"They are... they are the ones who kidnapped Morrison Scott," said Akbar.
Catherine raised both of her eyebrows. "Oh, we are? Do you have any proof for that?"
"Yes, I would have had two proofs if we had the CCTV footage, but Satoshi also works with them," he took out a voice recorder from his pocket and gave it to Fred.
"Your conversations in this are vague," said Fred.
"Yes, I agree, but can't you understand the suspicious tone of our conversation. Like I'm implying that he's a criminal or something like that," said Akbar.
"Well-"
"ALSO ALEX, didn't you say you are gonna turn yourself in when I surrender, just imagine this as me surrendering," said Akbar.
Catherine smiled. "Didn't he say that thinking that you were the main culprit."
Akbar widened his eyes. "SEE, she just admitted."
"Akbar..." said Fred.
"Sir, now that it's all clear, arrest them too!"
"Akbar, listen."
"What am I supposed to listen to? She just spilled, y-"
"AKBAR!" Akbar went silent hearing Fred's voice, "Alex lied... everything he said was all part of their plan."
Akbar calmed down. "How are you so sure? They could be lying."
"You recorded this yesterday, and Catherine told me about her plan about disguising as the kidnapper way earlier."
"Also Akbar," said Catherine, "we never found your spare phone."
"What?" He looked at Fred.
"Yeah, I lied," said Fred.
"Then how did you know I had a spare phone?"
"There's this thing about you, Akbar," said Catherine.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you are pretty dumb."
"What does that have to do with you finding out there's a spare?"
"Try to remember what you said last night when you found out the phone Alex hid."
"What did I say?"
"You said, "You use this phone to contact each other" or something along those lines. Really, you are not that stupid to not catch up on that, but the Akbar I know will definitely take time to come to that conclusion. Since you thought about it right on the go, I speculated you have such things prepared."
"Hmm I see, so you two would go as far as to make a fake drama to catch me. So, how did you know that I was one of the culprits?"
"There's this line your leader said. "I took the smartest people for this." At first I thought they were just bluffing because not everyone here wasn't exactly smart, but when I found out about the case files I realised that they really did investigate us. Even though I didn't believe them at first, I managed to cherry pick the people who are relatively less smart, so I gave special attention to their actions. Out of all those people..."
A Day after they came to Satoshi's house
Mary was the first one to wake up after Misty and Trevor left. 'I guess everyone is still asleep,' she thought.
She went to the living room and found a paper. "Me and Trevor are just going for a little investigation, don't suspect us."
'Like, I'm not already the most suspicious one here,' Mary thought. She put it back there and was about to leave, just then another piece of paper under Misty's note caught her eye. She picked it and read it. "You all are the dumbest people in existence, staying with a group that has a potential kidnapper? You guys came running right into my trap." Mary was shocked.
Alex also woke up that time and saw Mary standing there with that piece of paper. "What's... up? Mary?"
Mary was surprised to see him there and looked at the paper in her hands. "No... it's not what you think it is."
"Huh? What am I thinking? Are you okay?"
"I found this here," Mary handed the note to Alex, "you are probably gonna suspect me of doing this since I was standing here with this note."
"What even is it?" He took it from her hands and read it. "Two things. One, I don't suspect you currently because who in their right mind would write something like this and stay still in a place with this on their hand. Two, let's inform everyone." He woke everyone up and told everyone about what happened.
"So guys I think the kidnapper doesn't want us here," said Akbar.
"Yeah, anybody can tell that," said Catherine.
"Let's check the CCTV," said Akbar. Catherine looked at Akbar and blinked. The info they got from the CCTV was that it was hacked. "Well, the only ones who came here before anyone were Misty and Trevor," said Akbar.
Back to the present
"You were desperately trying to give something. There are times where it felt like you were smart but it was due to the fact that you knew things that others didn't know. When Misty's case file came, I came to the conclusion that this kidnapper chose Relatively dumber people to get our attention out of the dumb one in their group. In order to further back my suspicions I decided to play that detective game. I gave you an easy question but you still failed to give me the right answers."
"Oh that is why..." said Cheng, "that is why you tried your best to not team Mary up with Alex."
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Yup, I wanted his companions to be dumb as well."
"I would have rather liked it if she didn't catch the kidnapper," said Mary.
"I agree," Tony nodded.
"Hm, I see." Fred handcuffed Akbar, "I was trying to act too smart." He slowly walked to Mary. "Welp, I wanna know if I still deserve to be your friend. You said you would be heartbroken," he paused, "well, sorry for that. Back to the topic, you said you would still forgive because they are... no, I am your friend."
"Yes," she smiled, "especially since you are ready to atone for your sins." A gust of wind flew past them.
He gave her a smile back and walked to the police car. He stopped right before entering the vehicle and turned over. "SEE JODIE, WE ARE MAKING THESE AMAZING PEOPLE'S LIFE A MISERY. YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO TURN YOURSELF IN BEFORE THINGS GET OUT OF HAND."
"If you really think that they should stop, why not snitch on them," said Ralph.
Akbar chuckled. "I won't betray them, I want them to turn themselves in, if not, I will wait for them to get caught." He turned back, and walked towards the police car. 'What was that Jodie, were you testing my loyalty?' Akbar got in the car and Fred drove off.
The wind was still blowing past all of them as they saw the car get away. "I wonder... I wonder who this person is? Does this person also see us as friends now?" said Mary.
"I don't think even the innocent ones think of each other as friends. We are all still just strangers who have come together to catch that kidnapper." Alex looked at Mary. "After that, we will all go back to our life."
Catherine looked at Alex. "There's nobody who you have made a connection with?"
"There is, but I am not sure if it will stay forever," said Alex
'Forever huh?' Mary thought. "Okay everyone, whatever was happening is over, let's get inside, there's no use in standing here."
'These amazing people huh? This is exactly why I didn't want to include you with me here. It would have been better if I let you stay with Jerry and Robert should have come with me, but you wouldn't listen.' Ralph walked back inside.
15 Years ago
Ralph was standing in front of his school with his friends waiting for his bus to arrive. Just then, he saw a boy across the other side, waiting for the bus going the opposite route. He noticed that he was standing there all alone without any friends or classmates. All of a sudden his classmates came and started teasing him and calling him names. "Look, the gloomy rat is waiting for the bus today. His Mama didn't come to pick him up today. Even your mom doesn't like you," all the kids started laughing at him.
Ralph didn't like it and was about to go to the other side to talk back to them for Akbar, even though it was the first time he was seeing Akbar. Just then his friend stopped him by pulling on his hands. "They are a year older than us, they will beat us up."
"But Robert..."
"And our bus is almost here too."
From then on Ralph wanted to be friends with Akbar. He always looked at him with great respect and admiration but he never noticed it. The school bus wasn't available one day, so everyone had to wait for their parents to pick them up. Ralph was waiting for Robert's mom to pick both of them up. Just then, he saw Akbar leaving the school. He tapped on Robert's shoulder to get his attention. "Hey, that kid is leaving alone."
"So?"
Ralph tilted his head. "Isn't it weird for a kid to leave alone? Where is his mommy and daddy."
"It doesn't matter," Robert shrugged.
"No! You are the one who said that it is dangerous for a kid to do that. Now you are fine with that?" He dragged Robert with him, "we are following him!"
They walked a bit and Akbar entered the cemetery. "Hey Ralph, let's leave, that kid is creepy."
"No, we're gonna see what he is up to."
Akbar stopped in front of a grave, and he started saying something. "Hey, can you hear what he is saying," said Ralph.
"We are at the same distance, how am I supposed to hear when you can't, dumbass."
"Hey Jodie," said Akbar. Akbar took out a beautiful band from his bag. "It's your birthday today, this is your birthday present." He put the band on top of her grave. "Umma will get mad if I'm not there in school when she arrives." He runs towards the cemetery exit.
"He's coming this way!" said Ralph, he didn't notice them and ran past them.
"Hey, he will disappear if we don't go behind him."
"Wait, let's check whose grave it is." They went to that grave. "Huh? who could it be?" said Ralph.
"Maybe his family."
"Probably, let's go back and find him," both of them started running.
Present
A police officer is driving the car, Fred is sitting on the passenger seat next to it, and Akbar was cuffed on the back passenger seat. Akbar remembered his conversation with Misty a couple of days ago.
"You and the shitty police chief know each other huh? You must be quite horrible too, if you are close with him."
"Hm," she crossed her arms, "I don't know if I am horrible or not but I can assure you that... Uncle Fred has changed to be a better person now."
"Uhm sir?" said Akbar.
"Yes?" Fred looked back.
"I know it's too much to ask of you as a criminal, but can you stop at the cemetery? I want to... visit someone." Fred stayed silent. "Figures," said Akbar.
The car went on, after a while. "Stop," said Fred. The car stopped, Fred got off, opened the back door and uncuffed him. "You know the consequences if you dared to run away."
He got out, and looked around to see the cemetery, he teared up. "Thank you sir!" Fred smiled. He slowly walked to Jodie's Grave. He looked at the gravestone which read, 'This is the place where my dear friend and her dearest daughter are resting peacefully.' Down the line there was their name, 'Jodie Peter and Hisa Peter.'
"I will finally have to face the consequences of my actions, that is why it will take a while before I will be back." He smiled, "but don't worry my mother will come visit you once in a while." Suddenly two leaves flew and landed on his palms, one of a maple tree and the other of an ash tree, he widened his eyes and went back to normal. "I understand," he looked at the sky, "From now on, Ralph will forever be Ralph and Ralph only." He looked at the Grave in front him. "Thanks Jodie." He walked back and got in the car, it drove off.
Ralph is sitting in his room, holding his head with his hand. "Why am I getting those memories all of a sudden."
18 years ago
Ralph came back from the school and ran towards his mother Riya, who was holding her 1 year old daughter. His mother stopped him by holding onto his forehead. "It's dangerous to run around when the baby's around, you might hurt her."
"Sorry..." he pouted. His eyes sparkled all of a sudden. "Look at what I drew," he showed her his drawing, it was a drawing of their family.
She just glanced at it. "Okay, now go and eat your snacks, it's on the table."
The night came and the next day was Sunday, he went to the living room to see his dad there, he ran towards him. "Dad, you are back."
"Stop there, won't you let me play with your sister in peace?" said his father Joseph.
"Can we play catch today?"
"No, I am busy."
"Hey, how about we go out for Lunch today?" said Joseph.
"Yeah, that's a great idea," said Riya.
"Then what are you waiting for? Go and get ready."
Ralph was happy to hear and changed his clothes to go with his family. He got ready and went to his parents, Riya was looking around. "Mom, are you looking for me? I'm here."
"Yes! Since you are at home, look after the house, also your food is in the kitchen, it's the leftovers of yesterday." Joseph called them from outside, "come fast!" Riya picked her baby and got in the car outside. He stood in front of the door still until his parents came back.
After a few months their little daughter passed away due to fever. When the funeral was over, he went to his parents. Riya looked at her son and started crying, she hugged him tight. "Why did you put my little sister in a box? Where is she?"
"She won't come back."
From then on, his parents showed much love for their son.
17 years ago
Ralph was trying to sleep but he got scared and went to his parents room. He was trying to reach the door knob. "I can't anymore," he heard Joseph's voice, "I can't see him as my own son anymore."
"I feel the same way," said Riya.
"It's not the same Riya! He's your own son, I can't get over my daughter's death by loving another man's son."
"What do you mean? I never wanted to be his mother, it was an accident that happened when I was 18! I hate him because he has his father's face, but I will gladly see him as my daughter. So I can deceive myself into thinking that he's the one who died."
Ralph went back to his room, he didn't sleep the whole night and the morning came. He looked at himself in the mirror. "I will be her, so that I can make them happy. I'm not Ralph from today onwards."
Present
Ralph was sitting in his room, holding his head with both his hands. "Why are these memories coming back to me all of a sudden?”