It was Cody, lying down on the sand groaning in pain. That must've hurt. Nathaniel and I ran to Cody's aid. "Are you okay?!" Nathaniel asked.

Cody smiled weakly. "Yeah, I think the sand cushioned my fall. No bones broken...hopefully, heheh." Nathaniel and I looked at Cody's body lying down and expressed our concern with two slight frowns.

"We should take you inside," Nathaniel said firmly and proceeded to drag Cody by the feet to the house while using his other hand drag his backpack as well.

"I can walk by myself," Cody pointed out. "Plus, you're dragging me on rocky sand n- ouch!" Nathaniel dropped Cody's feet onto a sharp rock, earning a wince from Cody. I helped him get up off the ground and limp towards the door.

We finally reached the door to the mansion. I helped Cody down on the couch and Nathaniel went to the kitchen to make some coffee. Now would be a good time to interrogate Cody. I hate to call it that, but it's the truth. I hate the idea that I'm even considering the possibility that Cody killed Amy, but the reasonable, non-emotional part of my brain is telling me to come to my senses. I haven't talked to Cody much, but he's not a murderer! At least he doesn't seem like a murderer, but no one does, I suppose.

Oh god, I can't believe I'm doing this.

"Cody, why were you up in the treehouse earlier?" I questioned.

"I wanted to take some time to myself, think about what just happened," Cody answered. "I have a journal in my backpack here; I like to write in it whenever something interesting in my life happens. It's a hobby. Then I thought I saw two American Angel snakes in the treehouse. I panicked and ran to the entrance of the treehouse. Then I fell out." His story seemed legit enough. I would've went back to the treehouse to make sure there were angel snakes in there, but after what I've heard out them, I thought I'd pass.

"Okay, and do you have anything in your backpack other than your journal?" I asked.

"Just some snacks," Cody said. "And water, and my phone, and a spare sleeping bag... I like to be prepared." He chuckled.

"I'm going to use the bathroom upstairs," he said, grabbing his backpack. "I'll be right-"

"Nope!" Nathaniel said loudly. "I'm coming with you, you could fall!" Cody opened his mouth, perhaps to protest, but Nathan shot him down.

"Be right back, Olive!" Nathaniel said and raced up the stairs to where Cody was. I decided to look around at the living room decoration. My eyes fell on a beautiful vase of blood red roses. The black tint of the glass vase complimented the scarlet red perfectly. Lately I've been trying to get better at drawing; this would be a good time to practice. As long as it gets the murder of my best friend of my mind, I'll do it.

I took the paper recipe of the homemade chicken pot pies and turned it over, revealing a spotless side of the paper that was perfect for sketching. I took a black pen out of a random drawer and set it down on the living room table along with the paper. I took the vase and tried to bring it over, but dropped it.

The vase made a loud breaking sound that served as a notification for me saying "Hey, you broke someone's stuff". Oh god.

I feel like this was the worst day of my life so far. Tears proceeded to drip down from my eyes.

"Maybe I need to rest a little," I mumbled to myself. I got up on the couch and rested my head on one of the fluffy gray couch pillows.

***

I woke up to see the TV playing The Great British Baking Show. I looked to my right to see Nathaniel also on the couch, eyes glued to the screen.

"Nathaniel, where did Cody go?" I asked, sitting up.

"He went to rest in a free guest room after going to the bathroom," he said. "Have you seen Sophia by the way? She said she was gonna take a half hour nap. It's been three hours!"

"She's not awake yet?" I asked. Nathaniel nodded.

I looked around to see that nobody cleaned up the broken vase on the kitchen floor. You would think that-

Wait.

I know who the murderer is.