RichVille

chapter 4

It was 6 pm on a Sunday, and the RichVille High soccer team, RichVille FC, was warming up for their match, scheduled to begin in an hour. They were engaging in fitness exercises and mental preparation to ensure they were ready for the game. Fortune asked Damon if he had given the sheriff the phone, to which he confirmed. "What's going to happen now?" Fortune inquired. Damon replied, stating that he had no idea and preferred not to dwell on it, as he needed to be mentally prepared for the match.

An hour later, the field was filled with enthusiastic spectators, and the match was set to commence. Cheers and support echoed from both schools as they rallied behind their respective teams. The commentator announced the exciting match-up between RichVille FC and Rivers FC, highlighting the talent and determination displayed by both high school teams throughout the season. It was a perfect evening for soccer, promising an action-packed game. The referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the match.

Ten minutes before half-time, Rivers FC was leading 2-1, and RichVille FC's Coach David appeared visibly frustrated, urging his team to perform better. Half-time concluded with Rivers FC maintaining their 2-1 lead, leaving the RichVille fans dissatisfied.

During the half-time break, Coach David addressed his team. "I don't know who played out there because that wasn't my team," he exclaimed, his frustration evident. Alex, the co-captain alongside Fortune, attempted to boost team morale. "Sorry, Coach, we promise to do better in the second half. It's just a one-goal deficit; we can equalize and still win, right?"

As they prepared to rally together and chant their slogan, Sheriff Oliver and two other officers entered the locker room. "Sorry to interrupt, Coach David, but we need to speak with Danny. It's a matter of importance," the sheriff stated.

Coach David hesitated, concerned about Danny's role in the starting lineup. "I'm sure whatever it is can wait. Danny is in my starting lineup, and if he doesn't play, we might not win," he argued.

"The game should be the least of your worries right now. We have an ongoing investigation, and we need Danny to answer our questions. Please go ahead and use someone else," the sheriff firmly responded, leveraging his authority not only as the sheriff but also as a member of one of the founding families to sway the coach's decision.

"Fine, Damon, you're replacing Danny. Let's move," Coach David reluctantly conceded. The team, excluding Danny, began to exit the locker room, each with questions in their minds. They exchanged curious glances, casting doubtful looks in Danny's direction.

As they walked through the hallway, Fortune asked Damon if he had divulged any information to the sheriff. Damon clarified that he had only handed over the phone and hadn't provided any additional details.

Damon's curiosity led him to linger behind as the sheriff engaged in a conversation with Danny. Feeling compelled to come up with an excuse, Damon turned to Coach David. "Um, Coach, I don't think I can play. I have this emergency I need to take care of. It's really important," he explained.

Coach David approached him with visible irritation. "Are you crazy? What emergency could be so pressing that it can't wait?" he questioned.

"Yeah, Damon, or are you planning to slide into someone's DMs to tell them how much of a coward you are?" Alex interjected with a playful jest, eliciting laughter from everyone except Coach David and Fortune, who shot him an annoyed glare.

"That's enough," Coach David intervened, sensing the escalating tension. He knew that the last thing he needed was his team divided by internal conflicts. "Fine, go. Phillips, you're starting. Let's move." With those words, they returned to the field, and Damon discreetly continued to eavesdrop on the conversation between the sheriff and Danny.

The sheriff motioned for Danny to take a seat. Danny's heart raced as he sat down, a knot of anxiety forming in his stomach.

"Okay, Danny," the sheriff began, his tone serious, "I don't want to do this because of my daughter, but I have no choice. Tell me, Danny, where were you on the night Diana was hit?"

Danny was initially trying to gauge whether the sheriff was merely investigating or if he was actually accusing him of a crime.

"I was at home, studying for tomorrow's tests," he replied.

"Can anyone vouch for your whereabouts during the time of the incident?"

Danny hesitated before replying, "No offense, sir, but this feels more like an accusation than an investigation. Are you suggesting I hit her with a car and drove off? I don't even own a car, sir," his voice tinged with frustration.

"Watch your tone, son, and answer the question," the sheriff sternly retorted. He proceeded to ask, "Were you two close? Did you have any disagreements or conflicts recently?"

Danny's agitation grew. "Are you asking me all this because I'm black? Plenty of students text and call each other every day, they have disagreements. I know the real question is not about Diana. So go on and ask me the real question," Danny challenged.

The sheriff, realizing Danny's intelligence, pulled out his phone and played a video. It showed a brutal fight between Nate and Danny, and after they were separated, Danny could be heard saying, "I'm gonna kill you, Nate. I swear, I'm gonna end you."

"That's a bold thing to say, isn't it? Are you going to explain why Nate died mysteriously two nights after this?" the sheriff asked.

"Look, man... sir," Danny began, his tone more subdued, "I only said that because I was angry. People say stuff like that when they're angry."

"Are you also going to explain how you're connected to the two tragic incidents that happened in one night?" asked the sheriff.

At this point, Danny decided to stop answering the sheriff's questions, and the sheriff advised him to get a lawyer.

Damon, who had been eavesdropping, was shocked to hear all this. With the evidence gathered against Danny, it was hard to believe he was innocent. The connection to both incidents, along with the video of him threatening Nate, painted a grim picture. Damon had never thought Danny capable of such actions. He wondered how he would break the news to Abigail.

The investigation came to an end, and the sheriff, along with his officers, left Danny, urging him to secure legal representation. Damon had already left when he overheard their conclusion. Unable to return to the soccer match, he headed straight home, grappling with the troubling revelations.

*****

Abigail entered her home, her excitement from the match still lingering in her demeanor. The team had won 3-2, but her happiness was soon replaced by curiosity when she realized Danny hadn't shown up as he had promised.

Unaware of her father's presence in the living room, she strolled through, only to be called over to him. "Abby, come here," he beckoned. She approached him and greeted with a warm, "Hey, Dad."

Making conversation, she asked, "How was work today?" Her father hesitated for a moment, wrestling with how to deliver the unsettling news.

"I hate to break this to you," he began carefully, "But, for now, I don't want you to hang out with Danny." This abrupt statement wiped the smile from Abigail's face.

She couldn't hide her shock. "What? Why?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Her father replied with a heavy sigh, "There's reason to suspect that Danny might not be who he appears to be. We've found some evidence linking him to the murder and Diana's accident."

Concerned and confused, Abigail probed further, "What kind of evidence? Diana was his biology partner, and he and Nate had their share of fights, but that doesn't mean he's involved."

"Dad, I'm telling you, it's not what it seems," she started to argue, but her father interrupted her.

"I'm not saying he's guilty, Abby. I'm just suggesting that, for the time being, you keep your distance from him until we can prove his innocence, okay?"

With a heavy heart, she responded, "Goodnight, Dad," and walked away, choosing to ignore her father's calls.

Damon had just finished calling Abigail to share the disheartening news he had heard, but she confirmed that her father had already broken it to her. She expressed her mixed feelings, admitting that it was truly heartbreaking. Danny's recent behavior, coupled with his unresponsiveness, was making things even more difficult for her. Damon tried his best to console her, assuring her that everything would eventually be alright. "I hope so," she replied, her uncertainty apparent.

After the call ended, Damon turned his attention to his friends' social media stories. Most of them were celebrating their victory against Rivers FC, and as he scrolled past Alicia's stories, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. She had posted numerous pictures from the match, highlights, and even some celebratory moments with her friends Olivia and Gabriella on the field. 'She's so beautiful,' Damon thought to himself. It had become clear to him just how much he had missed her. Their communication had been strained since the incident at the party, so he decided to take the initiative and reach out to her.

"Hi," he sent her a simple message.

Alicia, who was lying on her bed, noticed the incoming message and replied with a friendly "hi." As the conversation continued, Damon couldn't help but express his regrets over how things had unfolded at the party. He acknowledged that he shouldn't have said what he did and hoped that she wasn't angry with him. Alicia couldn't help but smile a bit after reading his message and playfully responded, "Maybe a little."

In response to her teasing, Damon sent a sad/sorry face emoji along with a message, "Are we cool?" He eagerly awaited her reply, but just as he saw that she was typing, another message notification appeared, diverting her attention. It was a message from Alex that read, "Hey stranger," accompanied by a love emoji.

Alicia's focus immediately shifted to Alex, and she chose to respond to his message first. She began by apologizing for her behavior on the night of the party, acknowledging that she shouldn't have snapped, and expressed her understanding of the difficulties he was going through. She asked for forgiveness and suggested that they return to their previous closeness. Alex responded positively, admitting how much he missed her, and their conversation continued. In the midst of chatting with Alex, Damon noticed that Alicia had begun typing a reply but then suddenly stopped. He patiently waited for her response, but eventually, sleep overcame him, and he drifted off without receiving one.

The next morning at school, Damon found himself trying to concentrate on organizing his locker, but his thoughts kept drifting. Across the hallway, Alicia was standing by her locker with Alex, who seemed to be cracking jokes that made her laugh heartily. Her laughter was so contagious that it cut through the bustling noise of the school. Damon couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. So, this was the reason she didn't respond to his messages last night. He couldn't believe that after everything Alex had put her through and the scene he had caused at the party, she had gone back to him.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Fortune, his friend, stepped in front of him, blocking his view of Alicia and Alex. "Someone seems jealous," Fortune teased.

"Jealous, of what?" Damon quickly stashed his books into his locker and slammed it shut. They began walking together, with Fortune draping his arm around Damon's shoulder. "You, my friend, seem to have fallen for a girl who doesn't even know you exist. That's sad," he teased again.

Damon retorted, "I didn't fall for anyone, bro. I'm just annoyed that she left me on read last night."

Fortune chuckled, offering some advice, "Look, man, I don't like Alicia, and I don't like Alex either. Believe me, that girl is trouble. The sooner you forget about her, the more peaceful you'll be."

As the bell rang, signaling the start of classes and tests, Damon and Fortune, along with their classmates, went to their respective classrooms.

*****

During lunchtime in the cafeteria, as students enjoyed their meals, notifications began popping up on everyone's phones. It was the same video that the police had, which contained Nate's fight with Danny. Danny could feel the weight of all those eyes on him, staring as if they could see right through him. Frustration overcame him, and he couldn't hold back. "Yo, the hell y'all looking at?" he yelled at the onlookers. He grabbed his bag and stormed off. Meanwhile, Abigail, concerned for Danny, got up from her seat and followed him.

As Danny walked down the hallway, Abigail called out to him, but he didn't respond. She quickened her pace and intercepted him. "Why are you ignoring me?" she asked him.

Danny replied, "Thought your dad told you to steer clear. I'm already on his radar, and I don't want any trouble for myself." He attempted to leave, but Abigail blocked his way.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you acting weird?" she questioned him.

Danny's frustration boiled over as he responded, "Look, I know that's not the real question on your mind right now. You want to ask me if I pulled the damn trigger."

"I know you didn't do it. I trust you," she said, trying to reassure him. She gently held his face, but he pulled away.

"It doesn't matter, alright? Pretty much everyone thinks I killed him because of that video. My life's gonna be over because of something I didn't do," Danny lamented.

Abigail was determined to help clear his name. "Hey, we can fix this, okay? We'll start by finding who sent the video," she suggested.

"Look, I'm outta here. I'd rather be somewhere else right now," Danny said, and he walked away from her.

Determined to uncover the source of the video, Abigail approached Damon, who was sitting with Fortune as they watched the video on their phones. She pulled up a chair and suggested they find whoever sent it. They checked the account, but it was anonymous.

"How are we gonna find the user like this?" Abigail asked, feeling frustrated.

Damon studied the video more closely. They all seemed focused on the fight, and the person filming was alone. He did a head count, and it matched the number of players on their team, including the person recording. "Hey, let's identify all these people," Damon suggested to Fortune. They began the process of identifying each individual, with the goal of finding who wasn't present and could potentially be the one recording.

"Adams and Noah, that leaves..."

"Phillips Becker!" they both exclaimed simultaneously, and they immediately stood up to go look for Phillips. Abigail followed closely behind.

They left the cafeteria and headed straight to Phillips' classroom. Phillips was known as a bit of a nerd, always found either in class or on the field providing tactical ideas. He wasn't particularly athletic, which puzzled many as to how he made it onto the team. Perhaps the coach valued his strategic input.

In the classroom, Phillips was engaged in conversation with a blonde girl, explaining a few things to her. Damon, Fortune, and Abigail entered the room, confronting him about the video. Initially, Phillips denied any involvement, but Fortune decided to escalate the situation by taking off Phillips' glasses in an attempt to pressure him.

"I'mma ask you again, did you send the video?" Fortune demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about, and please give me back my glasses," Phillips insisted, clearly frustrated by Fortune's actions.

Abigail intervened, urging them to leave and return Phillips' glasses. However, Fortune was persistent, as he had a strong hunch that Phillips was involved. Since Phillips wasn't present during the fight in the video, it suggested he was the one recording it.

"No, I'm not going without answers," Fortune asserted, grabbing Phillips by his shirt and threatening him.

Their confrontation was interrupted when Alex entered the classroom, accompanied by Alicia. Fortune released Phillips. "What are you doing here Alex?" Damon asked.

Alex acknowledged their efforts of finding out who sent the video. "He did, and I told him to do it," he admitted.

Naturally, they were curious about his motives. Abigail inquired, "Why?"

"Because I know for a fact that Danny killed Nate, and I can prove it," Alex declared.