The Forest

Chapter Two

Police came soon after she called them.

As she pressed the red button finishing the call, she fell into her chair. Sounds of sirens were getting closer. She almost forgot about the key but it was still there, on her desk, smudged with blood. Tilia didn`t know what to do with it. She wanted to tell the police about it because if mayor wanted it hidden it must have had something to do with his death. But then again, she would be disregarding mayor`s dying wish.

She hid the key in her pocket and waited.

Her fingers were trembling. She never witnessed a murder before. She wanted to run away, out from that library which felt like her prison now. Maybe the killer was still in there. What if he comes for her next? But if she leaves they will think it was her. She had to wait for the police.

She kept turning around to see if there was anyone there and listening for any sound that might give the killer away.

Red and blue lights shined through the library window and police officers rushed inside. They pulled out their guns and pointed them at her. She raised her hands and started mumbling something. It was as if her heart climbed up to her throat, her hands were shaking and tears started running down her face.

A couple of police officers went through the library to check if there was anyone else there. The rest of them lowered their guns and one started asking her some questions. He lowered his voice and squatted down next to her to make her feel more comfortable and help her relax.

` Are you ok? ` he asked.

She nodded, wiping her tears away with her sleeve.

` Did someone hurt you? `

` No… But the mayor… `

` I know. We found him. ` he said. She started crying again. ` Could you tell me what happened? `

` Yes… ` and taking in a deep breath, she started telling her story. The police officer listened to her without interrupting.

` Are you sure that`s what happened? ` he asked when she finished.

` Yes… yes of course. Why? ` she asked.

` Because my guys didn`t find anyone else here and there is no sign of anyone besides you being here when it happened. `

It felt like her stomach was twisting. Her heart was racing.

` What… what are you saying? That I did this? ` she asked.

` No, miss. I`m just saying that the two of you were alone. ` he said while standing up. He looked like a giant to her. A giant that is going to arrest her and take her to prison. If they were really alone then there is no other explanation besides that she killed him. ` I have to go now. You should stay and wait for the detective to come. I`ll ask someone to bring you some tea. `

She nodded. Her legs were too shaky to walk, let alone run. But a police officer who brought her tea was assigned to keep an eye on her.

He was a couple of years older than her and they knew each other from school. She couldn`t remember his name. It was something like Steve or John or Mark. She thought he looked funny in the police uniform since he spent most of high school in detention. His hair used to be all over the place and now it was neatly trimmed. He tried to do his job seriously for a couple of minutes, standing next to her like a guard dog but his curiosity got the best of him.

` Hey! ` he said, smiling at her. ‘Remember me? `

She tried to smile back at him. ` Yeah, sure… umm... Steve? `

He didn`t lose his enthusiasm. ` Philip, but close enough.`

` Sorry, I`m not really good with names. ` she said.

` It`s okay. ` he said as he was leaning on her desk, almost sitting on it. ` So, what happened here? `

` Well I already told everything to the other officer… `

` I know, but indulge me. It`s my first murder. ` he looked like a kid in a candy store and even though it was inappropriate, he was funny.

` Well, I was sitting here, waiting for Mr. Grimm to finish so I could close up, then I heard a bang and ran to see what happened. I saw Mr. Grimm on the floor, bleeding and that`s pretty much it. `

Philip looked a bit disappointed for a second but then his face lit up. ` You know, maybe someone was hiding in the library all day and waited for him to come. That person could have made a perfect escape plan so it would look like no one except you was there. ` he started rumbling on, not even looking at her anymore, but somewhere in the distance. His imagination was running wild.

` So you don`t think I did it? ` she asked.

It seemed as if she snapped him out of a daydream. He looked at her and smiled.

` Well no. I mean, why would you? And why would you call the police? It doesn`t make any sense that you did it. Besides, it`s never the most obvious person. `

` Thank you. ` she said. It was nice to know that someone believed her. ` So what is the detective like? `

` Who, the Bear? `

` What? `

` Sorry, that`s what everyone calls him. He`s okay, I guess. Don`t worry, just tell him what you told me. He is a smart guy, he`ll know it wasn`t you. `

Tilia took a deep breath and slowly let it slide off her lips. It was calming. She closed her eyes and imagined being upstairs, in her bed, with a nice cup of coffee or an ice-cream and a book. In her dream, none of this has happened.

The very thought of Mr. Grimm made her stomach twist and turn and tie itself in a knot. If only she closed up a few minutes earlier. If only she told him that it was closed and to come tomorrow. If only, if only.

He didn`t even get to see his grandson. Ethan would definitely never talk to her again after this. Her situation was getting even worse. The one thing she was really looking forward to is now gone. He will hate her.

The whole town will despise her. It takes a lot of time to solve a case like this and without any other suspects, she will be the main one. Even if they don`t arrest her, she will be in prison because she will not be able to show her face anywhere.

The sound of rain was calming. Tiny drops of water washed the dirt off police cars and made them look shiny in the street lights. People were coming in and out of the library, some of them looking at her like she was the guilty one. Once a fortress of her peace, her library was now swamped with people who couldn`t care less about the books.

Cold air came in every time someone would open the door. She felt it on her wet cheeks and it made her feel a bit better.

A large figure appeared in front of the door and started talking to a police officer. His voice was deep and loud and his words weren`t clear so it sounded more like growling. Everyone in the library could hear him. It made them shiver and rush to do the job faster, scared that the same growl will be for them next time.

This huge figure entered the library and took up the entire room.

He was wearing a coat that could fit a circus under it. Little hair that he had was hiding under his black hat that touched his dark, bushy eyebrows. His cheeks were red and almost buried his eyes completely. The Bear smelled like fear and his nickname fit him perfectly.

` Get off the table, Johnson. ` he said to Philip who jumped off and made a serious face. ` Are you the one who killed the mayor? `

Tilia stood up and yelled ` What? No, I`m a librarian… ` and then she realized she was yelling at someone three times her size and sat back down.

` So what? Librarians don`t kill people? `he asked raising his eyebrow.

` I didn`t say that. I said that I didn`t kill him. `she said, trying to keep it together and show no fear to The Bear.

` Well then, that`s great, you can go home. ` he said.

` Really?` she asked, already halfway there.

` No, of course not really. What do you think this is, a fairytale? ` the Bear growled at her.

` N-no. ` she said, bowing her head down.

` Good. ` he said. ` I heard what you said happened. How is it possible that no one was here yet a man is dead and you claim you didn`t kill him? `

Tilia watched him take a chair which was almost comically too small for him and sit on it. It creaked a little bit and The Bear`s face went even redder, looking like he just farted and was embarrassed by it.

She was trying not to laugh.

` I don`t know. But I was here the whole time. I have no idea what happened there. ` she said.

` So you didn`t hear anyone come in or out? `

` No, sir. `

` Are you sure that all who came in, came out also? ` he asked. Tilia looked at Philip who looked back at her with a corner of his eye and gave her a subtle smile.

` I think so. I mean, many people came today, I could have missed someone. `

` Are there any cameras around here to prove that you were here the whole time?` he asked.

` Why would I need cameras? This is a library. ` Tilia said sarcastically.

The Bear squinted. ` I know it`s a library, girl. ` he barked, then he took a deep breath, stood up and walked over to the windows. ` Maybe there are some cameras elsewhere. I`ll check it out. You better hope there are, smartass. `

She nodded.

` The library will stay closed until I say so. No one needs books anyway. ` he said. Tilia wanted to say something back but she felt a hand flip her ear and she turned around to see Philip waving his head. ` You, Johnson, you are pretty useless so take the lady back home. `

` Yes, Sir. ` said Philip.

` And as for you…` he looked at Tilia, trying to remember her name. ` Librarian, don`t leave town. `

` I will not, sir. Thank you. ` she said and got up from her chair, picking up all of the things that she needed. She rushed to the door.

Philip followed her.

It was cold outside but a very pleasant kind of cold. Tilia took a deep breath and enjoyed those few drops of rain that caressed her face.

` You are a crazy person. ` Philip said. ` Are you trying to go to prison? `

She laughed. ` Hey, he was offending my books. `

` I know, he doesn`t have boundaries. You see, he called me useless. ` he said.

` You are not useless. You thought of that theory first. `

` It doesn’t matter. I`ll be a detective one day and I`ll show him. `

Tilia smiled at him. ` This is where I live, right above the library.`

` Nice. So, you heard the detective, don`t leave town.`

` I won`t, Steve. ` she said giving him one last smile before she disappeared behind the door.