Mr. and Mrs. Reed

Two

Ronnie's POV

"Taboo-- what?" I heard Wrights asked, all baffled.

I nodded. "Interesting. Do you think this means somethi--"

"Is this some kind of freak show? What are you? Some bunch of teenagers?"

My words were cut off by Officer Lopez who just suddenly came in the picture with his blank facial expression and arms crossed to each other. He always had this aura that ruins other people's moods, or only to me, maybe.

I mean, what is he even doing here?

I couldn't help but to pop the bubble, almost, but Thompson had it first. "Excuse me, why are you here? You have no business here. Who tol--"

"The note?" he then interrupted once again as he extended his right hand infront of us.

He didn't even pay attention to any of Thompson's words, his eyes were fixed to me.

Wrights then gave it to him as everyone's watching them both, like an antagonist and protagonist in a Western movie. Everyone's stiff and still as a statue. The silence was pretty visible in mid-air, and just like that, it shattered into pieces, all rushing down as Lopez's laughter filled every corners of the house.

Like seriously, who called him here?

"Hilarious! Who wrote this? A 5th grader?" he paused suppressing his laughter out of mockery and to wipe his oh-so fake tears. "It's already clear people that the one at sinned here is her husband. You guys seen him in the picture? No? That's because he ran away. Bunch of feather-heads." he continued, giggling.

"That can't be ri--"

"You know that too Wrights, right?" asked he.

I confusingly looked at Wrights who's currently not showing any emotions.

"Now, all we have to do is to find that man and bring justice. It's very obvious that she was strangled, or even so, still killed by him and left there to be hidden. But sadly, he didn't succeed on that. He's a cuckoo brain too." he proudly said.

"That doesn't make sense. What if she's left there for a purpose?"

He shook his head out of disbelief on what I've said. "None of them makes sense to you Lewis, it always doesn't! Now, that you have nothing to do here, you may go."

"What? Just like that? You will run an autopsy rig--"

"For what?" he interrupted, staring straight at me.

"You're not even trying." I firmly said, staring back.

He grinned. "Crimes like this always happen in our place. It's not some kind of a special magic trick which we get surprised upon seeing. It's cliché."

"This isn't some kind of a joke or any magics. It's life, we're talking about here." I firmly protested as I took the paper out from his filthy hands.

Good thing it didn't torn into half or something, for a moment there I almost lost my composure.

He smiled sweetly--no, sarcastically. "Mr. Lewis, I know. Don't get too full of yourself there, not all your deductions are right." he said as he was staring straight at my iris.

"What we have to do is find where Mr. Reed is and put him in jail like we always do. And that's that." he continued as he marched his way out.

I was left bamboozled, sizzling, yet speechless. There's no point in arguing with someone that got their eyes and ears closed. Ignorant.

My eyes wandered around and saw everyone looking all convinced by what Lopez just said earlier, except for Wrights, Thompson and I.

I mean, who doesn't want an easy way?

Well, if no one won't take this seriously then I will. I started making my way out of the room as the paper in my left hand is all locked up. I heard Thompson calling me, but my mind's too blurry to even bother. I then notice Wrights behind me, following me.

The strong fragrance of my black coffee somehow took my irritation away. Ah, how soothing, how strong, just like how I want it to be.

We're currently in a coffee shop, obviously. And best part here, it's not always so crowded, there are like only six people inside, or so, including me and Wrights. Ah, good thing this place exist, without coffee, I will lose my sanity. It makes me forget what I dealt with earlier.

Coffee is my bestfriend, my companion.

"Lopez had some nerves to show himself." Wrights suddenly burst the bubble of silence floating between us as he was sipping his cappuccino.

I snorted. "You're really gonna rant now? What happened earlier? You were pretty silent."

"I had to control my temper." he simply said.

"Yeah ri--oh, thank you, beautiful." I playfully said to the waitress that suddenly came in to the picture just to give me what I've ordered, mud cake.

She blushed and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. Ladies.

"Wanna hear a joke, cutie pie?" I paused and waited for her answer in which she nodded. "It takes two people to build a relationship but if one adds up, well then, that'll be odd. Get it?" I added, raising my eyebrows teasingly.

And then, silence ruled over us. I laughed in my mind. Didn't anyone get my joke? Ah, no fun!

I took a glance at the waitress, looking all uncomfortable or somewhat pissed. Well, I couldn't really tell if she didn't understand or she just finds it weird. Hey, that was a funny joke!

I slowly nodded, accepting the embarrassment I just put myself into in which she just giggled and left. That left me all wondering, is something wrong with that chick?

I then heard Wrights chuckled infront of me. "Lewis and his charms." he sarcastically hissed.

I rolled my eyes. "I know right." I paused for a bit as I took a sip with my black coffee.

"Anyway, what about you Wrights? I never saw you hitting on someone. Are you hiding something?" I mockingly said.

It has been awhile since I've made fun of Wrights. Good times, good times.

"Gay, e?" I was taken aback by his reaction. What I expected to be an irritated Wrights like before happens to be a smug-looking weirdo.

"So what if I am Lewis? Do I have a chance?" he said in a flirtatious way and winked at me.

I choked with my own saliva.

"Ha! Take that!" he added and laughed.

I rolled my eyes and was about to speak when a sudden scream was heard inside. "Help!" shouted the random voice.

Wrights immediately stood up and approached the lady that shouted earlier as I followed behind. "What happened here?" he asked.

"Our manager just collapsed, I don't know what happened. And there are bubbles coming out his mouth." said she as she was all trembling and stuttering. Wrights and I immediately took action.

"Call an ambulance." I ordered her before entering their office.

As we went inside there were two people asides from their boss that's on the floor with his eyes and mouth open. The other two people seems to be the assistant and the cashier by the look of their uniform. All of the workers are girls except for the manager, I see.

Wrights immediately checked his pulse. "He's dead."

"How is that possible? Who could've done this? He has always been so nice to us and we treated each other here as family." said the assistant, all teary-eyed.

"Is that so?" Wrights casually asked as he stood up to think.

And I, I can't help but to wonder. "How many workers do you have here?"

"Only me." said the lady that called out for help earlier that just came inside.

"Only you? Then who was that chick earlier that gave me the cheesecake?" I asked.

"You girls don't notice who's coming in and out the coffee shop? Not even in your boss' office?" Wrights asked with disbelief.

Minutes passed and none of them answered until the assistant started to weep. "Our shop's getting bankrupt. There are just few people coming in these past few days that we can't afford to hire ano--"

"Yet everything is still pricy." Wrights cut her off.

"He won't listen to any of our suggestions.." said the other one.

As they were all talking, or probably arguing, my mind is wandering elsewhere, and so are my eyes. It seems off.

As I was scanning the place with my eyes I then spotted something hanging from the trashcan. I got my gloves on, and walked closer to the bin. Now that I got a closer look, I can tell what it is. It's a torn paper.

I then called Wrights' attention and showed it to him.

"What a clumsy chick." I told him, shaking my head with disbelief.