Somnium Part II: Memory

Chapter 8 Truth

I always blocked out this memory. It is time I opened it back up. I heard my Dad talking with somebody one night, a long time ago. I didn't understand most of what he said, but I heard something about larceny, and assassinations. With my current knowledge, that person he was with must've been his accomplice to all those crimes he used to commit. The last thing he said, however, was very clear.
"One day, I just might kill that kid."

It was a relaxing day. Susan clung onto me as usual. The time flew by quickly. Nothing important happened until later that night. Mr. Forrest handed me the home phone.
"It's for you. From Officer Phillip."
Officer Phillip? The policeman who drove me after arresting my father? Maybe I'm being called as a witness for a trial. As if Dad needs one. "Hello?"
"Hi, Edward. Something urgent's come up. I'm picking you up soon."
"It must be urgent if you have to pick me up."
"I can't let anyone else know about this. Sorry, it's just the rules."
"Okay, I'll wait outside for you." I ended the call, and handed back the phone.
"What's going on?" Susan asked.
"The police need me for something. It's confidential."
"I hope it isn't dangerous. Please don't get hurt, Edward."
"I won't, don't worry."
Eventually, Officer Phillip arrived, and he got out of the car.
"So, what's this all about?" I asked.
"Take a look in the back seat," he said.
I peered through the window, to see what was inside. It was my father, cuffed. "Now I really wanna know what's going on!"
"He said there's something more he wants to admit guilt to, at the house. I wanted you to accompany us so you can tell me if he's just messing around."
Officer Phillip opened the door, and Dad stepped out casually.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?" he said.
"I wish it had been longer," I told him.
We walked to the front door of our house. I opened it. Dad turned towards Phillip.
"Just wait out here, he'll get it with me. There are some things I want to tell him in private too."
"Not a chance."
"C'mon. What could I possibly do, I'm cuffed. I just don't want you in the house where my son lives."
"Dad," I said. "There's no reason for us to go in here, actually."
"There is. You just don't know yet."
"No, I know. I found the binder. I gave it to Mr. Forrest. He said he'd turn it in to the police. He might still have it, so we just need to go there."
"The binder isn't everything I needed. There's more."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Let's go. Just me and you, like I said. I'd appreciate if the officer waited outside."
"Ugh," Phillip groaned. "I don't have much time, so whatever. Just go in there and get it over with."
We walked inside. Just Dad and I. It was unsettling, even with his hands cuffed. "So where is the other evidence?" I asked.
"It's in the wall of your brother's room. We just have to smash it. I'll tell you where. Grab a hammer."
I took the same hammer I used to smash the drawer up to my brother's room. The door was shut, and luckily, he wasn't home. I opened the door.
"That hammer won't be necessary."
Wait, who said that? I turned around.
Mr. Forrest stood behind us, pointing a gun at my father's head.
"This is a pleasant surprise," Dad said.
"Since when did you own a gun?" I asked.
"I don't," Mr. Forrest answered. "Not legally, anyway."
"What?"
"Kid, you've got a strong mind. Surely you've figured out what's going on by now." I did. I just didn't want to admit it.
"You were my father's crime partner? You two were the duo?"
"We live next to each other so I could keep him in check. Your father was always the more unstable of us."
"Back when I found him," my father explained. "He was homeless. He had a lot of financial trouble. Luckily for him, he was dating a wealthy woman."
"I didn't wanna live my life mooching off her," Mr. Forrest continued the story. "I wanted a job. But nobody was willing to hire me."
"I was, however. When I was young, I read a lot of crime books, watched crime movies, the like. Even studied real killers. All I had to do was practice their styles, and improve on them by combining strategies. I became a perfect criminal."
"He taught me what to do. I was making good money. But after a while, I couldn't bear it anymore. I told my wife the truth, and she thankfully accepted it. It's our secret. And now you know too, kid."
"We made more than enough to give us satisfying lives. And now it's all lead to this. Ed, I was hoping that one day, you'd catch me. I wanted you to read the same kind of books, but become a detective to bring me down. I guess it sort of worked out."
"Kid, you can leave now. Go back to my house. I don't want anyone suspecting you for what I'm about to do. You can go out and tell the officer I did this, I don't mind. It's about time I was punished for my sins. Take good care of my daughter, she really loves you. I'm glad I got to see her happy."
"So," I started. "I'll never get to see you again?"
"Probably not. Sorry."
I hung my head. I knew I was going to miss him. Life has a way of throwing unwanted surprises at you. That's just the way things work. I walked away, and stopped at the front door.
"Where is your father!?" Philip asked, irritated.
"There's an armed assailant in there. He let me go, but you have to arrest him. I'll get you what we were here for, the assailant has it in his home." I reported.
Right as Phillip moved in, I heard a familiar noise.
Bang!
Phillip rushed up the stairs, and I hurried home to get the binder. When I got back out, Mr. Forrest was cuffed and in the car. I handed over the binder.
"I think I should explain what happened to his family, while I'm here. I'm sure you don't want to say it," Phillip told me.
"Thanks," I said.
We sat down Mrs. Forrest and Susan on the couch. I sat by Susan, and put my arm around her, and held her hand with my other.
Phillip explained what happened. Mrs. Forrest shedded silent tears. I think she knew that this would happen one day. Susan did not cry, as I feared. She can't even feel for her father.
Phillip left when he was done, leaving the three of us alone. It was silent for a while. Mrs. Forrest broke the silence later. "I'm going to bed now." That's all she said.
Susan and I sat alone in the living room. I couldn't find my self to say anything. However, she did.
"I'll miss him."