"She doesn't have one." Xeno interjected.
"What?" asked Jess. "How do you know that?"
"I saw it when I was in her office. She just clicked, and her computer opened."
"Perfect. I can do it tomorrow. I know it seems sudden, but people are at risk of losing their jobs. Besides, then, we'll have the whole weekend to discuss what to do next." Haiden replied.
"Guys, about that.." Jess began, her brows furrowed.
"Are you okay, Jess?" Xeno asked.
"My school starts really soon; I've already submitted my notice. When I told Ms. Pepper about it, she seemed ecstatic. Like, weirdly so."
"That's great news. Why is that a problem?" Asked Xeno, confused.
She fidgeted with her necklace. "Tomorrow's my last day working at the museum. I was going to tell you earlier, but you didn't pick up any of my texts."
He cursed himself for not answering his phone; but there was nothing he could do about it now.
"Still, I'll do my best to help tomorrow. It actually helps that it's my last day. I can talk her ear off all day about a party to plan, or something." She paused. "We all know how much Ms. Pepper likes a party." She added dryly.
"Sounds like a plan!" Haiden exclaimed.
"Haiden, are you sure you're okay to do this for me?" Xeno asked.
"The way I see it, she's gonna realise sooner or later that I was the one who was helping you with the investigation. Plus, if palaeontology gets cut too, that's a lose-lose for everyone, right?" Haiden shrugged. "And besides, you promised me that you'd help me find out who killed Steve- and in a way, you did."
"Still, though, you don't have to do this for me." He replied, concerned.
"I want to, Xeno. I.. missed you."
"I missed you too." He replied. Their eyes met across the table, and he felt his cheeks getting hotter. After a couple of seconds, he broke eye contact suddenly; "I, uh, missed you as well, Jess."
"Yeah, yeah." Jess rolled her eyes sarcastically. "I'm still irritated with you for not answering your phone." She half-joked. "Don't do it again." She added, seriously.
"I won't, I promise." Xeno replied- Jess could be really intimidating when she wanted to be.
"Good. Anyway, I hate to cut this short, but I really need to go. I'm packing for university!" She said excitedly. "Bye, Xeno, I'll see you this weekend."
"Sorry, that means I have to go, too. Jess drove me here." Haiden explained. "I'll see you this weekend, too." As they left, he turned around, lingering at the doorway for a heartbeat, as if he was going to ask him something. However, he seemed to think better of it and kept walking.
Xeno realised that he'd have to tell his dad there was a good possibility he'd quit working at the bakery.
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE:
He dreaded it, but maybe after the events of the other day, he'd be more understanding. As he walked into the kitchen, the familiar heat of the ovens blasted his face. "Dad, I have something I need to tell you."
"Can it wait? We just got a special order of one hundred cupcakes for someone's halloween party." He replied, not looking up from where he was stationed, measuring out the ingredients.
"Not really; it's a little urgent."
"Then make yourself useful and tell me while we work." Xeno put his apron back on and washed his hands. Then, he started measuring out the ingredients alongside him. "Five kilograms of flour.." His father began, as he dumped it into the huge mixing bowl on the table, that they saved for express orders. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"It's about my friends." Xeno said as he cracked eggs into the bowl. "They figured out who framed me at work. It was my boss."
"Really? That's great. Well, not great, but you know."
"Well, if all goes well, I should be getting my job back at the museum. Would that be okay?" He realised that he'd gotten a little eggshell in the batter. He pinched it out expertly.
