The important thing is not to stop
questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence.
Albert Einstein

Possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.
Anaïs Nin

CROW HILLS TOWN
SUNDAY EVENING
THE POLICE STATION
TERRANCE JAMES

Terrance looked at officer Flirk, raising his eyebrow in silent question but the black police woman didn't seems to understand him or she was ignoring his question. Terrance watched as officer Flirk opened a book in front of her writing down some words and looking through other files piled in front of her. Terrance turned back to the FBI agent and watched his relaxed expression.

"Hello," Terrence answered, his posture and voice turned guarded.

"Am here to help you Terrence, that's why am sitting in on your questioning." The FBI agent said in a quiet voice, trying to calm a spooked Terrence.

"Why do you need to sit in on my questioning? Am I been interrogated again?" Terrance asked fearfully.

"What?" Officer Flirk asked, Terrence's question seems to bring her out of her note taking. "No, nothing of such. Agent Roman wants to sit in so he could try and assist with the ongoing investigation." She stated.

"OK, if you say so," Terrence answered nonchalantly.

"Tell us what you know about Diesly and Marvel." Officer Flirk said.

"We were once friend in school, until when Lao and Kirsty breaks up, that's when we stopped been friends. We still talk occasionally but it was far and in between." Terrence said.

"Who is Lao?" The FBI agent asked.

"Lao Knights, the sheriff's son," officer Flirk explained.

"Alright, please continue," agent Roman said.

"Yesterday, as we were driving home, I received two messages. It was from both Diesly and Marvel," Terrence explained.

"Messages? From both girls at the same time? What was the content of the message? Please explain, don't leave anything out." The FBI agent asked, asking one question after another without stopping.

"Yes, a text message. I think they were both together when they sent the message or maybe they decided to send it at the same time. I didn't opened the message while I was still in the car with the four police men. As soon as we get home, I ran up the stairs to my room, the first message I opened was from Diesly, in her message she stated she wanted to see me, that she saw the killer." Terrence said.

"Did you replied her? What was the content of the second message?" Officer Flirk asked.

"Marvel's message was identical to Diesly, though the wording were different but it still the same thing. Marvel did warned me not to tell anyone that I was meeting up with them and she said she had other information about the killer." Terrence said, reaching inside his trouser pocked to bring out his phone.

"Did you replied them?" The FBI agent asked.

"No. I didn't have to reply, they know I would show up with such message." Terrence replied him, looking boldly at agent roman's eyes to proved his honesty.

"Did you show up at the mall this morning?" Officer Flirk asked.

"Unfortunately, or maybe I should say fortunately, I didn't show up. Besides the fact that I have three police men monitoring my movements and one guarding my door, who slept besides door, I was so tired that I slept in. I woke up to the news of their disappearance." Terrence answered sadly.

"Did you tell anyone about their message?" Agent Roman asked.

"I wanted to inform officer Flirk but her number was not going through, the only person I talked to was Lao, my best friend." Terrence answered.

Terrence watched as both officer Flirk and the FBI agent conversed quietly and in low voice making it difficult for Terrence to get what they are talking about. He tapped his foot lightly waiting for them to come to a conclusion.

"Terrence, I think from now on you need protection. I think you need to stay at home, don't contact anyone except police until we can resolved this case." Officer Flirk told him gently.

"OK I understand, can I leave now?" Terrence asked. He waited until both the FBI agent and officer Flirk nodded their head before moving towards the door to leave the room.

CROW HILL TOWN
SUNDAY EVENING
THE POLICE STATION
SUMIL FLIRK

She couldn't bring herself to assured Terrence that everything will be OK, when she herself was not certain. Going through her notes, taken during the questioning of the towns people didn't bring her closer to the answer. She felt powerless, nothing was certain anymore.

"You have been going through that notes since the last woman we question left, nothing is going to change. Besides I don't think the answer would be that easy to find," FBI agent Roman said.

"I just don't know where else to look, I made a promise to someone and I intend to keep that promise. But so far, I haven't find any clue or answer in my note." Officer Flirk answered, dropping her head on the table.

"Common, let's go for a drive. Show me the allure of this town. I have been oppprtuned to find out the beauties of this town," FBI agent roman said, standing up and holding officer Flirk's hand to help her up.

"This is not really the time to be driving about the town," she answered, snatching her hand from agent Roman, she starts packing all the papers lying on the table into a file.

"This is exactly the time to be driving around town, aside from the fact that it will clear your mind. Who knows you may find answers too," agent Roman said.

Sumil nodded at the reasons agent Roman stated, maybe it would benefit her if she take him on a drive. She picked up the folders and beckoned to agent Roman to follow her.
**********

They have been driving for the past two hours, yet Sumil haven't found any reasonable answer to all her questions. But she have found out a lot about agent Roman. Who knows there are men who can't stopped talking like a woman.

Within that two hours, she has find out agent Roman's sister just give birth, he break up with his latest girlfriend the day he was coming to Crow Hills, his father was late and his mother loved baking cakes, especially with strawberry flavor.

She nearly slept off during all his chatter. She decided to take one of the less used road in their town and watch the sunset from there. As she turned to the road, agent Roman resumed his chatter again.

"Wait, can you smell that?" Agent Roman said suddenly, looking at Sumil sides way to confirmed.

"No, I didn't smell anything. This road leads to a farm, owned by a retired science professor who likes to keeps to himself. Maybe one of his cow died and the smell waif here," Sumil answered him and continued driving.

Agent Roman holds her hand suddenly, stopping her from driving on, Sumil.stepped on the break to avoid accident.

"What did you do that for?" She shouted at him, her breathing coming fast.

Agent Roman didn't answer, he opened the door and stepped out of the car. Walking backwards to a point where there are piles of rock forming a beautiful pattern. Before he could pushed the nearest stone to his leg, officer Sumil pulled him.

"What's wrong with you? This stone has been here forever, why do you want to destroy it?" She asked angrily.

Looking at her strangely, "I am not trying to destroy your precious stone. But look here," he pointed at some stones, "this looks different than the other stone and there is a blood stains at the middle," he explained, as he continued to separate the stones.

"Ooh Jesus, what is that smell?" Sumil asked as she moved several feet's away from agent Roman, using her left hand to cover her nose.

"That, officer Flirsk, are the ears of Mr. Larkson and probably, it will contain Diesly's eyes too," agent Roman replied, his voice muffled by the butterfly handkerchief he was using to cover his nose. He raised up a transparent white evidence bag, containing a clotted blood and two hears which are visible from outside.

"Opened it, let's see what's inside, maybe it does contain Diesly's ear too," Sumil said, giving agent Roman a sets of glove, "here take this so you won't tampered with the evidence,"

"Jesus, the smell is awful." Agent Roman said, opening the bad to peer inside, "there is Desiely's ear inside," he concluded, closing the bag to watch as Officer Flirk puke besides him.

"Let's get out of here," officer Flirsk said, using the back of her hand to clean her mouth, she walks towards the car and entered.

"You are not driving?" Agent Roman asked.

"No, am not, I don't think I can," she answered, as she placed her head on the head rest and closed her eyes.

"Who do you say is the owners of this property?" Agent Roman asked, starting the vehicle.

"Mr. Lane, he's a retired professor, he likes to keep to himself," Officer Flirk replied.

"Do you think he's our killer? We have to question him," agent Roman said.

"I don't know, I can't say he's the killer. He may be, though what would be his motive for killing all these people? And if he does, killed them why would be keeps the evident around? We need a strong evidence, but we also need a warrant before we can search his property, though we can question him tomorrow," Officer Flirk said.

"Why do we need a warrant to search his property? Like you said, this man likes to keep to himself, until we question him before we can rule him out, besides does a phycopath needs a motive before they kills?" Agent Roman.

Sumil choose to ignored his questions and closed her eyes tightly. Trying to mentally blocked out the smell coming off the evidence they just found. It does seems the case will be solved soon, but unconsciously she does not believe Mr. Lane is the killer.

One good thing that comes out of this drive is that, the found evidence that may point them towards the killer.

The have evidence.

The thought keeps echoing in her mind and she smiled, she can finally help Terrence James.
***********

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