Orphaned Mystery: Case Unsolved

Chapter 2

Day 1 (7th January 2021, Monday)
7:30 pm
It was only after sunset he reached home. Martin practically flew to his room. He went inside his room and finally let out the squeal of excitement that was bubbling inside of him, hugging the files he had received. He laid the profiles on his desk carefully and read the descriptions of the people in MHH (Marie-Lou's Home for the Homeless).
Name: Marie-Lou Beschorner.
D.O.B: 18 September 1998
Place of birth: New York City, America.
Height: 5'4
The orphanage is named after Marie-Lou by her parents. Mrs. and Mr Beschorner, who were former scientists that died recently due to an experiment that went wrong in their lab. Before they had passed away three years ago, they had found the seven children who now live with Marie-Lou as their caretaker and mother figure.
Commonly described as: responsible, kind, empathizing. Rare signs of anger are shown.
In Martin's eyes, Marie-Lou looked like she stepped out of a nineteenth century fashion magazine. She wore an old-fashioned royal blue caplet with a matching floppy hat. She wore a string of pearls and white gloves, her long cocoa brown hair loose over her shoulders. She reminded Martin of a modern version of that character in a Disney movie he used to enjoy as a kid – what was her name? Ah, yes. Mary Poppins – but with longer hair and a less floral hat.
Name: Mason Di Maio.
D.O.B: 14th January 2006
Place of birth: Africo Vecchio, Calabria Grecanica, South Italy.
Height: 5'8
Found at the age of 10 roaming around the streets alone. He only understands Basic English. He refuses to talk about his past and how he ended up in America - the only facts known about Mason are where he is from, when he was born, and that his parents are dead. He shows a love for taekwondo and rarely any signs of socializing with anyone but his foster siblings.
Commonly described as: quiet, obedient, and easily irritated.
Martin smiled as he read the profile. Yes, this boy was definitely a top suspect. He looked like one too. He was a tall boy for his age, with a lanky posture and a slight tan – like a school linebacker. He wore an oversized white shirt with a saying that Martin figured was in Italian with navy blue denim jeans that had embroidered footballs on the sides. He looked happy enough, but the soft brown eyes and the piercing gaze, covered by a mass of unruly black hair, carried a strange twinge of mystery.
Name: Wendy Diaz Flores.
D.O.B: 15 November 2007
Place of birth: Avila, Spain.
Height: 5'5
The daughter of former Olympic figure skaters Sara Hurtado Flores and Adrian Diaz Flores, Wendy has the inherited talent of ice skating. Her parents died during a family trip to NYC and was found by Marie-Lou's parents in her car when she was 9 years old. Known as the helper of the house and the right person for her siblings to talk to.
Commonly described as: shy but fun, reassuring, and empathizing.
She looked very pretty, with long, wavy fire ombre hair and emerald green eyes. Flushing red cheeks gave a hint of color to her pale face. The casual clothes she wore – a gray hoodie and a pair of black Kalenji leggings with bright blue converse high tops - gave a sense of irony to her elegant posture.
Martin sighed. How was he going to finish reading this? Nevertheless, to finish the case, he had to take it slow and eye for details. He kept reading.
Name: Logan Miller & Lucas Miller.
D.O.B: 13 June 2008
Place of birth: Dublin, Ireland.
Height: 5'6
The twins were living in New York City for two years until their parents died when they were at the age of 8. They were taken to a police station and were adopted by Mrs. And Mr Beschorner before being taken away to a hostel for boys. They are known to be the mod makers of the bunch and inseparable from one another. Whatever Logan knows, Lucas knows – and vice versa.
Commonly described as: naughty, annoying, clever, and Freddie's partners in crime.
The thirteen year old Irish Miller twins could have easily passed for Freddie's actual brothers. They were too identical. Same brown hair (although it wasn't as curly as Freddie's), same bright blue eyes, and the same naughty grins. They looked exactly their foster brother, except without freckles (however, Logan had one beauty mark right under his left eye). They wore black and white double sleeved shirts with berry blue jeans and brown leather boots.
'Maybe Logan knows where Lucas left and why' Martin wondered out loud. 'If I can just get at least some information out of him...'
Name: Ashley Adler.
D.O.B: 9 May 2011
Place of birth: Manhattan, America.
Height: 4'10
Found at 5 years old in the remains of a burnt house. She was suffering amnesia and doesn't remember where she came from or who her parents were. However, she was mysteriously wearing a cardboard sign bearing the words "Adler – age 5". She was covered in soot when she was spotted and therefore received the name Ashley. She later showed a miraculous knack for gymnastics and acrobatics.
Commonly described as: shy, sensitive, and playful.
'A mysterious past to a five year old' Martin said to himself. Why was the house burnt? Who burnt it? No time to answer those questions. One case at a time.
She looked too small and too innocent to have started the fire. Straight, shoulder length black hair with bangs and big brown eyes, like a younger and paler version of Mason. Just a shy girl who looks up to her older sister. She wore a fluorescent pink, knee length dress with white leggings and hot pink flip flops – like a ballerina on a Hawaii vacation.
Name: Jackie Leroy.
D.O.B: 9 December 2013
Place of birth: La Rochelle, France.
Height: 4'7
The Leroys moved to New York around 2016. As years went by, a family feud that exceedingly heated inside the household led them to kick Jackie out to the streets at the age of six, months before they died in a car crash. Although he led a rough life in his past, he doesn't seemed bothered by it and continues being happy. He loves being in the center of attention and being the youngest gives him much of the privilege.
Commonly described as: silly, fun to play with, a perfect target, and eager to help.
Jackie Leroy looked, in Martin's opinion, too cute and too young to be a murderer. His rosy cheeks, long and layered blond hair, and shiny sapphire blue eyes were heartwarming to see. The smile he wore with one tooth missing was contagious.
Finally, Martin looked at the last and final file. The one that belonged to the victim Freddie Lorenz himself.
Name: Freddie Lorenz.
D.O.B: 20 February 2005
Place of birth: Southampton, New York, America.
Height: 5'6
Freddie was found at the age of 11 roaming around the streets searching for help. He claimed that he had lost his parents in a fair that morning and had been searching for them ever since. A few days after spending time in the MHH temporarily, the police confirmed that the Lorenz couple were dead. With this knowledge in mind, Freddie chose to live with the people who had helped him. He showed talent in art and was the caretaker of his siblings ever since.
From December 2020, a month before his death, Freddie started to act a bit unlike himself. He became paranoid, reclusive, and even morose to the others in his life.
Commonly described as: naughty, sly, and kind.
Martin looked at the photo of the victim. Freddie looked like a photocopy of his twin brothers. He wore a long white sleeves under a red t-shirt saying "Surf" in bold blue letters. He wore baggy knee length pants and shocking green Nike shoes. Tufts of his curly hair stuck out from the olive green beanie he was wearing. His smile gave out his entire personality. Why would anyone want to kill him?
Martin finally finished studying the files by night. He looked at the digital alarm clock on his night stand – it read 21:29. He started getting ready to ride but realized it was probably no use. How on Earth was he going to interview a bunch of kids – kids who might have slept at eight or so – this late at night? He would just have to wait till tomorrow morning. Great.
Martin made a mental note to start practicing to read and study files faster as he got ready for bed, his mind made up to wake up at exactly seven in the morning.