“Hades, follow me. We need to talk.” I led him to our room and sat on my bed. “I know what happened to Mackenzie.” I watched his expression, gauging his reaction. When he didn’t speak, I continued, “I found her texts to you and the letter to your father.”

I stared back into his blank face. If I didn't know better, I'd say he looked calm and nonchalant, but the wild look in his eyes revealed his unease. We cautiously watched each other for a few minutes before he spoke.

“I didn’t mean to,” he whispered. “I was tired of her teasing me and using me to do her bidding. I was so tired of her lording that secret over my head, threatening to blab if I didn’t do what she wanted.” His voice increased in volume with every word. “When she was in her room ‘packing’, she called me up to the living room and threatened to tell Father after the trip. I didn’t know what to do, I just pushed her and she fell out the window. When I realized what I had done it was too late!”

Hades’ voice shook and his eyes were glazed with tears. I was at a loss. On tv, the detectives are cold, hard, and calculating. They have to think like the criminals they catch. But what if the “criminal” was a scared, vulnerable, kid, who gave up his chance at a normal life because of something that wasn’t entirely his fault. I felt bad for him, it’s not like he planned to kill Mackenzie from the start. I sighed and tugged at my sleeve.

“I don’t have the texts.” I finally said.

Hades looked up at me, shock evident in his watery eyes.

“B-But you do!”

“No. I don’t!” I stressed. “I just guessed it was you and got it wrong, I don’t actually have any evidence.” Hades blinked owlishly at me, before his tear stained face lit up in understanding.

“The only suspicious thing on Mackenzie’s phone and computer is Three Directions, if you don't have anything suspicious on your phone no one can incriminate you. Or if I happen to find a suicide note on Mackenzie’s computer...”

“Would that even work?” Hades whispered, a sliver of hope evident in his voice.

“She fell out of the window, if there is no other evidence to point to murder, it’s totally plausible.”

“Why?” Hades asked, suddenly suspicious.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Just think of it as thanks for letting me solve an actual mystery. Now, I’ll write the note while you gather everyone in our apartment so I can show off and solve the mystery in front of everyone like they do on TV!”

Hades shook his head. “You’re a little twisted, you know that?” I just grinned and walked off.