Bloody Riddle

XI : The Truth is Revealed ( Pt.1 )

"You late." Hugo declared, leaning his body on Karin's desk. His face looked unhappy.

"Sorry, terrible traffic." She trying to avert eye contact with Hugo. Karin put her bag on the desk and made Hugo step aside. Of course Hugo knows something off from Karin.

"You think you can lie to me?

She stopped. "What do you mean?"

"It takes fifteen minutes to get to the office with the car, and there's no traffic jam in your area. So, where are you this morning?"

Karin's corner mouth twitch. She scratched the back of her head. "I just left James's place." Hugo said, eyebrow raised, try to makes Karin talk.

"Oh, come on Hugo. I did nothing. Not even s*x with him." She grunted.

"Interesting." Louis appeared from behind Karin to make her startled. The woman greeted him even though she repaid by the boss's nod. It looks like Louis was eavesdropping earlier. "He didn't come?"

"N-no, sir."

"Hugo, I move you to another case, Karin come with me. There's something I want to talk."

They both fell silent. "You're sure, Lou?" Hugo asked. Louis nodded. "This is an order." Hugo just nodded and leave them. No further questions.

Louis walking to his desk. "Please." Louis’ hand pointing at the chair in front of him. Karin sat there.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, and Louis knows how nervous she is. There was a little bead of sweat coming down from her temple.

"Oh, no Karin. There's nothing wrong. I want to ask you about something." Karin nodded.

"Have you found something in James’ room?" Karin c****d her head in a sign of not understanding his boss's intentions.

"Answer the question, Karin."

"No, sir. I visited him yesterday, talk to him. Just flow like that."

"Did he talk about her sister?" Karin nodded her head.

"Why do you so concern about that... sir?" Karin asked and Louis leaned in his chair. the man just holding his hand together.

"I think James already knows the killer." He paused. "Did he talk to you about that?"

"Whoa, that’s beyond. And for the next question, I just chitchat with him yesterday and he didn't mention about the killer. Why are you so sure about that?

"He seems quiet while we find Edwin died on his house. I just have an instinct he knows the original killer not show himself that time. We just don't know how to put this puzzle, Karin. I'm afraid that James confronts the killer all by himself."

Karin remained silent as her boss Louis took out his thoughts. If it's true, James already knows the culprit. Karin got up from her chair. Louis shocked.

"Sir, I think I know something."

Louis got up too. Soon Karin walked out of the office with Louis. They were in a hurry exiting HQ building. When in the parking lot Karin stopped at the door of her car.

"Sir, I want a confirmation."

"Go ahead."

"If James meets the perpetrator and kills him, what are you doing?"

"We work in the police and we should punish those who do bad thing whatever it is."

Karin blinked couple time. She hops into the car, so did Louis.

**

James relaxed in his seat, waiting for his order. The breakfast plate came, James picked his food. Green eyes were focused with the pieces of pancakes on his plate when a man stood beside him. James looked up and found the man who had involved with the door incident a few days ago.

"We meet again." he said. James paused, putting his knife and fork on the plate, and smiled sarcastically. He pointed to the chair in front of him.

"Please, sit."

The man immediately sat down. The waiter came up with a note in his hand, ready to write the order. "Just like him, please." He pointed toward James's plate and the waiter nodded. Jotting down his notes quickly then passing from them.

"What are you doing here?"

"I just pass by for breakfast, is it wrong?"

James went back to his breakfast. His hands cut back the pancakes and put the pieces into his mouth. The man's eyes staring at his movements like a hawk made James uncomfortable. When James titled his head, the man just smiled.

"Anyway, I'm Matt, nice to meet you." He held his hand. James glanced ignoring him completely. "James."

Matt taken aback, his hand little disappointed by James attitude, kinda rude actually. The waiter came back with his breakfast. After he said thank you, the waiter leave them again. They eat in silence.

"Are you going to pretend I'm not here?"

James stopped. "You're the one who comes to me first. I'm not that kind of guy, pretending to be friendly."

Matt silence for a while because James looks very uncomfortable with him. It's like he ignoring all possibility to be friendly with him.

James quickly finished his breakfast. He reached into his pocket and took a few bucks out. After that he put it on a plate. Matt stared in confusion at James. "In a hurry?"

"Just finish your damn breakfast." James stepped away from him. Matt blinked as he continued his breakfast quietly. A smile spread on his face.

**

Infiltrating someone's home is a violation. But since this is part of the investigation, then this is an exception.

Louis was quite good at breaking keys. He's been doing it for years. But this skill isn't for stealing, for once. This is like emergency call, because Karin told him that James hiding something from her. So, here we go about everything.

Karin who was behind him looks amazed by the skill of his boss, who can be spelled out very unexpected way. After a click, Louis turned we the knob and went inside. Karin on guard outside finally joined in.

Louis walked down the hallway with Karin behind him. They stopped in the living room. Karin stopped in front of the door.

"Yesterday, when I went to the toilet to wash my face, I entered the wrong room. Instead of going to the toilet, I went into this room. Inside there is a thick curtain closing at the end of the room. I was about to open it, but I got caught by James."

"You think he hides something in this room?"

"I think so."

Louis open the door and Karin was right no lights on. Not a good sign. He opens the door wider. Karin enters the room, but it's very dark inside. She turn her head to right and found the light switch and pressed it.

It's true what Karin said. The curtain was where it shouldn't be. Covering whatever is behind it. Louis stepped forward and opened the curtain.

Various kinds of pieces of newspaper stuck together. The red threads linked, form an infinite net. Louis looks, finds pieces of cases seven years ago. The photos of James and Julia were there.

"He's investigating this case alone." Louis's words amazed Karin.

"You think he's close to the perpetrator?" Karin asked.

"Maybe."

"Are you done with sneak a peek?"

They both turned and looked at James, who stands in the back. Stood there hand crossing with furious.

"Well, are you satisfied?" He mocking.

"Satisfied." Karin answered it spontaneously. James and Louis looked at her.

"Did you realize sneaking into someone's house without permission is a crime and ironically the one who sneaks is no other than a police." He sound so angry make Karin and Louis gulped. They don't know how pissed James Floyd right now.

"Get your ass off from my house. Now!" He pointed to the exit. Saying nothing, Louis held Karin's hand and drag her out from James's room. When they outside James’s house, Louis glared at her.

"Are you crazy saying that in front of him?"

"This is the best way. We must convince him we see everything in that room." Louis looked doubtful. But it is true what Karin said, they should look convincing in front of James. Although they aren't sure. And now James is getting more and more suspicious of everyone. It's because of their deeds.

"You think he believe that?"

"I hope so."

**

"You seem tired, right, Lucy?"

The women who’s called screamed with gasps. Not because she can't shout or replied normally, but her mouth stuck in a cloth wrapped around her mouth.

Eyes were swollen from crying. Hair was unkempt and body ragged. Can be guessed she hadn't bathed for days.

Her legs are bound by blood tainted white fabric. So is her left hand. Unfortunately her right hand was gone. Its parts have been lost and replaced by half-rotten meat and dried blood.

The man smiled.

He touched her cheek caressing it slowly. Lucy's body shook with terror.

"Don't worry, my dear Lucy, your suffering will end soon." He said then took his hand off her face.

The man walked away toward a nearby table. The man picked up one object on the table. It shimmered under the light. Lucy glared. She tried to revolt.

She panicked.

"You like it Lucy, I'm so happy." the man walked closer with the object he was holding in his hand. Lucy cries again. She can see it, the angel of death smiles at her. Lucy knew that today was her last day.

Before it was all dark and pain come to her, Lucy could hear the melodious chant of a song in her ears make her sleep in the dark.