“I heard of them, and I think they’re stupid. Although, I am surprised that you joined the Student Council regardless."
"I didn't believe the situation warranted caution. The ones involved were dealt with, and the old members were replaced with new ones like myself."
"Anyway, I have issues with history myself. Tell you what. I’ll take you up on your offer if you can help me with history, and no TV dinners out of a box. I hate those things.”
“Deal. Meet me after school tomorrow in front of the building. My place is within walking distance from here, so we don’t need to worry about bus fare or hitching a ride.”
“I’ll let my parents know, but my dad’s going to need the address so he can pick me up later. I live down on Winesburg Avenue, between Kings Street and Third Avenue.”
“That’s by Maybel Road, right? Near Elmwood Park?”
“Yep. You?”
“I live on the corner of Avata Street and Yankee Avenue, right at the edge of Maston. My apartment doubles as my sister’s office.”
“Do you think she will mind having me over? This is short notice. Wouldn’t my visit interfere with her work?”
“If there’s one thing I know about my sister, is that she never misses dinner so long as she can’t help it. Even when she’s on a case, she always comes home at four-thirty, cooks something up, and leaves with time to spare to make me a plate. She hates frozen meals. Plus, I know a thing or two about cooking if she’s not home. I assure you, what I cook is edible.”
“Hey there guys!”
Both young men turn to see Daisy running up to them, the bell ringing as students begin to leave their classes. School has ended for the day and afterschool activities have begun.
“Hey Daisy," John greets warmly, “Richard, this is Daisy. Daisy, Richard. We just finished the tour of the school.”
“And just in time before your meeting with the Student Council,” Daisy laughs before turning to Richard, “How are you doing, Richard? What do you think of our school?”
“It’s a bit bigger than my old school,” the new student answers, thankful she didn't asked him if he was single, "but I don’t think I’ll get lost here.”
“Have you decided on an extracurricular activity yet?”
“I’ve seen the list and a few are interesting,” Richard scratches the back of his head, “but no, I haven’t decided yet.”
“Well you better hurry,” Daisy lightly teases, “The Extracurricular Fair is a few days' away. You can sign up there, but they tend to fill up fast.
“You better get going before you are late John," the young woman turns to said young adult, "And don’t forget your list for the Student Council meeting. A lot of club leaders will be mad if they don’t get a spot in the fair.”
“Yes Mother,” John whines teasingly, making both of his companions laugh, “I better get going before Robert chews me out for being late.”
“Thanks for the tour,” Richard said, “I’ll see you tomorrow about that dinner and class notes.”
“Meet me at the front entrance tomorrow after school,” John calls as he jogs down the hallway, “See ya later Daisy, Richard!”
“Bye,” Daisy waves as her friend disappears into the crowd of students before turning to Richard, “So, what do you think of John? You must’ve made a good impression for him to ask you over for dinner so quickly. It took me a few weeks before he asked me.”
“I did nothing special at all,” the young man thinks aloud before turning to Daisy and scratching the back of his head, “Although, he needs to work on his invitations. I wonder if his family has kept him locked up during his childhood. Is it true that he doesn’t have any other friends? Just you?”
“Afraid so,” Daisy sighs sadly, “and it’s not because of the rumors or of being shy. You know how people assume things too quickly, right? Well, the moment people hear that John lives with his sister only, they instantly think the worst about his family and want nothing to do with him other than school. I’ve been his friend since we were kids, so I know that those assumptions are unfounded.”
“So... why does he live with his sister, and what of their parents?”
“If he hasn’t told you yet, then I’m not going to say anything. I respect a person’s right to privacy. You will just have to wait for him to come to you about it.
“I will say this though,” her voice becomes stern and she stares at Richard hard, “If you dare to hurt him in any form or way, you will be begging for me to kill you after I’m done with you. That is, if his sister doesn't get to you first.”
The new student raises his hands in defense, trying not to laugh nervously and risk angering the fiery red-haired young woman. His father taught him to never hit a girl unless it was in self-defense, and she looks like she can throw a nice mean punch. It will be embarrassing to explain to people that a girl had given him a black eye.
In all honesty, he is curious about John Cordovo. The moment he had laid eyes upon the raven-haired young man, a strange feeling has washed over him for a brief moment before it faded away like a fleeting wind. The feeling has him unnerved, for he doesn’t know what it means. Could it be a sign? Does John need his help? He will only get the answer by hanging around John.
Hopefully, it is only a figment of his imagination and not something very serious. If not, then he can only assume the worst.
* * * *
Ellisaüch finishes typing up a receipt and prints it, signing the bottom where her printed name is. She recounts the cash upon her desk before giving the receipt to a man in his mid-thirties sitting across from her desk, dressed in a suit and has a thick file in his lap.
“Thank you for your payment,” the young woman smiles, “Your receipt indicates that this is your final payment and your bill is fully paid for. We of Jenne Cordovo Private Detective Agency thank you for hiring us and hope that you will recommend us in the future for any case you need solving.”
“Indeed I will,” the man replies as he stands, putting the receipt in his file, “None of the other detectives I’d hired in the past could get me the results I needed as quickly and effectively as Ms. Cordovo did. Now that bitch will never lay her hands on my kids again.”
“Good luck with your divorce case and criminal case afterwards,” Ellisaüch said as the man leaves the office then opens up a document program and types for a few minutes, ‘That’ll take care of the rent. Now all that’s left is the electric bill for this month. It would be much easier if the damn electrical company didn’t raise the rates every three months.’
Ellisaüch saves the changes to the document and places the money into a cash box to deposit into the bank later. She opens up a new document and types a contract for a new client later in the week. She reaches for her bottle of juice when the phone suddenly rings. Stifling a groan, she picks the phone up instead.
“Good afternoon,” she greets with a welcoming tone, “Jenne Cordovo Private Detective Agency. How can we help you?”
“It’s me.”
“Is something the matter Jenne,” the young secretary asks, still typing with one hand, “How is the case going?”
“The case is going smoothly, but I am going to have to stay here overnight to complete it. Tell John not to wait up for me and there are leftovers in the fridge. I should be back by tomorrow morning the latest.”
“I see that you will be breaking your tradition of arriving back home in time for dinner,” Ellisaüch teases, “Seven years down the drain. Either you need more time or you’re about to solve the case and need the perp to arrive for you to catch him.”
“The case requires my constant presence to gather more information on the perp,” Jenne explains, ignoring the tease, “Did our other payments come in today?”
“Mr. Javier did a few minutes ago. We have the rent ready whenever Marlene comes for it. I will be depositing the money tonight after Mrs. Klig comes by at four-thirty. The rent check will be in my desk at the usual place.”
“Alr
ight then. I will see you and John in the morning.”
“Have a good night,” Ellisaüch said and hangs up the phone. She finishes typing the contract and prints it, placing it in a file before turning off the computer and printer. She places the file away and sits back down, snapping her fingers.
Within the dark shadow of the office’s far corner, a dark green eye appears, blinking at Ellisaüch. The young secretary smiles at the eye, which gives off a soft trill.
“Ata mubah tribin dubasnen,” Ellisaüch said softly, the strange words rolling off her tongue like a beautiful melody. The eye gives off a happy trill before closing and fading into the shadows.
“I’m home Ellie,” John calls in a sing-song voice as he opens the door to the office, slipping his back pack off his shoulders, “Jenne’s not back yet?”
“She won’t be back until tomorrow morning,” Ellisaüch replies, turning her computer back on, “Her new case is keeping her busy. She said there are leftovers in the fridge.”
“So busy that she forgoes tradition,” the young man exclaims softly, and she nods, “That’s a first in seven years. Wanna stay for dinner? I think we have some pork chops from the night before, and I can make mashed potatoes with it.”
“Sounds good. I just finished the paperwork and I’m just waiting for the last payment of the day before closing up the office. She should be here any minute.”
“I’ll start peeling the potatoes then,” John opens the apartment door and walks inside the apartment. He closes the door just as the office door opens.
“Welcome to Jenne Cordovo Private Detective Agency,” Ellisaüch greets warmly, “How can I help you?”
* * * *
A school bus turns onto Strassas Avenue after dropping off its portion of children happy to be out of school and trying not to remember that they have to go back tomorrow morning before taking off to the next stop of the day. Awaiting parents and guardians collect their children at the bus stop to take them home, asking how was their day and if they have homework to do or tests to study for. One child happily shows his test paper, proud of his high mark. Another child looks depress as he informs his parents of a detention he has to attend for missing several homework assignments. A large German Sheppard dog licks a young girl’s laughing face as its family takes him on a walk, tongue bouncing from the side of its jaw.
Marius collects his beloved daughter from the crowd of children and parents, laughing at a joke she tells him as they walk to their house. They enter through the front door, the elder man looking back for a brief minute before closing the front door. He has his doubts of the private detective he hired, but the fear is something else happening to his family outweighed his desire to show any more caution and tip off the culprit.
Jenne’s Camry sits across the street from Marius’ house, a few residents looking at it with curiosity before heading on their way. A police cruiser turns onto the street and parks near the Camry as a small family stands nearby, appearing to be waiting for something. The door to the police cruiser opens and a tall man with short straight hair that is a mix of black and brown steps out, hard brown eyes examining the Camry and what appears to be its driver as he closes the police cruiser cruiser’s door. He walks up to the Camry and reaches for the door handle, not even bothering to knock.
“Can I help you, Officer?”
The officer turns around sharply to see Jenne behind him, a cup of coffee and a bag in her hands. A few of the civilians hide their snickers with their hands at the officer being caught off-guarded.
“Don’t sneak up behind me,” the police officer states, glaring at her and making the nearby civilians nervous.
“Please do not touch my car without my permission or a warrant,” Jenne replies calmly, “and can you please take your hand off your gun, Officer? You’re scaring the neighbors.”
The police officer continues to glare at Jenne, but slowly removes his hand from his handgun sitting in its holster upon his waist belt. The on-looking civilians become a bit relieved and the private detective balances the cup of coffee and her bag in one hand, walking towards the car.
“There has been a report of a strange car in this area,” the police officer explains, moving to the side as she unlocks the driver’s side door, “I was called in to investigate. I notice a suspicious person inside your car, so I decided to investigate.”
“Well Officer,” Jenne smiles as she opens the driver’s side door, “I just happen to went to a nice little deli down the street for food, so I was not that far from my car. As for the occupant inside...”
“What the?”
“A nice young lady asked me to keep an eye on her project while running back home to get something before I left,” the private detective pulls out the occupant with one hand, “So when I went to get something to eat for dinner tonight, I locked the project in my car to keep it safe.”
“What is that,” the officer asks in exasperation, eyeing the human-size plastic doll that is missing its lower half and arms, dressed in a Hawaiian t-shirt, hat, and sunglasses.
“This is a Heimlich training doll,” Jenne answers as if it is obvious, handing the doll to a young girl with a boy a few years younger than her, “You should know this. We had to practice on one during our training years at the academy.”
“Not with clothes on.”
“Thank you,” the young girl smiles at Jenne as she takes the Heimlich doll in her arms, walking off with her family and leaving the two young adults alone.
“What are you doing here Jenne,” the police officer asks, skipping formalities now no one else was within hearing range.
“Working,” the private detective answers, “What does it look like?”
“You’re still playing detective? Why do you keep clinging onto the profession? It will never make up for your mistake-“
“You’re one to talk Abraham,” Jenne snaps, putting her bag into her car and closing the door harshly, suddenly losing her appetite, “You stood by and watch it happen, agreeing to whatever Boss Victor told you to say to the chief and repeating it all like a puppet. I quit the force because I refuse to give up what I love to do and lie to protect a scumbag, unlike you. You are only lucky you got demoted after the chief found out you were lying under oath in court.”
“At least I’m loyal to my brothers and sisters and take a bullet for them.”
“Our job is to uphold the law, not use the law to cover up one’s illegal work. Anyway, it’s done and over with. The only one clinging to the past is you, because from my point of view, you just can’t let it go.”
“I’m not here to argue with you,” Officer Abraham changes the subject upon seeing a few passersby becoming curious of their conversation, “I’m looking for any information on the murderer singling out families with a single child for the last five months. Any information you have will be useful.”
“Sorry, but I don’t have any information to give you. If you don’t mind, I have to work to do.”
“You’re wasting your time with the Utgama Family case. We’ve already investigated for the perp and found nothing short of a prankster. the perp will get bored soon and leave them alone.”
“That is for me to decide,” Jenne states, trying not to shake her head in disappointment with Officer Abraham’s laziness and need to cut corners, which is pretty much what he is known for, “A detective’s job is to find what no one else has, and to solve the mystery as to what has happened. Just because you forgot about that fact doesn’t mean I have. If you are done harassing me without a proper warrant or giving me my Miranda Rights, I’m getting back to work.”
“I could arrest you for noncompliance with a felony case and insulting an officer,” Officer Abraham threatens, a glare upon his face.
“Nice try, but squad cameras say otherwise with video...and audio to boot. Have a nice day.”
The civilians watching from a safe distance begin to relax as Officer Abraham returns to his squad car and leaves the area with a scowl on his fac
e. Jenne watches him until the police cruiser is out of sight before opening her driver’s side door for her food. She didn’t really feel all that hungry now, but it would be such a waste to throw it away.
“Is everything alright,” Marius asks as he walks up to the private detective, having witness the exchange through his window, “That officer seemed very angry with you.”
“Just some old history. Nothing to worry about. Besides, that little visit tells me something.”
“Like what?”
“That the culprit is closer than you think. He knows something is up. That is why he or she called the police to check up on me. I might catch him or her sooner than I first thought, but the plan has to change first. You have no need to worry.”
“What will you do?”
“First, I gotta move my car. Second, I will stay out of sight. Continue as you were with your family, but act a little disappointed. That will make the culprit think I abandoned the case and left. Bring up his confidence to make him or her arrogant enough to become bold. When someone is arrogant, mistakes are made and I will be there when it happens.”
“O-okay,” the middle aged man agrees, sounding worried, “What if the culprit is dangerous? What if he has a weapon on him when you try to catch him?”
“As a former police detective, I have been trained for that sort of situation. I don’t really need a weapon anymore after taking classes in martial arts. Won’t say what kind though, in case he or she is within hearing range.
“Just please head back home, Mr. Utgama, and follow my instructions. I will take care of the rest.”
“Okay,” Marius nods and walks back slowly, a disappointed look on his face. Smiling softly, Jenne moves the bag of food to the passenger seat and starts up her car. As she pulls away, a green eye appears in the shadows of a bush, softly trilling.
* * * *
“I’m home,” Richard calls out as he enters a two-floor light brown house with bushes surrounding the edges of the front yard like a fence.
“Welcome home Richard,” a woman in her early thirties replies, her auburn hair tied into a bun and bright blue eyes shining, “How was your first day of school?”
Hell's Detective: Murder Page 4