After cheer practice, Emily, still in her cheer uniform, lingered by the lockers, chatting with a few of the girls from the squad. She tried to appear casual, but her mind was focused on one person—Cole Matthews.

“So, what’s the story with Cole?” she asked, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. “I’ve heard some things about him, but I was wondering if you guys know much about his past or if he’s had any exes here.”

The girls exchanged glances before one of them, Sarah, spoke up. “Oh, yeah, Cole did have a girlfriend here a while back. She was on the cheer team too, a really sweet girl. She moved away after they broke up.”

Emily leaned in, feigning curiosity. “Really? Do you remember her name or where she went?”

“Her name was Lily,” another girl, Jenna, replied. “She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and was super nice. I think she moved to Europe, but I’m not sure which country.”

Emily’s mind raced as she absorbed the information. “What country exactly? Do you remember?”

Jenna shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t remember the details. I just know she left for Europe and didn’t keep in touch much after that.”

Once she had gathered all the information she could, Emily thanked the girls and headed home, her thoughts consumed with the new lead. When she arrived, she found Jake in the living room, reviewing some paperwork.

“Jake, I need your help,” Emily said, her voice urgent. “I learned something interesting today. Cole had an ex here—her name was Lily. She was a cheerleader, blonde hair, blue eyes, and she moved to Europe after breaking up with him. Can you find out more about her?”

Jake looked up, intrigued. “Lily, you say? Alright, let me see what I can do.” He quickly grabbed his phone and began making calls, using his connections to dig deeper into Lily’s whereabouts.

The hours passed, and Emily waited anxiously as Jake worked. Finally, he emerged from his office, a serious expression on his face.

“I’ve got some information,” Jake said, sitting down next to Emily. “Lily’s last known address was in France. She moved there about a year ago. I’m trying to get more details, but it looks like she’s settled in pretty well. I’ll keep you updated on any new information.”

Emily nodded, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. “Thanks, Jake. I just need to know if there’s a connection between Lily and what’s happening now. Anything could help.”

Jake patted her shoulder reassuringly. “We’ll get to the bottom of this. Just stay sharp and keep gathering any details you can.”

As Emily settled into her evening routine, she couldn’t help but think about the potential link between Cole’s past and the current situation. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, and she knew she had to stay vigilant to uncover the truth.