The Forest

Chapter Four

The reporter ran away.

Tiny raindrops fell into her hair, shining for just a second before disappearing. The air smelled like wet asphalt.

Their figures disappeared in the distance.

They kept turning around to see if she was going after them. They were scared. s**t s**t s**t. The news are going to be fun to watch tomorrow.

So this was her life now. Her heart was racing. She sighed and started running to get to the bakery faster. Air was pushing against her face, slowing her down. When she finally reached the bakery she was out of breath. She bended over and squatted to calm her breathing. The bakery had no customers. It was safe.

` Hello. ` she said as she entered.

Mrs. Mary came out of the depths of her kitchen with a smile on her face which slowly faded when she saw who it was.

` Hello. ` she answered. Her voice was weak. She used to be so warm, like a grandma, with her many aprons and flowery dresses, always smelling like home. ` What do you want? ` she asked shortly.

` A croissant, please. `Tilia said, offering Mrs. Mary her best smile.

Mrs. Mary didn`t seem to care. She grabbed a burned croissant from the bottom of the pile, shoved it into a bag and gave it to her. Tilia bowed her head and gave her the money. She walked out without saying thank you or goodbye. Her words weren`t welcome anymore.

She stepped back into the chilly night. It was raining but just enough to be visible around the street light bulbs. Tears started running down her face and she stood there, in the rain.

A car pulled over, shining it`s bright light in her face. She covered her eyes with the palm of her hand. For a second she thought that those were the cops coming to arrest her. But a familiar voice called for her. Phillip rolled his window down and pushed his head out.

` What in the world are you doing standing there? ` he asked.

She wiped her cheeks and rubbed her eyes. ` I was just… I was getting something to eat. ` she said.

` Get in here. ` he told her. She listened. ` You are crazy. ` he said when she closed the door, leaving the rain behind.

Tilia sat there, fixating her fingers wrapped around the bag handles. Radio was turned on, playing some nice, jazzy music. He started driving.

` I don`t want to go home. ` she said.

He looked at her but she couldn`t look back.

` Do you want to just drive around for a bit? ` he asked.

She nodded. It was worm in the car. Street lights peeked through the car windows here and there shining on her swollen eyes.

` Hey, hey… were you crying? ` he asked slowing down, trying to keep an eye on the road and examine her expressions.

` No. ` she said. He pulled over at a parking lot in front of the supermarket. `Maybe just a little. ` she said. ` Why? `

` I don`t… It`s just… You wouldn`t understand. ` she waved her head and allowed one more tear to run down her cheek.

` Try me. `he said.

She took a deep breath, letting the lump in her throat go. ` Well, first I bumped into some reporters... and then Mrs. Mary...` she said.

` Oh, those assholes. ` he said.

She raised her head and giggled. ` Mrs. Mary is not an asshole. She just doesn`t like me anymore. ` she said.

` You are right, she isn`t. I love Mrs. Mary. But people should be more considerate. None of them showed even the slightest interest in hearing what you have to say.` he said. ` I hate those reporters, though. `

`Me too. That woman was so rude. That`s not reporting, it`s making up random lies and serving them as news.` she said.

` True. ` he said. ` Let`s just ignore all of the assholes who bring us down. `

` Deal. ` she said and they laughed as he was lighting a cigarette, taking a puff and giving it to her.

`Don`t let him get to you. ` he said.

` Thank you. ` she said glancing at him. He was searching for something on the floor.

` Why are you so nice to me all the time? `

` Because that`s what decent human beings do. ` he said, sitting up straight.

He had dimples that showed best when he smiled. Sitting there, in a car on an empty parking lot was all she needed now. She rolled down her window to let some of the smoke out. Her stomach was craving for food so she opened her bag and took a bite.

` Sorry. I didn`t eat anything today. ` she said after she swallowed.

` It`s okay. Eat. ` he said, giving her a big smile. ` Hey, would you like to have some beer? ` asked Philip.

She giggled. ` Sure, why not. ` Tilia said.

` Awesome. You stay there and eat and I`ll go to the supermarket. ` he said and bolted out of the car.

She finished her croissant and shoved the paper bag in her pocket.

Philip was heading towards the car, with a bag of beer cans hung on his fingers.

` I`m back. ` he said as he took his seat again. He opened a can for her and then a can for him.

` Cheers! ` he said.

` To what? ` she asked, holding her can in the air.

` To the cop drinking beer in his car with a murderer. `

***

She occupied a booth in The Lime.

Besides her there were only a couple of people there who didn`t care much about her. They came for the same reason she did – to get away from everybody. Music was relaxing and the volume raised just enough so no one is able to hear what the other table is talking about.

Maria came first, straight after work, wearing a green coat and the same red purse where she hid Mr. Grimm`s key. She smiled when she spotted Tilia and sat right across from her, leaning closer as she was taking the coat off, carefully laying it next to her to avoid wrinkles.

`I heard about those reporters. ` she said.

` Yeah, that went incredibly well. ` Tilia rolled her eyes.

` I`m sorry honey. They are a disgrace of our profession.` as Maria said that, Philip came in and waved at them. `Why is he here? ` she whispered while he was approaching. Tilia didn`t have time to answer.

` Hey! ` he said, just as surprised to see Maria as she was surprised to see him. But he didn`t say anything. He looked at the coat rested neatly on its special seat and sat next to Tilia.

` So, what is this meeting about? ` he asked.

Tilia waited for the waitress to take the order before she started talking. She felt like sugar that evening. She spent the day thinking about the key. What could it mean? What could it hide? Should she really go for it and respect the dying man`s whishes?

She knew that key was the only clue anyone had to the death of Mr. Grimm. And that meant that it was her way of getting out of the position of the main suspect. She hated it. Finding out what that key unlocks required doing some dangerous stuff. The kind of stuff that might get her into trouble.

As she knew herself she also knew that she wouldn`t be able to do it on her own. And that`s why she invited them.

` I called you both here because I need help. ` she said. ` You are my best friend. ` she pointed at Maria who grinned. ` And you are nice to me. ` she said, elbowing Philip. ` Everyone in this town thinks I killed Mr. Grimm and I need your help to prove that I didn`t. The only way I can do that is by finding out who actually done it. That`s where you come in. I mean, if you want to. ` Tilia glanced at Maria first and then Phillip. They looked at each other.

She took a deep breath, keeping her fingers crossed that they wouldn`t find it to be too much to ask. She already knew it was. But she was desperate.

` Well you know I`m in, sweetie. ` said Maria. ` It`s an adventure. And you know I love anything that gets me out of this ordinary life. ` Tilia smiled.

` Me too. Besides, this is my first murder case and the Bear won`t let me anywhere near the action. It would be fun to actually do something about it. ` he said.

Tilia smiled and sighed in relief. She wasn`t alone.

`Thank you guys. You know you are saving my life. ` she said.

` No need for that. We are all doing it for our own, selfish reasons. ` Maria said.

` Okay. So far, we have one clue. ` she said and nodded at Maria. Phillip tilted his head and Maria opened her red purse pulling the key out. Phillip squinted at it and took it in his hand. Both girls looked at him, scared that he might turn it in to the police.

` Why is this a clue? ` he asked while examining it.

` Because the mayor gave me that key before he died. ` said Tilia.

She waited for his reaction. He could just take it to the police and tell them she hid it. He could yell at them for not reporting this earlier. He carefully inspected it, bringing it close to his eyes. They held their breath for his reaction.

` What does it unlock? ` he asked, putting it down in the middle of the table. The girls gave each other a glance and continued staring at him, judging what his next reaction would be.

` We don`t know yet. ` said Maria.

` That`s what we have to figure out. Now, I`m assuming it would be something in his house. ` said Tilia.

`Probably. I don`t think he would keep something important in his office at the city hall. ` said Phillip. ` Come on girls, stop looking at me like I`m about to blow off. This is cool. I can be the one to solve this case since as of now, I have more clues than The Bear does. ` he smiled at them and they laughed.

Then Maria`s eyes lit up. ` Guys, one of my journalists is supposed to go over to his villa later this week and have an interview with Ethan. `

`So? ` asked Tilia.

` So I could volunteer to replace her and I could snoop around a little bit. `

` Are you sure? I mean it`s not really safe, you could lose your job if Ethan figured out what you are doing. ` said Tilia and Philip agreed with her.

` Trust me, he`s not going to notice anything. I`ll just be polite and ask to see his grandfather`s favorite room. ` she said with a devilish grin on her face.

` Good idea. Makes sense. But how are we going to get in and find out what the key is for? ` asked Philip.

` We`ll figure it out later. One step at a time. ` said Tilia.

It was raining again. Two raindrops were racing down the window and Tilia followed them to see which one will win. It was warm inside and she didn`t want to go home.

The smell of coffee tingled in her nose and demanded a smile from her. For the first time in days she felt peace.

` What do you think we`ll find? ` asked Philip, breaking the silence.

` Who knows. But looking at this key, I doubt it will be something ordinary. `