Even if the police finally had a face to work with, finding the name and identity of the skeleton was still like searching for a needle lost in the ocean.
In saying that, God bless the digital ocean called the internet. The moment they posted it on their social media pages, all sorts of hints and sources came flooding in. Of course 80% of them were just flame posts, slander, or even insults to how the reconstruction looks compared to a real human.
However, we all know there is always that 1% hidden in the corners of the web who have this incredible knack to out do a government spy or even the greatest of private detectives.
The second the police received the best hint, Detective Fraulein did not waste another second and took command of the direction. First things first.
“Alright Kung Fu boy, you know the drill. You--”
“Yes, yes, yes. I am to say nothing unless spoken to; stay away from you for more than 5 ft; and don’t get in your way when you’re asking the questions. The usual, yes?”
“You’re god damn right.”
Detective Fraulein didn’t want to ease up, not one bit. And it was evident with how sharp she made her turns while driving. While on the way to their next location, she can’t help but feel a sense of unease – she blamed it on Martial Kim who wouldn’t stop mocking her with a sly grin through the rear view mirror. Even if the young master sat in the backseat – it felt like a guillotine was hanging right above her head.
“Honestly Kung Fu boy,” Detective Fraulein frowned, “Don’t you get tired listening to Stone droning on and on and on. Blah blah this, and blah blah that.”
“Hahah. How would you like me to answer that question, Madame Fraulein? Teacher is sitting right next to you. If I didn’t know better, I feel like you’re setting me up for a trap.”
“Stop calling me Madam! Makes me feel old! What is this, the 19th Century!? I told you many times, just call me Detective!”
--- ‘Madame’ is a respectful way to address wise and mature women. Although, everything this woman does screams the opposite of wisdom. And age has nothing to do with titles. What is the detective on about?
Sigh. This padawan still has much to learn.
Prof. Stone tried to defuse the tension, but can’t help but chuckle himself, “So Detective, what did you find out about the Drain Victim?”
“Girl was on a student visa,” Detective Fraulein sighed as she paused to focus on turning her car about. Someone tried to cut her off in the lane, so she spooked them by hiring the police sirens. Look at them run. “A lot of students and professors at the local college recognize her. One thing led to another, we got an address. Turns out she had been living at her relatives house, an Uncle and Aunt. My guess, cheaper than a dormitory or renting a place out.”
“Judging by your tone it seems you have some reservation towards this fact.”
“Come on, Stone. Don’t you like playing the detective? The relatives never bothered to file a missing report. Victim just disappeared without so much as a peep. Of course I have some reservations towards this matter.”
Detective Fraulein was practically hissing for a different reason now, regardless if any civilian vehicle was getting in her way or cutting corners in traffic, “The body had been dead for at least six months, rendered to nothing but a pile of bones. Obviously you know better than I do – any key evidence would have been swept under the rug. So when I go in to question the Uncle and Aunt, I got nothing to hit them with.”
Martial Kim raised an eyebrow, “Mada—I mean, Miss Detective. I was under the impression the const—police in this town were forbidden from using physical violence, to force a confession.”
Detective Fraulein nearly turned her head a full 180 to glare at him – like a pissed off owl, “You’ve heard of metaphor, right?”
“Apologies. The realism in your tone fooled me.”
Prof. Stone rolled his eyes and waved the fight down with his hands, “Detective, you focus on getting answers from the Uncle and Aunt. Regardless of the situation, the fact they left no report of a missing niece already raises some alerts so surely you have some leeway in the conversation. Let Kim and I handle the hard part.”
Detective Fraulein turned her eye glare on her companion riding shotgun, “That confidence sounds above standard forensic protocol.”
“Well as Kim often put it, I do know a magic trick or two.”
The detective didn’t want to look at the rear view mirror. Seeing the master and disciple exchange coy grins made her sick to her stomach.
image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/e5d49d01-e685-46aa-8d92-b07d57dc33fb/didaiyy-7cc70b06-faf9-4771-a24f-b7127efe7b76.png/v1/fill/w_1280,h_207/moon_tavern_page_break_by_suimaifiles_didaiyy-fullview.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MjA3IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZTVkNDlkMDEtZTY4NS00NmFhLThkOTItYjA3ZDU3ZGMzM2ZiXC9kaWRhaXl5LTdjYzcwYjA2LWZhZjktNDc3MS1hMjRmLWI3MTI3ZWZlN2I3Ni5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.V__LDKPGxPLEElJXKGgxKvmlMcRIG9Nv3hgCGY_VlEE]
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The last house the drain victim ever lived in was a bit of a cozy cottage – well, cozy for a family of two. Barely enough elbow space to squeeze in a third, let alone a niece from overseas. In saying the, the atmosphere inside the cozy cottage said otherwise.
“Teacher, this place is neat and tidy...yet why do I feel like I just entered a cemetery?”
“Sssssh. Don’t let Detective Fraulein hear you – or the Aunt in that matter. Good lord, just seeing them stare each other down is like either one of them is using a standing mirror. Come on, let’s look around.”
Martial Kim tried to keep his eyes on his mentor, but every now and then he would sneak glances at the detective questioning the owners. Right from the get go, both of them had their arms crossed.
--- What did Teacher call this? Blocking behaviour. Micro-expressions on the body in reaction to conversations and stimulus. Seems the Uncle and Aunt want nothing to do with this investigation, yet they can’t stop being sour at the search warrant the detective is waving in her hands... Reading these expressions have proven to be a valuable asset in times like this.
Prof. Stone had his own thoughts on the case as he looked around the cottage. Every now and then he picks up photos from the stands, eye the decorative plates in the cupboards, and stroked a finger across the spines of books on the shelves.
Martial Kim followed his mentor’s gaze, “I may not know any better, but I take it these owners are more traditional?”
“Traditional? Hah,” Prof. Stone tried not to snort too loud, “More like old school. The whole place screams quiet and classic with a touch of vintage. Any more and I would feel like I’m walking into a Baby Boomer place. The Drain Victim was a young girl, in the prime of modern society – a total Zoomer.”
“Ah, yes. The classic generational gap.”
“Oh?” Prof. Stone raised an eyebrow, “I am surprised, you know Baby Boomer and Zoomer. Memories came back?”
“Miss Keekee taught me.”
“Seems that’s not the only thing she taught you. I never mention this sooner, but you’re starting to use contractions in your speech.”
“Me? Contractions? That can’t be possible, don’t you think?”
Prof. Stone tried not to show his thoughts when the young master used ‘can’t’ and ‘don’t’, compared to cannot and do not like he usually does. So he distracted himself with the case. “Seems the relatives aren’t that close to the victim or their parents. Take a look at these photos: only two pictures of the Aunt and her Sister, and the one photo here with the Aunt’s sister carrying her babe – the Niece.”
“A complicated family structure?”
“Well. If you have two families living in different countries...it be more than a simple generational gap.”
“True.” Martial Kim nodded. The young master would take a moment to scan the walls, the floor, every nook and cranny.
Prof. Stone simply smiled, “Give it up Kim. If this cottage actually saw murder, the evidence would have long disappeared.”
“Shameful, most shameful. It seems time hasn’t been our ally in this case.”
There wasn’t much for Prof. Stone to comment. As much as he would want to listen in on Detective Fraulein’s questioning to know more about this story hidden in the walls, he remembered he had a job to do. So he took his protege and his team to search everywhere. First floor, second floor, even the basement.
Speaking of basement, it was one of those classic underground cellar – you know, the doors in the ground and the stairs diving into the depths of the earth. When they pull the ball bead string to switch on the light, they were surrounded by a swarm of dust.
The sight itself was enough to choke them.
“Cough! Cough. Teacher, is this a workshop? Underground?”
“A lot of these cottages in town date back from 1900s, so having a storage space or even a working area under the house is not unexpected. Mind the cobwebs – that one above your head.”
“Oof. Looks like it’s been a while since anyone came down here.”
“Yet...some areas look oddly clean.”
Martial Kim raised an eyebrow, holding up his sleeve to block the dust in the air, “What do you mean? Look at this work bench. Inches of dust. I dare not sink my finger in it, even if I am wearing a glove.”
“I mean, look at the floor.” Prof. Stone tapped his foot, making a short echo. “Everywhere under the light is well swept, but the space under the work tables, even storage, are thick with dust.”
“Yet, cobwebs are evident... Meaning it should have been left alone for years, but was used recently?”
Prof. Stone would eye the many tools hanging on the racks and nails in an orderly fashion. Everyone was arranged by category, smallest to biggest, and many of them look like they’ve been left sitting there for ages.
“Kim, do you see that hammer? Can you pass it to me?” Prof. Stone received the tool he requested from his protege and he gave it a look over. “The others are layered with dust, and some loose webs. This isn’t.”
Martial Kim thought for a moment, “Wasn’t the drain victim found with a fracture in her skull?”
“Indeed. And it was a dazing blow.”
“And the Drain Victim, she died from her neck snapping, yes?”
“Well,” Prof. Stone chewed on the insides of his cheeks, “Technically the coroner found those two evident wounds, but he can’t tell which is the cause of death. Just a pile of bones with nothing organic to figure out which killed her.”
“So...the murder weapon could be—”
“Anything. Yeah Kim.” Prof. Stone then hefted the hammer in his one hand, “Kim. You mentioned time is not our friend today, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Well sorry to say this but you’re kind of wrong. Time may have been helping us all along. It’s just been waiting, in this cellar, for us to find it. So could you do us a favour and head up stairs, grab something from the forensic van. I got a trick up my sleeve.”
What new skill with Martial Kim learn, to find the writing in blood lost to time!?
image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/e5d49d01-e685-46aa-8d92-b07d57dc33fb/didaiyy-7cc70b06-faf9-4771-a24f-b7127efe7b76.png/v1/fill/w_1280,h_207/moon_tavern_page_break_by_suimaifiles_didaiyy-fullview.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MjA3IiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvZTVkNDlkMDEtZTY4NS00NmFhLThkOTItYjA3ZDU3ZGMzM2ZiXC9kaWRhaXl5LTdjYzcwYjA2LWZhZjktNDc3MS1hMjRmLWI3MTI3ZWZlN2I3Ni5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.V__LDKPGxPLEElJXKGgxKvmlMcRIG9Nv3hgCGY_VlEE]
image [https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/e5d49d01-e685-46aa-8d92-b07d57dc33fb/di6ht8a-6b7841a9-7268-4fab-a51a-b1367877f8d8.png/v1/fit/w_828,h_1210/moon_tavern___pavilion_arc__lightnovel_image_01__by_suimaifiles_di6ht8a-414w-2x.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTY2NyIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2U1ZDQ5ZDAxLWU2ODUtNDZhYS04ZDkyLWIwN2Q1N2RjMzNmYlwvZGk2aHQ4YS02Yjc4NDFhOS03MjY4LTRmYWItYTUxYS1iMTM2Nzg3N2Y4ZDgucG5nIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTExNDEifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.1MRXBAT-lkHjJI86BlLFW_2-DsZ2mPQmrpQnyPY-Ay8]