Human Nature (Book 4): Human Nature IV by Borthwick, Finlay (book recommendations website .TXT) 📗

Though she was disgusted initially, Cora quickly understood Aoife’s reasoning and nodded. “Tanika’s done something with Naomi we think… I suppose we can put Worm’s demise down to her as well.” As she said this, she felt immense guilt.

“Thank you.” Aoife raised her hand to her heart and politely smiled. As she turned around and headed back inside, her polite smile turned into a conniving one; she was now underneath the group’s skin and completely off of their radar.

Corey had led Kieran, Valorie, Richard and Mac into the nearby cottage. Tanika was still unconscious and was now tied to a chair in the living room.

The cottage was rather old. The floor was carpet covered in rugs with Edwardian patterns engraved in them, the walls were brick with wooden beams supporting the upper floor, and all of the doors were wooden planks with splinters shooting out. There were also corks buried into the woodwork and the beams.

Corey sat in the armchair in the corner, whilst Kieran sat on the sofa opposing the fireplace which Tanika was tied down in front of.

“…So yeah, that’s it basically. That woman,” Kieran nodded to Tanika, “Is a murderer.” He was explaining his story to Corey and had told the theory that Tanika had killed Naomi and Worm as fact rather than opinion.

“Hmm. That’s a shame.” Corey affirmed. “I thought she had such an honest voice as well.” He referred to their radio conversation.

“Naomi and Worm would beg to differ.” Kieran was adamant about repeating that point; possibly to keep himself convinced, or possibly to stop Corey from becoming partial to Tanika’s lies.

“But you say that you could not find the body of either one?” Corey questioned.

Kieran nodded, “Because she probably left Naomi back at the port and threw Worm overboard. There’s no bodies to be found.”

But Corey wasn’t entirely certain that Kieran had gotten it right. “You’ve made what is called a logical fallacy, my friend – Naomi was not on board your ship, so you assume that she is dead. Why?”

Kieran squinted at him in confusion, “Tanika gave the game up the moment she said ‘seven’ passengers, rather than eight.”

Corey laughed, “But in what way does that mean your friend is dead beyond doubt?”

Kieran wasn’t understanding him.

“For all you know, your friend could have… Well, she could have chosen to say behind, she could have wandered off and not made it back in time, or she could currently be lying passed out, assuming that dear Tanika really is as bad as you say she is.” The last part of his hypothesis was something which he did not believe still.

“Why?” Kieran retorted. “Why would she leave Naomi behind? Why single her out? And even if you’re right, how the hell did Worm disappear ‘mid-voyage’?”

Corey tapped his nose and winked, “That would be telling.”

This cryptical exchange was rubbing Kieran the wrong way. Although he knew Corey was doing this to help him reach the conclusion by himself, he wasn’t really in the mood for playing mind games when two of his acquaintances were still uncounted for.

Night turned back to the day, and eventually Tanika had come back around. Much to her surprise however, she did not awake to one of her captors, but rather, her new supposed ally: Aoife.

“What happened?” Tanika asked breathily in a panic.

Aoife glared at her ominously, “They think you killed Naomi and Worm.”

Tanika caught her breath again, “Worm… What really happened to him?”

Aoife shrugged and raised an eyebrow at her, “Well, what really happened to Naomi?”

She squinted at Aoife, not following what she was getting at.

“Do I really have to spell it out?” Aoife prompted with widened eyes.

Then, an assumption hit her, “Does Gale have him too?”

Aoife laughed, “Worm’s gone, but not in the same way as Naomi.”

“I’m not sure I’m following you.”

“Well, Naomi’s alive and, as you said, in Gale’s ‘care’, but Worm – isn’t.” Aoife grinned and got up from the sofa.

Tanika’s eyes widened, “You killed him?”

She rolled her eyes, “Don’t act you care. You knew him for all of an hour.”

“No.” Tanika tutted, “If you’ve killed him, you’ve blown my cover.”

Aoife laughed and crouched down in front of her, “Don’t be so melodramatic. You’re purely the scapegoat… But, don’t worry, the Director has big plans for you and me both.”

Tanika’s face lit up.

“Exactly… And he’s making his final play soon. If you want in, just go along with it. Believe it or not, this lot aren’t the only group left in the world.” Aoife reasoned, and slipped a butterfly knife into Tanika’s hand, “Make it look convincing, okay?”

The rest of the group were discussing matters in the kitchen.

“I don’t trust him or her.” Kieran made his opinion on Corey and Tanika clear. “He’s too shady, and she’s a murderer.”

“Don’t be too hasty.” Cora warned him. “From what I’ve heard, you shot a child when you first met Naomi.”

Kieran fell silent.

“What about you two?” Cora aimed the question at Richard and Valorie now.

“Naomi’s the reason we’re still standing.” Richard affirmed. “Worm and Kieran could’ve killed us, but they became allies, thanks to her.”

Valorie nodded in agreement, “We were wrong to try and ever fleece her. She showed us another way, one that didn’t involve stealing and killing.” She cast a deathly stare at Kieran, “It’s a shame she couldn’t teach that lesson to you.” This comment was in reference to her late friend, Harry, who died as a result of Kieran’s actions.

Cora steered the subjected back on course to defuse the situation, “So where do you two stand with regards to Tanika?”

“Whatever she’s done to Naomi, we want the truth.” Richard began.

“But at the same time, if the unthinkable has indeed happened, we should be mindful of what Naomi would want.” Valorie added, “We