His Conundrums

Chapter 27

Bring Me Back To Life

“Something’s not right. It doesn’t even make any sense,” Joe blurted out.

“Of course, you could say that knowing the capacity of your little brain,” Sirius told him while going through Irvin’s things in the living room.

“Wow! Enlighten me with that big head of yours. I can’t follow you at this moment.”

“We don’t have that much time.”

Joe rolled his eyes and decided to go back to Mr. Irvin’s bedroom. “Insensitive nerd,” he said as he found Irvin’s violin case resting around the corner.

-0-0-0-

He can still smell the newly refurbished furniture. The aroma of the woods was polished with a special kind of varnish.  It gives a soothing feeling for him, just like the melody surrounded the whole room, classic. He was in a deep conversation with the instrument he’s been playing. It was not long ago when he stared at the violin and watched a girl played this instrument. Now, he was the one looking for a symphony he’s trying to look for. He hit his last few notes and ended it slowly. He opened his eyes and saw a wide grin looking as happy as he is.

“You’re… amazing!” she said and gave Joe the applause he deserved.

“Thanks but nothing compared to you,” he said.

 “No! You got talent. No wonder Mr. Turner likes you a lot. You’re a genius who could do everything. I am nothing compared to you,” she said.

“You’re overreacting, silly. It’s nothing.” He handed over the violin.

“You can sign up for my club.”

“I don’t do clubs.”

“Of course, you can easily fit in anywhere you like.” She rolled her eyes and put her violin into its case. He sighed. “I told you, I’m not a genius. It’s just that I can learn that fast,” he explained. She looked him in the eyes. “No one can learn violin within 30 minutes looking at someone play.”

“I guess you’re a natural teacher just by playing it, Lori.”

It’s that time when their hearts beat synchronically. Their eyes spoke what needs to be spoken without words. The rhythm of the violin echoed in their ears. Slowly, bit by bit, the distance between them went closer and closer.

“Uhmm… my mom told me to go home early. She made me my favorite hot pot.” Lori broke off the scene.

“Ah… okay.”

“Uhmm… S-see you tomorrow?” she asked as she fixed her hair and inserted it into her ears.

“Huh? Uh, yes. See you tomorrow,” Joe said as he put his hands inside his pockets.

Lori packed all of her things and wore her sling bag. She smiled at Joe before leaving the club room. She was about to close the door when she faced him again and spoke.

“You like to have dinner with us?” she asked. Joe’s smile went wide, and his face went brighter. “Of course! I would love to.”

-0-0-0-

He stared at the calluses on his left hand. He remembered those times where everything seemed in place. Where he was happy and contented for whom he was around her. He let out a deep sigh at the thought. He put down his left hands, and someone spoke out of nowhere.

“You played the violin before. You’re good at it?” Sirius asked him.

“No. I just played a couple of times since I have a friend who played it… with such grace and discipline.”

“Your girlfriend?”

“No.”

Sirius looked at him. Trying to read his thoughts but never gave him a word. He shrugged his shoulder before he held Joe’s left hand and scanned it.

“I saw the same calluses on Hiro’s right hand,” Sirius told him.

“He played the violin.”

“And he’s a right-handed person.”

Sirius picked something in his pocket. It was the letter that Mr. Flipper gave them before.

“As you can see, this was written by a left-handed person.”

“The stroke and the smudges.”

“Yes,” Sirius smelled the piece of paper, but it was just an ordinary type of paper. ”Therefore, Hiro was not the one we were looking for.”

“Do you think it is somehow related to Mr. Flipper’s case? You know, sometimes our intuitions are wrong.”

“Yeah, but not this time.” Sirius went through Irvin’s desk.

Joe was looking at his mini-library. He’s waiting for Sirius to at least say his sorry for what he said earlier, but he’s not that type of guy. He’s too focused and obsessed with this case. Joe rolled his eyes again at that thought and accidentally kicked the trash bin. Some crumpled paper scattered on the floor.

“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t—“ He didn’t finish his sentence when Sirius immediately picked it up, saying, “Yes! You’re a genius, Joe.”

How can someone become a genius by kicking a trash can? Joe is a simple-minded person and doesn’t hold that much of a grudge.

“Uhh… well, I am. I just try to hide it since I’m a bit shy to let everyone know,” he murmured. “What is that?” He asked Sirius.

“If Irvin was his first victim, he must have the same death threat. This…” He stood up, showing Joe a crumpled piece of paper.

“VI II VIII II

16 14 3 53”

“Here we go again, decoding another message. What kind of book is it this time?” Joe scratched the back of his head and faced Irvin’s mini-library. He sighed at the numbers of books they had to scan again.

“Better start now,” Sirius told Joe.

-0-0-0-

Joe sighed while scanning the last book on Irvin’s bookshelves. Almost an hour had passed, but the message on that piece of paper is still unknown. He sighed again and closed the book he’s been holding.

Sirius went back from Irvin’s table carrying a box. He blew the dust above it, making Joe cough saying, “Can’t you see I’m here?” in between his misery.

“Oh, I didn’t see you,” he said nonchalantly.

Sirius put the box on the ground. He saw some papers when he opened them. “This must be it,” he said.

“What is it?” Joe asked him.

“Documents from their partnership.”

“Okay. I should grab something to fill my stomach from this work I never signed up for.”

“You initiated this partnership between us.”

“By the thought that it would end with the bombing case as what we agreed, yes.” Joe stopped by the door. “I should have known.”

“Giving up already?” Sirius smirked at him.

“Nope. Just give me a little break.” He smirked back and found his way to the kitchen.