Murder in the City of Marylane
15. First Victim
The sound of an open door blew my daydream. Harry and I turned to the sound, the woman carrying a tray and three cups of tea.
He put the tray he was carrying on the table, right in front of us, one cup in front of him. Then he sat across from us—restricted table.
“Uh, the head of the orphanage is going outside,” he said as he looked at the circular watch on his wrist. “I think about fifteen minutes more.”
I'm nodding.
“Alright, Miss ..?”
“Ashley Cleva. Just call Ashley,” she said with a smile.
“You must know we came here to investigate one of your students, Aisha Hope. Maybe you can help us to tell us something, or something awkward, or something else ..?” ask Reagan.
“He's a good boy. I think that someone who harmed him targeted him. She once told me that she felt like someone was following her when she came home from school. He said, he was lucky that time because there was someone else who— could be—make someone it did not so do something to him. But, I said instead that it was just his shadow, and assured him nothing would happen. I'm the one who's not alert. I'm the bod*h.” He cursed himself. “I'm sure he went the same way when he came home from school and finally it happened.”
Looking at his face, he looked exhausted. His eye bags that adorned his face indicated he was sleep deprived. I guess he keeps blaming himself.
Like me.
“Don't blame yourself, Ashley. It's not your fault,” said Harry. “Nobody knows when the disaster happened. I'm sure you don't want this either.”
Harry's words made me realize a little bit about my experience.
Is correct. No one knows when the disaster happened.
Why do I keep blaming myself?
Is it my fault or not?
If I had come home early, my sister wouldn't have died, ‘ would I?
That fire, my sister's death, is it my fault?
Anyone, please answer me.
“Juan!”
“Eh—iya, what?” I'm a little bit surprised. I daydream again. I saw the two looking at me confused.
Awake, Juan Scott! You're at work!
“I called you a few times. What are you thinking?” said Harry.
“T-no.”
Why is the atmosphere so awkward?
“Sorry,” I said later.
“What are the features Aisha Hope mentioned earlier?” tanyaku later. He shook.
I breathe out slowly.
“What time does he usually go home from school?”
“He usually comes home in the afternoon. Around five pm.”
I nodded in understanding. “What's wrong with you?” my question then was on Harry moving one leg a few times quickly.
Harry turned to me for a moment, then looked at Ashley.
“Sorry, can I go to the toilet?” tanyakanya.
Ashley nodded. “Straightly, the toilet is on the right.”
“Thank you,” said. He stood up and immediately went outside.
It seems he can't stand it.
“Omong-by the way, thank you,” I said. He raised next to his eyebrows—bingung.
“The incident, in front of the cafe. You're pushing me not to get hit by the pot.” drop I'm explaining.
He seemed to remember it. “Ah, the. You welcome. I happened to see the person holding the pot above the cafe. Looks like he did intend to harm you.”
“Ah, yes. The problem is done,” I said. “Your hand is fine?”
“Hm, I've treated.” He looked at his hand, I saw a slight scratch.
“Why did you suddenly leave back then? You suddenly disappeared.”
“I'm in a hurry.”
I just nodded hearing his answer.
Silent.
Ashley's hand moved taking the teacup in front of her. He drank the liquid in the cup.
His face is similar ….
“You kinda look like my sister.”
I spontaneously closed my mouth. I seem to be impolite to him.
Idiotically. What are you talking to strangers about?
“Sorry,” I said later. He then pulled both corners of his lips slightly—smiling thinly.
“You don't know that we have bloodless twins in this world?” He put his tea cup. “How similar?” tanyakanya.
“Uh, seventy percent?” I said not sure. “I myself forgot.”
“You forgot your sister's face?”
“Maybe.”
“You didn't meet him? Or, have you ever had an accident and amnesia?”
“She's dead.”
Her expression turned into a sweet. “Oh, sorry.”
“No need.”
“How about the photo? There's no way you don't have her picture.”
“Indeed there is no. Everything is burning.”
“I understand. Sorry,” said again. “I don't know.”
“It's okay.”
Hold still.
He was just a stranger (it could be said that way because I didn't know him very well). Why am I telling you this?
Silence again enveloped this room. I saw the look in his eyes. I think there is something the woman wants to say.
The sound of the door opening diverted our attention.
We compactly turned to the origin of the sound. A woman I believe to be the head of this orphanage just came and opened the door. Behind him was Harry who had probably just come out of the toilet.
By the way, Harry's been a long time.
Ashley stood up and took one cup of her tea and placed it on the tray. “I'll make tea for you, Miss Storm.”
“Thank you, Ashley,” said. Ashley left and I just stared at her back.
“My name is Aileen. Aileen Storm.”
---
“Thank you for your cooperation,” I said before I actually left the place. Harry and I walked over to them. My feelings are really bad. I turned around and approached Ashley. I gave him a business card of mine from the police. “Contact me if you need anything.”
Without waiting for her response, I immediately turned around to leave her. I sat in the car seat, leaning my forehead on the steering wheel after I entered our parked car.
Before long, Harry came and sat down next to me.
“What's with your face? You're grim.”
“I'm fine.”
We came to a road mentioned by Ashley. This road looks lonely, rarely passed by people. It's a shortcut from Aisha's school to the orphanage.
This road is a tunnel for pedestrians. A lot of graffiti that I think is an act of vandalism.
Pretty dark. He walked here alone?
There is no CCTV. There is no tunnel outside.
I turned on the flashlight from my phone. It's still daytime, but the tunnel is dark.
“Do you think it might be five o'clock in the afternoon?”
“Knowing from this tunnel that quiet, could be,” replied Harry. “Then he did, threw it into the forest.”
We've been here long enough.
Niente. We didn't find anything.
As Sean said, the tactics were neat.
Suddenly, my phone rang. A message came in.
Detective Scott?
I heard you were investigating a serial murder from Raven City.
Can you come to this location? I need to talk to you.
[sending location]
