Page 92 of Symphony for Lies

“Yeah, exactly!” Layla snapped her fingers. “This way, we can see if you’re right.”

“But what if there’s a body there?” I countered. “Or worse, the killer?”

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Spencer told you what he heard. And Ali told me the same thing. There’s been talk at the station that they caught a suspect. I just didn’t know it was Tristan… Honestly, Amelia, I truly trust your instincts. The department is a mess right now. Ali said that once they had a suspect, many officers stopped looking for other leads. They’re just relieved it’s over.” Her voice was laced with uncertainty. “And I was relieved, too. I want it to be over. But after you told me about the note, something doesn’t sit right. I don’t want anything to happen to you. We can’t ignore it if there’s more to this.”

Silence settled between us all.

“Well? What the hell are we waiting for?” Stacy pushed up from her seat.

They were right.

I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.

We all grabbed our coats, and I helped Layla with her hijab before we stepped out into the night.

The car ride to the city’s outskirts was quiet. The roads emptied, and the sky melted into deep shades of amber.The sun was still low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the asphalt as we turned down a narrow side street toward the bridge I suspected was part of the clue.

“So, what exactly are we expecting to find?” Stacy finally asked, drumming her fingers against the dashboard.

I sighed, leaning back against the seat.“I don’t know. Perhaps nothing. Maybe just a place that means something.”

“Or maybe…” Layla murmured. “…we’ll finally get some answers.”

Tiana pulled the car to a stop on a gravel road, and we stepped out. The area was quiet, too quiet.

The bridge wasn’t far from the school. I could see its faint outline in the distance.

The air smelled of damp grass, with a lingering trace of summer still clinging to the breeze. Even though autumn was creeping in, the warmth hadn’t completely left.

A few meters away was the bridge, an old stone structure wrapped in wild aster flowers that swayed gently in the wind. There was something peaceful about it, almost romantic.

Layla clung onto my arm while Tiana and Stacy walked ahead, stopping at the edge of the bridge and peering over the side into the water below.

“Nothing,” Stacy declared, her eyes scanning the banks.

Tiana leaned down to pick up a small stone before tossing it into the creek. The ripples spread outward, breaking the stillness.

I bit my lip, letting my gaze wander over the area.

I had thought we’d find something here. That the message had led us to a clue. But there was nothing.

No signs. No markings. No answers.

Just the soft trickle of the creek and the wind rustling through the trees.

“Maybe we are too early, and the person hasn’t left anything here yet,” Tiana mused.

“Or maybe it’s the wrong bridge,” Layla suggested. “There are plenty of them around the city.”

I shook my head.

No. I knew it was this one.

We stepped onto the bridge, still scanning our surroundings for anything, but when it became apparent that there was nothing to see, we stared at the stunning sunset. The water glistened beneath the fading light, the sun’s reflection dancing across the surface.

“Wow,” Layla whispered.

For a moment, the world didn’t feel so heavy.The fear, the uncertainty, it all faded away.