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IMPOSTOR
Looking around for clues

Looking around for clues

Since everyone has left now, she thought she should look up a little into the case. So she locked her cafe and went to the one place the kidnapper should have crossed paths with, which would be the toll booth.

'Luckily, a highway is followed by our town so there's two toll booths here, and fortunately or unfortunately you have to pass through that to get back to our town after leaving,' she thought. 'That means the toll collector must have seen the kidnapper if they left the town and came back. Even Though it's unlikely it wouldn't hurt to check after all.'

She drove her car to the said destination where she saw a suspicious looking man wearing a black leather pants and jackets with a hat covering his face. 'Is he the kidnapper...? No way, that's way too much of a coincidence. Plus he looks more like a buffoon rather than a criminal,' she thought.

"So you've finally come, I was expecting you," the mysterious man said.

"Huh?" It was her immediate response to his words.

"Oh forget it," the mysterious man slowly removed his hat. "I don't know why I said it."

"Trevor?"

"Yeah, guess we both had the same idea."

"Yes, I guess... So, did you get any information so far?"

"No, I just reached here, guess we have to investigate together."

"Okay, fine by me."

They approached the first toll booth. "Hey sir, have you seen anyone suspicious here?" said Trevor.

"Yeah, you," he looked behind him, "and the girl behind you looks suspicious as well."

Misty gave an awkward smile. "I mean apart from us... Like, have you seen someone suspicious yesterday specifically?"

"If you did see someone, please give their information," said Trevor.

"Uhm, no, and I don't think I can hand over such important information to anyone."

Misty Showed him a photo of the group, which she took when they all met up. "Have you perhaps seen any of them leaving or entering the town?"

He squinted his eyes to observe each of them carefully. "No, I don't think I did."

"Thank you for your cooperation, we will take our leave now."

They got the same response from the second toll booth too. "Guess we are at a dead end," said Trevor.

"No, now we at least know that the kidnapper didn't leave the town that day," said Misty.

"Yeah but I was hoping to get some info about the kidnapper."

"Well, no worries we will definitely catch them in a few days."

"I hope so, but aren't you missing something?" said Trevor.

"Yes, I suppose there could be a helper who isn't part of the 15 suspects who wasn't seemingly suspicious because they weren't trying to hide anything," said Misty.

Stolen novel; please report.

Trevor nodded. "I could get the details of everyone who passed through that toll yesterday."

"No need bro, I don't think they're so stupid to give away any information in any way. Plus we shouldn't focus on diversions right now, we need to focus on the 15 suspects." Both of them went back to their home after that small investigation.

The next day all of them met up again at the 'Graveyard' to leave for the new house. "Guys, come with me I will lead you to my caravan and when everyone is ready we will head over to my big house," said Satoshi.

"What about our vehicles?" said Alex.

"Well, those with a vehicle can come by their vehicle and just follow my caravan." They rode to Satoshi's house.

"Hmm... it's not really a house, it's a FUCKING MANSION," said Catherine.

"Oh, this mansion was yours after all, huh?" said Alex.

"You are rich," said Ralph.

"What's the problem with being rich?"

"I hope it's not daddy's money," said Mary.

"Stop saying such things..." Satoshi unlocked the door. "Even though it's half true," he murmured quietly.

"Half?" said Misty.

"How the hell did you hear me?"

"I have good hearing ability."

He sighed. "Let's just get in." They all got inside the house

The house had way more room than 15, even though some were relatively smaller, so everybody got themselves a bedroom. Everybody was panicking about their luggage and stuff, they were exchanging conversations too.

Misty felt as if her whole world changed in a matter of a few seconds. She always wondered how it would feel to have friends, because she never had any before. She does have a friend, but a group of friends is another thing. 'Is it finally time for me to experience that too...' She shook her head, 'nah, I know it's a beautiful scene to view. A bunch of random strangers making friends with each other, but I also know that all these strangers-' she paused for a second. 'No, these "friends'' have dark secrets that they don't want to share.'

"Yo, what are you thinking?" said Satoshi.

"Nothing," she shrugged.

"Just forget about the case for now, take some rest and relax with us."

She talked a bit with everyone for a while and went to bed. The next day, Misty woke up early so that she could leave early for some 'investigations'. Right then, she saw that Trevor also seemed like he was getting ready to go somewhere. "Are you getting ready to kidnap more people?" she said.

"No," he said in a serious tone, "I'm going somewhere."

"Seems like something important, sorry I guess," said Misty.

"Where are you going anyway, off for a kidnapping?" said Trevor in an annoyed tone.

"I thought I should investigate a little bit," she said.

"That's also my second goal of the day. Okay then, you go ahead and investigate. I will go do my business and do some investigations myself as well," he said.

"Let's do it together then," she said.

"I don't really mind but it will take some time before I finish my first business."

"It's fine, you are also among the 15 suspects, I want to know where you are heading to."

"Okay fine." They both got in Trevor's car once they were both ready and drove off. "Don't you think they'll suspect us once they realise we left this early? We did leave a note, but they wouldn't know where we actually went, so they'll suspect us," said Trevor, while driving the car.

"Let them be, they'll eventually realise that it's not us, I mean at least not me," she said.

"Aye, it's not me as well," he said.

"It's here," he stopped at the cemetery. "I will be back," he said and left.

When it took him more than 30 minutes she got impatient and got a little suspicious of him. So, she just went towards the grave he was standing in front of. When she got near it, she saw the names on the gravestone, it read 'Alice Cameron' 'Rex Cameron'. She remembered that Cameron was his last name and she took a glimpse of Trevor's face, he had a sad look on his face. After seeing that she just went back and waited for him. He came back an hour later. Then he just got into his car and drove.

"So, what's our next destination?" he said.

"Can we go to the said locations of these people when they were added to the group chat. Well, mostly their houses, going to public places is a hassle."

"Okay, off to your house." He started driving faster. "They are my parents," said Trevor. "Hm?" "That grave was my parents', you probably saw a glimpse of it, so I thought I should clear it for you."

"Sorry for invading your privacy." After a while They reached her house.

"Okay I will ask around about you and your existence that day. For some reason you didn't even open your cafe that day." Trevor came back after a while. "Well, they said they didn't see you around that time of the day... suspicious."

"Hmm... Yes I guess."

"What? You don't even have any excuses for yourself, Ms. Kidnapper?"

"No, I am not the kidnapper, I just agreed that it indeed is suspicious."

"Then why didn't your neighbours see you that day during that time?"

"I just didn't go out during that time of the day."

"Hmm, whatever," he said and got in the car.

"Where should we go next?" said Trevor.

"Of course to your house," said Misty.

"Well, the results will still be the same because I don't go out much anyway." Turns out he was right, nobody saw him around, that day.

"Trevor?" "Hm?" "Isn't it kinda weird you don't go out much, but you are the one who is accompanying me to look for clues. Something a culprit would definitely do."

"I have my reasons."

They went around these people's said locations and went to some other places as well to gather some significant clues. They got the same reactions from most of the neighbours except Catherine's. Her neighbour said, "oh, I went to her house around that time because we ran out of salt. When I got there, I saw that she was busy with her phone. She never seemed to be the type to be addicted to mobile phones, so I was surprised and to top it all off she was grinning at her phone."

When they went to the store where Vincent went, they said they don't remember seeing a guy like that. Though they also said that it's hard to remember everyone they see everyday. The hospital staff had the same to say about Meera. Evelyn's and Tony's coaches confirmed that they were indeed at their said locations that day.

The librarian confirmed that Cheng was at the library, she said, "he's such a good boy. Having a strong passion for books at such a young age, so I'd remember if he doesn't show up one day. He left around the same time he leaves everyday, which is about 5 minutes before the timing you said."

The most surprising thing of all was what Mary's aunt said. "She didn't come here yesterday, her sister did come here though."