Write On || 2020 project

#3-part 2

--EDITED VERSION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN A NEW BOOK: STRINGS--


"So, you want to start telling me how you got into this, N?" he demanded. N huffed and pushed his blanket off of him welcoming the chilly air, his dark hair submerged his eyes making it practically impossible for M to scrutinize his expression.

"Yeah, yeah, 'Mr. Detective'."

"Would you like to walk me through the time duration of the incident?" M asked. 

"Pff- what's with the formality, M? Thought we were friends man," N sneered. 

"If you do not respect the protocol and answer my question, you can be a potential suspect or worse accomplice."

"Damn- take it down a notch, bud. Alright, it was 'round 10, 11, I suppose? I couldn't really tell all those drinks really get to you. Anyway, me wife calls me. Oh, you can check my phone for the exact time. We talk about how I was supposed to get milk three hours ago, yeah. Crazy lady, she is. Ha so, I reached the street and sat on the bench and let it all out. It was where I heard those screams."

"Did you witness something unusual at around the time?"

"No sympathy, huh? Well, I thought the screams were just normal you know. The dude could be having a breakdown or somethin'. Well, I didn't really hear anyone else scream so I thought it was okay."


"What did you do after witnessing it?"

I was bummed out so I decided to take a nap," N said.

'His words do match the timelines provided. However, I cannot confirm them until the reports from neighbors come along,' M considered the facts. However, the claims of a person intoxicated by alcohol didn't carry much worth to him. 

"What's the next thing you noticed after you woke up?"

"A headache. I decided to get myself some water and saw the door of the house open. So, I thought 'hey, let's get myself some painkillers too'. "

"So, you basically committed breaking and entering?" M asked. 

"What? No! The door was OPEN," N replied. 

"Alright, did you see anyone else while you were at it?"

"I dunno, man. The body was right in the middle of the living room. At the entrance. My attention didn't go anywhere else and I contacted the police."

"Did you contact someone else other than the police?"

"Me wife but she told me I was high and cut off the phone. Fiesty, eh?" N started curling his hair and stared at the wall. M's suspicion grew stronger.

"Anything else you might want to tell me?" 

"You haven't gotten me my booze."

M sighed and stood up. "You can leave," he collected his things, gave a firm nod, and walked outside the door. 

"Egotistical bast*rd", N muttered. 



                                            _____________

M stopped reading for enough information was already gathered. The rest of the pages were filled with her history, relationship, biological issues, and other minor details. His mind was tangled on a lead. He was getting confident of his hunch by the second.

N knew more than he pretended to. 

A person knocked on his door and entered without wasting another second. The tall male raised a hand signing his wave. He smiled brightly at the sight of his friend. 

"Morning! Just wanted to drop by and-" T stopped and scanned the figure of M to which subconsciously M reacted by straightening his back. 

"You look like shit," he said. 

"Yeah, I figured," M said with a venomous tone. 

"Ya didn't take a break or go catch a wink of sleep, huh?"  T questioned. 

"Maybe?" he countered. 

"I swear to- Imma talk to Chief about it. Gather ye stuff and go home," T scolded. His motherly instinct clearly dripping off from those words.

'Must be nice to be a parent,'  his chest tightened at the thought of it. 


"Lookie mate, I get it. You're trynna distract yourself from what happened. But punishing yourself ain't doin' the trick, kay? Don't make us juniors look after you now," T waved goodbye and walked over to the Chief. M exhaled pushing himself from the comfortable sheets. He grabbed the dusky files and continued on his way. 


M ambled over to the rookie's desk, his attention snapped to the direction of his senior and arose with respect.

"Finally," M mumbled to himself.

"Sorry sir?" the red-head questioned. 

"Mail me the report of the interview of neighbors. I'm heading off," M said. 

"Yes, sure!" 


M did not realize how much the lack of sleep had affected him. The bags under his eyes weighed down his eyelids and the accuracy in his movements lessened. His thoughts only occupied the solace of his domain and the tranquility of his room. The sunlight did little to stop his tracks, M kept his gaze down to avoid any sensitivity. He opened the door of his car, threw files inside, and took off. 


Driving seemed to alert him no matter the exhaustion. He suspected past trauma to play a potential cause in it. No matter the reasons, routines seemed to blend away his anxiety. He took a turn from the fountain and drove across the same street of murder. From the corner of his eyes, the bright tape shined, reminding him of the impending work. 


M parked his car, took out the keys, gathered his stuff, and with a racing heart opened the door of his house.

No one.

Just like M preferred, order dripped from the white walls and the symmetrical positioning of his delicate furniture. His portrait didn't trace any form of liquid and no one would have guessed what took place in the confines of his safety. M took a deep breath of candle-lit soothing scent still lingering inside those walls immediately relaxing to the familiarity. His shoulder drooped and his light attire crashed upon the fluffy chair. The material filling up with air in reaction soothed his tired body. The dimly lighted house with fair amounts of light adorned his soul. 

No one could ever understand what took place in this house. He continued to believe a theory that only eased his own mind and trapped others. He crashed on his couch and his eyelids immediately drooped, pulling him into a deep sleep.

A shrill buzz burned against his thigh and he groaned in response to the caller ID. M answered the call and let out an inaudible voice to mark his presence. 


"Hey man, I-I know you're busy and off but um, we need you here now."


"What do you mean?" M queried. 


"The Chief...is gone. His wife is devastated, she claims his room showed signs of struggles and he is not available. All forms of contact have been tried, no result. We can expect the worst-case scenario..."


His heart dropped into his stomach as the words became a distant blur. 


He couldn't be the 4th victim...could he?

                                                   ____________________



Note:- Aight that's it! A little bit short, yeah. But, it was all I could write up today! I will proofread it once, I am done with my tests! Mention if you spot mistakes!

What are your thoughts on this? Lemme know!