Mystery 12
Killed
Droplets of rain slide down the glass of the outer side of the window.
Dark clouds loomed over the busy city as passengers rushed to shelter and home for dinner.
An eight-year-old child walks up to a door and knocked.
Young Emilia
Mama? I'm back from Uncle Ben's!
She continues knocking but no answer
Young Emilia
Mama, I'm home.
Emilia pushes the door forward.
Surprisingly, the door was unlocked.
Emilia enters the house and puts down her bag she had carried on her back on the floor.
In front of her, was an unconscious woman with blood oozing out of her. Her chest was still and her eyes were open and glazed.
That woman was Emilia's mother
And she was unconscious and still.
Emilia opens her bag and pulls out her homework.
She sets it on the dining table and starts doing her homework.
The man walks up to Emilia from behind while holding the knife he used to murder her mother.
He put the knife above Emilia's homework.
Blood on the knife dripped down onto the paper.
One red drop on the paper.
Young Emilia
*continues writing*
Another red drop on the paper
Young Emilia
*takes eraser and erases a sentence*
Final splat of blood on the paper
Young Emilia
*rewrites the sentence*
The murderer came to a conclusion that the child was too young to understand life and death.
He grips his knife and walks out the door, careful to not step in the pool of blood to not leave his footsteps behind.
He looks back at the girl and disappears into the night.
Emilia walks over to the door and closes it.
She took out her phone and dialed the police number.
After a short conversation with the police officer who told her they are on the way, she puts the phone back into her pocket
Then she walks over to her mother's body and sat down.
Looking at her deceased mother,
Unsolvable
When Emilia came home that day and the door was unlocked, it was obvious.
That something was very wrong.
And when she saw her dead mother.
And when she saw the unknown man at the corner of the room taken aback by her sudden presence,
And when the man did the three drops of blood test on her,
Emilia knew her mother was murdered.
Emilia knew the murderer was still around.
Emilia knew the only way to not get killed like her mother was to the feign innocence of an eight child.
And that the act of hers would make the murderer believe she does not understand life and death and does not understand what happened to her mother.
And that the murderer would believe it was safe to leave her be.
After Emilia called the police, she walked over to her mother's body and sat down.
Young Emilia
Mama...*sobs*
Young Emilia
Mama, I'm sorry*sniffs*
Young Emilia
I'm sorry I ignored you just now
Young Emilia
I'm sorry I didn't came home earlier.
Young Emilia
I'm sorry you passed on with a painful death.
Young Emilia
I'm sorry I was not around when you let out your last breath! *sobs*
Young Emilia
Instead, it was that freaking murderer!
Young Emilia
Murderer kill Mama.
Young Emilia
Mama killed by murderer.
Young Emilia
Emilia kills murderer.
A week later in the police department...
William
You called me, Sir?
Sergeant
Yes, take a seat.
William enters the office and took in his surroundings.
As he steps inside, the first thing that catches his eye is the tastefully designed reception area, adorned with polished marble floors and an elegant chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
It was one of those rare moments where an investigator police was being called into the office.
This probably means that the police had a case they could not solve.
And that they seek assistance from the investigating department.
The sergeant sat on a large leather chair that was sumptuously cushioned and designed for comfort, yet exudes an aura of authority.
William
(The chair also is complemented by the contrasting darker colours smaller chairs in front of the desk.)
Yes, thank you, William, for the observation.
William takes a seat on one of the chairs and stared at the sergeant.
William
Did the team have an unsolvable case again?
Sergeant
You know us surprisingly well, William.
Sergeant
Yes, we do...but this case is...
Sergeant
...most spectacularly puzzling.
Sergeant
Nothing like we have ever faced before.
William
Give me a brief description of the situation.
Sergeant
At around 7pm at night, a murder took place of a woman stabbed by a knife in the comfort of her house.
Sergeant
However, it was unlike a normal murder.
Sergeant
You see, her daughter came back home when he was still around but he did not kill her.
Sergeant
The woman's tongue was cut off.
Meeting
Sergeant
However, it was unlike a normal murder.
Sergeant
You see, her daughter came back home when he was still around but he did not kill her.
Sergeant
The woman's tongue was cut off.
William
And when was this incident?
William
And you are only telling this to me now?
Sergeant
Yes. What's the problem?
William
I'd like to see the victim now.
Sergeant
She has been buried from the funeral.
William
Then I cannot do anything about this case, sir.
William
I am not able to analyse the victim and figure out how she was killed.
Sergeant
Then it is hopeless.
William
I shall interview her daughter.
William
This is the address?
Sergeant
Yes. I'll be waiting in the parking lot.
William walks up to the porch and rang the doorbell.
A few seconds later, the door was opened by a middle aged man in his twenties.
William
Thank you, mister.
They walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
The small child ran towards the man and showed a piece of drawing to him.
Young Fiona
I drew a flower!
Uncle Ben
Look, Fi, we have a guest here.
Uncle Ben
Yes, so would you please-
Young Fiona
Do you like my drawing?
Fiona shows the drawing to William.
William
Wow, it is very pretty.
Uncle Ben
Fi, play with Emilia in your room while we adults talk, okay?
Young Fiona
Okay, Father...*pouts*
Young Fiona
Mr Guest! Come here often, okay!
Young Fiona
Then I can show you more of my drawings!
Fiona runs upstairs and into her room.
William
What a lively girl.
Uncle Ben
I'm sorry about my child, Officer.
Uncle Ben
She gets very excited over anything, really.
William
It's alright, mister. We were once like her too.
Uncle Ben
Call me Ben or Benjamin. There is no need for formalities, Officer.
William
Alright then. Call me William or Will then.
Both adults stared at each other for a moment.
Then they burst into guffaws.
Uncle Ben
*chuckles* You're different from the other officers, Will.
William
But for what I came here for...
Uncle Ben
Ah, yes. You want to meet Emilia, am I right?
William
But before I do so,
William
I'd like to hear your version of the story.
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