Murder in the City of Marylane

02. The suspect?

After getting the home address of Abey Westie's closest friends, we—aku and Mort— visited him. Harry and Dean are still at the scene, to check if there are any witnesses or to ask Gary's neighbors for information, if any.

Mort and I have asked 3 of Abey Westie's closest friends. If I summarize, like this:

First, Selvia Rosie.

Q: “Can you explain anything—anything about Abey Westie?”

A: “Honestly, lately we are not close.”

Q: “Because?”

A: “Do you think? We have rarely communicated since she married her husband.”

A: “We used to be friends since SMA. He's a diligent kid, always ranked first and won some races.”

Q: “What about the enemy? She has it?”

A: “Enemy, yes?”

A: “I don't remember. He's a good boy. If there was, she should have shown her howling. He is not the type who immediately tells stories when problems occur. You have to urge him.”

Second, Shelby Evolet.

Q: “Explain things about Abey Westie as far as you know.”

A: “We are close at college. We are one major and often one group. He's a quiet type, doesn't talk much, except to the people closest to him.”

Q: “What about the enemy? He has it?”

A: “He once dealt with sister level because of a misunderstanding. But once it was normal, they had already made up. No more after that until she is married to her husband, we have rarely communicated.”

Third, Hanny Ilisa.

Q: “What are you—”

A: “Nothing I can answer. I busy. Go or I'll drag it outside?”

All right, the third one's not useful at all for this case. We're expelled. Looks like he has a problem. We can't force him.

According to Selvia and Shelby, Abey Westie has no enemies. Just like her husband Gary Keanett said. And this was his last close friend. I hope we get information from him.

Mort parked his car on the side of the road. We arrived at a two-story house with white wall paint on the first floor and gray wall paint on the second floor with a white-fenced balcony. The doors and windows are white. There are chairs and tables on the terrace of the house. The front is covered with various plants. He was most likely a plant lover. Evidently.

We got out of the car, walked towards the house. We knocked on the door. Before long, someone opened the door slightly from being restrained. Behind the door was a grendel that had a silver-colored chain. We saw a woman who hid part of her face so we only saw half of her face there.

“Nona Kimberly?” Parker.

“Whose are you?” tanyakanya.

Mort showed me his police card. “We're from police.”

Understand with his intention, the woman whose full name is Eira Kimberly or more often called Kim—by Abey Westie—it let us enter her house. He went to the kitchen to get us a drink.

He put two glasses of cold mineral water on the table, right in front of us. He held his tramp on his thigh.

“So? What do these two cops need to do to my house?” tanyakanya.

“We know you know Abey Westie,” I said.

He nodded slowly a few times. “Ya, she's my best friend.”

“She was found murdered this morning.”

The five words Mort spoke made Eira drop her chin in disbelief.

“Long.” He tried to reject our statement. His face became more serious than before.

“We don't have much time to lie to civilians,” I said.

I saw a clear circle flowing from both of his eyes. He immediately rubbed it.

“Are you sure he was killed?” ask her with a slightly trembling voice.

“A hundred percent, Miss Kimberly.”

“How was it when it was found?”

“Nona, we—”

“I will answer your questions after you answer me,” he said cutting my words.

Mort stares. It was as if he was telling me to explain everything. I let out a breath.

“Her husband reported it this morning. He was stabbed several times in the stomach. She died on her bed.” I'm explaining.

“What is it?” muttered. But we both heard it.

“‘Dia’? Who do you mean?” Mort asked.

“March Lloyd's. She's a stalker.”

Eira nodded. “She's obsessed with him.”

“Since when?”

“I forgot exactly. I guess .. one week after she got married.”

“Her husband didn't tell us this,” I said.

“He doesn't know?” Eira asked back. “Last night I met Abey, I told her to tell her husband.”

“So, she didn't tell her husband before? You said March Lloyd stalked her one week after they got married,” Mort said.

Eira shrugged both of her shoulders slowly. “He is so. That's why I told her to tell her husband. He's a person who doesn't like to trouble others, so he always hides it alone.”

“Have you and your friend ever reported to the police?”

“I've forced him. He begged me not to report him to the police and he said that he had threatened March not to stalk him. I don't know how. But, after he said that, he didn't say anything anymore and we felt safe. Last week she told me again.”

Me and Mort nodded in understanding.

“There is other information? What about March Lloyd? Do you have his picture or do you know where he lives?” tanyaku later.

“I don't know where he lives, but I know where he used to work. Abey sent me a picture of her. A minute.”

“How?”

“No witnesses here. Almost everything is workaholic. Most of them reasoned not to go out and not hear anything, and worked.”

Mort sighed after hearing Dean's reply. “Good. By the way, we got information. March Lloyd, he's Abey Westie's stalker. He used to work as a courier in this town. He could be a suspect. We got the address. I'll send it to you. Meet us there.”

After about ten minutes, we reached the March Lloyd's residence. He lives in a simple apartment. We parked the car not far from its place. We can monitor it from the car.

He lives on the second floor with unit 101.

Mort looks into the rearview mirror, he sees that Dean and Harry have come. We both got out of the car. The four of us went to unit 101. It's just an ordinary apartment with green wall paint. I'm sure the rent's cheap. I saw a lot of young people. I think they're the ones who came from their original place.

We're three behind Mort. Mort knocked on that door.

“Mr Lloyd.” Mort called. He knocked on the door again and again. There's no answer.

“Huh?”

The sound came from behind us. The four of us looked back. I'm sure he's March Lloyd. He was dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. His right hand held a plastic bag. We were silent for a moment and looked at each other. Our thoughts suddenly blank, and so does March. Each of us digested what happened until March finally said,

“F**k!”

He dropped his plastic bag and immediately ran. We were chasing him. He went outside the apartment area and entered a small alley. We split. I followed him into the alley. There are two roads at the end of the alley. I turned to the right and to the left, then saw March running on my left lane. I caught up with him right away.

I lost her again. He ran so fast. March Lloyd's a guy or a cheetah? Why is it running so fast?

After deciding, I followed my instincts. I'm heading left. I ran.

A little annoying coincidence. He ran to the right, surrounded the building to my right and met me. We collided as he tried to run towards the front and I came to his left.

We both fell to the ground.

“Good, Juan.”

Mort comes in panting, followed by Dean and Harry behind him.

Good what?!

Alright, forget. I held March on her stomach and I sat on her back holding both of her wrists. I took the handcuffs out of my pocket.

“March Lloyd, you—”

“I didn't kill him!”

We were silent for a moment.

“We haven't told you you killed,” Harry said later.

“Hey, can you get up off my back? You're heavy,” he said diverting to me. I hit her head slowly with my hand.

“Can you be serious a little? You're a suspect now.”

“But, I didn't kill him.”

“Then why did you run?”

“You're chasing me.”

“We're not chasing you. You run first.”

“Betul also.”

Gosh darn. What's wrong with her?

“Hey, but I really didn't kill him!”