The Murder Pal

'A life isn't even worth that much in rural areas?'

I could feel my blood boiling.

"Just you wait. I'm calling the police right now."

I reached for my phone, but then remembered it had been taken by Esther.

"Give me my phone back!" I yelled.

She instinctively took a step back before hiding it behind her.

"No. You can't call the police!"

"Give it to me!"

I lunged at her. She screamed and dodged backward.

David shouted nearby, "Stop her! Hurry, stop her!"

Two teachers ran over and grabbed my arms, one on each side.

I struggled with everything I had, but I couldn't break free.

A trace of coldness flickered in Esther's eyes.

"Eve, don't blame me. I'm doing this for your own good. Once you calm down, you'll understand you're better off accepting the 20 grand than blowing things up."

"You hit someone, and you're stopping me from calling the police. How's that better?"

I stared at her, but she looked away.

It had already felt strange when she insisted on driving today.

She used to be terrified of driving. She had even delayed getting her license for years because of it.

David sighed. "Enough. Stop making a scene. The boy is already gone. There's no point causing trouble here. Fine, let's add another 5 grand. 25 grand in total. That's my final offer. Take the money, go home, and sort out the funeral."

I looked at them and suddenly laughed.

"Mr. Brown, do you even know who that boy is?"

He frowned. "Isn't he your son?"

Esther also turned to look at me.

I smiled.

"My son had a fever today. He never even came to kindergarten."

Esther's expression froze.

"What did you say?"

"I said my son's sick today. I left him at home with my mom.

"He never came to school."

Esther suddenly became agitated.

"T-That's impossible! That boy was wearing your son's hoodie! I saw it clearly!"

"The hoodie might be the same, but the person wearing it isn't," I said.

David reacted the fastest. He immediately changed his tone.

"Oh! So it's all a misunderstanding! Then whose child is this? Hurry, contact the parents!"

As he spoke, he turned to the teachers. "Go check which child didn't show up today. Find out who he is!"

I looked at him coldly. "You said earlier it was my son and wanted to settle it privately. Now that you know it's not, you're suddenly eager to find the parents?"

The smile on David's face stiffened.

Esther's expression changed. As if something occurred to her, she stepped closer and tugged at my sleeve.

"Eve, I was wrong earlier. Don't take it to heart. Since he's not your son, this has nothing to do with you anymore. You should head home. We'll handle it."

'Nothing to do with me?'

I looked at her face. It suddenly felt terrifyingly unfamiliar.

"When you snatched my phone earlier, why didn't you say it had nothing to do with me?"

Her expression faltered.

I couldn't be bothered to deal with her. I turned around and walked toward the child.

No matter whose child he was, I couldn't just leave him lying there.

But after only two steps, a voice came from behind me.

"That's not right. I remember your son did come to school this morning."

I froze.

"What did you say?"

A teacher nearby hesitated before speaking.

"I was at the gate this morning to welcome the kids. I saw your son come in. He was wearing that blue hoodie."

My heart sank.

"That's impossible! My son has a fever. He didn't come today!"

"I really did see him!" the teacher insisted. "I even greeted him, and he said good morning to me!"

Another teacher nearby nodded.

"Yes, I saw him too. He even waved at me."

I stood in stunned silence. I heard a buzzing sound in my mind.

Esther looked at the teachers before turning to face me. She slowly began to smile.

"Eve, didn't you say your son didn't come? Why did so many teachers see him?

"It can't be all of them seeing things, right? Eve, are you so upset that you're remembering it wrong?"