[https://i.imgur.com/WHkEELY.jpg]

----------------------------------------

On Saturday, September 10, at around 5:30 p.m., Deshya arrives with her two parents and little Korone at Colin and Mona Furas' annual wedding anniversary party. After leaving the 'Beleza Verde' hotel and saying goodbye to her four friends, she arrives home and gets ready in a beautiful orange, black and white dress to go to that party. Once there, they are stopped by the guards in front of the villa's front door, as Korone is not normally invited, but that's all to the good: Colin comes to meet them and lets them through. The little girl can admire the interior of the big house and can even see the party room, where a little over two hundred people are eating, chatting and having fun. They meet Annie, the police doctor... when the lights go out. From a grand and extravagant entrance, 'Mariah Sukeni', a detective who likes to show off her curves to everyone, arrives on a red carpet, from smoke coming out of nowhere. The lights come up again and Colin apologizes for the 'strange' moment, before Mariah introduces herself to Deshya and Korone. The man behind her, who was throwing flower petals of all colors, is called 'Dash Tarway' and is a receptionist for the Tetazo police. A very muscular man, with dark skin and hair dyed a light red. After some hectic introductions, Deshya and Korone head for the buffet to grab a bite to eat…

But at the same time, Korone felt a horrible chill run through her.

She feels oppressed, as if eyes are staring at her with violence and hatred. She doesn't know exactly how she feels, but it shocks her so much that Deshya takes her to the bathroom and vomits. Outside the toilets, someone waits patiently for them to come out, but when a woman comes into the corridor, this person escapes apologetically, avoiding being seen by Deshya and Korone, who come out of the toilets immediately afterwards. Then they return to the party, have a bite to eat and chat with Mariah, Dash and the other guests. It's at this very moment that Colin warns the guests: a short 20-minute film will be visible from the wall of the room. The guests will watch it in total darkness, with the drapes all closed, the lights off and all sources of light forbidden. In total darkness, they begin the film…

However, the calm and serenity are quickly shattered.

A sound of breaking glass is heard. Then a man screams, and finally the sound of breaking glass is heard again. Deshya turns around and the drapes at the back of the room dance furiously, letting moonbeams show the scene: the glass is shattered and a man is lying on the floor... bathed in his own blood. Mariah, the pink-and-black-haired detective, orders the lights to be switched on and rushes to the scene of the crime. Deshya follows, and when they get there they can see the atrocity: an elderly man is dead.

- No one—

Mariah wants to finish her sentence, but screams of terror ring out, some people start running out of the room and Mariah waves her hand violently at Dash.

- NO ONE LEAVES THE ROOM!" she shouts. DASH, CATCH THE PEOPLE WHO JUST RAN AWAY!!!

- STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!!" shouts Gatito.

The screams continue, but Annie, including Gatito, manage to keep some of the crowd under control. Some help them, and Dash runs out of the room to catch up with those who have just fled. Korone observes the crime scene from the table where she's standing, but with a jolt—

- Kh!!

She holds her chest and scans her surroundings, hyperventilating: someone has just stared at her. She jumps off the table and hides in the crowd, her heart racing.

- Somebody... We're gonna... What's going on…

While a murder has been committed in a room of over 200 people, Korone still feels someone opressing her with just a look. She runs into Pera's arms, and the woman tells her everything will be alright. The redheaded woman believes that little Korone must be afraid of the crime that has just been committed, but the reality is quite different. Deshya and Mariah force everyone away from the body and Annie approaches, the crowd now quiet. She kneels down and checks the body.

- A bullet in the back. It most likely pierced his heart... He died instantly.

While touching her carotid artery, she lets go of her guess before shaking her head. Deshya looks at the broken window and grits her teeth.

It's highly plausible that someone fired from outside, killing the man with a bullet. However, what she doesn't understand…

That's why the glass was broken a second time.

CHAPTER 40

⎾Pure Snow * The Invisible Gunshot Murder Case ; Mysterious Murder⏌

- I managed to bring everyone back!

Five minutes later, Dash returns with a total of seven people: two women and five men. Mariah thanks him and before approaching them, she looks back at Annie and Deshya.

- I'm going to ask them questions to find out why they ran, as well as where they were when the victim was killed," she says. Deshya, if you find anything, let me know, okay?

Deshya points to her thumb and nods. Her hand is clad in gloves given to her by Mariah, since she's always coming across stuff: as Hanoka had told her, it would be better if she kept some on her just in case. Annie stands up and looks at Colin Furas, the party organizer.

- Do you recognize the victim?" asks the lady.

Colin observes the man with difficulty, a corpse being an unbearable sight for him, especially on his wedding anniversary. However, he summons up the courage to observe the man's macabre, lifeless face. It doesn't take long before he knows the identity of the victim:

- It's Georges...!

- Georges?" repeats Annie.

- 'Georges Hedown', a candy store manager. Why... Why is he…

Colin takes two steps back, only to be caught by his wife, who strokes his hair, trying to calm him down as best she can. Annie doesn't want to press him with questions, but luckily for her, one of the seven people who was being questioned by Dash Tarway walks up to her and answers.

- His name is Georges Hedown and as Colin said, he works as the head of a popular chain of sweet stores. He's 49 years old and came alone. I passed him in the parking lot, as we arrived at the same time.

A man in his thirties with clean, neat blond hair. A small backpack slung over his shoulder by a rope. Annie turns to him and asks him to identify himself.

- My name is 'Antoine Darrain', but I don't think I need to talk too much, since the woman behind me said she was going to question us to get our alibis. But the criminal escaped out the window, didn't he?

The man turns to the broken glass and sighs softly.

- I ran away because I saw my friend's body like that… Even if I managed to regain my composure, why…

Deshya remains silent and observes the window. Then she squints.

- If the culprit really did escape outside by jumping out of the window or breaking it in some way, then why was the glass broken in the first place?

Deshya touches her chin.

- Was the shot fired from the outside, shattering the glass? That would explain only one part of the story, but it's highly likely, given that the victim screamed in pain at the time. But then, why break the glass again?

Deshya doesn't understand the logic behind the two noises they've heard. However, she doesn't expect to find the answers by staying put. Before checking the state of the glass, Deshya heads for the seven people who have fled. Mariah is still chatting with them, but seeing the girl in the fox-dress approaches, she smiles and turns back to her.

- Ah, that's good timing!" she admits.

Deshya blinks.

- Ah?

Mariah approves and places both hands on her hips.

- Of the seven people who ran away, four seem suspicious. However, before we can deduce this, we need to know whether the culprit comes from the outside or the inside. You've found something ?

- I didn't look for much, but…

Deshya whispers in Mariah's ear the following:

- When pondering about it, I think the first time the glass was broken, it was a gunshot from outside, which explains why we didn't hear anything. However, I don't understand why the glass was broken again, especially as I noticed something…

Deshya and Mariah turn to the broken window. Over there—

- There's a bit of broken glass inside, which could come from the window that weakly shattered when the shot was fired and came from the outside. However, there's no more glass... which means all the other pieces are outside. In short—

- In short, that window was first broken on the outside, then on the inside? Okay.

Mariah cuts her off and asks Dash to check outside the house, where the window has been broken. The muscular man agrees and asks for Gatito's help, who follows directly behind. Pera and Korone watch them go, and the little girl squints at the window.

- If the victim was killed from the outside, then why did someone break the glass from the inside? Even if it was an accomplice, then…

Korone wants to think about it some more, but the woman in her arms squeezes her a little tighter.

- And to think the party was going so well up to now..." she says.

- For my first party, I've liked something a bit better..." Korone thinks with a sigh.

She no longer feels the strange stare that used to oppress her, but she's convinced that whoever caused it is still inside this room. But why is someone staring at her like that...? Could it be that the person is from those who seek to kill her? If so, then…

- Why...?

Korone doesn't give it any more thought so as not to start shaking again. She turns to Deshya, who is with Mariah in front of the broken glass. A good majority of the guests are asked to stay towards the front of the room, where the stage where the film was being shown is. The rest of the guests are in the large lounge upstairs. They are guarded by a policeman and a bodyguard hired by Colin for the party, the other always at the entrance. Deshya, who is standing in front of the glass with the pink-and-black-haired detective, squints as she observes a certain detail. The woman touches her chin.

- The broken glass in the window is indeed from the window itself. Given the small number of pieces, it's certain that a small object penetrated the window from the outside, entering the interior.

From where they stand, they can see the many broken pieces outside, in the bushes and grass of the garden. Gatito is analyzing the surrounding area for clues as to what happened. Deshya frowns.

- Say, Mariah…

The woman turns to her.

- Isn't there a detail missing?

Mariah smiles: she too has noticed. She approves and crosses her arms.

- There's clearly something missing from the scene, but even without that, it bothers me.

She squints and Deshya stands up.

- Are you talking about the broken window from the inside?

Mariah admits that it's a detail that bothers her, but she's talking about something else. She quickly explains what she's talking about and Deshya turns back to where the victim was. Annie, with the help of someone she trusts, has taken her outside so that the smell and sight of such a horrific scene doesn't traumatize everyone, even though the damage has already been done. Deshya bites her lower lip and finally admits that she finds it strange too. In fact, Korone has already thought of this detail, which makes her say something.

Maybe this murder is more of a mystery than they thought.

However, without the details of Gatito and Dash checking outside, they can't say anything yet. The seven people who escaped, still under the watchful eye of one of the house guards, are waiting on their side, some sweating and others with their heads down, unable to believe that a murder has been committed in the room where they were all having some fun a few minutes earlier. It's a traumatic event for many of them, even Colin and Mona: the victim is their friend, after all. Gatito stands up in the garden, something in his gloved hands. He approaches the broken window and calls out to Mariah. Deshya approaches too. His father shows them what he has caught in the garden.

- A broken brick..." remarks Deshya.

- Is that what broke the glass from the inside, then?" asks Mariah.

Gatito approves and places the piece on the floor.

- The grass is trampled in the vicinity and one bush is even in a bad state, so I think saying the culprit was right here is reasonable," he says.

- The question is, why did someone break the glass from the inside?" says Deshya.

- It's unthinkable that someone would throw the brick at the culprit from the inside. It's the only theory I can come up with if the culprit did indeed come from outside, but it's also so fanciful and strange that I'd rather not go into it," Mariah thinks aloud.

Gatito and Deshya nod in agreement. At the same time—

- Mariah!

Dash arrives from the garden, just behind the police inspector. He stops in front of the broken window and shows what he has in his hands.

- We found this outside the house, close to one of the walls, hidden in a bush!

The muscular man holds a pistol with a silencer attached. Gatito, Mariah and Deshya watch in amazement.

- That means the murderer came from the outside... but why would someone on the inside break the glass?" wonders Gatito, speaking aloud.

Mariah asks Dash to hand over the gun for analysis and he accepts directly. Deshya turns around and observes the seven people who fled when the murder was committed. Whoever threw the brick from inside must be one of the seven, she senses. Four of them have backpacks, two have nothing and the other woman has a banana around her waist. Deshya now understands why Mariah told her she thinks she knows who the four main suspects are: the four with backpacks are the only ones who could have kept a brick hidden. However, Deshya wonders how Mariah considered them the four suspects before she even knew about the brick. Does she know something else? Deshya wants to ask her, but she's still analyzing the gun Dash found outside. Seconds pass and finally Mariah returns the gun to Dash, having no further leads. Deshya approaches her.

- How did you know that the four people with backpacks were the four main suspects?" she asks.

Mariah turns to her and smiles.

- Of the seven people who fled, they were the four who were next to the victim when the film was projected on the wall. What's more, the other three were more in the middle of the crowd, so I don't think they could have destroyed the glass, let alone killed the victim from where they were standing," she explains.

- You still think the murderer is inside? And yet…

Deshya doesn't finish her sentence and Mariah doesn't reply. They understand each other with just their eyes, but they don't talk about it any further. Gatito explains that he will continue to search the area and call for help from the station. Dash circles back inside, while Deshya and Mariah move towards the four suspects. The detective explains to the other three that they can go to the front of the room or to the upstairs lounge. They thank her and one of the other four stands up, looking surprised and annoyed.

- Only three of them? And us four?! We're not suspects, though?" the young man with the short black hair asks angrily.

The detective asks her to be quiet and waits patiently. Deshya watches her, wondering what she's doing, but after a few moments, Dash comes back into the room. He goes to speak, but Mariah cuts him off and snaps her fingers.

- Can I have it?" she asks, without even specifying what she would like to receive.

Dash approves directly and rummages in his trouser pocket before pulling out a small notebook and a pink pen. Dash hands them to Mariah, who thanks him before opening the notebook and pressing the bic.

- It would appear that someone shot the victim from outside, at exactly 7.58pm. It's now 8.34pm and he still hasn't been found, but that's only a matter of time. From inside, a brick was thrown through the window for a reason as yet unknown to us. Although the murder of 'Georges Hedown' doesn't seem to concern you, we'd like to know who threw the brick and why.

Unlike before, her tone is serious and cold — even icy. She explains clearly and without forking her tongue, every word has its weight and her gaze places pressure on the four suspects; even Deshya feels it. Dash, accustomed to her way of being, just rests his back on the wall behind him and watches the three men and the woman in case they try to run away again. Two of them almost escaped the house, after all.

- And why is it just one of us—

Before the young woman with all-pink hair could finish her sentence, Mariah cut her off.

- You're the only people with a backpack, so you could have kept a brick in it. After all, it's rather large, and although it's currently broken, it does weigh a certain amount. What's more, even if it's out of fear, you've all left the room for a few moments trying to escape, so you become prime suspects because at any moment, you've managed to get rid of a certain detail, whatever it is, that would make you the culprit behind this brick-throwing.

Mariah turns back to the room and raises an arm, startling most of the guests.

- Before I come to ask you any questions, we're going to ask everyone to join Dash and Annie in the dining room next door to quickly check that no one has any powder on them, as well as search you all thoroughly!

She shouts loud enough for everyone to hear, but because of the resonance inside the room, Deshya suffers from her fox ears. Mariah closes her detective notebook, which has served her no useful purpose for the moment, and jumps on a table to get up.

- One by one, you'll be summoned by my assistant and subjected to a quick inspection. For the men, my assistant will search you. For the women, Annie.

Annie comes into the room and sighs with a smile.

- Is she deciding everything on her own now?" she wonders.

- I'm her assistant, eh..." Dash smiles weakly.

Mariah taps her foot gently on the table beneath her.

- Although we have our four main suspects for the brick throwing from the inside, we don't yet have any leads or news about the murderer. If you have any idea who might have wanted 'Georges Hedown' dead, tell us about it when you're searched! That's all there is to it.

Mariah jumps down from the table and Dash approaches her, accompanied by Annie. The woman lowers her arms, moaning.

- I'm fed up with having to work every day... I've had my day off since August, but every day I get calls..." she complains.

Deshya approaches and Annie gives her a tired look.

- If you're cursed, will you at least make sure it's not murder?" she blurts out.

- C-Cursed? Don't talk nonsense, ahah…

Deshya scratches her cheek and Dash pats Annie's back.

- Well, it's not her fault, Belium is known for its not-that-low crime rate!" he says.

- I know, but…

Annie sighs and Deshya pats her back in turn, albeit awkwardly. Dash asks Colin and Mona if they're allowed to inspect their dining room, shouting across the room. Colin asks the guests to let him pass and arrives at their side before approving, but he tells them he'll help them.

- Georges is a dear friend of mine, and I want to know who killed him...!

He clenches both fists, as well as his teeth, letting his anger stare him in the face. Dash quickly turns his face to Mariah. Mariah nods and Dash accepts Colin's invitation to accompany them. Deshya stands beside the pink-and-black-haired detective.

- Even with the four main suspects for the brick throwing, it's still possible that the culprit is someone inside the room, isn't it?" asks the girl in the fox dress.

Mariah crosses her arms and approves.

- If the shot really came from outside, there's nothing to say that the culprit didn't somehow join the crowd, or that the brick allowed him to enter the room and mingle with the crowd. However, it's such a risky and complicated scenario that I'd rather not let my mind go into fiction like that.

Deshya agrees: if someone sent the brick from inside, shattering the glass, all so that the culprit from outside could jump inside, then this plan is more likely to fail than win the lottery. Not only would the shards of glass scratch the person, but when the people inside the room turned around to see what was going on, they would have seen the silhouette of the culprit thanks to the rays of light coming from the moon. In short, the reason the glass was broken was something else.

- If the culprit comes from inside the room, anyone can be the culprit," says Mariah.

- But the victim was shot in the back, not in the head? It would have been impossible for anyone other than those behind or next to him to have committed the crime, wouldn't it?" asks Deshya, a ton of questions on her mind.

- I agree with you, but I know someone who once told me this.

She crosses her arms and squints.

- ‘It's by thinking the impossible is impossible that we drown in an impossible situation.’

Mariah smiles at the thought and closes her eyes, lowering her head gently.

- Although this quote they told me seems to be completely idiotic, it's actually thanks to it that I solved my first investigation here.

Deshya rethinks the sentence and touches her chin.

- So you have to think of all the probabilities, even the seemingly impossible ones…

She understands the meaning of the sentence, but she really doesn't see how it could be possible to kill the victim in the dark and from the front, especially with such a crowd. Not even Colin or Mona Furas, both on the stage where the film was being shown, could have committed such a murder, even aided by the frail light of the projector. Mariah notices Deshya in her thoughts and smiles.

- This sentence doesn't apply to everything, does it?

- What do you mean?" questions Deshya.

- In this case, I really think the culprit is either from the outside, or one of the four suspects with the backpack, so there's no need to go into the impossible to find our culprit or the truth. However, it's always better to suspect everyone, even your friends, than to believe everyone.

Mariah bites part of her lower lip and Deshya admires her with wide eyes. Mariah notices the look on the girl's face and shakes her hands, her notebook and pen still in the one on her right.

- Well, I'm talking about surveys, not life in general! Don't start thinking that all your friends are lying to you because of what I say, ahah!

Deshya giggles and tells her that's not what she has in mind. Mariah is reassured and tells her she'll check outside to see if she can find anything, while the guests are all searched. Deshya greets her and then turns to the front of the room, where over a hundred people are standing, along with her mother and Korone. She frowns.

- Yes, I'll never doubt everyone... but I'd better be on my guard. Because at any moment…

Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

One of the people in the room looks away from Deshya. The latter hasn't noticed them, but they prefer to take precautions. Deshya weakly clenches her fist.

- I could be in danger.

As long as she knows nothing about her condition and the reason for her abduction when she was younger, she prefers to remain paranoid about a group behind her fox ears. What's more, now that she knows that someone tried to kill Korone, a special-looking 8-year old, she has a lot of questions. Perhaps they have nothing in common, but Deshya feels a strange emotion when she looks at Korone. Not one that's bad, but like one…

- Like we're related?

Deshya doesn't know how else to explain it. It's probably because Korone has a strange history, nothing more; but Deshya prefers to listen to her feelings. What's more, Mariah has a point: sometimes we have to accept that what we consider 'impossible' is just a point of view. That the impossible is possible. Admittedly, this is contradictory, but Deshya understands herself.

Minutes pass, and after about an hour, all the guests are searched and checked for gunpowder on their clothes. However, nothing strange is found, nor is there any trace of powder from the gun found outside. It's now 9.41pm and Mariah joins Deshya with a sigh.

- Nothing…

- Nobody suspicious has been arrested outside either?" asks the girl in the fox sweater.

Mariah plays with her pen and shakes her head: in short, they've made no progress. She sighs and admires the broken window again, letting a pleasant draught pass inside the room. Mariah taps the pen on her shoulder and thinks.

- I suppose we'll have to ask the other four what they were doing to see if it was one of them who threw the brick... Maybe we'll learn more after that," she admits.

Deshya nods and turns back to the hall stage: all the guests are outside, except Colin, his wife and the four suspects over there. Deshya quickly scans the surroundings and notices that they're not there. She turns her face to the detective.

- I know Dad's with Annie and Dash, but where's Mom and Korone?" she asks.

Mariah stops and looks her straight in the eye.

- Ah, that…

A few minutes earlier, a little after the murder of 'Georges Hedown', Pera holds Korone in her arms and heads for the dining room, where they'll have to be searched and tested for possible powder on their clothes. The woman is certain that she's not the culprit in this case, whether it's because she's an 8-year-old girl, that she was at his side or simply because Korone isn't that kind of girl, but she understands that they must all be searched by the police. She wonders who could have committed such a crime, especially at such a fun, festive and packed party. Whoever the culprit is is a horrible person, she's sure. Fortunately, she has been able to calm her trembling. Her husband helps with the search, while her daughter helps the detective uncover the truth behind the case. She feels ridiculous not to be able to help, but Pera has nothing useful to be useful about. As they walk to the dining room, a small hand grabs her tightly. She stops in front of the door, one hand on the handle, and looks down at the little girl.

- Are you all right, Korone...?" asks the woman.

Korone's breathing is labored and her eyes are wide open. Pera questions her with her eyes, but the little girl with her hair tied back in a ponytail says nothing. Pera wants to insist, but Annie opens the door and asks them to come in. The red-haired woman finally agrees, still worried about the little girl.

After being tested for powder and a rather quick search, Pera and Korone exit the dining room together, but instead of going upstairs, Pera wanders a little further down the corridor, approaching the front door, and stops there. Korone blinks and looks up at the woman.

- What's the matter...?" she asks.

- I should be the one asking you that question," admits Pera. You're trembling.

Korone opens her eyes wide and analyzes her own hands. As the red-haired woman had just said, she was trembling. Korone herself hadn't even noticed. Pera asks her if it's because of the murder that's been committed.

- I can't admit to her that it's because I feel I'm being stared at..." Korone thinks.

She finally nods and Pera strokes her hair, promising that all will be well. Korone enjoys the pleasant sensation: the woman's hand is softer than Deshya's, though the sensation is different. To be reassured in this way... Korone appreciates it immensely. However, her heart is still racing, and for a disturbing reason: she feels the presence of someone probably very dangerous close to her. Korone doesn't know who it is, but she's convinced she's in danger. What's constricting her chest, what's preventing her from breathing properly, what's hurting her so much... The beginnings of tears start to form in her eyes and Pera notices them immediately.

- You want some fresh air? Are you sure you're okay ?!" worries the woman.

Korone swallowed loudly, as if she were trying to swallow the lump in her throat, and nods again.

- I'd love to get some fresh air..." she admits.

Pera agrees and takes Korone with her to the dining room. As a man makes his way in, Korone feels even stronger tremors. Breathing becomes almost impossible. Her heart is beating too fast. The man touches the handle and notices the red-haired woman with the little girl with long white hair. He apologizes and gently lowers his hat.

- Would you like to go first?" he asks them.

- I just want to talk to my husband so I can go out, after you," Pera replies gently.

The man nods and opens the door. Korone holds the woman tightly in her arms... but—

- I-It's not him... It's someone else... Who... Why... Why do I feel this way…

She turns her gaze slowly down the corridor, but sees no one. Yet she's convinced that this man isn't the one staring at her like that. She grips Pera tightly and sniffs: she wants this unpleasant sensation to stop. Anyone watching her... she wants them to stop. She knows it doesn't work like that, but Korone can't stand the feeling. She wants it to stop... She wants it to stop! Pera goes behind the man and sees her husband in the corner of the room. The inspector rises from the chair and questions his wife with his eyes.

- Korone isn't feeling very well, are we allowed to go outside?" she asks.

- The murderer may still be around, but I don't know if that's wise," Gatito admits.

- But Korone really needs to go outside…

Gatito scratches the back of his head and looks at the teary-eyed little girl. Her small hands grasp the woman's beautiful black garment, while her expression showed some internal pain. What's more, she'd gone to throw up in the bathroom, accompanied by Deshya, a few minutes after the party had started. In short, she's not faking it. He sighs.

- Stay in front of the house, where the guard can keep an eye on you, then," he says. It's unlikely that with so many police around, the murderer will return to the scene.

His wife thanks him with a kiss on the cheek and runs out of the dining room, leaving her husband to do his work, him blushing faintly. He scratches his cheek and the muscular man beside him clears his throat.

- Our cold inspector is blushing, hehe?" blurts Dash.

Gatito smacks him upside the head and puts both his hands in his pockets, preparing to search the man who had just arrived.

- Whether it's the first time or the 50,000th time, getting kissed by your wife is better than watching a sunset. Not my fault," he retorts.

Dash chuckles as he holds his head and sighs.

- I don't doubt it..." he lets out in a whisper.

Pera is now outside with Korone, enjoying the fresh air.

- Does she really feel so bad...?" asks Deshya, having listened to Mariah's short explanation.

- That's what your father told me, anyway," admits the detective.

Deshya looks out from the broken window and shakes a fist.

- So all we have to do is solve the mystery of this brick and this murder, and I'll go and see how she's doing.

Mariah smiles.

- You seem to like the little Korone, don't you?

Deshya doesn't try to deny it: she nods and turns her gaze to Mariah.

- It's... She is like a little sister.

Mariah opens her eyes a little wider, mouth agape, but hides her feelings and turns around, pushing Deshya off her buttocks. The teenager catches herself before falling to the floor of the room and questions Mariah with surprised eyes.

- Let's get this over with as quickly as possible so you can check out what's wrong with your 'little sister', then!" blurts out Mariah.

Deshya smiles and nods. Gatito joins them, Dash at his side.

- No news from the station. It seems that the culprit didn't borrow a car, so he must be hiding in the vicinity. However, it's been nearly 2 hours since the murder, so he may be long gone... No fingerprints on the gun, the serial number probably won't lead us anywhere and nothing else was found outside," he admits.

Mariah touches her chin. She turns to Deshya and asks if she can go upstairs to ask the guard if everything's okay. Deshya agrees and Gatito chats with Mariah and Dash. Climbing the stairs, Deshya stops and turns quickly towards the front door. Behind it, outside, her mother and Korone are both chatting or simply resting.

- If you're cursed, will you at least make sure it's not murder?

That's what Annie told her, albeit in jest, moments before. Although Deshya didn't take it seriously, she wonders herself if she isn't a murder magnet... It seems impossible and irrational, especially since there's no reason for it to start with this school year, but she's always in places where dead people are. She shakes her head: this is nonsense. This is just a coincidence. If someone was trying to test her, then they wouldn't all be different criminals with different reasons. So it wouldn't make sense. However, Deshya is getting tired of being in the same place as the murders, she can't deny it. Arriving upstairs, she knocks on the door of the room where the vast majority of the guests are, and a guard comes to open it. He's close to 1m90 tall, so he stoops to chat with the girl.

- Mariah asked me to come and see if everything was going well," admits Deshya.

- No one has been acting strangely, and the atmosphere seems to have improved," admits the guard. In any case, everyone's already been searched, so I'd be surprised if anything happened, especially as pocket knives, sharp objects and the like are kept in individual bags outside to avoid any attack inside.

- I see, thank you!

Deshya thanks him and turns around before heading downstairs again. In the upstairs room, two people stand next to each other, unnoticed by anyone. One hides her hands in her jacket pockets, the other has a cigarette in her hand, even though she can't smoke.

- It's annoying to be here," admits the person with the cigarette in hand.

The other doesn't reply, their eyelids lowered.

- Though, everything's fine. I don't need to move from here.- I do.The other person, the one with their hands in their pocket, finally speaks.

- There are only three guards watching the room. I'll have no trouble leaving unnoticed." he says.

- Why do you have to go away like that? Is something wrong? Didn't you—- It's none of your business, nor is it about her.The person with the cigarette smiles and places it between their lips, but doesn't light it, as they're not allowed to. What's more, they don't even have their lighters with them.

- You… Always keeping secrets. Everyone has some, do what you want.As the two chatted amongst themselves, Deshya returned to Mariah's side, who placed her hands on her hips and smiled as she saw the young 'detective' arrive.

- I was going to ask the suspects some questions, but you're just in time!

- It only took me a minute to get back..." says Deshya.

- Whatever. Everything's going well upstairs?

- Yes, nothing to report.

- Perfect. Let's make this quick.

Mariah wants to finish her sentence by saying "Although I don't think it will do any good", but she prefers to remain optimistic, especially as Deshya wants to get it over with as quickly as possible so she can join Korone, which Mariah can understand. So the two of them head for the four suspects, the four of them waiting next to Colin and his wife, who are chatting together. All six of them are on the stage of the room, their backpacks still behind them and getting impatient. Seeing the two detectives approaching, they stand up.

- Do you have any clues as to what happened, then?" asks the only woman among the suspects.

Mariah shakes her head and opens her notebook.

- Nothing was found on anyone. No traces of gunpowder on clothing. Before we start questioning you one by one, do any of the four of you wish to confess that you threw the brick and explain why, or do we have to guess ourselves?

As expected — and unfortunately — no answer comes out of the suspects' mouths. They look at each other, and the black-and-white-haired one knocks on his chair.

- Will whoever did this please come clean?! I've had it!" he shouts.

The pink-haired young woman clicks her tongue and points at the young man, barely older than her.

- You talk, you talk, but there is a possibility that it's you!" she says.

- Shut up!

The older man, with tousled blond hair, turned to face the two bickering men, and came within a hair's breadth of hitting them.

- One of my best friends is dead and you're talking and you're fighting! Shut up! Shut up!

He suddenly turns around and points at the pink-and black-haired detective.

- Do your job and do it fast! I want the asshole who killed Georges caught!

He then turns to the girl in the fox dress.

- So hurry, hurry, hurry!

- Hey.

Mariah clutches the pen in her right hand and squints.

- Those who act like you are often the first ones I suspect.

The man pulls his head back and the youngster with the black and white hair starts laughing. Mariah sighs and asks the short black-haired man to come down first. He silently accepts and lands on both feet after jumping from the stage.

- State your identity, explain what's in your bag and your relationship to the victim, as well as where you were when the murder was committed," Mariah asks him.

- I've already shown what I've got in my bag to the policeman who searched me," confesses the young man.

- I'd still like to know, it might tell us who the culprit is.

The young man doesn't understand how it works, but he decides to believe her and begins.

- My name is 'Manny Furas', and I'm the only son of the two on stage.

Deshya blinks: she didn't even recognize him! He'd cut off his long hair, making him unrecognizable... Yet Deshya knows him, however vaguely. That doesn't mean she can cross him off the list of suspects.

- I was standing next to the young woman you named as a suspect, the one on the stage.

He points at her with his thumb and continues his explanations.

- Georges was right in front of me, but I could still see the film from where I was. Anyway, I was the one who helped my parents edit the pictures and stuff, so I knew what to expect.

He places his backpack on the floor and opens it. It's one with baffles inside, as well as a very modern and spacious design.

- I have my phone charger, my laptop that I use for my classes, a USB mouse, the computer charger and a bag of sweets that I have started eating. Nothing else.

Mariah checks its contents with Deshya, but nothing comes out of the computer. The bag has several pockets in all directions, as well as adjustable straps, but nothing more. They thank him and let him put away the things he's just taken out.

- My son wouldn't have done anything to Georges!

Mona strides towards the stage and almost stumbles, but she manages to keep her balance and holds her hands in front of her torso. Manny turns to her.

- Mom…

- My son is not a criminal! What's more, he was very fond of Georges, and even went to see how the sweets were made in his stores!

Mona has her arm grabbed by her husband, asking him to remain calm while the police do their job. However, the woman refuses to let her son be a suspect. Mariah goes to talk to her, but Manny is quicker.

- I was behind Georges and my bag is big enough to hold a brick, especially as I was perfectly positioned to throw it and break the glass.

Manny returns to the stage and sighs.

- So, before you ask, I've fled because even though I'm strong, I'm actually a chicken. When the glass broke the first time, my ears couldn't take it and I even let out a high-pitched scream.

With this explanation out of the blue, he returns to the side of the other suspects and waits patiently in his chair. Deshya smiles: she recognizes him well. However, that doesn't mean he isn't the culprit behind the brick-throwing: talking a lot can be seen as a way of appearing less suspicious than the others. In short, Deshya needs to think objectively and not let the fact that she knows him lead her astray from the truth. Mariah asks the girl in the fox hood if she's noticed anything strange, but Deshya just shakes her head. So Mariah calls out to the pink-haired girl. She sighs and imitates Manny.

- I was right next to my buddy, Manny, as he put it. My name's 'Sally Corem', I'm the daughter of a CEO, but that doesn't matter in my position. For me, I fled because when the window was broken, I saw the victim's body on the floor, I'm not crazy enough to just stand there. Plus, I saw Manny running away, so I unconsciously followed him," she explains.

- Your relationship with the victim?

- I don't know him, honestly. I'm just here because I'm good friends with Manny, so I know his folks.

- And your bag?" asks Deshya.

The young woman doesn't take too kindly to being asked such a thing by a girl younger than herself, but she keeps quiet and removes it from her back. Unlike Manny's, Sally's backpack is much simpler: it's a school satchel that looks like it came out of the 2010s. A small 'Gato Lana' accessory also hangs on it, which makes Deshya smile. However, she quickly withdraws her smile: she mustn't let her mind drift where it doesn't belong.

- Let's see..." says Mariah.

Sally lists everything she has in her school bag:

- My school materials, pencil case, canvas and pencils, including used brushes. I came straight from my art class, which is why I always carry my satchel with me. Ah, I opened my bag while the film was being shown because I wanted to eat my snack — it's in the back, as I didn't finish it.

Deshya noticed that the pencil box was full and that there was a stain at the end of the binder. Could it be the result of water or some other fluid — or something else? Mariah doesn't notice anything in particular about the satchel, except that it seems very sturdy. He thanks Sally and asks the older man, who must be in his thirties, to come down from the stage. Unlike the two younger men, he doesn't jump and takes his time, although his expression shows a certain impatience.

- My name is 'Antoine Darrain', I'm a very good friend of Georges. I work as an artist, just like the little girl here, but I also make websites for those who want them.

- I'm not a little girl!" shouts Sally.

- Yes, yes, we don't care.

Antoine sighs and puts down his bag.

- I was just watching the film like everyone else, but I was right next to Georges. When I heard him scream, he fell beside me and I must admit it gave me the willies. I didn't run away because I was as scared as the others, but because I thought the criminal was one of those running, so I just wanted to catch up with them and make them tell the truth. However, I was soon caught by the other muscular policeman.

- He's talking about Dash," thought Deshya.

- I've got nothing against Georges either, he's an incredible mate. Well, he was, now that he's…

Antoine grits his teeth, but quickly calms down and shows us the contents of his bag.

- I have my camera and my films, nothing else," he admits.

Unlike the bags of the other three, this one is much smaller, but could have easily held a brick. Deshya is surprised to see the camera in Antoine's bag: it's an old camera, not even digital, from a brand she doesn't know. The bag is in poor condition and a few holes are visible here and there, but nothing in particular about its contents or condition. Mariah thanks him and asks the last suspect to come forward. He accepts with a sigh and jumps to land on his two feet.

- My name is 'Rei Polley', I live with my grandparents and I'm good friends with Manny and his parents. I know Georges well too, he's someone I like a lot... When I heard the glass break behind me, I turned around, but at the same time, I heard Georges shouting.... When I saw that he was dead, I... I didn't want to die either. After all, the ball must have passed me by, as I was next to Manny, just behind Georges too.

Rei drops her backpack and opens it.

- I had to take some time to calm down, as did they, but the window shattering behind me really scared me. It was too dark to see anything, so…

Rei sighs and shakes her head.

- I've got my course stuff, my pencil case, which isn't too full since it's the beginning of the year, my crushed snack because I forgot it, my sandwich bag that I ate for lunch and my bottle of water that I filled in the kitchen during the party.

Mariah checks its contents and notices that Rei's backpack is quite similar to Manny's. Some of the Velcro fasteners are visible on the outside. Some Velcro fasteners are visible on the outside. When she touches them, she notices that they allow the bag to be opened from the bottom or even the sides, but the holes are thin and would never let a weapon through, let alone a pencil box or brick. Baffles are also built in, which is a style Mariah doesn't understand. As he packs up, Deshya and Mariah have a quick chat.

- I didn't see any brick crumblings in any of the bags," admits Mariah.

- Their backpacks are nothing special either," adds Deshya. What's more, I didn't hear anything strange in their explanations.

Deshya and Mariah watch as the four suspects wait impatiently to be let go, all on stage to the right of Colin and Mona.

- Finally…

Mariah squints.

- Except for Sally, who doesn't know the victim — if she's not lying — they don't seem to have any motive for killing him.

Deshya agrees.

- We seem to have reached an impasse here," she says.