Printing Mistake
“Well I am not interested in your case, Mr. Lynch” Rosenmund flip the papers he’s holding and answered without looking at him.
“But why detective?” Mr. Lynch asked curiously.
Rosenmund look at him.
“Why? You ask me why?” Rosenmund turned on a page, “You write here that your wife is been missing for 15 days, she left her phone, but she take her jewelry and money that she kept away from you, Nobody call you about demanding money and no case is registered for murder so you are confirmed that she is not kidnapped and murdered. So what you can conclude from all of that?”
“Nothing!” Mr. Lynch said.
Rosenmund sighs.
“She dump you, idiot.”
“But ho…w…… how can she?”
“She is your wife, not mine.”
“No, she didn’t do that”
Rosenmund rolling his eyes with irritation and look at her picture on the file.
“Did she have any social media?”
“No, she hasn’t.”
“Good.”
Rosenmund taking out his phone and open instagram.
“What was her name again?”
“Mary Lynch”
“The real name!”
“Topez. Mary Topez.”
Rosenmund type the name Mary Lynch on the search bar. There are 7 results on the name Mary Lynch. Rosenmund enter through all of them. A peculiar account caught Rosenmund’s attention. He opens the profile and shows it to the Lynch.
“Is she is your wife?”
Lynch look shocked.
“Yeah, But she…..”
“And is this the guy she is bangin’?, He swipe through the another picture. It is a picture of Mary and another guy kissing on Hawaii Beach.
Mr. Lynch down his head and started sobbing.
“I’m so sorry about what happened to your wife.” Rosenmund said as he offered Lynch a tissue paper.
Lynch take the tissue and about to leave as continuous sobbing.
“By the way, who’s the other guy? Do you know him?”
There is a pause in his reply.
“He’s my step-brother.”
Rosenmund looked at him shocked. “Das ist auch gut so” Rosenmund said silently.
“Huh?”
“Nothing!! I think you can probably leave.” Rosenmund show him the way with his hand. Mr. Lynch left. Rosenmund lie back on the chair and lit up a cigarette.
Detective Joseph Rosenmund. Joseph was born in German but his father shifted to US when he was 5 years old. Rosenmund was prefers people call him by Rosenmund as he doesn’t like his name so much. Rosenmund worked for FBI but eventually leave, as he wants to work by his own rules. After that he started a detective agency with Sophie Quing.
“What are you saying, at the end?” Sophie standing at his door, smiling at him.
“What? Ooh…the last line. That means, ‘that’s fine too’.” Rosenmund laugh. “By the way why are standing there? Sit.”
“Thank you but I came here to tell you that the striper came here AGAIN” last ‘again’ a bit louder “And she gave you this”. She drops the parcel on the desk and sit opposite chair from him.
Rosenmund open the parcel secretly and smiled.
“What is happening between you and that striper? First she came for visit our office and now she sending you gifts?” Sophie asked with narrow eyes.
“You wouldn’t understand.” Rosenmund says as he put the gift into the drawer. “By the way, how’s berry? Hadn’t seen him from a long time.”
“Good. He’s joining swim classes; His grades are quite good this time.” Sophie replied.
“That’s great.”
Sophie Quing. Sophie’s father left her mother and her the day she was born. After that her mother took care of her and she takes her mother’s surname. Rosenmund met her in Yale University. Because they had interest in same thing quickly get along. Sophie never attached to someone after Berry. She had affair with some British guy named Eric and gets pregnant with Berry at the age of 21. After that she decided that she will take care of her boy and never get in a relationship. She spends her entire week for this agency and in Sunday she spends her time with her mother and Berry.
“Up for a tea?”, Rosenmund watch the clock, “It’s 1 o’clock”.
“Yeah let’s go.” Sophie agreed. “But you have to tell me about you and your prostitute ‘FRIEND’.
“Perhaps not” Rosenmund winks.
They went to the ‘The Hippie Lights’, few meters away from the office. As they went back from the office, Kenzie, Rosenmund’s secretary waiting for them restlessly.
“Mayor wants to see you, He’s in your cabin and he say it’s urgent” Kenzie said.
“Of course the election is coming. Everything about them is urgent nowadays.” Sophie said as she sat comfortably on her chair.
Kenzie looked at Rosenmund. “But mayor said the matter is rather personal then political.”
Rosenmund turn to Kenzie and Nodded.
Rosenmund went to his cabin. He saw Mayor sitting opposite to his chair and avidly reading the newspaper.
“I am pleased to see you in my office majesty!” Rosenmund smiled.
Mayor turns to Rosenmund.
“Ah, Detective Rosenmund, It’s a pleasure to finally meets you too”, Mayor fold the newspaper and they shake hands.
Rosenmund sat on his chair.
“How can I help you, Sir?”
“I think I am in a grave danger” Mayor came closer, “Someone threatening me for a few days. Saying he have something that can ruin my life.”
“And you believe that? I think it’s not the first time someone threatening you” Rosenmund lean back on his chair.
Mayor gulps. “I’m not. But this morning my maid gives this to me.” Mayor took out a piece of paper and gives it Rosenmund. “I asked her who give it to her, she said some guy with curly hair and big moustache.”
Rosenmund unfolded the paper. It is an election poster of Mayor. Everything is legit in that poster from photograph to the beautiful italic font. But at the bottom there is something written on bold latter with red, blood like substance.
DEAR MAYOR,
TELL PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT YOU DID TO DARLA. IF NOT, THEN THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES. WE HAVE SOMETHING OF YOUR DAUGHTER THAT YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE TO SEEN BY OTHER PEOPLE.
YOUR BEST WISHER
“Darla you mean….. Darla Koelhn?”, Rosenmund asked curiously.
Mayor sighs, “Um,hmm.”
“Where did you find this?”
“In my office, the one in my house.”
“Is there any sign of break in?”
“No, there isn’t”.
“Hmm” Rosenmund sighs, “So, there is something between you and Darla. Can you tell me what that is?”
Mayor smiled.
“You tell me detective. I heard you are big fan of Sherlock Holmes, Holmes can red mind can you?”
Rosenmund smiled and come closer to Mayor.
“First of all, He is a fictional character. Yes indeed he is my one of the favorite but he did not involve in a real life case, secondly I can tell you what happened between you two. I mean it’s an open and shut case and after all I am a sleuth.”
Mayor grins and got up, “So then use your ‘sleuth sense’ and find out that who did this. If they only involve me I’m not even be on your doorstep, but they talking about Suzie too. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“I will try my best.”
They shake hands and Mayor Leave. Rosenmund pick up the piece of paper.
“So, what’s the trouble in paradise?” Sophie enters in his room a minute later Mayor leave.
Rosenmund passed the poster towards Sophie. Sophie observes the paper for a minute and asked curiously.
“Who’s Darla?”
“Darla Koelhn, Victim of one of the messiest case in Dan County.”
Darla Koelhn was a maid in Gibson residence. One day she disappeared into thin air from the face of the earth. Many people speculated that her husband, James Koelhn killed her and dumped her body in the swamp. Probably everyone knows that James wasn’t capable of that kind of thing, but after all the false accusation lead him to the jail time without parole.
“So, where do we start from?” Sophie said as she stands up.
Rosenmund looked at her. “Let’s start from his beloved daughter, Suzie Gibson.”
“Are you sure this is the right address?” Rosenmund asked Sophie.
Rosenmund and Sophie are in front of the ‘Clubegy’ nightclub, where Suzie usually hanging out. Rosenmund enters the club and meet Bill, the owner of the club.
“What’s up Bill?” Rosenmund called him cheerfully.
“My man JR. How you’ve been?” Bill hugs Rosenmund. “And how are you milady.” Bill give a kiss on Sophie’s hand.
“I’m great. And you look…Healthy.” Sophie said about his big belly.
“Yeah, Successful business creates some impact on your body.” Bob laughed and hit his belly like a Congo drum.
Bob was a salesman in a city mall at first. After years working in that mall Bob decided to start his own business. Basically he was from outside of the county and ran away from his house when he was just teenager. As a teenager Bill had a scrawny physique, but no one can say that now this was that guy.
Rosenmund sit at a corner of the club and Sophie went to looking for Suzie in the toilet. Rosenmund was hover his eyes all over the club. He hears girls chattering over from a table. Rosenmund noticed that Suzie was there too. Rosenmund called Sophie.
“Hey, Sophie where are you?”
“I’m in ladies toilet. As I told you so” Sophie opens a bathroom door to check.
“I found Suzie down here, with her friends. 3o’clock from the main stage”
Rosenmund stands up and about to go to Suzie. Suddenly a familiar voice called him.
“Hey!!”
“Harmony? I didn’t know you are here today.”
“I didn’t know the same either.” Harmony chuckled. “You busy?”
Rosenmund look around the club and smiled, “No, not really. Do you have something kinky in your mind?”
“That’s what you have to find out.” She winks.
Harmony and Rosenmund left the dance floor and went to the elevator. He thought his heart would burst from his chest waiting for the doors to slide open. He knew exactly what was about to happen. Then they are inside the elevator. The doors whisked closed.
Rosenmund grabbed her and kiss her passionately. Both of them could feel their warmth….. He turned her towards the mirror and kissed her on the back. She saw her reflection on the mirror. This is what she wanted for a long time, go on big guy! Suddenly elevator door stopped and the door opened. Both of them stand straight and maintain a distance. An elderly couple entered into the elevator. Harmony chuckles.
“That bastard always does this.” Sophie murmured. She hitting the phone on the left palm and anxiously looking for Suzie’s table. “Oh, fuck it.”
Sophie went to the table of Suzie. There is no sign of Suzie on that table. There are only few of her friends who seemed drunk.
“Hey guys, are you friend of Suzie’s?” Sophie asked politely.
One guy saw Sophie with red eyes. Probably getting high with drugs. He has no idea where he is now. Sometimes Sophie terrified for Berry after watching the insanity of the new generation.
“Yes we are lady. You’re her mother?” Red eyed guy asked.
“No, I’m not. I just want to meet her.” Sophie turn back.
“Hey, hey why don’t you sit here until she came back”, Red eye guy showing his lap.
Everybody at the table laughed. Sophie smiled wryly.
“I better go looking for her. Have a good night.” Sophie leaves. Suddenly red eye guy grab Sophie’s hand.
“Aren’t you here to satisfy us? Well, not all of us. ONLY BOYS!! Ha Ha Ha.” He laughed manically.
Sophie laughed and hit a hard punch on the guy. Suddenly blood started to pour out of his nose.
“You broke my nose. You bloody cunt!!”
Sophie grabbed his collar, “Listen you sleazeball. I’m just come here to ask your help. Not any more than that. And better behave next time if I ever going to meet you. Understand?”
He nodded like a kid.
“Good. Now which direction Suzie went?”
He pointed towards the exit door.
Sophie step outside. She found Suzie on a dark corner, she with someone else. Sophie went near to her.
“Suzie?” Sophie called. Both of them looking at her. Other one hides his joint and leave. Suzie saw him going to the dark alley. She takes a puff and release into the air and throw the joint.
“Yeah, I’m Suzie” now Suzie looking at her.
“I want to speak with you about your recent threaten…….”
“Oh come on!!” Suzie interrupts. “You guys don’t have anything to do. I’m tired of hearing this. Yes, I’m terrified too. But I just can’t live with that terror all my life. My father put a restriction on everything I do. Today is my best friend’s birthday, I just couldn’t say ‘Hey Rue, sorry I will not make it to your birthday, because my fucked up father shit on his pants by some words’. Just leave me fuck alone!” Suzie finished all in one breath.
“So you have your own bad blood with your father, which i don’t want to involve with.” Sophie said politely, “But I do want to know is there anything of you that people make you famous overnight? Not like famous famous. You know what I mean.”
“No, don’t think so.” Suzie shaking her head.
“Anything like, inappropriate images or videos, some bad deeds that you did in past. Anything?”
“NO!!” Suzie yells.
“Ok” Sophie step back, “If you know anything or anything happened here’s my card, you can call anytime” Sophie gave her card and walk away. Suzie stands there some seconds and get inside the bar.
Rosenmund and Harmony both lying on the bad, naked with a blanket on, he grabbed her with his right hand. He looked at her sleeping face and again looked blank at the chilling.
“What are you thinking?” She asks with her close eyes.
“Not thinking just wonder how did Hannibal Lecter manipulate someone’s mind with just talking to him.”
She laughs.
“He didn’t deceive minds. He just feed people with the harsh truth of their life or reality with his unpleasant personality. He was a bad man, I can give you that. But overall I loved the character.”
Rosenmund laugh.
“What?”
“Imagine two people just made love and talking about Hannibal Lecter. That’s how much weird we are?” They both laugh.
“No, but seriously what were you thinking?”
Rosenmund sighs. “The Mayor’s case that I have been working on, I can’t possibly find anything.”
“It’s alright. Sometime you have to just overlook the things that give you cavernous vibes.”
“I think you are right. And I should probably get going.” He gets out of the bad and wears his pants.
Harmony observes him from the bad. That six-feet-five body structure which is perfectly shaped due to workout. The scar under his shoulder blade which he said he will never tell anything about it. The perfect hair, the strange but beautiful brain and the long beautiful nose that she fell in love for the first time she saw that.
“Hey, please stay.” She indicates by tapping on the bad.
“Sorry love, I can’t. But I will come back as soon as I can.” Rosenmund kiss her on the cheek and sit down on the side of the bad to put on the socks.
“When is it over?” She asked.
Rosenmund looking at her, “Soon. Very soon. Bye!!” Rosenmund leave and close the door behind him.
Next day Rosenmund in his cabin when Sophie arrives. Kenzie is on her desk. She saw him looking at a file with his full concentration.
“What the hell was that last night?” She cried.
“What?” He said with a look of shock.
“You left me in that club, all alone. Thanks to Bill who gave me ride to home. Where were you by the way?”
“I was investigating the case”
“Oo really. But last time I checked I am the one who was talking to Suzie.”
Rosenmund stands up.
“You really did talking to her?”
“Don’t change the topic. I am asking you something.”
Rosenmund went close to her.
“Sorry I met someone. But please tell what you found out.”
Sophie sighs.
“Suzie is a complicated kid. And inside of Gibson’s family is not simple as it seems. I saw she’s smoking joint with a guy, may or mayn’t be her dealer. And Gibson hired other people to investigate this case. Suzie was already investigated by someone. That’s all I found out.”
“You did a terrific job. Thank you.”, He claps, “But we have to go to the printing shop where all of this begun.”
“Wait, to the shop?” Sophie looked confused.
“Yup!” Rosenmund wear his jacket.
“That means you did found something. You’re not gonna tell me?”
“On the road”
Rosenmund is about to turned the nob of the door. “Hey” Sophie called him from behind, “I know you’re with her. Bob told me everything. You better stay away from her. She’s a distraction.”
Rosenmund smiled wryly.
They hit the road at one p.m. Rosenmund on the driving sit and Sophie drinks her morning coffee.
“Where exactly this shop and what exactly on your mind?” Sophie takes a sip from her coffee.
“Here” Rosenmund handed her the poster.
Sophie looks closely.
“What can you deduce from that poster?”
“Ahh… This is an election poster. Don’t know about the quality. The Mayor looks great. Definitely works on his physique. And there is something written in red color pen or any object with a sharp tip. And this poster never sticks somewhere or never been lying in some dusty places. Otherwise the backside of the poster never is that kind of clean. Maybe this poster directly handed over to the Mayor. Other than that I don’t find anything”
“Yes!” He exclaimed. “This poster did hand over to the mayor but the letters was not written with any physical object. It was written with drawing tools of any digital device.”
“And can you deduce that?”
Rosenmund pointed towards the latters.
“Look, The outline of the latters. The unnecessary turn of margins of the words is similar to the Digital drawing tools fault, when someone with no steady hand writes something. This poster prints like this. Nobody alter it after that.”
“Then we find out.”
They both went to the printing shop. The shop manager greets them with a smile.
“Mayor prints the entire election posters here?”
“Yes, he did!”
“So, you are here when all the all of the posters deliver to Mayor Office?”
“No, I’m not. It was my daughter’s wedding.”
“Then who was in charge?”
“Peter, he takes care of this shop when I can’t.”
“Is he here today?”
“Yes, he is.” Manager shouts. “PETER!!”
Peter is a lanky guy with glasses on. He looks like a man who hasn’t eaten for days.
“Peter?” Rosenmund inquired.
“Yes, I’m Peter. How can I help you?”
“So, Peter. The day you print all the election posters, you are in charge. Did you check all of them?”
“Yeah, we did.”
“We?”
“Oh, my co-worker Rendal. I mean he did most of the work, also he said there is nothing to worry. I believe in Rendal”
“Ok, then where is this ‘Rendal’ guy?”
“He is on the leave. He said his mother is ill, Tuberculosis.”
“Ok, that’s all.” Rosenmund and Sophie stand up and about to leave, “Peter, Did Rendal smoke?”
“Oh yes, He smoke a lot. Like a chain-smoker.”
“What do you think then? Rendal is our guy?” Sophie said.
After leaving the shop they both entered in a coffee shop. Sophie order her usual iced tea while Rosenmund more into the case than the coffee.
“I don’t think Rendal can threaten someone, although I strongly believe that he’s the one who wrote the words. Because of his smoking habit, his hands mightn’t steady.”
“But how can you proof that?”
“We have to visit the Gibson’s. We might find the answers we looking for.” Rosenmund said, “But first, we have to go to the police station.”
Next day, they arrive at the Gibson Manor. It’s a five mile away from the main town. Gibson always loves to live in quiet, Away from the city’s noise. The entrance to the manor is quite pleasing. The entrance way is filled with cherry and plum tree. The huge iron gate which is tall as the trees. A little girl with Gibson’s maid dress looks at them. Suddenly she blenched. She dropped her hedge shears and gloves and run towards the back of the manor. Rosenmund and Sophie looks at each other with shock.
“I was expecting you, Joseph.” Someone calling them from the back, they both turn around. It’s Mayor. He’s in his tracksuit and running shoes.
“Good evening majesty. Evening walk, eh?”
“Yeah, just to be in a shape. Come with me.” Mayor escort both of them to the manor.
The house is four stories high, let alone the main hallway is two stories high. Over the big entrance door there are few painting hanged around the walls. On another wall there are photos of the family’s ancestors. As far as our detectives know Gibson family was well known family in the county. Neil’s great grandfather was a well-known helmsman, his grandfather was one of the wealthiest farmers and he started the family business of the Maple syrup and the different crops. Neil’s father was an army and deceased during gunfire fifteen years ago, His mother was paralyzed few days after her husband died.
When three of them enter to the dining room, a middle eastern, in her thirty’s greets them with a smile. It looks like she recently dyed her hair blonde.
“And guys meet my wife, Civia. Civia the detectives I told you about, Mr. Joseph Rosenmund and Mrs. Sophie Quing.”
“Nice to meet you Madame.” Rosenmund and Civia check hands.
“So, Joseph let’s talk in my office. Can we?” Mayor asked. “Of course” Rosenmund agreed.
At that time Suzie coming down the stair and saw Sophie, Sophie was unaware of Suzie’s presence. Suzie hides behind the newel post. She called Sophie surreptitiously and waves her hand between the baluster. Sophie heard the voice and look around. Then she saw Suzie waving her hand towards her. Civia talk to Sophie, without noticing.
“Sophie, you coming?” Rosenmund asked.
“Ahh…. I think I might look around a bit. You can carry on without me.” Sophie gives a hint with her eyes. Rosenmund understand immediately.
Civia appreciate Sophie’s idea. She smiled. “Let me call someone to help you.” Civia about to call for a maid.
“There’s no need. I can find my way!” Sophie said.
“Fine then, I will make something for you guys to eat.” Civia smiled and left. Sophie looks around and climbs up the stairs.
Rosenmund follow Mayor to his personal office. Mayor’s office got a big window where all the Gibson’s farms and paddy fields can be seen. Mayor’s all the certificates hanging all over the room and prizes all over a table. Some old college photos hanging opposite wall of the Mayor’s table. A picture of Suzie’s childhood kept on the table. Rosenmund sit opposite to the Mayor.
“So, Joseph you have something of the case?” Mayor asked.
“Yes, we have. Can you please call me Rosenmund? Most people don’t call me by my name and I hate my name too. If you don’t mind!”
“Yes, of course I can” Mayor Chuckles. “So, Rosenmund what did you find?”
“So, the writing on the latter you gave me wasn’t written after its print, the writing was done before printing. We went to the shop to find out who did it, but the guy who did it is on leave, and no one from the shop see him from the day all your poster handed over. He’s the prime suspect on our list. Do you know any guy name Rendal?”
“Not that I know of”
“And how many people know about you and Darla?”
“Everyone maybe”
“I don’t talking about the disappearing of Darla” He moves closer, “how many people knows about Darla’s suicide.”
“The people of this house and the police, as far as I know.”
Rosenmund sighs. He leaned back on his chair.
“Can I ask you something? Answer honestly.”
“Sure.”
“Did you kill Darla?”
Mayor eyes grow bigger.
“NO!!” Mayor cried, “I know her since I was a kid. We grew up together. Her mother was also works as a maid in my family. I never do something like that. People suspected me that I and Darla have something, but that was totally wrong.”
Suddenly Civia with a maid came to the office, the maid come with a food trolley.
“You must be hungry detective….?” Civia can’t remember his name.
“Rosenmund, Detective Rosenmund.” Rosenmund take his cup, “Thank you Mrs. Gibson. How was your trip to Nepal?”
“How do you know?” Civia looks confused.
“The bangles you wear, they are only available in Nepal.” He points her hand.
Mayor laughs. “She just comes back from her sojourn stay in Nepal. Our detective friend here got very high observation skill, like Sherlock Holmes.”
The maid serve both of them the food. At first Rosenmund didn’t give attention at her but her frequent glancing at the poster on his hand give him a questionable thought. He suddenly sniffs something.
“Detective, something happens?” Mayor asked.
“No, nothing.”
Both Civia and the maid left the room.
“Who’s the maid?” Rosenmund points at the door. “Oh she’s Olivia. She’s basically works here as my mother’s caretaker. Occasionally she helps Civia.”
Suzie grabbed Sophie’s arm and dragged her to the room. Suzie peeks outside the door and close the door behind her.
“What are you doing here? I am about to call you this morning.”
“Why?” Sophie questioned.
Suzie comes near her.
“I heard something this morning.”
“What?” Sophie gives all her attention.
Suzie tells her, “This morning when I wake up I heard mom and dad fighting about something. I saw from them from the above quietly. Dad is back from the morning walk, because he’s still on his tracksuit and threatens my mom.”
“What did he say?”
“He said that it was her fall that everything happens and talking about you two.”
“What about us?”
“He said if you guys find out something that’s lead him to the police, he’s going to tell them everything. After that he went to his office and shut the door.”
Sophie sits still for a moment. Then stand up went to the window. Suddenly she saw the girl who runs away after seeing them, is playing on the yard with another girl.
“Who are they?” Sophie’s pointing the girls.
“Who?” Suzie went near to the window, “Ohh, they are Olivia’s daughter. Lily and Sadie. Sadie’s 4 years older than Lily. They are really sweet ones.”
“So, Olivia was the maid downstairs right?”
“Yes, she’s my granny’s caretaker.”
Rosenmund put down his cup. Mayor looks at him.
“I think I crack the case.” He smiled.
“Who did this?” Mayor looks curious.
“Get everyone to the main hall. I mean everyone.” Rosenmund takes his coat and get out of the office.
“SOPHIE” Rosenmund cried from the main hall. Sophie looks alarm. She rushed out of the room; Suzie also went out after her. She saw every one of the house is down the hall. Sophie climbs down the steps.
“What happened? Let me guess… You cracked the case.”
“Hallelujah.” Rosenmund smiled.
Every member of the family looks confused. Rosenmund slowly walks to the middle of the hall, where he can see all of them and everyone can see him. He crosses his hands back.
“As you all know, the owner of this mansion and the Mayor of this town was threaten by someone. First I thought it was someone from the outside with apolitical vendetta but I was wrong. It was someone from inside.”
“What are talking about?” Mayor said angrily.
“It’s true. And whoever did it, that person is close to the family.” Rosenmund paused. “Olivia.”
Everyone turn around to Olivia. Olivia put her head down with shame. Mayor went near to her.
“I didn’t do anything.” Olivia swears.
“Why Olivia, after everything….everything I did, Civia did?”
“Trust me Mr. Gibson. I didn’t do it.” Olivia sits down on her knee.
“Wait, Neil.” Civia speaks. “How can you believe in this Detective? Maybe it’s just a hunch or something!”
“It’s not a hunch Mrs. Gibson.” Rosenmund sit down on a chair.
“Then Explain it.”
“Well, I will start from the beginning. First when Mayor gave me that poster it had a greasy texture on the back, and it has a mild smell like sandalwood.”
“Just get to the point already.” Civia irritated.
“I am. The smell the same thing somewhere. But where? Then I remember. Last year Kenzie use a body lotion that smell just like this. And when I was in Mayor’s office just a moment ago and Olivia served us the food, I smelled the same smell. Olivia use the same moisturizer. Now you can think, this product can be used by anyone. Then why Olivia?”
Everyone nodded.
“The Mayor told us that, he found this poster lying around in his table. No break-in or break out, everything is on the place. Just like the paper appear out of thin air.” Rosenmund snaps. “If someone from the outside does it, someone should notice something. But no one saw anything. Then it’s definitely someone from inside did it. And that someone knows everything of this family’s day to day life. And only the grandmother’s caretaker can see and interact with everyone in this family. And knows exactly when someone goes out or come back in the family.”
Rosenmund get close to Olivia. Her head is down. He looks at her daughters, Sadie stands at the door while Lily stands behind Olivia grabbing mother’s little finger. He smiles at Lily. Her little eyes glisten. She replied him with a beautiful smile.
“And there’s another thing.” Everyone looked at Rosenmund. “Olivia has had help by someone.”
“What are you saying? You never said about it.” Sophie intrigued.
“Yesterday I visited the police station. To cross checked someone who can actually help Olivia. And surprisingly our prime suspect is the partner.” Rosenmund smiles to Mayor, “And that partner is none other than John fucking Koelhn.”
“WHAT!” Mayor Cried.
Everyone in the house murmuring, Mayor freezes in his position.
“So, Olivia you can tell everything.” Rosenmund said.
Olivia stands silent.
“I know Olivia, there’s some reason you did it. You can tell everything now.”
Olivia slowly raises her head. Two drops of tears pour down from her eyes. She sighs with pain and starts talking in a low voice.
Olivia speaks
Every one of them looking at me like they don’t know a thing that is going on this family, Well I see enough in my life. This evil couple ruined my life, took everything my life. First my love then my husband and god knows! What are they going to do with my daughters. So I made a plan, where they can feel one percent of the pain that had in me all this years. But these two goddamn detectives take that away from me.
Eleven years ago when I first came to this hell, I was just past my puberty. My nympho mother sold me here for thousand dollars to live with her junkie husband, to take care of that coffin-dodger.
For two months I was all alone. Nobody was talking to me, the men give me a sinful look whenever I passing them. Every day on the bad I cried. What did I do that God let me suffer through this pain and thank god every morning that he passed me a day without suffer any more pain.
Then I met Darla. She was a charming, brave woman. The day I met her she had a fight with her husband. She was not more than twenty five. She was sat on of the pillar of garden, sobbing. I went close to her, rubbed her back. She immediately wiped her tear and looks at me. Those beautiful eyes trapped me that instant.
From that day on Darla and I had beautiful relationship. She told me about her junkie husband and her toxic relationship. Her husband John treated her like shit. She always mentioned that the time she spends with me was the best she ever got. We talk, we laugh, we enjoy every moment we get. One day she told about the obsession towards me and she kissed me.
That few second change the prospective of my life. It reduces the yearlong pain that I kept inside of me. I never thought that I found something as beautiful as the Romeo Juliet play. I never thought what I need, I need this. But these crooks take that away from me too.
The next day I went to our usual meeting place. I wait there for an hour, but Darla never came. So I went to her cottage. When I was about to get to her room, suddenly I heard some noise. It was a noise of someone’s yelling. I looked through a hole of a wall. I saw John and Neil standing face to face and Darla crying on the corner of the room.
“It’s all your fault.” John cried, “I don’t want this cunt here”, Pointing at Darla.
“John, take all the money you want. But don’t tell anyone about this. I beg you.”
“No amount of money can repay this. You destroyed my whole life, I am going to do same to yours.” John’s menacing laugh filled the whole room.
Then I heard someone with heavy step walking towards me. I ran for my life. After that day I never saw Darla in my life. I was looking for her for days. Someone said she taking her own life because she was not happy with her life. John was send to jail for false case of murder felony.
“Wait, wait” Rosenmund interrupts, “You made this plan after all this year. Why?”
Olivia sighs.
Olivia speaks II
After so many days I was upset with Darla. Maybe I wasn’t upset, I was disappointed. Like everyone else in my life, Darla also let me down. One day she was talking about the life we spend together, and next day she killed herself. But I never forget the conversation of John and Neil. I always doubted Neil. The brave Darla always looks uncomfortable in front of Neil.
One year after the incident I was married to a guy name Elijah. Elijah was everything I want in my life. With two daughters Elijah and I had perfect life from my viewpoint. But he also left me. He had leukemia when he was seventeen.
After Elijah died, I was all alone again. Sadie and lily all that I got. One day I heard that John Koelhn had a parole due to dementia. He lost all his memory except his wife’s name and that she died because of him. When I first met him, John looks unrecognizable. But he can still work. So I made this plan then. And everyone knows the rest.
“So, you did this out of revenge.” Rosenmund said.
“Yes I did.” Olivia agreed. “And that feels good.”
“But why Suzie was dragged in?”
“Suzie was just a fluke. I have nothing of Suzie’s”
“Hmm.” Rosenmund nodded, “You can’t do this all alone. You had help. Now John can do this all from outside but I don’t think he’s that capable now. So, who’s the missing puzzle?”
Olivia put her head down
“Maybe he’s got an answer”, everyone looking at the direction of the voice. It is Harmony. She drags Bill by his collar, and throws him to the ground. Bill collapsed in the floor with loud thud.
“The Billy boy”, Rosenmund smile. “What brings you here?”
“While I investing a trivial matter, a mammoth issue come in to light. Bill was the second outsider all along.” Harmony winks at Rosenmund.
“Why Bill? Why do pretend all along?” Neil asked with a broken voice.
“Because bastards like him don’t deserve to be praised by the people. Darla was like my only friend. When I was run from my house, I had nothing to eat. I waited backside of the grocery shop for someone to throw food at me. I slept behind the dumpster, shivering all night in winter days. But Darla gives me hope. Every day she left food for me outside of the grocery shop and after getting to know her she gave me money for to do something. But the day I opened my bar, she closed her eyes forever. Then I know from people from my bar, that she was died.
But when Olivia told me about her plan, I was agreed in an instant. I gave my farmhouse to John for stay. Although Olivia asked to stay Suzie out of the trouble, I take an eye on her”. Bill broke down in tears.
A minute later everyone hear a police siren. Harmony called the cops before got here. Few moments later Tom and his team are inside the hall.
“Mrs. Olivia Parodi you are under arrest for blackmailing and used a mentally retarded patient for doing a crime. Any word you say or will……” and Tom handcuff Olivia. Suzie takes both Olivia’s kids to her room.
“Before you go Tom, did you bring the file I asked for?” Rosenmund asked.
Tom takes out a file from his bag and gives it to Rosenmund. He flips the front page. It is victim file of Darla. Rosenmund observe the file with his full attention and smile.
“Tom you might be staying here for a little bit”, Rosenmund turns to Neil. “So Mayor, can you tell me exactly what happened the day Darla died.”
Mayor thinks for a second and said, “I was taking a walk in the garden, when I saw her. Her hands are all red, eyes wide open. And then I get closed to her, and check her pulse. There’s no movement. I was terrified and called the cops.”
“Was John there?”
“No, he wasn’t there.”
“Hmm”. Rosenmund sighs, “But how far her body wasn’t found? If you called the cops, you make sure there will be no mess to the body and if there’s no mess then surely cops find her body and it would be on the hospital mortuary. But the pathologist confirmed that there’s no body of Darla’s to autopsy.”
Neil looks at Civia, like a little boy look at her mother because he done something bad and someone yelling at him for his childish behavior.
“Maybe there’s no body, or more interestingly maybe there’s no suicide.”
Everyone looks at Rosenmund curiously. Neil gulps with fear.
“Remember, Olivia said they were arguing about something the night before she died. Something undoing had done.”
Rosenmund eyes lit up. “She was pregnant isn’t she?”. Mayor takes out his handkerchief and wiped his sweat. Civia broke down in tears.
“Answer us Sir” Tom said to Neil.
Neil lift up his chin. Close his eyes and take a deep breath.
“Yes I did it.” Neil confesses.
Neil speaks
She was in my eyes since the beginning. But she never took our relation more than friendship. She always said that she will always be with me, but never be mine. As she grows up she became more beautiful and attractive day by day. Like a women I want. Before marriage I was again approach to her, but she denied this time too. I was so angry. Her denial hurts my inner manhood. By the time I was planning ask her properly, my father fixed my marriage with Civia.
But for years my rage for Darla grows bigger and bigger. In the time when she married to that junkie John, something in that rage triggers and reached to its limit. I mean I could give her everything she ever wanted. But she was so busy to proof the righteousness towards her marriage, that she ignored me like an unco.
As the time goes and Suzie was born, I moved on. She and I had own individual responsibility. But that day, the day she died me and mom at the house. Civia went to Suzie’s play in school. I was at my office. Then someone knock on my door. It was Darla with her second to none smile.
“Can I come in?” Darla questioned.
“Is that a question?” I laughed. I indicated her to sit. She sat down. She sat there quiet as she saw I was concentrating on my work. But her presence resists me for work anymore. I looked her quietly. She looks lovely as ever, but a sense of worry hovering over her face.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
She stayed silent. I tried again.
“Do you remember how we share everything with each other? How we empathized each other. What happened to that? We never have to be like this.”
“You understand our relationship wrong.” Darla said in a low voice, without making eye contact with him.
“I was a silly teenager. I am not like that anymore, I moved on. If I hurt your feeling with anything then I’m sorry.”
She nodded.
“Then tell me what’s happened” I asked.
Then she told me about all of her problems, from John’s habit to his torture, how they can’t glue their relationship because he doesn’t want a child. After that she broke into tears. I never saw cried like this. I went from my sit to support her. I hugged her and rubbing her back. The every blow of her cry gave me immense happiness. As if I won the war of best companion for her. I get close to her face I kissed her. She immediately got away for me and gave me a slap.
“What are you doing? You never changed Neil.” Darla cried and tears dropped from her eyes continuously.
But for me, I was standing there, with anger and shame. I was never been shamed by any women in my life. I earned all in my life but not disrespect, and also that from a women. The old anger trigger this time with full blow. I grabbed her hand throw her in the ground. I unbuckle my belt and show her what a real man can do. She screamed, and with her every scream, it satisfied my inner monster.
A week later when she said about her pregnancy I was afraid. This thing can destroy my reputation on the society. That day after Olivia ran, John and I had a fight and the next day morning when she was with my mom, I grabbed her from the back and break her neck. Her breathing became slow and eventually it ended. I dumped her body in potassium hydroxide and the resulting tar throw it in the abandon well outside.
“You a sick man Neil. A monster” Olivia cries with anger.
Tom putout his hand to Rosenmund, “Thank you, Rosenmund you are a great help. I think we….”
“Wait, something didn’t add up.” Rosenmund interrupts. “The man who stuck up in a political dilemma can suddenly kill someone. And Olivia heard you and John fighting and you were apologizing to her.”
“What are you mean from that?” Sophie asks out of curiosity.
“I believe in every words Mayor said. But there’s something missing or someone. Mayor was too afraid for his political career, that he will pull a stunt like that. If I was in his position I never do something like that.”
Mayor cried slowly, Civia looking around with restless eyes. Rosenmund walk slowly to Mayor, “What is it Mayor? There’s no going back. You have to live with this your life. You better tell the truth.”
“It was Civia” Mayor said with a crying voice. “She did all that. I was never even home that day.”
Everyone does an annoying sigh, including Rosenmund.
“Tell us Civia you did it or not, is anyone with you. Please tell the truth this time.” Rosenmund said to Civia.
Civia laughed. “Yes I did it. My fucked up husband can’t even save his wife. Although I clean up the mess he did every time.”
Civia stands up and walk up to the window.
“That day when I came back I saw Darla. She was crying and looked terrified and ran towards the back door. At the door she felt my presence, and look back at me with angry wet eyes, and told me one thing, “Your husband is a monster”. After that Neil told me about the incident. I was terrified that if this thing got out, my whole reputation is in stake. I read somewhere, that potassium hydroxide can dissolve a body without a trace.
So a week later, I went to her. She yelled at me from the doorway. Her voice breaks as she yells. John was gone outside. I went close to her and hug her. By the time she starts sobbing on my soldier a put the knife on her abdomen. She struggles for a bit but eventually gave up. But in that time John came back, he saw her dead body and about to run when I hit him back of his head. He laid senseless there.
I fill their bathtub with the Potassium hydroxide and drown her body in that. After three hours her bathtub is filled with black tar. And that was the end of Darla. After Neil came back I told him to take care of the tar. He was first afraid but did it anyway.”
Rosenmund sighs, “Here you go Tom. You can do your thing”.
“What about him?” Harmony pointing to Bill.
“We will take care of him in the station.” Tom said.
After thanking dozen times to Rosenmund and half a dozen times to Sophie and Harmony, Tom left the Gibson Manor. Harmony reaches to Rosenmund.
“From a fucking moisturizer, really?” Harmony chuckles.
“I think I will buy you one. They smell really good.” They both laugh.
“Can you explain this, bud?” Sophie calls Rosenmund from behind. They both turn around. Sophie looks at both of their face.
“Harmony meet Sophie Quing, My best friend and partner. Or you can say “partners in crime”. Rosenmund laugh. “Nice to meet you” Harmony put out her hand. But Sophie hesitates.
“And meet Harmony Scott. My fiancé and special agent at State Bureau of Investigation”. Sophie eyes getting bigger. “But I thought you are…”
“That was my disguise to investigate the drugs dealers in the Bill’s nightclub.”
“And did you do it?”
“Oh yes, A big time.”
“Enough of investigation” Rosenmund changed the subject, “You guys hungry? Let’s eat something. Golden Grill?”
They both nodded.
