CHAPTER 114 upied


    Joy


    I sighed as I sat down behind my desk with my phone positioned in front of me, waiting for the press


    conference like every other person in this town. The sun was finally setting and the only other people in


    my shop were Dina and Cristos.


    News of Mayor Cohen’s press conference spread quickly throughout the town. The media, I heard,


    were already stationed at St. Elizabeth’s ready for Liam to make his announcement. The townsfolk,


    who were so eager to listen to what he had to say, either went home to watch him on television or went


    directly to the hospital to offer their support.


    After Liam left my store earlier, I noticed the crowd thin down almost immediately. When lunch time


    came, my store was empty except for a few demanding customers who wanted a number of alterations


    to suit their tastes. Luckily, the evening dresses they wanted were made by me, so I knew what to alter


    and how to alter the dress without ruining the fabric.


    To Sebastian’s amusement, Dom’s was empty as well. Since both our stores were empty, it wasn’t a


    surprise when Xavier came bustling into my shop carrying tons of food.


    “Norma and her friends are organizing a vigil for Theodore at the hospital,” he said as he ced the


    bags of food on the counter. He had changed into his usual T-shirt and jeansbo sans his favorite


    blue apron. Xavier couldn’t stand being in pink.


    Sebastian chuckled while he rummaged through the bags. “Norma isn’t going to like it when she finds


    out her son is the primary suspect for the dead person she’s organizing that vigil for. She’ll probably


    faint if Liam and the Sheriff decide to broadcast their investigation.”


    “Any word on what’s going on at the hospital?” Xavier asked him. Sebastian shrugged his shoulders


    and opened his mouth to answer, but Cristos spoke up.


    “Autumn says the Sheriff has confiscated their phones, each one of them are being questioned and the


    deputies are searching through their lockers using their K-9 units,” Cristos enumerated to our


    astonishment. “Imagine… all of that being done without a


    warrant.”


    “Police can conduct a search without a warrant just as long as they have reasonable suspicion of


    exigent circumstances and believe me, finding Theodore’s murderer is pressing,” Sebastian exined.


    “How are youmunicating with Autumn anyway? Emma gave explicit instructions to refrain from


    messaging or even calling her.”


    gave me


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    “Autumn has a burner phone stashed somewhere in the hospital,” Cristos answered, taking out his


    phone. “For someone who physically stands out in this town, she seems to get around without being


    seen.” Cristos tapped on his phone and handed it to Sebastian. “By the way, Dina sent me the video of


    Liam and Ford Martin’s little scuffle when Liam arrived at the hospital.”


    Sebastian and Xavierughed while they watched the video. After they were done, Sebastian handed


    the phone to me so I could have a look.


    When Liam grabbed Ford’s shirt, I knew Liam wanted to kill him. I zoomed in on the video to get a good


    look at Ford, trying to remember who he was when we were children. As I continued watching the short


    video, I noticed a scar on his right arm and it hit me. Ford was the older boy I fought with when I caught


    him looking underneath my skirt at the yground.


    “The Martins will soon be outcasts in New Salem,” Sebastian said, looking quite satisfied as he


    ate. “How’s Dina doing with the footage we have of the hospital?”


    “She’s done editing Emma and Autumn out from the video,” Cristos replied. “When the Sheriff watches


    the footage, all he’ll see is Ford heading to Theodore’s hospital room with all the necessary


    medications in his tray… like any other day. The evidence will surely point to him, no matter what he


    says to refute it. Cristos suddenly turned to me. “Virtue, I have Dina pulling all of your videos and


    pictures off of social media. I don’t want your parents finding out and flying here unexpectedly. It will


    ruin all of our ns.” Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    “Quick thinking,” I said, agreeing with him. There was always a chance my parents might se me on


    social media. I didn’t want to give my father a heart attack. I took a slice of gourmet pizza and stood up


    to go to my office. “Speaking of my parents, I need to give them a call. I know they’re busy fixing that


    dpidated vi I purchased for them in Italy to keep them upied. Seems to be working. They


    haven’t called for three days which is a first.”


    “Sure, honey. Say hi to them for me while you’re at it,” Xavier said winking. “Don’t worry about the


    mess. I’ll have my staff clean it up. Anyway, my grocery store is practically deserted. I’ve already told


    my staff that we’ll be closing early, so they can join the vigil if


    they want to.”


    Once Dina was done doing her magic out in the back, she came into my shop with her fake resume to


    apply as my sales associate. Xavier needed her around to do tech support while I needed someone


    who knew how to use a gun.


    Sebastian quickly taught Dina how to use my cash register before going off on his own. Since


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    the townsfolk were all preupied with Theodore’s death, he decided to go and oversee some of his


    ‘other businesses’ which usually meant he was going to talk to De Luca or see another one of his men.


    Xavier, on the other hand, had promised Norma he would go to the hospital and participate in the vigil.


    While he joined Cynthia’s old crew, he instructed his men to keep an eye out for Pete and told Sam to


    stay with Noah. After the grand opening ceremony this morning, Noah went straight to his office to


    meet with Lisa and Link to begin renovations on the McDowell


    residence.


    As for Cris Murdock, he was on sick leave ording to Dan, but Sam had eyes on his house just in


    case Cris decides to leave thefort of his home.


    Nicole, surprisingly, was missing in action. ording to Cristos, before she entered the Waldorf Hotel,


    he noticed the angry glint in Nicole’s eyes. He said she looked like she was already nning her


    vengeance. Noah better watch his back.


    After I had finished with the alterations in the small tailoring area in the stockroom, I went


    to


    my office to see if the press conference had started. Luckily, media was still on standby at


    St. Elizabeth’s.


    I kicked off my shoes and leaned blissfully against my chair as I waited for Liam, my fiancé..


    when Cristos knocked.


    “I need to go to the pub,” Cristos announced. He quickly walked in and sat on the couch, yawning. Poor


    Cristos. He was tired. “Since Dina won’t be able to handle the influx of students who will being in


    the next several days before the Spring Formal, I’ve hung a ‘Help Wanted’ sign in front of your shop.


    You also need someone to help you alter the gowns You can’t do it all on your own.”


    “Ugh, you’re right,” I said, yawning. “I should’ve thought of that before opening this store. I hope I get


    the help I-”


    We suddenly heard a chimeing from the front of my store, alerting us that someone had


    s pugs


    just walked in. Cristos rolled and was about to stand up to take care of it, but I


    gestured to him to stay seated. Dina could handle this.


    After several moments, a soft knock sounded on my door. The door opened and Dina popped her head


    in, her bright eyes t winkling with mischief.


    Dina was one of those brilliant minds that couldn’t sit inside a ssroom even if you taped


    her to her chair. She was petite and slender halt- Asian and half-Italian, with light brown.


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    almond shaped eyes, rosy cheeks, nice wless skin and pink thin lips. Her fine brown hair if was cut


    into a short pixie cut, but styled with long bangs she could twirl behind her ears she wanted to. She was


    wearing an as s ymetrical pink top and white skinny jeans paired with high-heeled pink stilettos.


    “Miss V, a Miss Nicole is here to see you,” she said. I nced at Cristos and saw him grimace. Nicole


    always spelled trouble.


    “Anyone else inside?” I asked, putting on my bunny slippers. I’m wearing ts from now on.


    “No, Miss V,” Dina answered,ing inside the office. “Before I told her you were here, she wanted me


    to give you a box and an envelope… and she’s acting really strange. She keeps whispering for some


    reason and she keeps hiding her face with her scarf.”


    “She and her boyfriend covered the store with CCTV cameras and listening devices,” I told her. “Flip


    the sign at the door and close shop. We won’t be entertaining anyone else,” I said, standing up from my


    desk and handing her the keys. “Will you be okay opening the store on your own tomorrow morning?”


    “No problem, Miss V. I’ll have my husbande in with me tomorrow,” she said, smiling at me. I smiled


    back. She was so small, but so energetic.


    “Come on, Chip,” I gestured to Cristos. “Let’s see what our unexpected visitor wants.” He scowled


    before getting up on his feet. Unfortunately, he still needed to deal with Nicole before leaving to go to


    the pub.


    I followed Dina into the shop and instantly saw the lone figure of Nicole in a long sleeve fitted maxi


    dress with blue and white stripes. She was wearing white sneakers and had a b scarf wrapped around


    her tinum blonde hair. When she turned to face me, that’s when I noticed the big-rimmed sunsses


    covering her eyes. She was trying so hard to keep herself


    hidden.


    Shockingly, she wasn’t wearing any make-up which I thought was a better look for her. She actually


    had nice skin under that full face of make-up she usually puts all over her face.


    “Virtue, hi,” she greeted me. “I’m so sorry to bother you, but I don’t have anyone else to turn. to.” Her


    voice was barely audible against the soft sound of jazz music ying in the store.


    I wanted to reprimand her… That’s what you get when you bug every ce in such a small town.


    Nowhere was safe.


    “Nicole sweetheart I thought you were flying inter this evening.” Cristos said from behind


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    me.


    “Chip, you’re here,” she said nervously. “I was hoping to speak to Virtue alone. I, uh, I…”


    “You know I can keep a secret, Nicole,” Chip replied gently.


    “I know you can, it’s just that… well, I need a favor from Virtue and maybe you won’t like having your


    bestfriend help me,” Nicole said.


    “Come on,” I ced an arm around Nicole. “Why don’t we speak in my office?” Nicole shook her head


    and pulled away from me.


    “Please not here. Can we talk somewhere else?”


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