When the Violin Sings

Chapter 13

Piper figured it wouldn't be an October afternoon without her blindly following Lucy around in the neighborhood surrounding the university. In the past few days they had managed to make some progress, getting closer to figuring out some sort of path that Lucy had taken, but they still hadn't managed to figure out how her path had connected up to the woods, and it didn't help that Lucy seemed to avoid every road with a shop on it where there might have been cameras.

"Okay," Piper said, jotting down notes. "So we know that you took Park Street up through the neighborhood. That's where you're pretty sure you saw the broken light and the cat, and then you turned right it seems onto Maple, which you walked up for a little while. Any idea after that?" Piper asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Lucy complained. Her shoulders sagged as she walked. Though she had been keeping true to her word and putting in more effort than Piper had expected of her, Piper was still growing nervous as the preliminary trial date grew closer and they had little to show for. Murphy had emphasized that video evidence would be the easiest to prove, but at the rate Lucy had walked, Piper wasn't sure there would be any hope for a store's security camera keeping track of her, and it would be too much work to individually reach out to each household, as well as a privacy issue, for security footage from that evening. Knowing the low crime rates in the neighborhood, Piper was sure to bet that most of the neighbors did not have cameras anyway, but she jotted a note down just in case it was something she wanted to revisit later.

"There's a gas station nearby and some shops. Let's try over there," Piper suggested.

"I don't think I passed through a gas station," Lucy admitted. "And isn't it supposed to be me recreating the route, not you?"

"Let's just check to be safe," Piper suggested. "Maybe you did end up heading somewhere around this way, and maybe some shop owner managed to get some footage of you." She knew she was being overly optimistic saying it, but the trial was coming down to more of a chance of luck than foolproof evidence at this rate, and she knew Professor Murphy would be disappointed with her if she didn't try her very best. Lucy was already starting to cooperate more with her. Maybe that meant luck was beginning to turn in their favor.

The road roared with cars as they emerged out of the neighborhood and onto the street.

"I know I didn't walk by this gas station," Lucy told Piper. "I don't really remember walking by anywhere but houses and then up into the woods."

"Well, let's head down the street then, at least to where the two start to mix. It's possible you could've passed a few businesses," Piper said. It was hard for her to hear Lucy over the sounds of the road, but it kept her more focused not having to listen to Lucy complain every two seconds. If what Lucy said was true that she didn't pass by any businesses, then it could be possible that perhaps near the end of the road, where the businesses and neighborhood began to merge, at least one or two cameras may have caught her walking by.

"Piper," Lucy said.

Piper was too busy calculating in her head to pay attention to Lucy. She continued walking, thinking there had to be at least six businesses at the end of the road. At least half had to have cameras, and if there were a few on different sides of the street, then that at least could show a few different angles and—

Piper's thoughts were interrupted as Lucy threw her hand in front of Piper and shoved her back from street corner. A car turned quickly right where Piper had been about to step.

"Piper, you need to pay attention! I know the walk sign was on but that car clearly didn't notice us," Lucy said. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Piper answered, shaken up slightly. "Sorry. Thanks."