"Could you please tell me your name? I think I forgot..." I think I forgot? I really didn't know at all! But how can you tell someone who knows you that you don't know them?
My sincere distress and honest confusion must have shown on my face, other wise this guy, who has went through different phases of disbelief, would not have looked so clueless about this situation.
He took a few steps back. Looked at me as though the entire town had branded me a witch. Without a single warning, he collapsed on his feet, a figment of his soul, almost comically, escaped through his lips.
He fainted! Taken by surprise, I quickly moved to catch his fall. Before he could reach the ground, he picked himself back up, dusted himself off and approached me once again as if nothing had happened.
As if nothing had happened. Was this guy seriously alright?
Maybe he's the one insane and not me.
"LI-STEN-WELL!" He began, "I'm Jayus Fortes. We work together, you know, solving crimes? We're detective!" Jayus, the man's name, spoke with every syllable, each spoke out with transparency that reached the clouds.
"Jayus...like a bad joke so unfunny it's—" I began.
"Yes." He sighed, exasperated. "Now let's go. Whatever games you're playing right now won't slide with Miss Euthanasia so we need to leave. I'll indulge in your little charades later," Without a second breath to spare, Jayus marched back out the door.
Well what else can I do now but follow him? I also made quick way towards the door, and that's when he stopped, took one glance at me. His ever so raised brow that seemed to be stitched that way began to stick out once more.
"You're really dragging this one out, aren't you? You left your bag in your room, and you're not even wearing the ribbon you always wear in your hair," Jayus tapped the wooden door, his head in deep thought. Wondering why I would be pulling such a bland trick on him right now. "Whatever, let's hurry and go."
Jayus went right out the door soon after, and I quickly made my way back in my room. A bag... I'm supposed to bring a bag. Right by the foot of the bed, on the floor, a bag truly existed. It was a messenger bag, one which was somewhat similar to Jayus's own. Except instead of brown leather, mine was dark, so close to navy. I checked the contents inside to find a small notepad, a wad of papers and writings, and a notebook.
This must be what the Isolde of this world used to write down notes for work. I quickly strap it around my shoulders and was about to make my way out the apartment where Jayus waited when my eyes spot a yellow ribbon on the desk that I had never noticed before. I must have been so distracted that I never assumed that would be a daily accessory the Isolde of this world used.
"Isolde!" Jayus called out from outside, and I could see him waiting down below from out the window. Behind him, a carriage had already been waiting.
The ride to the crime scene was brief and short to the point I wondered if it was possible we could've just walked. But as I stepped out of the carriage, I was immediately met with the sight of the side of the road.
Confused, I turned to Jayus who had just finished paying the man who drove us here. "Where are we?" I asked as he came to my side.
"The crime scene is just nearby. It's best you take out your notepad now and read as much as you can. Who knows how useful the new clue could be anyways," with a short huff, Jayus hopped down the short slope off the road and slid down the muddy off path.
That's right! The Isolde here must have written down some useful things that could help me in this situation. I quickly followed after Jayus, the mud on the ground immediately clung to my shoes as l took out the notebook in my messenger bag.
The notebook may be small but it was thick in size. It's leather bound felt smooth under my fingers gave me the impression that it was new. As I skimmed through the pages of the notebook, I finally came across it's last written page.
[Case File No. 060]
VICTIM: ANISA FIELDS
-Found by the river
-Found only wearing her underwear
-Cigarette burn marks on her upper
thighs
SUSPECTS:
I : MIKA STINES (Best Friend) Last Person to have known to interact with the victim before she was found.
II : LOUS DARWIN (Former Lover) Known to have had an affair.
III : FIN KEINSLEY (Rejected by Anisa Fields) Had confessed to the victim after Anisa Fields discovered her lover's affair.
Hm? That doesn't sound so important, for him to become a suspect and all... Is what I had thought at first as I proceeded to read the entire notes content. The entire page itself was meticulously detailed and organized to the point where I could easily deduce the entire situation just from a few writings.
[FOUND CLUES: SUSPECT DEDUCTION]
Huh. An immediate deduction. Did the Isolde of this world not write down the suspect's alibi's? Before I continued to read the entire page, I found that the alibis really were written down, just right below the bottom page.
The first deduction had been about FIN KEINSLEY.
• Fin Keinsley. He had been the most suspicious during our interrogation. A vicious act caused by a bruised ego and broken pride. We found he smokes a lot, and multiple witnesses claim he has been complaining and talking frequently of Anisa Fields since she rejected him. A string of slurs often used by him to describe her.
• Lous Darwin. Anisa's former lover. He had been caught cheating on her which resulted in the two of them fighting. However, no matter how much Lous Darwin had emphasized the desire to end their relationship, Anisa Fields had refused. Each time.
I see. One could be an act of revenge, and the other could be fueled by rage. And the other...
• Mika Stines. Anisa Fields' close friend. She had received a call from Anisa Fields a day before she had been found dead by the river. Telephone Managers had not been present to hear in the contents of the conversation. Whether the claims Mika Stines said about her conversation with Anisa Fields holds some truth or not, we have yet to confirm.
"We're here," Jayus spoke as he pushed away a yellow tape with clear warning signs. I hadn't noticed we had already reached the river side in the short walk. Trees surrounded the river side as yellow tape roped around the area where the corpse had been found. A few other inspectors still loitered around the area, each discussing among themselves about things. Still, as I gazed around the river, there weren't much left behind in the crime scene to investigate in the first place.
"Today, they've already taken Anisa Fields' corpse to be embalmed. The results of yesterday's interrogation made for a huge leap to lead us to the murderer. Let's see if anything changes once we know the new found evidence." Jayus said with a serious tone and a concentrated look on his face that contrasted the easily frustrated temperament he had shown me earlier.
Before I could say anything, a tall man suddenly approached us. His blonde hair looked dark and cloudy in the forests blue hues, and teal color in his eyes easily reminded me of a green lake so dark it almost looked blue. Under the light of the forest, I would not have seen the faint freckles on his face had it not been for single spot of sunray that conveniently fell on his cheeks.
"You both made it just in time," This blonde man said, bemused. Just like us, he wore a similar dress code with a white button up shirt tucked neatly into his pants as a dark blue vest clung to his chest. Over them, he wore a long, open coat.
"Euthanasia couldn't come here herself due to personal business so I'm here in her stead," This stranger said, before turning to Jayus who had just sighed out of relief. "You can relax now, Jayus." He said, bemused.
Perhaps this Euthanasia really must be strict. I've had my handful share of strict managers before, and they aren't the type to relax either just because you do good work. I understand why Jayus would be on edge.
To my surprise, this new stranger turned to me too and nodded his head in acknowledgement, "Isolde." Was all he said with a smile.
Ahh, crap. I don't remember his name either.
The longer I remained silent, the longer our stare down lasted. He looked as though he was waiting for something. Probably a greeting in return, duh!
"Uh, Hello...Jimmy...?" I took a guess on his name. Finger's crossed that I actually get it right! Or else I just look like a crazy person!
Blondie looked at me, then turned to Jayus, then back at me with confusion. But I couldn't say anything more to break this long silence. Jayus, on the other hand, took a long deep sigh as he roughly rubbed his eyes.
"...Jimmy?" Blondie asked.
"Yeah... she's going through a phase, just indulge her for today. She'll grow out of it." Jayus said in a tired tone, one that uncannily resembled that of a mother who's tired of her daughter's antics.
"Oh!" Blondie's lake green eyes popped out into wide saucers. "I had one of those. When I was a teenager, I rebelled against my older sister."
"Against your sister?" I repeated. That doesn't sound much like rebelling. If anything, isn't it sort of like growing the courage to stop being your older siblings servant?
Jayus gasped, his eyes narrowed in question and surprise, "And you survived? What did you do?"
The man laughed, "Well, I was pretty bad back in the day. Once my sister told me I should put trees in my painting, I instead, painted only a tiny sapling compared to what she wanted me to paint. I did get locked in my room the entire day after but I still get chills recalling what I did!"
Uwah...this poor guy. I turned to Jayus who turned to me, and in a split second, we shared a mutual understanding for the first time today.
"You... you're so amazing, Jimmy." I chocked out as I applauded Jimmy for his story of act of bravery.
"Who the hell is Jimmy?" Jimmy asked.
"Splendid work, Prez. Way to show the wicked witch." Jayus added, despite his kind, encouraging words, he failed to meet Jimmy's eyes as he silently cried for a false impression of Jimmy's past he had created himself in his mind.
"Somehow, I feel mocked than flattered." Jimmy admitted. Seeing how down he looked, I patted his shoulder in reassurance. With this act, this will be the first show of our camaraderie.
"I think you were pretty awesome, Jimmy." I raised a thumb to show him my support but to my unluck, I was met with more scolding.
"No, who the hell is Jimmy, seriously!" Jimmy cried, "My name is Adelai! Adelai Acriestelon! Call me Jimmy again and I'll have you suspended from work for a week, that should keep you away enough to get you a penalty."
Adelai spoke, yet this time, he sounded serious. I don't know what kind of position the Isolde of this world holds but as long as I'm in her stead, it's best not to make enemies of people I don't know.
While the scolding was initially directed to me, Jayus felt he also should take damage of the attack.
"Sorry, Prez." We both said in unison