My eyes refused to leave Picasso's door. I had decided to arrive early to mentally prepare myself mentally to stay calm the entire time. My hands fidgeting with each other because I remembered because my mind kept on replaying my mom's words to not bite my nails. Kelly was seated on the other end of the diner to provide protection. It was Blake's idea of somebody accompanying me as he was afraid of what happened the last time when I went alone.

Obviously, I did not back down so easily and informed them that I know how to take care of myself and that Picasso was a public place so Lola wouldn't think of doing anything foolish, but if I had learned anything about Blake was that he was more stubborn than me when it came to protect me. So, I decided to Kelly to come along just because I did not want him worrying about me while he was dining with the McAllister's.

There were three different topics my mind was thinking about at the same time. Would I get something useful from Lola? Were our efforts successful? Will we catch the killer soon now? I would have been much calm at the moment only if I knew that by the end of the night I would get answers to all these three.

A small smile appeared on my face as I stood up from my booth to greet Lola. She simply waved at me and sat in front of me. I shot Kelly a look who nodded in respose as she took a sip from her coffee.

"Thank you for meeting me," Lola sweetly said.

"Of course. I am in desperate need of answers and plus, I was ready to bury this hatchet now. I believe the both of us are mature enough to forgive each other now," I replied, hoping she won't ruin this evolving moment.

"Before I answer your questions, I just want to know two things." she said and for a second, I was taken by surprise and a little hesitation started bubbling inside me, but I guess I do owe her a few answers.

"If I hadn't slept with Dewey, will you guys have lasted forever?" her eyes were keen to know my reply.

I took a deep breathe before responding. The answer was a clear no. But I knew that I had to answer creatively. This was for her to move on and forget the horrible thing she did and as much as I wanted to help her stop thinking that she was a monster, I also did not want to be trapper further because judging by the first question, I could make a wild guess about her second question.

"No. We would have drifter apart after I went to the city and I say this confidently now is because I know myself much better now and Dewey was never going to be 'the one' if you believe in that. But at the time, when you slept with him, I was a naive girl who did not know how to stand up for herself and was dependant on others. Like it or not, but it did break my heart." I said. Her hazel eyes did not leave the water pitcher on the table, not even after I gave her an answer.

"I had no idea you'll were going serious. I personally knew that guy really well and I just assumed you were another fling. When you insulted me at my dad's wedding I was so mad at you. I even planned an elaborate revenge plan, but my stepmother asked me to calm down and think about it rationally before I did something that I would eventually regret and that is when I realised that for Dewey, maybe you were just another girl, but for you, he was important."

"He was," I said grimaced. "But, it is all in the past now. I am now dating somebody much better than him and soon I am graduating and will be a certified therapist. So, I do not wish to dwell much in the past."

"You don't understand," she sobbed. The entire time when she was avoiding eye contact, she was actually preventing me from seeing her breakdown. "I tried really hard to like this town and its quietness, but I failed. You wanted to always get out from here and you did, but I had to stay back and adjust to a life here. You moved on and made new friends and I had to jobs to get myself some temporary friend. You now have love in your life, but I had to settle for Dewey, a guy I felt no emotions for and if I don't marry him, I'll be the talk of this town and how I let my parents down."

While this entire time I thought that she called me to be bitter or start a fight, she managed to prove me wrong. She just wanted to bring her life on the correct path after ruining it and this was a part of it. I felt guilty for some reason. How was I supposed to comfort her? MapleBirch was an exciting time but boring and stagnant too. The tourism had dropped a fair percent and no new acitivities were conducted to keep everybody on their foot.

"I am so sorry Lola," I sighed and placed my hand on top of hers. "I am sorry for being so selfish and calling you a whore. I forgot that my action would have consequences and you will have to live with that tag for the rest of your lifetime. And if I find a way to make it right, to help you in any way, I will not hesitate to do it. I am glad we are doing this and you opened up to me. I may not show it, but it means a lot to me."

She looked at me with a glint of hope shining in her eyes. I gave her a firm nod, assuring her that I will stick to my word.

Once she found a comfort in a friend she could never in her wildest dreams imagine, Lola decided to answer my questions.

I felt a relief taking over every inch of my body because even though I wouldn't like certain answers, atleast I was getting somewhere.

"How did Rosalind seem when she met Sarah?" I asked.

"She was always a little nervous and for you information, she never confided in her. She wasted her sessions by talking about vague topics. Never really shared what bothered her," Lola answered, taking a sip of her smoothie.

"What do you mean she never shares her problems?"

"Oh come on, you know why!" She exclaimed. "Sarah has a big mouth. None of her talks are confidential. She always gossips about time behind their backs. Rosalind didn't want that."

"So, why did she continue seeing her? She could have stopped if she didn't feel comfortable or safe."

"I know. But she never stopped because she confided in me," she smiled and looked at me. "After every session, we both used to hang out together. It was always at my place or at the orphanage and as time passed by, she felt safe around me and told me everything."

"Everything?" I rose up an eyebrow.

"I knew she was pregnant and that brought problems between Lenny. I know that she was losing herself and slipping into depression but pulled herself back together after she met Jordan. I am also aware about the fight that happened between her and Jessica. She knew she had no business meddling but Derek was too consumed by his failing business that he would have removed all that frustration on Jessica, making her feel worthless and stupid. Rosalind didn't want that," she said.

So, she did know everything.

I wondered if she knew who bothered Rosalind.

"Did Rosalind ever speak about somebody in particular? Somebody who made her feel more depressed?"

"Nah. She was careful with her words. As much as she opened up with me, she also kept a lot to herself."

"I'm glad that you and Rosalind had started to get along," I smiled. "But do you know why she didn't tell all this to Derek? They always told each other everything."

"I told you. Derek's company was failing and he was too busy fixing that. And Rosalind didn't want to be a burden. You know how that goes," she chuckled and I just nodded in agreement.

"I feel so terrible for not being here," I sighed and buried my head in my hand.

"You're fine, she was glad you were out there living your life."

I just looked at her in silence. Lola hadn't given me any new information. I knew all of this already. But I didn't have anything else to ask. Rosalind was depressed because she was overwhelmed with her feelings.

This always happened with the do-gooders. They would spend their entire life taking care and making sure others are okay. But at the particular point in time, their emotions would reach the brim of their heart and that's when all those people who used their company betrayed them.

Rosalind had lost the love of her life, she was raped and had made a decision of brining a child in this world. Her parents were having a hard time adjusting to the truth and Derek was building back the empire Rosalind had helped him to build in the first place. Her two best friends had left her on a bitter note and when living their best life in the city. She made some new friends, but they proved out to be temporary too.

"You know, I would love to stay and chat but Dewey is waiting for my outside," Lola informed, looking up from her phone and giving me a dull smile. "I'll see you around, Valerie."

She got up, but I stopped her. I told her I was going to help her and even though the situation was a little serious right now, I could ease up things for her.

"You feel like a compulsion to marry Dewey, but it is not. Yes, I know if you don't marry him people will talk, but they still do, don't they? They talk because they have made it their business. You know how I made it to the city? By ignoring all the people in this town who talked ill things about me and my career option. Lola, we are still young and we still have a lot of time. Use it wisely and not under an obligation."

She pulled me into a hug and I smiled in content. I was more than glad to help her and I had just the plan in my mind. But it had to wait for a while.

After Lola left, Kelly walked up to my booth.

"I have called Brianna and texted Blake. They are all going to meet us in a while." Kelly said and I gave her a thumbs up.

"So, I did not get any brand new information except for the fact that Rose was depressed and nobody was by her side when she needed them the most."

"So, Jessica is our only suspect?"

"But it doesn't make sense. When I was in the hospital, a man came to put a note and not a woman," I point out.

"It could be an accomplice. She had all those people at the abandon kindergarten too," Kelly told me. "She has a motive. Rosalind practically told her that she will not be loved by the one person she had fallen in love with. And you'd be surprised by how love makes people do crazy things."

Kelly and I sat in total silence, using our brains to the fullest and trying to figure out the who, so we would get the why.

I wished it was as easy as I said it. But what was a good puzzle without some frustration?

We were soon joined by Brianna and Lenny. Yep, that's right. Lenny decided to meet us after missing out on the most important part of this unsatisfactory journey.

Brianna was mad at him because I decided to continue investigating even after there was an attempt to stab me to death, but Lenny shut himself in the house after merely being abducted.

I let her be. We all had our different opinions now and I did not want to start an unwanted argument. Although, there was a little piece of my heard that supported her notion. Not to sound rude, but Lenny had been useless.

We just briefed Lenny on our situation and waited for the guys to come in. I couldn't stop thinking how it was going for Jordan and Blake. They had been together for almost two hours now.

When the door jingled from the hell tied to it, I immediately spun my head around and got up from the booth, rushing to hug Blake. A his lips tugged upwards as he watched me approach him with such delight.

I kept my arms wrapped around him for a good minute before parting and pulling Jordan in a short embrace. Once we were all together once again, I asked the boys how it went and Blake just threw an annoying look in Jordan's way but then smiled.

"Jordan told Rosalind's parents the truth," Blake said. "We decided to not tell Derek and let him stay with his parents. They have a lot of catching up to do."

"You did what?!" Brianna asked.

"Jordan, what the heck!" Lenny said.

"Why did you do it?" I calmly asked. If there was one thing about Jordan it was that he never made any rash decisions.

"I did it because they lost a daughter. They have every right to know the truth even if we have failed to catch the killer." Jordan answered, his voice low.

"Alright," Brianna said. "I can see why you did that."

Brianna not making a big deal out of this? She must have definitely decided to change herself for the better.

"Okay guys, so," I spoke, getting everybody's focus back. "Kelly and Brianna think that Jessica is out killer. She has a motive and also can manipulate people really well. Who else seconds this?"

"I do," Lenny raised his hand up.

"I do too," Jordan said.

"I don't know," Blake replied. "I mean, I get it why she was mad at Rosalind and started a fight. But, I don't think she is capable of murder."

"You didn't see her," Kelly said. "She had this look in her eyes that said she was more than what she led on."

"How did it go with you?" Blake asked, changing the topic.

"Lola and I are not enemies anymore. But as per getting new information, I got none." I answered.

"So, Jessica is the only potential we got?" Blake asked, looking at Kelly.

"Seems like it," Kelly shrugged.

"What do we do now?" Brianna questioned, looking at the all of us.

"I'll tell you what we won't do," Blake sighed. "Sit back again and let this slide. She may be or may not be the killer, but we still have a lead. We will dig into her, find out everything she has done months before and after Rosalind's murder. I'm pretty sure we should get an answer."

"Sounds like a good idea to me," Jordan replied.

"Was Blake okay?" Brianna worriedly looked at Jordan. "I know for sure that his parents are going to be needing more time, but was he okay?"

"He didn't want me to do it. He wanted to tell them after we caught the killer but Mr. McAllister cornered me and I just knew I had to tell him. Well, he wasn't happy with me rebel king despite of him asking me not to say a single word, but he seemed to be thankful later."

"I'll text him tomorrow and check up on them," Lenny said. "I will even go and see them personally. I feel like I have to be there."

I tuned all of them out and started doing my own thinking. I couldn't wait for them to start looking into Jessica, I tried piecing out things in my own mind.

It didn't make sense to me. Jessica knew how to hold a grudge but she was a harmless person. Why would she do it? Jessica was a piece to this puzzle, but we were trying to place her in the wrong place. She belonged somewhere else for she was innocent.

"Val?" Blake's velvety voice snapped me out of my trance. "Everything okay?"

I looked at every single one of their faces. All of them looked at me expectantly for an answer and I took my sweet time before answering.

"I think I know who the killer is."

Hello Angels!

Originally, my plan was to reveal the killer in this chapter, but don't we all love a little cliffhanger? But, I'm pretty sure you'll have already figured out who killed Rosalind.

So, who is it??

Thought on this chapter?

Don't forget to vote, comment and share.