Human vs. Phantom

Chapter- 8 Episode- 4 To Look For

Chapter - 8

Episode - 4

To Look For

“The investigation is going on and that is all we can share with the press right now; the officers are investigating the murders.” The bald man in a khaki outfit said in a rough tone. The star badge on his chest was rather rusty unlike his shiny bald head, and as he said those words, his big salt pepper pryingly mustache fluttered with his lips giving out a very classic sheriff vibe.

“We understand your concern sheriff McIver, but the public needs answers and this is our job to provide it, that’s all we are trying to do. just any information could help.” Jim said politely, looking straight into his eyes, sitting on the creaking wooden chair in the dusty station room opposite to Mr. McIver, the middle-aged county sheriff.

“three people died in three days, correct?” Reeve inquired holding a notepad and a pen over his lap, his hands were moving swiftly left to right and right to left on the notepad as he was questioning the sheriff, to which the sheriff nodded his head as a yes.

“what do you think is going on with the locals? Undoubtedly this is the first time something like this has happened in this town in years.” Reeve implored.

“There are crimes in every place of this country and as a responsible sheriff, I assure you to punish those who are guilty of the disturbance of the peace of the town according to the law.” He said with absolute confidence.

“can you share any other detail about the cases?” Reeve again quired.

“What magazine did you say you are from?” the sheriff asked the boys.

“oh! Actually, it is an online magazine…..” Jim was saying when Reeve interrupted, “actually it is a magazine report we are working on, it is about weird occurrences and events.”

“okay gentleman I think you should now leave.” The sheriff said stroking his mustache.

Coming back inside their blue Chevrolet, Jim couldn’t help his curiosity and ended up asking his brother, “dude, what were you doing with the notepad, you know you never used that before right?”

“huh, the sheriff had a very funny nose, and that vintage mustache that was to die for, I barely contained my laughs”, Reeve said and showed him the page he was moving his hands swiftly earlier in the cabin. It was hilarious how proudly he was showing Jim his masterpiece, his amusing drawing which strangely he thought actually looked anywhere near how the sheriff actually looked like.

“even a middle schooler can draw better than you,” Jim commented on the comical drawing his brother made.

“I was shooting bullets in middle school, pretty sure even I high schooler couldn’t do that,” Reeve replied leaning his head back on the headrest.

- - - - - - - - - - -

“This is the room boys… room 237 and this is the key.” The old slim man showed the boys to their room in the hotel, the place they’ll be staying at for a couple of days, and stood there with his eyes on them as if asking for something like a lost puppy.

“yes thanks”, Jim said taking their luggage from his tight hold, which to their surprise he refused to give up and said in his old rude voice,

“You are not gonna cheap out on me boy, will you?” “Oh yes sure just a second”, Jim said fetching his wallet from his back pocket and tipped him with twenty dollars.

“Thank ya.” The oldy said with an ecstatic smile on his face and left right after.

“The hotel is super fancy; I think I’ll take a bubble bath first.” Reeve said in absolute excitement and ran straight into the bathroom. “wow, there is a jacuzzi in here. I'm so not coming out of here.” Reeve again said yelling from the doors. “hey, don’t lay around and order some fancy dishes to eat too.” Reeve again yelled back.

“get serious man, we have a long day of work left to do, come out quick or I am leaving on my own,” Jim yelled back equally loud.

“you are no fun at all,” Reeve said groaning.

“what are you wearing?” Jim said laughing looking at his dear brother walked out of the shower wearing a fluffy white bathrobe and a towel wrapped on his wet hair. Swear to god; if he were a bit short and slim, he would look way sexier than many pretty girls in that bathrobe.

“man, this hotel is awesome, we should stay at hotels more instead of those cheap rundown motel rooms with creaky bed and scary receptionist, cigarette smelling air, and nosy neighbors.” He said waggling his eyebrows.

“Okay, so what you got?” Reeve said switching his tone from cheerful, funny to seriousness, and passionate in the snap of a finger.

“I've got some addresses on my to-do list of the day,” Jim replied.

“Okay, let’s go then.”

The Beaver brother got into their car and drove to the address, as they were on their way, Jim said seeing his brother whistling and smiling brightly, “why are so cheerful and bright today? You know this is pretty weird knowing how you usually behave when you are out on a hunt.”

“come on why wouldn’t I be happy? I took a hot bath today; I ate good food and I am now driving my car. What could be better than this?” Reeve replied in delight.

- - - - - - - - - - -

“This is Stacy’s apartment. She and her husband lived here.” Jim told Reeve standing at the doorstep of the apartment.

“no one is here now?” Reeve inquired doubtfully, of the possibility.

“I don’t think so. Her husband is at the court trying to bail out his wife.” Jim spoke out.

“Okay, and you are fine with breaking and entering now?” Reeve asked in his deep husky voice.

“no, actually I have the keys,” Jim answered with unblinking eye contact.

“what why do you have these with you, where did you get it?” Reeve inquired his brother seeing the key in his hands.

“maybe you are forgetting something… we are brothers and if you are such a big flirt then I can do it too. I just have to lie a bit.” Jim said with an enigmatic smile.

“what lies… you little flirt?” Reeve asked in a high-pitched voice.

“Nothing big, I just told her that my brother, I mean you are an expert private investigator and can help her sister if she is actually innocent,” Jim answered.

“what really? And she believed you?” Reeve asked pinching his nose and furrowing his eyebrows.

“I have my charms as you have yours,” Jim answered proudly.

“you are behaving a bit strange,” Reeve said.

“like you aren’t, whatever let’s not waste any time anymore and get to work,” Jim said unlocking the lock with the key in his hand.

“at least something hasn’t changed, you nagging,” Reeve commented nudging.

“come on, man.” Jim folded his arms and they both walked into the apartment.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Opening the door, the first thing my eyes fell upon was the light pastel interior of the place. It was soothing and welcoming by any means and above all not home to a cold-blooded killer.

As we walked further inside the place, my eyes were on the walls, where the pictures of Stacy with her husband were hanging any place my eyes wander, I don’t know his name, but they looked like so much in love. My body suddenly drooped think about them now and in the pictures. Dragging my feet further inside and my gaze on to look for anything that could help us, I started going through the thing in the room.

It was beautifully kept. Nice furniture and well-matched to the theme and vibe of the room, not too expensive but also very pleasing for the eyes. The furniture had a simplicity and a flare all at once as if inspired by the simple gown that is confident in taking up its space.

There wasn’t much to look for in the living area but there was a desk with drawers where my eyes went to, it had a card on top of it, a business card of a place called ‘The Meditation Centre’. The name somehow sounded familiar. But it was still unknown the feeling of confusion, uh... how could I now remember.

“do you know what this is?” a sudden voice brings me back from my thoughts.

“I don’t know this name somehow sounded familiar, but I can’t quite remember,” I answered seeing my brother looking at me with questioning eyes.

“maybe because it isn’t something crucial. It is just a meditating center-right.” Reeve said to me making me think that maybe he is right, it must be the yoga center thing, girls go to such places, don’t they?

“Maybe you are right, I better look somewhere else,” I said doubtfully yet assured that it isn’t something chief.

After looking through every room and every corners of the apartment, we still couldn’t find a single thing, a single clue that can be of any help to us. In the end, we just had to walk out of there empty handed.