REIGN ON ASHES

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

DEREK

Juan stood next to me, hands in his pockets as his eyes dragged through the big mansion in front of us. “Wow.” he gasped, “I knew he was rich but how on earth did he afford all this just as a research doctor?”

He must have intended to whisper but it was loud enough for me to make out every word, after all, what agent would I be if I can’t even put the words of my partner together?

“By the way, you still haven't told me why we came to the doctor’s house and why you are so confident that the killer was wearing a mask. Even an expert analyzed the image and was certain it was her face,” he whispered, leaning close to me.

He is definitely another Bart. I pulled away from him. Hitting the doorbell.

“I am only going to answer the first question, we are here to talk to the family of the victim,” I grumbled, hitting the doorbell again. I wish someone would answer the door before this man runs his mouth again. And, as if my prayer had been answered, the mini gate creaked open, and a man walked out, dressed all in black. He bowed.

Are they still mourning?

The man made way for us, “Good afternoon.” Juan greeted and then I bowed.

“Good afternoon, Madam is waiting for you,” he answered, gesturing for us to walk down the pavement. Juan stuck to my side like glue and we both walked down through the pavement heading to the main entrance to the big modern mansion.

The house is huge, if my calculation is correct, this house costs, not millions but billions.

Juan is right, this is not the kind of house a research doctor should be able to afford. Millions is fine but billions is just fishy. The front door opened smoothly and a lady, dressed in black bowed to us, her hair tied into a slick bun.

Juan and I walked in together, more like he was catching up with every step I took.

Three women are sitting in the living room. Two girls and a woman. My guess is the daughters and the wife.

“Good afternoon.” I greeted and Juan echoed my greeting.

“Good afternoon detective, please come, sit.” The woman sounded as polite as she could, gesturing to the couch. I walked forward and sat. My eyes did a quick scan of the environment. The couch, the stairs, the frames, the windows, the rooms downstairs and upstairs. Everything was neat… spotless and accurately put together.

Does the wife have OCD? Or the child? Or was it the husband?

“I was shocked when I heard a new detective was assigned to my husband’s case, has there been improvement? Would you catch the wench that killed my husband?” The woman asked, the tone of her voice was low, slightly dark but there was no hint of sadness.

Her eyes were dim but not the kind that’s mourning her husband or someone important to her.

“How are you feeling, ma’am?” I asked.

Her eyes reared towards me and the sadness came, the sadness I didn't see before, suddenly flowed through her eyes, like she had a button to turn it off and on.

Now, this is interesting. Her husband died a gruesome death but she is not sad.

Hmm.

Could he have been an abusive husband? Or did he never love her?

I did a little research on this doctor John before coming down here. His reputation is spotless. He is spotless, almost like everything he shows the world is this image of perfection without a c***k.

It’s impossible. Everyone has a bad trait. Everyone has an inhumane trait… so what was Doctor John’s? That’s why I came here today.

“My husband died, if I tell you I am fine, happy, would you believe me?” She asked, her voice was low but not low enough to hide the truth that slipped through.

She is fine. She is happy. The relief that glowed through her eyes was hard to miss.

“Of course not. No one is ever happy to lose their life partner except the partner is a jerk who is abusive domestically or you know a bad person but I doubt Doctor John is capable of hurting a soul, considering he is a reputable doctor that everyone respects, won’t you agree, ma’am?” I said.

Her throat bobbed, her eyes flickered and in that split moment, I saw the truth she hid.

He used to hit.

“Of course not.” She lied.

I hid my smile and nodded.

Then I turned to his daughter, the one who wrote in her statement that she had spoken to the killer before the incident happened. She looked like she was still shaken up.

“Hi, I’m Detective Derek, can I ask you a few questions?” I muffled, leaning with this warm smile on my face that is anything but genuine.

She nodded. Her hands clasped together, fidgeting. Her eyes found mine, and she bit her lips, shaking.

“If you need a few minutes, you can take a deep breath and let me know if you’re ready,” I said to her.

She took a deep breath and turned to me, “I’m ready.” she muffled.

“Then, can you tell me word for word what she said to you?” I asked.

“Uhn, she said a lot… Uhm, she told me it was going to be the last night I saw my father,” she said, her voice breaking. Her hands were clasped together.

Hmm. “Did she say anything that might have indicated that she hated your father or had a grudge?” I asked.

“Oh, she… I told her.. I wanted my husband to be like my father and she told me I do not want my man to be anything like him, she looked really pissed saying those words.” The daughter muttered, tugging at her dress, her throat bobbed again.

Juan and I left the mansion, after having a few more talks with the wife. Heading out of the living room, through the walkway, the door behind opened.

“Detective.” I heard the woman’s voice. I halted and turned to her. Her hands clasped together, without another word from her, I knew what she wanted. I turned to Juan, “I’ll be right back, stay in the car.”

“Will you be alright?” he asked.

“She is a widow, what could she possibly do?” I shrugged.

Chapter 10