Wisdom's Daughter

41

Scott spoke with the twins while Tessa stood at one end with Stiles. When Scott joined them, Stiles said, "So then she starts talking about the phosphors and the key having chemicals on it, right? And so that made me think of the chemistry closet and the fact that someone had to let Barrow in... it's gone. Okay, it doesn't matter though. It doesn't matter. I've still got the key." Stiles stuck a hand in his pocket and didn't find anything. "What the hell? I had it. I had it here. I had it here this morning. I swear to God, I had it this morning."

Tessa looked at him. "I saw it, Stiles."

Stiles nodded as Scott asked, "The key you were talking about last night?"

"Yeah," Stiles answered. "I showed it to you, right? Didn't I show it to you? Tessa saw it."

Scott shook his head. "No, you just told me about it. I never actually saw it."

Stiles was getting more and more agitated and his voice took on a panicked tone. "I was here a couple of hours ago. And the message left to Barrow spelling Kira's name was right there and I had the key to the chemistry closet."

"So you unlocked the chemistry closet so Barrow could hide it from the cops and then you wrote that message to kill Kira?"

Stiles let out a sigh. "I know how it sounds. But look at this. This is the news report that came out about Barrow when they caught him, okay? About the shrapnel bomb that he used. See this? See what he did? He put nuts, bolts, and screws. And then he hid the bomb and the detonator in a box that he wrapped as a birthday present. What does that sound like to you?"

Scott looked at them. "Coach."

Stiles nodded. "The joke we played on Coach. That was my idea. You remember? That was my idea. That's no coincidence. It can't be."

"I don't want to sound like I'm trying to tell you that you're wrong. But I don't think you're trying to kill people either."

Stiles studied the room. "It was here. It was all here."

Tessa frowned, looking at Stiles. "Hey, take it easy. You look exhausted."

He turned away from her. "I'm fine, Tess. I just haven't been sleeping well."

"You should really take a sick day. Coach will have to deal. I'll go with you."

Stiles turned to Scott. "Did you tell him?"

Scott shook his head. "Tessa's right. You should get some rest."

Outside, Tessa held out her hand and Stiles frowned. "What?"

"Keys," she ordered.

"What? No. I'm not giving you my keys."

She yanked them from his hands and he glared at her. "Tessa!"

"You look sickly and not at all like yourself. I'm not letting you crash on the way there, killing us both."

"Where are you taking me, Tessa?"

She drove to the hospital and he frowned. "Tess, what are we doing here?"

"The hospital is the best place for you right now," she said.

"Make sure it's your aunt, okay?"

"Obviously."

They walked into the hospital and made their way to the front desk and saw Melissa. She looked up. "Stiles? Tessa? What are you two doing here? Young lady, you have school. You better have a good explanation."

Tessa nodded. "A very good one, Aunt Melissa. Stiles needs to talk to someone. Is there a doctor who can spare a few minutes? Or, better yet, you?"