The Girl Next Door's

Night Snaps

"So you managed to get close to her?"

The wind at four in the afternoon felt a bit hot when blowing. Deril decided to return to the police station. Actually, she didn't really expect that Mia was there. But, it turned out that Mia could be met that easily.

"I'm not sure if this could be said to be close or a trap" Deril replied.

"Does his son look suspicious?" ask Mia.

"No. Mika's a good boy, even though she doesn't talk well." Deril gulped his tea a few times before continuing. "I told you once that I was going to approach Mika, right?"

"Yes, your plan is. Then?"

"This is even me being approached by Mika."

Mia rubbed her pointed chin. "Is that person also intending to dig up information about you with his son's intermediary?"

"I don't know" Deril answered honestly. "Even though Mika used to come to my house, she didn't ask me anything."

"One thing?" Mia ascertained.

Deril shook with a confident look. "In fact, Mika did not look interested in the condition of my home at all. He didn't look here or look for something. If it came to painting, he would only focus on his canvas. If he comes for dinner, he'll finish it and go home. That's it."

"Is it possible, Mika told her father that she likes you?" Mia guessed.

"Haha! Where possible!" suhut Deril fast. "Doctor Stephen isn't the one who's just gonna take his daughter off. There's no chance she'll allow Mika to come to my house."

"But Mika is coming," Mia asserted.

Deril was silent. His head is mixed. He doesn't even have any plans to save Mika at the tea party tonight. "I'm afraid to go home."

"You're afraid of having dinner with Mika again?"

"No. Today, he won't come."

Mia shakes her head. "Why?"

"That tea party, tonight."

"Huh? It's been a week?"

Deril nodded languidly. "I won't be able to save him now. It's too rash if I break that door down tonight."

"Let me do it!" Mia answered steadily.

"Isn't that also reckless? On what basis did Miss Mia get in there? After all, Doctor Stephen is a very smart man. He'll clean up the scene when Ms. Mia's car stops in front of her house."

"God! It turns out that what I'm dealing with isn't just a regular child-seller?" Mia sounded frustrated.

Deril raised his head, staring at the sky which was beginning to appear reddish. "Mika will go through the night like hell today. Because I know the truth, it makes me feel even more guilty."

Mia could not answer. He understood the feeling of the lethargic-faced teenager next to him. "Is it okay if you come home late tonight? Want to see Doctor Stephen's wife's case in my office?"

Mia stared at Deril for a long time. His heart felt sorry for the boy who was still confused about what to do. That kind of want to help actually scared Mia. He is afraid that Deril will make a foolish decision, so Deril is caught up in the wiles of his enemies.

***

This is the first time Deril has entered Mia's office. The room was rather small with a stretch of paper in all directions. Deril can see photos of people on the first few pages of the paper.

"All of those are cases that I have to solve. Some of it over there is done. I just need to write the report. If that's over here, it's still awaiting the court's verdict."

"It turns out you're a busy person, huh?" Deril intends to quip, since Mia a lot around or chatting with him.

But, Mia instead smiled proudly with her nostrils widened. "I'm an important person!" haughty answer.

Deril nodded. He walked to one side, then picked up the topmost paper.

There was a picture of a man about sixty years old. According to Deril, the person had a smug and tired facial expression. "People like this commit crimes?"

Mia who was sitting at her desk looked up. "The case is on the next page" Mia replied and sank back to her computer.

Deril's hand turned the page. It was written that the man had strangled his wife to death. The reason is because his wife does not want to make him coffee in the morning.

"Don't trust someone you see for the first time. You must know first to decide whether to open yourself or not. It's safer" Mika added. "Ah, here it is! Here, here!" Mika waved her hand at Deril.

Deril put the paper back in its place, then approached Mia. "Mika's mother's case?"

"Yes. Because it's been a long time, we keep it as softcopy. More practical." Mia stood up and let Deril sit in his chair.

Deril's eyes read the file that Mia had opened. It was written there that the police could not find any trace of Xiao Ying anywhere. He was swallowed by the earth. There's not enough evidence to arrest Doctor Stephen, even if he's a suspect. Mika also could not be found while abroad. The case is deadlocked.

"It has been ten years that the case was closed as a missing person. The evidence is also getting smaller. We can't decide yet what caused Mika's mother to disappear."

"Can't you use this excuse to search Doctor Stephen's house?" ask Deril.

"Can't, unless there's new evidence coming up."

"No new evidence will emerge." Not knowing why, Deril felt confident in his words. Deril continued his reading. There was nothing that could make Deril suspicious or misguided, what the next thing he could do. Stephen covered the case up nicely. "There must be something inside her house, if it's very clean outside."

"I'm suspicious as well" said Mia.

Deril didn't say much afterwards, nor did Mia. They are passionate about their own world. Deril read every evidence report and witness listed on Xiao Ying's case. While Mia, sitting on the couch that is not buried in paper, and reading other cases.

Just as the clock was showing at eight in the evening, Deril said goodbye to Mia. Several night-time police officers greeted Deril because Mia had introduced him. Deril promised to tell the story in a few days. He can't come tomorrow, because he has to go to the hospital with Alex. Diana's coming home tomorrow.

On the way home, Deril was pedaling his bike with a chest that felt tight. She wants to cry. The shadow of Mika who asked for help, continued to torture his mind.

"I'm sorry... Sorry.." whispered Deril while wiping the tears that pooled in his eyes.

***