Episode 14: Weird Vibes and Wild Gestures

Aubrey Lance, S.S. (Supernatural Sleuth) -- Season 1, Episode 14: Weird Vibes & Wild Gestures

Collin was still staring at Lockley in disbelief. “You should tell the police about these papers and how those cheerleaders were acting, Lock. Sure, it could all be a coincidence, but what if all this really is relevant to Emery’s case? Or Chloe’s?” 

“Emery’s case was closed years ago, Collin.” Her eyes widened. “Wait, you really think this is related to Chloe somehow?” For a moment, she looked frightened, then she sighed. “I don’t see how it could be, though, right? Look—I know the whole thing is weird, but even if I go to the police, what am I supposed to say? The only reason these girls’ story or these drawings are even remotely suspicious is because Emery never mentioned meeting them, but no one tells another person every single detail of their lives. Emery probably didn’t think it was worth mentioning.” 

I saw Lockley’s point… but whether it made sense or not, I knew these pages were important. I could feel it. I gripped those papers like they were my lifeline—though carefully, so as not to crumple them—and turned to Collin. “I hate to admit it, but she’s probably right. The police wouldn’t even listen to me earlier when I tried to explain that Chloe wouldn’t have run away. They’re convinced she had this whole secret life I didn’t know about. They’d probably say the same thing about this.” 

Lockley raised an eyebrow at Collin. “See?” 

I looked at her. “That said, just because the police won’t find these papers useful doesn’t mean I won’t. I wish you’d told me about this sooner, Lock, but I’m glad you did now. Maybe there’s something in these pages that can help us figure out what happened to Em—maybe even something that could help us find Chloe.”  

I’d only had a moment to skim over the papers, but already I was excited about the potential for hidden messages buried in those sketches. The more I processed what I knew and what the cheer hawks had said, the more I suspected that Emery’s page for me in her notebook was anything but random. I knew it meant something, I just couldn’t figure out what… and now I felt the same with these pages. I couldn’t explain it, but the pages had immediately felt like they were hiding clues—like they had secrets. 

Lockley’s eyes locked on mine. “I get why you want those papers to mean something, Aubrey. Really, I do. But the reason I didn’t tell you sooner is because the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like something I was blowing out of proportion.” Lockley paused, then sighed. “At least until Chloe. Now, I’m not sure.”

That took me by surprise. “Really? You just said you didn’t think they had anything to do with Chloe.” 

Lockley’s expression was grim. “I don’t have any logical reason to think they do. But two girls going missing from our high school within three years does seem odd, right? It just feels weird. And Tory and the others showing up right between the two events, with these papers… I don’t know, something about those three new girls feels off.”

Collin looked at her in surprise. “You seem friendly enough with them at school and practice.”

Lockley gave him a smile. “I’m good at that, right? Keep your enemies close…” She trailed off, then sighed. “I’m joking… sort of. Them meeting Emery two years ago and then transferring to our school is probably a coincidence, and I’m probably making a big deal out of nothing. They’re nice enough, and they’re amazing cheerleaders. All three of them are super skilled, and they work great with the other girls…” She looked at me and shrugged. “I feel bad even thinking they might be suspicious, because they’ve been so great. I can’t explain it, I just don’t know if I trust them. Sometimes they give me weird vibes.” 

Collin and I exchanged another glance. If only she knew.  

“They give me weird vibes, too, Lock,” Collin said with a perfectly straight face. “Like, such weird vibes. So weird. Really, really weird.” 

Lockley squinted at him, obviously thinking he was acting a bit weird at the moment. 

If I hadn’t been so freaked out, I’d probably have laughed. 

Instead, I looked at Lockley and held up the papers. “Can I keep these? I’d like to look through them more thoroughly.” 

She nodded, then turned in her chair to face me directly. “Of course. Emery would’ve wanted you to have them. I know how much her journal means to you. But Aubrey—” She looked me dead in the eyes. “Please, be careful. I know I said all this probably doesn’t mean anything, but I also can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more going on with Tory and the others. I meant it when I said I don’t fully trust them.” 

Neither did I. I knew I needed their help—they obviously had information we didn’t—but this new insight had added another layer of wariness to my interactions with them. “I’ll be careful,” I assured her. 

Those three cheer hawks had been tangled up in this long before Collin and I had approached them, whether as suspects or as investigators. The question was—which one were they? 

Collin’s wild gestures caught my attention. 

His eyes met mine over Lockley’s shoulder, and even without his exaggerated pointing at the back of Lockley’s head, I could’ve guessed at the question he was silently asking: Should we tell her about what happened this morning?

Lockley squinted, then spun to look at him. “What are you doing? Was there something in my hair?” 

Collin choked on spit or something, then sputtered, “No. Nope. All fine.” 

I took my chance while Lockley had her back to me, and raised an eyebrow at Collin. Do you think we should tell her? 

He seemed to understand my question. He nodded and cocked an eyebrow, which made Lockley spin around again to look at me. 

The moment she did, he tilted his head toward Lockley. 

What? I widened my eyes. Why did he want me to be the one to do it?  

Lockley jumped up from her chair and turned to where she could see us both at once. “Okay, stop. Why are you two waggling your eyebrows at each other? It’s freaking me out.” She paused, then her expression changed. “Wait. Is… is this some kind of weird flirtation? Are you two, like, secretly a thing?” 

My face immediately blushed, as did Collin’s.

“No! We’re not. It’s not flirting,” I said quickly. 

At least, I hoped it wasn’t. 

I suddenly wondered if my mom was watching, and what her interpretation of this would be. 

I gaped at Collin, who had gone suspiciously mute. “Collin! Some help here, please?” 

“Oh! Right!” He cleared his throat, then scooted his chair so he was right in front of Lockley, leaned his elbows on his knees, and looked up at her. “I hope you took your probiotics this morning, dear sister, because this is going to be a shock to the system.” 

She blinked at him like she truly thought he’d lost his mind. “Huh?” 

I stared at Collin. “That’s how you chose to start the explanation?” 

He looked at me. “What? She should be prepared.” 

I sighed, then turned back to Lockley. “Listen, we have something to tell you. Something big. Something about Chloe, and Tory and Meredith and Jillian, and maybe even about Emery. It’s going to sound crazy—” 

Before I even finished my sentence, Lockley’s expression turned completely serious. “Tell me.” 

We told her everything.

***

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