Cold Case

Chapter 32: Help!

Officer Lorente is calling!

The call keep coming but I still can’t decide what I am really do next, what decision I should make right now. Why do I have to deal with this kind of situation? What decision can Anna make her happy?

Anna, I need to seek justice for her!

I picked up my phone and answered his call. I need to do this no matter what happens to me. All my achievements and my goals in life, I planned it with Anna and now she is gone and will never be with me again, I would rather choose the path where I can give her justice.

If I die, then I am happy because we can be together again. Not like what happened two years ago.

“Hello.” I said with a lower tone of voice, I should keep my guard up. If someone will know I am cooperating with them and report me to the higher ups, I am done for. “Did you decide, Officer?” I asked casually. I need to act like I am not really eager to have his trust.

“Yes, I am ready to accept your offer, so please cooperate with us. Tomorrow, we will request you to meet you here at the station make sure to will be safe and sound no matter what happens do you get it?” I smiled.

We only meet once but I can feel how gentle he is and how nervous he is to make a deal with a mare student.

“do not worry so much about me, Mr. Officer, but don’t back out. When you read what information I have in my hand you must also share the information I want to share.” I said.

I can hear the voice of his partner trying to convince him to agree, so he still doubted me and only his partner convinced him to agree to my offer.

But it’s alright, I can’t go back now. This is what I want.

Two years, in two years, I kept silent about the crime they committed, but now, I can choose what really is right and what is wrong.

“Okay, that is the deal. Don’t try to fool us tomorrow, because if I know you just making some trash information, I will put you in jail.” He seriously said.

“Do not worry, the way you want to solve the case and catch the culprit; I want it more than you guys. I want to see who kills those people, but not to despite them but thanks them instead.”

The other side becomes silent.

“What do you mean, why—” He said but I did not let him finish his words.

“We will talk tomorrow, right? I will tell you the details when we meet, everything.” I said and hung up the call.

I look at the small box again. I see her picture again with a Guinean smile plastered on her face. If only I can see again this kind of view, I would do anything to make it real, but I know that is impossible.

I lay down to my bed and closed my eyes.

This time, I will do what I really want. Not because the professor said or my parents told me to do it, this decision is for me and for my mind to be free from the sadness and guilt back then.

I know Anna will be proud of me now.

Back then I was scared to against my parent’s decision and I am the only one trying to keep the case open, but the families who I am trying to against with are much powerful with my parents’ reason to make them stop me.

I gradually close my eyes…

“Daniel! Daniel! Let’s go to the library, I need to finish my assignment before the lunch break is done.” A sweet voice of her, I open my eyes but it was too bright because of the sunlight. “ Hurry up, wake up please!”

Where I am? I am I hearing her voice?

I sat up, there were students playing on the green oval field.

The familiar place where I always sleep when break time.

I glance at where the sweet voice is coming from and there she is, her eyes and brows frowning out of confusion.

I can help but to hug her, oh God, if this is my dream, then don’t wake me up. I want to be here forever no matter what happens.

“Hey, what are you doing? I said, let’s go to the library. By the way, here is for you. I know you are still not eating anything for lunch.” She gave me a chicken sandwich.  “That is your favorite, take it!” Again, she smiled at me.

“Thank you,” I started to eat the sandwich she gave me. I stared at her face while we were walking toward the library.

I know this is just a dream, but her face is so vivid that even I am aware, I can’t help but to be happy.

“What is wrong with you, Daniel? Are you sick, you staring at me intensely? I know I am gorgeous but can you restrain yourself?” She jokingly said, but I held her hand to stop. “W-what’s wrong, are you okay?” She looked worried.

Even if you are not real, even just for this dream, I can be honest with my feelings.

“I-I have something to tell you, Anna, please give me some seconds of your time.” My heart beat fast, my hand trembled, cold, sweet, it is so real.

“Okay, so what is it this time? Just make sure, Daniel, this is not nonsense because I will really kick you.” She threatened me.

Yeah, that is you, Anna.

“Anna, I like you—” Someone bumped me.

“Sorry,” a police man said.

Why is there a police man here in my dreams?

I immediately glance back at where Anna is but she’s not in front of me anymore.

“Anna! Anna, where are you!” I shouted.

I shouted and shouted until my throat hurt, but I only saw the police and some students looking for something.

What is this?

No! Don’t tell me…

I see a body inside the white blanket, the familiar bracelet that I gave her on her 18th birthday.

“How unfortunate, she was good at academic and dean lister but. Then did she commit suicide?”

“Do you think she committed suicide? It is obvious that someone killed her. If you see the body, there are so many bruises. If marks like someone r***d her.”

“Poor thing.”

No…

Not this again!

You were just here with me a second ago, but now you are dead.

Why are you always doing this to me, Anna, even in my dreams you never let me confess my love for you?

“See, you can’t protect her; you have no power, so stop being delusional.” Someone was whispering to my ears.

No!

I can give her justice! I will do anything for her!

I opened my eyes to the loud sound of someone banging at my door.

I glance at my alarm clock on the side table, it’s 4 am in the morning.

Who is it?

Am I still dreaming?

“Help! Help me, please open your door! Guys!” A loud scream of the man echoed, I hurriedly stood up and opened my door. I saw how Ashley’s boyfriend was terrified. “Someone will kill me, please help me!” He pleaded.

Some of our neighbors' rooms also open their doors. One of them was Callix. Our eyes met. He immediately looked down. The awkwardness between us is still there, no matter how many years have passed by.

“What happened to you, Gino, why are you shouting?” One of his friends immediately tried to calm him down but the man was really shocked and his face was pulled with tears.

“They will kill me! What do I do? I am innocent and I haven’t done anything bad?” he said.

I sat in front of him, “look Gino, you are safe now, we are here now in your surroundings. No one will hurt you.” I said. “Now, calm yourself down.”

“Let’s go to our room, Gino, you have bruises on your knees. We need to clean it first.” His friend Marco said and tried to lift him up but Gino passed out.

“Let me help you,” I said, and helped him. Again, our eyes met.

I know we said we should stop talking to each other, but I need his help.

I stared at him and mouthed,

Let’s talk

He looked shocked but he just simply nodded his head and turned his back to me.

I smiled bitterly.

If only I had talked to him that time and listened to him.