing. Huh. Then things would be on block 1 again. She had to do something. She texted Adele and set up a meeting at Ariana's barn tomorrow night.
Now this was something.