Bloody Riddle

I : Coming Back

March 2026

The sun is above the head, stinging like a bee. March is not as hot as July, when the wind barely blows, but the heat is still there. Even indoors, the heat can cause the brain and body to become confused. Like in Atlanta Police Headquarters. Even though the air conditioner blazed like a storm, still the heat surrounded the entire building.

Something irritated James. He was desperate to open the upper button of his shirt, tried to catch a fresh air. It just half the way to that place as he felt the world tried to swallow him. Dizziness creeping up, even though the wind blew against his skin.

He shouldn’t be here, and he knows that. After an annoying encounter with a former boss, who always puts him back in business under the name of the police. They forced him to pay attention. He listens but didn’t focus, or tried so hard to remember. All that comes up is the word murder, return and ‘need your help’, which is still vivid in his mind. But he was curious. What really happened?

Several passersby noticed him. He’s clothes no longer reflect a respectable person. A messy brown hair. Black eyes bag. Loosening the tie and he also took off the blazer, slid it in his hand. If only he hadn’t worn a fine suit for today, he would have kicked out of the office. Goddamn monkey suit. But he’s thankful he still has it. James confused thoughts made him didn’t realize that the place he was going to be before his eyes.

HOMICIDE.

A cursed word for himself. He stood still, facing the door. Take a deep breath. This moment is crucial, tough choice. After walking through this door, he can’t turn back, he thought. Thoughtfully, he opened the door as wide as possible. People in the room stopped at once, looking at James curiously. There is an awkward silence filled the room.

“James!” He turned to look at the old man who was walking straight towards him. James tried to refuse to hugged, but he was too lazy. Besides, it never hurts to hug his old colleague back. He smiled lightly while patting the old man’s back. “It’s been a long time, Hugo.”

Hugo released his embrace without turning away. James looked a little different, or his eyes couldn’t see. Hugo admits that he is getting old.

“It’s been a long time since you disappeared. You’ve changed quite a lot. You had a glass too.” He patted James on the arm tenderly. James smirked.

“Where’s Louis?”

Hugo gave a half smile, hand motioned James to follow him. They walked from the bustle of the room into a hallway. James was reminded of the times when he was still working as a detective. Place has changed little, only a few minor things missing or replaced.

“Louis is busy. He told me to meet you.”

Hugo stopped, taking a series of keys from his pocket and opened the door. Only darkness there. Hugo disappeared for a moment until the lights bright, a small room filled with files piled in boxes. James stepped inside. Hugo placed a brown folder that looked brand new on the table, hand it over for James. Without said a single word, James opened the folder. The first thing James saw was a grisly photograph of a person’s body; a leg.

“You must be kidding.” James glared at Hugo who leaning against the shelf.

“You think so? But this happened. Around the end of February, we found a foot on display in a museum.” He paused. “The girl named Jenna Foley reportedly disappeared about a week earlier. The testimony says Jenna came home from school, went to the supermarket first when her mother called, ‘to bought milk supplies’, then went home. But she never got home.”

The silence was tense. Neither of them spoke to each other. James stared closely at the photo. Memory spun in his mind. “We found her left feet first. The rest ...” Hugo lowered his head. His face sank into shadow. James waited for an answer.

“Where is the rest?”

“We never found the rest of the body.”

James assumed straight away. It is possible the perpetrator still stored the body. For what? That question has been echoing for the seven years since he worked as a detective. He was looking for long before the victim fell back. Unfortunately, time says otherwise. This girl named Jenna became the next victim.

James stood up, closed the brown folder in a huff. “I’m not asking to reopen my old wounds. And I have no intention of solving anything that’s none of my business.”

Hugo flabbergasted, quickly following James who already left the room. Anger builds up inside James, causing him to accidentally bump into someone while turning. A pile of papers fell on the floor.

“The documents!” Woman screams in high pitch.

James stopped, sighed as he helped tidy up the paper. Although reluctant, James handed over the documents. The woman stunned when their eyes met. “What are you looking at?”

The women shake her head. James got up, leave her. “Karin, why are you screaming? Are you okay?” Hugo’s voice was hoarse.

“The documents fell earlier.” She looked at James who disappeared behind the door. “Who is he by the way, Hugo?”

“Did you meet him?” Hugo rubbed the back of his head. “The Lone Wolf. Do you remember?”

Karin’s face was shocked. “Is that him? I can’t believe it.”

 *

James walked down a busy city street. Look at your watch every now and then. It had been fifteen minutes since he had wandered aimlessly. His feelings were dull for several years after the death of his sister. His lost himself along with fond memories of Julia. Now he’s just a drunken bastard.

He stopped at one place, a bar. There is a signboard hanging. James scratched his head. Stopped for a while is not a bad idea. He entered the bar and stared at the room with his wistful eyes. With a heavy step, he walked straight to the bartender’s desk. The bartender, wiping the glass, looked at James with a suspicious look.

“What can I do for you?” The bartender asked.

“Scotch, please.” James said, pulled one chair and sat. He putting his hands on the table. The bartender nodded and walked to the shelf behind. He took one bottle on display. Soon the bartender placed a short glass of alcohol in front of James. Without hesitation, James sipped it.

The bender stared at James. “Looks like I’ve seen you before.” said the bartender. James raised his head.

“Maybe.”James smirked. He sipped his drink again. The bartender raised his eyebrows then went back to his activities, wiping his glass again.

It’s three Scotch cups he’s sipping. Sadly, it didn’t make James drunk, just dizzy. It seems his body has been immune to liquor. He wanted to drown himself in alcohol, not like this. The bartender was impressed, then he poured back.

“House treat.” The bartender smiled. James stared at the bartender, smiled back and raised his glass. James enjoyed time in the bar until midnight.

“Hey, this way.”

A police officer gets a call, asks for help to take someone home. The police responded. He saw someone sitting at the table at the corner of the room, with his head resting on the table. The cop approached his figure, trying to see his face by shifting his body. The police face surprised to see James’ faces, then saw the bartender standing beside him.

“When did he come?”

“Since nightfall, sir.” The man nodded, then drew out his wallet. “I pay.”

“No need, my treat.” the policeman nodded, lifted James’s body to his shoulder, took him out to the car with the bartender’s help.

The next day James felt a terrible headache. The world revolved around him, making his stomach churn too. “Shit.” He grunted. Seeing the light that was blocked by the thick curtain, James realized that the night had changed. He didn’t really remember. But he was clearly not at the bar. He also sleeps on someone’s bed.

“Rise and shine.” That voice. James looked toward the door, saw his former boss, Lieutenant Louis Woods, leaning against the doorway.

“Let me guess. I am in your house?” Said James, massaging his temples. Eyes closed with dizziness.

“The bartender was my friend in high school. He remembered your face and called me.” James annoyed getting out of bed. The world is still floating for him. Her legs swayed wildly. Louis moved quickly to cover James.

“Go to sleep again, you’re not well.”

A hand dismissed. James’s face had an irritated expression.

“I’m leaving.” James came out of the room, still remembers what Louis’s house was like. Hurry towards the main door. Louis followed behind.

“There’s a case, just stop by, it won’t hurt you.” James stopped at the door. Louis who stood behind him was silent.

James glanced slightly over his shoulder. “Thank you for your help.” Step outside and close the door.

Louis sighed. He reached into his pocket for the cell phone. He’s calling someone.

“The Lone Wolf is back.”