The Way Back Home's
Black Blue
“I will accompany you to the police station,” Christo said at the end of their breakfast.
Christo and Farrell came out the back door. Previously, Christo had already told Gizmo to fly around. Denise and her two men are nowhere to be seen. Maybe they went back to the inn or were looking for them somewhere else. For sure they were no longer in the starting position when Christo put them to sleep. After coming to the conclusion that the condition was quite safe, then they came out of the Bliss and Tea Room.
Farrell had thought Christo would take him back to prison to report, but the police station was different from where his father was being held. Christo took her to the nearest police station. The only one in the small town. They walk fast. Can't waste time. Christo is afraid that Denise will escape but Farrell is more worried that Milo and Libby will wake up before she returns. Maybe Milo can still understand, but it certainly won't be easy for Libby. It was better for him to move alone at this moment.
For a moment, Farrell hesitated whether he should report. He is not in a position to sue uncle. He's not Alan's son. But now Farrell is the only one who can stop his uncle from selling Eden’s Lodge.
They arrived at a two-story gray building with a spacious courtyard. A high iron fence surrounds the police station. There's some kind of weird stamp on the bottom, maybe some kind of spell or something. The gray building was victorian-style, ancient but sturdy, old yet well-maintained. When climbing the stairs, the door of the police station opened itself as if to let in.
The interior is also victorian. Large sofa rows complete with coffee table, wooden furniture, chandelier, long curtains. There was a high table in front of them, similar to the receptionist counter Eden’s Lodge. A policewoman stood behind it and looked at her two guests.
“There can I help you with?” ask the woman in the black uniform. Like the general police, he was wearing a long-sleeved suit, trousers, as well as boots, a hat. However, with additional shoulder protectors as well as chain accessories. Their tops are similar to full-coat ornaments at the end.
“We want to report a person on the charge of misuse of magic potions.”
Christo took care of the report, mentioned this name, told the matter and the chronology of the incident, while Farrell was silent. Heart's fidgeting. Something tickled his mind. There's something wrong with all this. His mind floated uncalled during the making of the report letter. He didn't even understand what was going on between the cop and Christo. Until finally a man in his twenties joined their conversation.
“This is officer Ruberu from the central police, he will help you,” said the female officer while handing her a brown map.
Farrell turned his gaze to the officer. Ruberu looked like a witch that had been in her mind all along. A long-haired man on his back and a stick on his right hand. He was not wearing a uniform like the other police officers. Ruberu wore a navy blue coat with a black shoulder cover. Behind him, he wore a black shirt and white pants as well as a brown leather boot. Hair color is no less fussy. This man's hair is black with blue at the ends. It's a little older than Vincent. Without needing to learn about magic, Farrell knew this man gave off an aura different from everyone else.
“Something's wrong with me?” Ruberu asked without looking. His club's eyeballs are still busy reading the file. His voice was deep and heavy.
Farrell shook his head. “Ngak. Absolutely no.”
After reading, Ruberu stared at the two clients taking turns. “So, here you are the reporting party, Farrell Eden?” ask him directly to Farrell. “I wouldn't say it's an honor, but I'm very interested in the case at Eden’s Lodge. Hopefully I can help,” he said again as he reached out to shake hands.
Farrell could only welcome him and smiled faintly. “I hope so.”
“Can we talk there? There are a few things I want to ask,” Ruberu looked into one of the sofa sets in the corner of the room.
Ruberu starts a conversation with something bad for Farrell, “So, your father is in jail for murder charges. Now you report your uncle on charges of fraud and abuse of magic potions.”
Farrell glanced at Christo. He did not listen when the report was made. He had no idea what Christo had reported about his uncle.
“Your uncle was assisted by a woman named Denise,” Ruberu continued. “What do you know about this woman? Does he like magic items and historical artifacts?”
Farrell could not answer, so Christo gave an answer instead. “We only know that she is a rich woman, the owner of several gambling establishments and a large bar. Maybe he met Albert Eden at one of his casinos.”
“From the data we save, Denise is one of the best graduates of the school concocting.”
“Causible. The mannequin herb is pretty good.”
“As long as you work at Eden’s Lodge, does Denise go there often? What did he talk to Albert Eden about?”
“At first, he only visited Eden’s Lodge once a month. However, the past year he has come almost every week. I never eavesdrop on their conversations. Only a few times passed when they talked. They talk about business. Like the opening of a new casino, room rates at Eden’s Lodge, prices of staples for food and drinks, then money, money, and money again.”
“So, do you think Denise is only interested in buying Eden’s Lodge to expand her business?”
Christo nodded. “I don't think it's a secret that Eden’s Lodge has a big income every month. Even if the numbers have dropped since Albert Eden took over.”
Ruberu pulled herself up and leaned back. “If it's just a matter of buying and selling lodging, this case is simpler.”
“More simple?”
“Eh?” Ruberu fell silent as if surprised at her own words. Afraid of being considered an understatement, Ruberu shook her head and continued, “Ah, no. I mean, this is not a complicated case. Albert Eden wanted to sell the inn, Denise wanted to buy it, but Alan Eden did not agree. So, Albert Eden was forced to justify all means.”
Farrell was silent. He does not speak not because he does not know what he wants to talk about but because he is getting a bad feeling. Ruberu who helped them was now an officer from the central police force. There was no way he could be seconded to a simple case like this. It is not impossible that Ruberu was actually in this small town to investigate Eden’s Lodge. Farrell feels there is something more complicated and dark than just a matter of buying and selling.
The question is, if it's not about the seizure of ownership Eden’s Lodge, then what?
