Chapter 101: Tim was not innocent

The news of David's death was released into the media after an hour of him passing away. To the entire country, it was more shocking than the day they found out about his misdeeds. They were eagerly waiting for the courtroom proceedings to take place. However, now when David himself was no more, the case was on hold.

Even more alarming fact about his death was that he had committed suicide by consuming poison. The suicide letter was produced before the public for scrutiny. The people were in a state of frenzy.

As soon as Ivy heard the news of David's demise, she did not react much. She had predicted this outcome before. She had sensed that the person who was responsible for this ruckus would do something to get rid of David as he would always be a threat to him until he was alive.

Now when David actually died, although not much, she too was surprised. It was not the fact that he died which surprised her, but the fact that it declared a suicide was what nagging her brain.

'There is something important here and we are overlooking it. We are missing a clue.'

"You are right," Sasha stated.

"What?" Ivy asked bewildered. She did not know what she was talking about.

"We are missing something."

"Did I say that out loud?"

Sasha nodded.

"Oops."

"Don't you find it weird that he committed suicide just two days before his trial."

"It sure is strange," Kira added.

"There is something wrong in the prison," Ivy said absent-mindedly, swing her pen in her hand.

"Definitely, how did David even get a hold on poison. It is either the work of an inmate or the prison staff." Sasha reasoned as Kira took in her words.

"Agh. This is a mess." Ivy said scratching her head.

"I agree." Kira and Sasha said at the same time.

"I am going to take a break." Ivy got up and left the room. She had been sitting for a while and her legs had gone numb. She needed to stretch her muscles and relax.

Ivy walked out of the room and made a trip to the washroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. There were dark circles under her eyes, although not that prominent.

"Ivy you need to take rest, don't stress yourself. Your beauty will die if you keep overworking yourself. Then you will not be a goddess anymore." She spoke to herself.

The door to one of the cubicles opened and a woman walked out. Ivy recognized her at once. She was Karen Douglas, the star news reporter of their channel. She mainly covered the entertainment section and interviewed famous celebrities in the country. Her quirky attitude and her bold personality had made her famous the moment she started her career as a showbiz reporter. She was quite proud of her achievements, but she was not a bad person. It's just that her fame had got into her head and she had become arrogant.

Karen laughed when she saw Ivy giving herself a beauty speech.

"That was quite a speech out there." She sassed.

"Thanks, I know I am good." Ivy retorted back.

"Right." Karen coughed to hide the awkward situation.

"So, what are you up to now? Are you still loitering around without doing any actual job or...?" Karen asked with a sweet smile.

"Yeah, I am getting paid just to come to the office. Unlike you, I don't need to work hard at all. Poor you, it must be tiring for you to work day and night without a break. You have become thinner, and your cheekbones look more protruded. Are you still dieting?"

"What nonsense are you even blabbering?" Karen all but yelled.

"Oh, my bad. It looks like you are menstruating. You must be having a stressful day. Take a break alright?" Ivy said with a poker face and walked out of the washroom before Karen even got the chance to speak.

After exiting the washroom, she had a sarcastic smile on her face.

"Who is that unlucky person you tore into shreds just now?"

"Cedric, hey. How did you find out?"

"Your face is practically screaming: I just killed a bitch right now."

"It's Karen."

"Wow, your all-time mortal enemy?"

"She is not my enemy."

"More like a lover then, you are practically in a love-hate relationship with her." Cedric laughed.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"I am saying the truth. She loves you so much that she leaves no opportunities to make a dig at you and you hate her so much that you don't even give her face."

"Cedric, I think you have forgotten the last prank I played on you." Ivy's tone held a tinge of warning.

"Oh prankster, I think you forgot how I paid you back." He smirked.

"Wait and watch."

"I am waiting. Do you wanna have some coffee?"

"Sure."

"I heard that you want to do a documentary on a soldier's life now."

"Who told you? Kira, it must be her. She has a big mouth."

"So?"

"Yes, I want to look into the life of a soldier."

"But, with the current scenario, I don't think it's possible."

"Yeah. This war broke my dreams."

"Not exactly. It is on hiatus right now."

"You do know how to cheer me up."

"Yeah. Talent." Cedric patted his back.

"So, what's up with you?"

"Just finished covering the report on David's death. Ain't the case a little weird?"

"It sure is. Look it's Tim Fields." Ivy said as soon as they went inside the coffee house in front of the office building.

Cedric too had seen him and his lips twitched in annoyance. He was very suspicious of the man and he had to be wary of him.

Tim waved at the two of them and pointed to his table.

"Mind if we join?" Ivy asked in courtesy although she had already made herself comfortable.

"Sure." Tim gave her a smile and looked at Cedric who was still standing.

"Cedric," Ivy called out his name. Now he had no choice. So, he sat down reluctantly.

"How's work Tim?" Ivy asked after the waiter took their orders.

"Work is good. I am still learning though, so I have not much work to do."

"That's good."

"Ivy, may I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead." Ivy took a sip of water and glanced at Tim.

"It was our channel that first released David's recording right?"

"Yes," Ivy replied honestly. There was nothing to hide about it, everybody who had seen the news knew about it.

"How did you guys get a hold on the recording?" Tim asked as he looked between Ivy and Cedric.

Cedric raised his eyebrows. Tim's question was giving his warning bells in his head. It was not a question asked out of curiosity, there was a plan behind it. He could sense something fishy from it.

"It was sent to us by an anonymous person," Cedric replied and blinked innocently. He too did not know how they had got the recording but he knew he was not to divulge more information about it.

Ivy looked at him questioningly. Cedric gave her a smile that said he would handle the situation and she just had to follow along.

"Okay. Did you guys try to find out who sent it? I mean did you track that person?"

Now, Ivy too was becoming suspicious of him. She realized that his questions were not merely asked out of professional interest. Ivy perceived that Tim was not as innocent as he looked.

"That, we tried. But that person was careful. He left no traces of himself" Ivy answered this time.

"Oh. Is that so?"

"Hmm."

"Here's your order." The waiter arrived with their coffees and silence immediately engulfed them.

Ivy and Cedric exchanged glances at each other while drinking coffee without Tim noticing it.

"What is your opinion regarding David's death?" Tim asked after some time.

"I am not too sure. There are some inexplicable things about it." Ivy said in all honesty.

"You are right." Tim agreed.

"But I believe there are no substantial proofs to confirm his cause of death," Cedric added.

"Umm. Things are going quite bad in the country right now."

"Yes, one side there is the war and on the other there is this virus matter." Cedric started.

As soon as Cedric spoke, Ivy's eyes widened. She got up immediately in realization.

Cedric and Tim looked at her apprehensively.

"Sorry, I have to go. I remembered I had to pick up my sister." Ivy said and rushed out of the coffee house.

"Ivy," Cedric yelled, but it fell on deaf ears. She was long gone.