December 20 – 8:15 AM
C.I.D. Precinct 9, Interview Room #3
It was cold that day, but somehow the interview room felt colder.
Detective Merlin and Inspector Saul shared the room with their new suspect, gathered around the triangular touchscreen table. The others were all behind the two way mirror, observing everything with great if not quiet detail.
Amongst the investigators, there was their first suspect...Rather, a surviving victim in this tragedy.
“...I...it was him?” Tessa Roads gasped with a tremble when she realized who was sitting in the interview room. “Th-the hotel manager?”
Constable Sally rubbed an arm around Tessa to control her shaking, like a mother calming a daughter, “If you think about it, he’s essentially the butler in a murder mansion mystery. Ironic don’t you think?”
“I-I don’t know!”
Inside the interview room, Karl Hoffman remained poised and composed. As if he was waiting in line for something and was thinking to himself as normally and politely as anyone could be.
The silence was enough to make the detective and inspector share glances. While the latter tapped an app open to start the recording, the former dragged the evidence bin they brought from their office.
Karl Hoffman watched as two evidence bags were placed in front of him.
Two pieces of underwear. One brief, one boxers. Two totally different brands.
Detective Merlin said, “I honestly thought, this was mixed up with another case. Two men’s underwear, and they aren’t the same. I was stumped, not going to lie. Until good old Inspector Saul helped with a break through.”
The Inspector in question...turned red and tried to look away.
“Well sir. Now is your time to shine. Tell us exactly what you said back in the bathroom.”
“DON’T MAKE IT SOUND SO WIERD!” Inspector Saul huffed and adjusted his suit. “Y-you’re the one who kicked open my bathroom stall, demanding if I wore briefs or boxers!”
“And?”
“I-I just said get the hell out!”
“Aaaaand?”
“Wh-why would I show you my underwear, I’m not into men!”
Detective Merlin snapped his fingers at that comment. Karl Hoffman’s jaw clenched, the message was received.
“All this time,” Merlin muttered, “I chased after Tessa Roads, Barrister Amelia, Madame Belle, and Mrs. Cambridge with her damn dog. All of them women, three of the four being illicit romantic liaisons with Liam Ferguson. It’s clear their relationships is strictly business – buy my insurance and I give you love baby. Boom-cha-cha...But what about Tessa Roads?”
Tessa jumped when she saw Merlin gesture a hand to her, even when she was hidden behind a two way mirror!
The detective said, “Liam Ferguson literally can choose any woman he wants. He could even land himself a celebrity model if he put showed off his luxury car for crying out loud. Yet he decided to challenge himself to conquer a dinosaur of a woman like Tessa Road.”
“..................................”
Constable Romanov, Barry, and Allen took one big step back in the observation room, right out of Tessa’s swinging range. Meanwhile Constable Sally rubbed her back, wary of the shaking fist.
“Liam Ferguson always showed himself as a pure gentlemen, a near saint. Yet why he abandoned that idealism, to get it on with a woman who clearly want nothing to do with him. I couldn’t figure it out from day one. But after talking to each of Liam’s women, finding two pairs of razors, and two different types of underwear, it finally hit me...
...You, Karl Hoffman, are in love with Liam Ferguson.”
Tessa forgot why she was angry. She choke on the very air and clasped a hand over her mouth, finding it hard to even blink right now.
Karl Hoffman kept silent.
Merlin eased up as he sat back in his chair, “You want to see something? Well you’ve probably seen it before, so consider it a replay.”
Detective Merlin would fiddle with the touch screen computer, spreading his fingers and hand gestures across the screen. With his touches he opened up a document file and spilled out several video clips. Clips that were procured from Karl Hoffman’s private server data.
One by one, the detective played each clip across the screen like a series of mini-movies. All of them were the same angle staring into the heart of Room 777.
<< The first clip. >>
Liam Ferguson could be seen on his knees, massaging Barrister Amelia’s feet and legs. The woman would giggle every now and then, sipping from her glass of wine. Every now and then she would offer to share it – but holding it above his head and pouring it down his open mouth like he was a Champagne Tower.
Wine would hit his eyes and nose, but he pretends to laugh it off. Whenever she wasn’t looking, he would secretly spit and sneeze the wine out of his nose.
<< The second clip. >>
Liam Ferguson was having a slow and romantic dance with the elderly dive, Madame Belle. She was in her full dancing robe, the Blue Moon in all its glory. They did a casual little waltz around his hotel room as their dance floor.
Her wrinkled fingers would either slide down to rub over his rump, or try to get a sneak peak under the belt. Liam would flinch whenever she wasn’t looking, but put on this charming smile when they made eye contact.
They then tip over and drop across the bed to--
<< The third clip. >>
“Baby! Come here boy! Who is a good dog, yes you are!”
Liam Ferguson was putting on his clothing, secretly brushing off the lipstick smears from his neck and collar of his dress shirt. Meanwhile Mrs. Cambridge was in the middle of dressing up, when her beloved dog distracted her.
“Well,” Mrs. Cambridge smirked in the afterglow, “I am grateful for your service, Liam boy. I look forward to our next raison d’etre. Now be a sweety and give me a good bye kiss.”
Liam obliged. It was really simple really. A light peck on the cheek. Done.
“Okay, now for baby!”
Wait...She...wanted him to kiss THE DOG!?”
“Is there a problem? Hmm? He is my child after all.”
.......
"What a mood. And here I thought about buying another insurance package for my Baby here."
....................................
Inspector Saul blocked his mouth with his kerchief at what he saw next, about to vomit. Even the investigators and Tessa shivered at the torture. Detective Merlin on the other hand never left his eyes on their new suspect.
Karl Hoffman...tears of fury running down his eyes. It was so bad, he had to take off his glasses and hold his face in his hand.
“Love can be a powerful magnet,” Merlin explained. “It easily makes two unlikely specimens gravitate towards each other and be stuck for life. Sometimes impossible to separate...But as you may know, if you have magnets match their north and south poles—Boom...Love can be very repulsive.”
The hotel manager just broke down, unable to keep his stoic feature. He collapsed to bury his entire face in his arm, wailing and sniffing like a scorned woman.
Detective Merlin then asked, kindly, “When did it all started?”
Karl Hoffman confessed between sniffles.
“The first day I met Liam Ferguson, was the day he first checked into Diamond Hotel. I never cared for love, or even bothered to find a partner. I was dedicated to my job to let it go but...one glance with him and I forgot why I was alive...”
“Ah yes. The almighty love at first sight...You rarely hear it amongst men, no offence.”
“I resisted his charms, his wit, his cunning. He never knew about my feelings and I kept it that way. I sough help, wondering if there was something wrong...but the more days pass, the more my feelings kept growing. I lost control of myself, even going as far as taking only night shifts... That was when he was in the hotel the most, after work.”
Stolen story; please report.
“Did you ever talk to him? Chat with him?”
“...Only the simple hello, good morning, good night. Deep down, I knew he would prefer beautiful women over me...But I just couldn’t stop myself, gravitating towards him. I couldn’t keep my distance, I wanted to know more about him.”
“Thus, the cameras.”
“Yes...” Karl Hoffman pushed his head up, face red and tear stained, lips shivering, “I lost my senses. I-I snuck into his hotel room while he was at work, installed micro cameras, so I can watch him...maybe protect him...get to know him more.”
“But that just opened a whole can of worms.”
“...A lot of ladies came to visit him. I had my theories, my imagination, but I pushed them aside, Kept thinking he wasn’t that kind of man to sell himself...the cameras didn’t lie...the video didn’t lie... His...everything about him was a great big lie.”
Inspector Saul couldn’t resist but hand his kerchief over to Karl Hoffman, trying to wipe off his face of the tears and what not. “So uh...how far did you and uh...you know.”
Karl Hoffman dabbed the tears, “The more I watched him suffer to this hags, the more my dream of being with him was crushed. But I couldn’t stop watching after him... I don’t know if it was by accident, or a twist of fate, but I finally had a proper conversation with him...
...I caught Liam Ferguson attempting to kill himself. Made a lot of noise in his room when I came by with my rounds. I entered with a master key, and found him trying to cut his wrist. I stopped him.”
Merlin sighed, “Bedding rich ladies can only push a man so far, huh?”
“They were cruel to him! They drove him insane, make him do all sorts of demeaning things like he was a gigolo, their play toy. He cried, broke down, saying he didn’t want to be their slave. He wanted to give up... I consoled him. I comforted him... All those years of loving him in the shadows just...exploded in me. Next morning, we woke up together in his bed... I will never forget our first night.”
“Not to be rude, but I am surprised a man like Liam Ferguson was very accepting of you, given the fact he spent most of his time bedding Karens.”
“He despised them, those women.” Karl Hoffman hissed, clawing at the kerchief, “He only did it so he could stand up in his company... We started seeing each other more, dating even. Those days, made us so happy. He was so free. He...accepted me...”
“Until the magnet flipped.”
“I don’t know what happened. We were doing so well. I-I even saved up money from my years at Diamond Hotel, to convince him we can start a proper life together – man to man – in another country... He...he rejected me....
...He told me he wanted to break up with me, to never see me. I asked what did I do wrong. He only told me—”
“It is because you’re a man.”
“YES!” Karl Hoffman slammed his fist to the table. “It’s because I’m a man! He didn’t want me anymore! Said he was drunk and lost, but he’s sober now. Claimed he can get any women he want. He...he...he found me repulsive!”
The interview room was hit with a heavy silence as the hotel manager teared up once more. Tessa Roads hugged her body, feeling violated, uncomfortable, yet sympathetic at the same time. She felt a small tear well up in the corner of her eye...but she really couldn’t pity the situation wholeheartedly. Not after what she’s been through.
The hotel manager then cried out, “I loved him! I loved him with all my heart and he found me disgusting. Like a spit stain on a wall! Women were all using him as a fool, but he was willing to throw his dignity for him. And you know what he said? He said he’ll prove to me that he is a real man! He’ll make a girl fall for him!”
Somehow, Tessa Road’s heart was stabbed with realization. All those years, all those hours, all that effort raking up quote and clients... It all culminated into making her nothing more than a raggedy doll that people easily got bored of.
In the interview room, Detective Merlin and Inspector Saul gave their new suspect a moment to compose themselves. Then, the detective asked the big question.
“Why frame Tessa Roads?”
“I-it wasn’t my intention!” Karl Hoffman gasped. “I tried to stop Liam, but he wouldn’t listen. When I saw Miss Roads, I felt bad for her. I wanted to warn her, to tell her to walk away...but...I was scared. If I did that: she lives – but Liam would surely hate me even more. I am so sorry for her, I never thought it would end up this way...
...I was worried for them both. I felt a thousand things were going to go wrong. Unable to take it, I made an excuse to bring room service. I made sure no one saw me with Liam. I didn’t want to make him look bad... Even face to face, he refused my warnings to end this charade. I hope, Miss Roads would take the opportunity to run – but I didn’t see her anywhere.”
“That’s because she was in the bathroom, having second thoughts. I take it she was so nervous she never heard you ringing the bell.”
“I was very discreet about it...”
“Now...What happened in the end?”
Karl Hoffman rubbed his face with his palms and the kerchief. A part of him didn’t want to relive those bad days, but at the same time he was dying to get it off his chest.
“I heard them fighting. Next thing I knew, Miss Roads was running for her life. Forgetting a shoe and her skirt gone... I realized something went wrong. I found Liam, hurt. I nursed him, consoled him, tried to convince him women were no good. They could not be trusted. He needed me..............................................”
The hotel manager touched his cheek his cheek, the look of a wounded dog on his face.
“Liam struck me...the first time since we were together... I snapped. I grabbed whatever and just.......I just wanted Liam. I wanted him to be by my side. I didn’t mean to kill him! I didn’t want to put the blame on Mrs. Roads...But I couldn’t let him wallow in despair with those dirty women anymore...
So if I can’t have him—NO ONE WILL!”
Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned. It seems Tessa Roads was the first to see it on a man – a violent storm boiling in his face. Even when she closed her eyes, she can still see his heart broken glare in her mind.
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December 20 – 9:45 AM.
C.I.D. Precinct 9, Front Gate
“...Why does rain, feel so good right now?”
Tessa Roads walked out of the station. No chains, no handcuffs, no need to have a paper bag with eye holes to hide her face. She trailed down the short flight of stone steps at the front gate and stood across the sidewalk. Away from the cells, the jails, the bars...and out into the open. It was cold, with a light fuzzy shower. It dabbed onto Tessa’s face, spray of water.
She couldn’t help but to reach out towards the sky, wanting to touch more of the rain that fell on her finger tips.
“Ah. Sorry Tessa. The weather man said it was going to be sunny. I screwed up, I didn’t bring an umbrella for you.”
“OH!” Tessa Roads jumped at the voice and spun around.
Detective Merlin was dashing down the police steps, holding up his hands above his head. Maybe because he had a frail body and couldn’t handle the cold, he closed up his thick coat. Actually, he sneezed, violently, slipping down a couple of steps as if covered in sheets of ice but kept himself upright from falling over.
Before Tessa could say anything, good or bad, the detective grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the side and out of the line of sight from the police windows. When they ended up standing under an overhead bridge, Merlin slapped the water off his coat.
The way he shook, reminded Tessa of a dog shaking off water from its fur.
“Lucky for you—ACHOO!!” Merlin sniffed and wiped his nose with a random napkin from his pocket. It was hard to tell if it was crumpled up or recently used. “Lucky for you, you got your sweater and pants. Probably warm in all them layers.”
“...Kinda...stuffy actually.” Tessa voice was quiet. She had no idea what to say at this point in time. Too many emotions swelled in her body... not to mention other matters in her mind. So, perhaps baby steps. “... Thank you. For believing in me.”
“You should thank yourself, for insisting you’re innocent...And—” He pointed at her thigh “—Wearing spats under your skirt. Otherwise, your story would be totally different.”
“...Detective Merlin, I—”
“Ssssh!” Merlin ducked out of instinct as if an invisible bullet tried to shoot him in the head. He pulled out some sunglasses from his pocket to hide his eyes, like he was a celebrity in public. “D-don’t say my name out loud. Eve found out about the mask I gave you. She’s rallied all the ladies in the police station to go on a witch hunt for me. Essentially, I am a wanted man among all woman kind.”
“......................PFFFFFFFFFFFT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Tessa can’t remember when was the last time she laughed this hard. Maybe, from the jokes and silly puns her father would often crack to her. Yeah, probably up to that point. Then the rest of the way, she was on her own, missing that friend she needed to get through the hard times. Always lost her energy to even giggle at the lamest of comedy.
“Aaah. My sides. Ow ow ow...” After she calmed down she had to gasp to get enough air to catch her breath. “I can’t believe it that, I’m actually free. Free from this nightmare.”
Merlin shrugged, a smirk cracking on his lips. Feeling the coast was clear, for now, he would stand up to his full height and tuck his hands in his pockets, to hide them from the cold.
“It’s my job, Tessa, to find the truth. And I admire you.”
“A-admire? How so?”
“Those women. Barrister, Madame, the Misses. My god. If I had stayed with them more than two minutes, I would have shot them with rubber bullets. No cap. For you to survive and juggle all three is just... You’re really got good people skills.”
“...Strange. My father always said I was too much of an introvert.”
“Survival of the fittest really.”
“...That’s also what my mother would say.”
“Y-your mother, she’s still—” Merlin shut up when Tessa nodded, relaxing the atmosphere. He cleared his throat. “So, what’s the plan?”
Tessa shook her head. “I...I don’t know. I really don’t know. I ain’t going back to Precious Life. Even if I did, I have no doubt they shoved all of my office belongings in two boxes they picked up from the recycling... I just need shower and a sleep before I can think.”
Merlin hissed at the idea, staring at the roads around them. “Life can be a cruel mistress. Say, wanna work for the police force? I mean, either you could be our secretary’s secretary or...if Eve hangs me – there will be an opening for sergeant in C.I.D. Precinct 9.”
Tessa crossed her arms in an X. “I-I appreciate the offer, but after all that we’ve been through, pass. I...I had too much investigations for one year.”
“Fair.” Merlin shrugged. He then rummaged into his pockets to look for something. Empty wrappers, some half eaten granola bars, convenience store napkins, a-ha! He plucked up what appeared to be a chocolate bon bon curled up in colorful wrapper. He handed it to Tessa. “Sorry. I spent all of my life savings trying to clear your name. This is the only thing of value in my possession.”
Tessa rolled the chocolate bon bon in her palm. A testing pinch, and she could feel the ‘chocolate’ sinking like a dying balloon. A shiver, but she kept a polite smile with a flat tone. “I appreciate it.”
Merlin chuckled, before he stretched out an arm. At his gesture, a taxi came up to them under the bridge. With a gentlemen like sweep of his hand, he signaled for Tessa to hop inside. She nodded, grateful and sat in the back. Merlin popped his head in to tell the driver. “Home James.”
“...Detective his name is Rick Diaz. I-it’s on his ID Plate.”
“Wh-where she wants to go, on her tab.”
Tessa stares...but snickered.
Merlin nods, waving goodbye and closes the door. The taxi lowered its flag and it drove off--
SCREEEECH!
Only for Merlin to run in front of them, nearly ran over, and he shoved himself into the passenger seat with Tessa.
“Driver, Wall Maria Square, step on it!”
“D-Detective what?” Tessa Roads gripped at her head, was she losing her marbles? “Wh-That’s not where I live, you know that!”
“Work called.” Merlin shoved his phone back in his pocket and strapped on the seat belt. “A body’s been found floating in the fountain square.”
“I-I told you, I’m not ready to join the police!”
“What are you talking about? I’m carpooling. And we’re going in the same direction, so no panic no problem!”
“THAT MEANS I AM PAYING DOUBLE THE FARE! GET THE HELL OUT!”
[== LOVE IS OVER ==]
(A RoyalRoad WriteAThon Challenge 2024)
By: Sui Mai Files.