EPISODE 4

CRIME 004

Since I refused to talk to other reporters, I felt like it would hurt them more if they saw me entertaining Pamahres that's why I invited him to where I parked my car. I was hesitant to invite him because I don't want him to think that I am hitting on him.

"I-Is it really okay?" I asked for the nth time as we sat on my car's hood.

As he was pressing the off button on his microphone, I heard him chuckle a little. I bit my lower lip, feeling terrible that I may be wasting his time right now. As someone who is good in his profession, even though he's the one who wants my statement, I feel like I should be the one who should be grateful for sparing me some time. 

I'm not supposed to waste his time on my self-anxious butt. 

I idolize him too much for being able to cover up a murder and constantly being interested in those things. He is not afraid to speak out, and I have also learned that not only does he insist on investigating the crime, but he even works to investigate the crime.

I've learned from Van that before he pursued his Journalistic career, Pamahres used to be an Investigator, he met a lot of people in this field who trust his instinct whenever they try to solve a case. He's such a great person that I couldn't help but feel proud of myself that I'm involved in solving a crime now, and he's going to work with me here.

"Are you new in this field?" He suddenly asks making me feel nervous.

Maybe he noticed that I'm lacking skills and feels stiff around him. He's always present into crime like this and this is probably the first time he saw me.

"Yeah..." I avoided his gaze because he might notice that I am no good and that I am not someone worthy of his time.

"I see," he paused before he cock his head on the other side and offered his hand to me for a handshake. "I am Pamahres, you probably heard about me already because I appear on the television sometimes." He doesn't appear on the television just sometimes but he appeared on it most of the time, but here he goes, acting humble about it.

I can't help but feel amazing more. 

"I-I know you..." and I should stop stammering because this is so embarrassing. I should be more confident but this is the first time I got involved in this. Our boss didn't even give me this job and I only had a little luck into my hands that I get to solve this case without being really the one who's assigned to this.

Technically, I kind of steal someone else's task.

I now feel bad for Michael, what if he gets mad?

"Oh? That's cool." A grin slowly forms on his lips before we started to shook each other's hands. His palm feels soft and hard at the same time, a hand of a hardworking person. I bit my lower lip, kind of happy that I get to shook his hand.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like him romantically. It's just as someone who dedicated her life to the field like this; it feels good to meet someone who is good at this.

I admire him.

That's all.

I want to learn more things with him even though I know that would be hard as I am just a simple detective who can't even get a mission from her boss. Because according to them, they don't even need me.

"I've never heard about you, so, I immediately assumed that you're new because someone who has good instincts as you have, is hard not to notice." He continued making me look at him with my eyes widening a bit.

Did he just compliment me?

I mean...

I know I'm doing my best and Van always reminds me that I am doing my job just perfectly. But to hear from someone that they acknowledge my skills actually felt good and I'm about to tear up.

But that would only cause us awkwardness if I suddenly start crying here for no reason. I might freak him out.

"T-thank you," I feel like I'm blushing a little.

"You never become part of this case? What case do you usually focus on?" is he really making a conversation with me right now instead of asking me questions that have a connection with the kidnapping incident of Carl and the other kid?

I mean... I can't believe he's actually interested in me.

"I never get the chance to be part of anything. I'm still a newbie and I don't think I'm already qualified to become part of anything like this since I still have to learn a lot of things first." That's half true and half-lie, it's true that I am a newbie but I already have lots of experiences when I was still studying because my superior before always involves me in a real case.

It's just that when I started my job here, they always treat me like nobody and a child.

But I won't tell him that because it's not his business and I should not say anything bad about my current superior.

That's just not right.

"Well, in my opinion, I think you're just qualified enough. I heard you receive some scolding for trying to help your friend." I turned my face to him with a little caution and my eyes were opened again. I didn't know he heard about that already.

He pursed his lips a bit before he averted his gaze and just chose to look up into the night sky. I saw him staring at the stars and I could see him admiring them.

"I'm sorry for being nosy, I just heard your colleagues talking about it," he said.

I can't believe they're gossiping about it. I was able to feel a little ashamed of it. But as I looked at him, I saw him not considering it a bad thing, but a good thing. 

"A true detective doesn't really care if it's their job to do it. They serve to bring the truth and give justice, not just to sit around and wait for their superiors to give them something to do. Because not everything is reported in the public, some are hidden, and will remain hidden if no one tries to look further." 

Why does it sound like he's trying to say something? It seems like he's got something from the past, whether it's based on his experience.

He looks at me that got me to startle for a second.

"Keep doing what you think is right. If they fire you for doing your job, then fuck them, do you." Then he pats my head making me feel soft.

But meeting him right now, listening to him speak too, it seems like there are so many other things I do not know about him. I don't personally know Pamahres, I never really know much about him, all I know about him was the stories I heard from my colleagues. And that stuff could make me either feel more proud of him... Or really admire him, or maybe... Only feel bad about him? Just feel bad about him? 

Yet I'm sure of one thing. He is a wonderful person. He is a great person. 

"I apologize if I talk too much, shall we start talking about the case?" He grinned at me then and assured me he said all that to make me feel better, rather than feeling guilty that I dragged him here alone with me. 

I started telling him that something was going on with the professor, that it freaked me out. And I felt more at ease when I discovered that the missing teenager is living in the same subdivision. It was listening to every information that Pamahres have provided in the public and the little information that Michael and the other investigators in our department were talking about, which helped me to understand that it is likely that Professor Williams was also the one who kidnapped the Chinese teenager. 

It says he's gone missing inside the subdivision, there's no other hint except that his neighbor says that the Chinese teenager is interested in Chemistry.

"I know for sure that you will be a great detective," he paused, "No, actually. You're already a great detective. They just need to start acknowledging your abilities and you will for sure bring justice to everyone." A soft grin emerges in his mouth as he pats my head softly. 

Pamahres is older and certainly taller than me, which makes me look like a kid next to him. But even with those broad shoulders, long legs, and his imposing aura, for some reason, I just feel relaxed around him. 

"Thank you, Pamahres..." I said quietly as I gazed at him with joy in my eyes. This was the first case I unintentionally solve, and I felt more proud of myself that Pamahres is showing me encouragement and gratitude for what I've done. 

"Thank you for all the information you've shared with me," he turned his head to the other side until he gazed at me with those beautiful gray eyes. 

"You're welcome, Pamahres. It's my pleasure to help you," and then the corner of my mouth lifted a bit for a small smile.

After that, we bid our goodbye to each other. It was fun talking with him; I could feel his interest in every word I say. Van decided to drive me home; of course, we used my car. He said that he won’t be able to sleep well if he is not certain that I am safe.

His girlfriend picked him up after that, though. I received some scolding from both of them before they decided to go home. I couldn’t take their scolding seriously because they are so cute and I’m just too happy to even feel anything other than contentment.

The next morning, Carl’s mother gave me a homemade apple pie as a thank you for saving her son. Of course, I accepted that wholeheartedly because I know that she’s just grateful that her son is safe. I went to my work, feeling nervous that even though I’ve done something right, my superior would still give me some scolding, or worse call me names again.

I heave a sigh and went to open the door of our department, heaving a sigh. The moment I open the door, I heard a round of applause making me almost fell down from where I am standing.

What the heck?

“Detective Mayari!” our superior said with a wide smile on his lips as he welcomes me. “We all heard about what you’ve done last night and we’re very proud of you.” I looked around the whole department and saw that Van is giving me thumbs up.

What just happened?

“I’m glad that you were able to solve the case of the missing Chinese teenager, it was actually hard to do it because we don’t have enough evidence.” Said Michael, and here I am thinking he will get annoyed at me because I took his case away from him. “Finally, I can get some sleep.” Then he chuckled before sitting on his cubicle.

“What is happening?” I asked Van after they all congratulate me. He chuckled before handing me a cup of coffee.

“Pamahres came here earlier, asking for you. He said that if you would be interested in working with him.” Then he gave me a boyish smile making me gape a little.

What did he just say? Pamahres want me to work with him? Well, I can’t believe what’s just happening. But I guess I have to talk to Pamahres personally about this to confirm if it’s true. But how can I find him? I don’t even know his whereabouts.