The Truth Berries

X

       “The lab results are in, Romero. The fingerprints that we lifted from the knife’s handle provided a hit on our database. And I hate to say it but you’re right again. The contractor’s security guard on-duty that night did the crime. It seems he has been watching the lady for quite some time. He knew what time she would go to work in a nearby call center and what time she would go home. All that’s left was the perfect time to do his plan. “

       “The weekly beer night.”

       “Damn right. Everybody was already home or asleep by the time the victims were going home. Our guy grabbed the lady from behind and forced her inside the compound but she tried to resist him so she punched her asleep.”

       “So where does the other victim fit in all of these? The guard would not attempt to grab her if they were together that night, obviously. How did he end up with the girl?”

       “Ah, good question. Here’s your answer. That’s because they weren’t really together that night. Poor guy just saw the guard carry the girl when she was already out. He was walking behind the girl, some hundred meters down the street so he ran and tried to help her. The guard obviously didn’t like the interruption. Or a talking witness, for that case. So he drained the guy of his blood. You just missed one minor thing here, Romey.”

       “What?”

       “The boy behind the guard that night was an accessory to the crime.”

       “How so?”

       “He dragged the stabbed victim all the way to where they were found. They found samples of hair on the dead man’s shirt, and it proved to be different from the samples found from the lady’s hands. Could it be just a coincidence? We think not. So, forensics asked for the boy’s hair sample and voila, it was a f*****g match! Then I brought him to the station and interrogated him. The boy immediately spilled the beans when I told him you know a solitary lake perfect for finding a floating dead boy’s body one day.”

       “You really are something, Lex. Tell me what the boy confessed.”

       “He said he saw their guard hitting the lady at about 10:20 pm. The guard did not see him behind the pile of concrete hollow blocks. He said he thought the lady was the guard’s girlfriend and that they were just having some sort of personal quarrel so he just let them be. Then suddenly, the other victim came running and tried to save Miss Damsel-in-Distress. He said he was about to intervene when the guard went inside his outpost and came out with a knife in hand and started hacking at the poor guy. The guard just noticed him standing there when he was done butchering the other guy. He said he was threatened by the guard to be next in line if he wouldn’t help him get rid of his body. We’ve found both of the victim’s wallets in the guard’s belongings. You were right again. He was planning for an early trip back home in his province, his bags were already packed.”

       “So there’s robbery also?”

       “Big chance, buddy.”

       “But it was the boy who called and reported the crime, right?”

       “Apparently, yes. It seems the boy got the guts and conscience to do so. But as far as we’re concerned, this case is as good as closed already. So, how about our own beer night later? A simple, congratulatory bottle of beer for each of us, eh?”

Miguel laughed.

       “You know I would love to, buddy, but I can’t. I got an urgent thing to do later and I’m afraid I can’t cancel it. Besides, I just saw firsthand how beer nights may end.”

       “Oh come on?! We used to do this every time we finished our assignment. Plus, Nelia and the kids are out to spend the weekend with my in-laws. We could be bachelors again for a night. So, what do you say?”

       “I say you go and treat yourself with the finest beer in town and live like a bachelor for a night. I promise I won’t tell a soul. I shall do the same with a bottle of wine and a goddess as my company. Congratulations to both of us for a job well done. Got to go, buddy. Have a good bachelor night. Bye.”, he hastily put the phone down.

       He knew he never felt any better than before. His life was back on track and everything was starting to fall into their right places. Her wife has forgiven him and they were supposed to have a special dinner date at her apartment later that night. His case on hand got solved rather easily and they had their man in custody already. But more than all of this was the absolute feeling of no regrets in making a big decision. He realized a lot of things after the night of reconciliation with her wife and one of them was that he was sacrificing too much for his job – especially her. So he made up his mind. He shall file for an early retirement and shall spend all his time with his wife, Nadia. She asked for it several times years before but he just ignored her pleas. He realized it was about time to give her request a chance and start planning about their future together. He knew for sure she would love this surprise he had for her. As for Alex, he still did not know about it. He imagined Alex’s face showing surprise and then anger when he tells him finally. But he was certain Alex would understand. He has always been a fatherly figure for him since he joined the force and they had known each other for quite a long time already. Furthermore, it was Alex who encouraged him to fix his marriage and, if really needed, court her again. Alex would be okay without him, of that he was sure.

       It was fifteen minutes past five in the afternoon when he went to their office on the second floor of the police station building. He had to do it quickly or he would be late for his date. He opened his computer and began to type in his hunt-and-peck style. How he hated typing. He wished he had his own secretary at that very moment but still, he went own. He had two letters to make. First, he had to make a formal resignation letter for his commander which he left on his table when he wasn’t there already. He made that one quite easily. The second was the hardest one to do because it was for his partner and best friend Alex. In the letter, he told him how thankful he was for a having a good partner, a loyal friend and a guiding father for a couple of years. He said that the best thing of his job was doing it with him and that he was so sorry that he had to tell him that way because he knew what his reactions would be. Finally, he hoped and knew that of all people, Alex would understand him and wish him his true happiness. Miguel wished him happy hunting in the end. He sealed his letter and put it on his partner’s table. When he was done, he went to his car and drove to the 24-hour wine store and bought a bottle of red wine. Then, he was off to his date.

When he arrived outside her apartment, he noticed that the whole place was dark except for the kitchen. Maybe she just got home from work, he thought. He pressed the doorbell with his right hand for his left hand was hiding the bottle of wine in his back. A minute passed and no one answered the door so he tried again. Still, nobody came so he tried the door and he was surprised to discover it wasn’t locked. Silently, he went inside the dark living room and saw scattered red things on the floor. Oh, rose petals from the lady of perfection and devotion, he thought.

       “Nadia, honey, I’m here already.”

       No one answered him still. So he headed for the kitchen. He was halfway into it when he noticed a streak of red on the tiled floor of the kitchen. It started from the middle of the kitchen floor and disappeared behind the big dining table. It was then that he knew something was terribly wrong. His whole body began to tremble and his knees weakened. He now realized that what he saw at the living room were not rose petals but blood. He dropped the bottle of wine in his hurry to see where the blood disappeared and what he saw took his courage and will. It was Nadia, breathing heavily with a kitchen knife drove deep into her right chest. He dropped on his knees and cradled her in his arms, her blood soaking his pants and his shirt.

       “Nadia, stay with me. Don’t close your eyes, honey. No, no, no. Don’t die on me. I’ll call for help but please hold on. Stay with me, baby”

       Miguel screamed for help. He took out his cellphone and tried to dial 911 but her blood made it slippery so he dropped it twice. He noticed that the knife made her breathing labored so he took all the courage he had at that moment and pulled the knife out. Nadia coughed twice and blood spurted out of her stab wound and some got into his face. He was still trying to call the emergency hotline when she leaned into his ear and whispered something in her dying breath. What he heard made his world crumble.

       “Honey, he wants the chest.”