EPISODE 5

CRIME 005

I lost my hope to see Pamahres personally again when I went back to being stuck inside my cubicle. The only difference now is that other detectives are asking for my insight and if I have anything helpful to say for the investigation that they have. 

I feel more useful than I did before, and I'm already grateful for that. 

My boss is now beginning to recognize my skills, but he's also not ready to grant me my own case. But that's all right, at least something's actually going on with my life, and I don't just have to sit here all day and get them some coffee. 

"Detective Mayari," Michael drew my attention to him. He just walked out of our chief's office, and now he's staring at me.

"U-uh... yeah, huh? "He doesn't even care for me, normally. We will casually nod and smile at each other, but that's it, nothing more. So, I'm very shocked right now that it seems he's trying to talk to me about something. 

"You're coming with me," that's all he said, then he's off to get his stuff and get out of the department room, leaving me clueless. I saw Van laughing at me, but I had to smile at him with uncertainty written all over my forehead. 

He pats my head gently like he typically does before he pinches my cheek. "Go get your things, Detective Mayari. You're about to become part of the first official case." Then he gave me a sincere grin, making me blink my eyes twice.

What did he say? I'm going to be part of what? My first official case, huh? 

"You don't want to keep Michael waiting because he's a little impatient," he said. And that's when I knew it was really happening! 

I'm quick to pick the stuff I think I needed before I followed Michael, who I think went to the parking lot. Then I saw him leaning on his car, staring at me with his sharp eyes. I grinned awkwardly at him, and he shrugged his shoulders. 

Ever since Pahmares came to tell everyone he wants to work with me, I've found that my colleagues are beginning to treat me differently. As if they had suddenly understood my importance and that I had finally begun to live in their universe.

I don't know if I should thank Pamahres or just believe that all is going fine because I've done well, and not just because of Pamahres. I know his effect over others, but I really like to believe it's because of me. 

I'm still grateful for him, though. 

"Get in," said Michael, so I went to open his car door and stepped inside his car. He went to the driver's seat and sat down there. When he started the engine, and I sense he's still in the mood to talk, I started asking him questions.

"Where are we headed now?" This is the first time that I have been part of the official case, and I am so mesmerized that I can't suppress my enthusiasm. I just hope he's not going to get annoyed because today is the best day ever for me. 

We're definitely going for a gruesome murder, but the point is, it's my first time ever to be part of a case! 

"Not sure about the place, but it's near," hmmm, I remember they said Michael wasn't good at places, and he always got lost. That's why a GPS was mounted in his car so as not to get lost. I was looking at the little monitor of his tracker and I realized it was really close.

"Have you been asked by the Chief to take me with you?" I hesitate to ask, I want to be vigilant about my words and acts because I just don't want my first case to be ruined because of my nosiness. 

"Nope," he paused and then tried to take a look at me before he went back to the road. "I asked him if I could take you with me," he said, that's very surprising to hear. 

I know that Michael is bossy and a little grumpy. 

I never imagine a day when he will go and start needing me to be part of his case. I can't even believe that he's thinking of me. Knowing that there are a lot of better detectives out there than me.

I couldn't help but smile, knowing that he was thinking of me. I know it doesn't sound anything to anyone, but it's a huge deal for me, and I'm just really glad about it. 

"Stop grinning, detective Taylor. We're definitely headed for a murder case, and the grin on your face is out of place." He rolled his eyes to me, but I couldn't conceal the smile on my face. 

He's right, but he can't blame me for that. I'm finally recognized by my squad, and it made me very excited and pleased. 

When we stopped at the crime spot, he went out first, so I had to pick up my pace so that I could follow him. There are crime signs all over the place, and you will immediately notice that this is a crime scene.

There are police officers wandering around, and there are people chatting nearby, presumably confused about what's going on here. 

"Detective," one of the cops said to Michael as he saw him. Michael barely shook his head before he took the gloves that were handed over to him. They looked at Michael as they saw me, probably wanting to ask what my business here is. 

"She's with me, she's a detective," said Michael, and the police quickly shook their heads and handed me gloves. I grinned at him and thank him, he seemed to get used to seeing a detective that he didn't even smile back at me.

"What's going on? "Michael began asking questions as the police were leading our way through the crime scene. We went to the house where the body of an elderly man was lying there with blood running over his body. 

"This is George Baker, 57 years of age. He was shot dead several times and found by his wife." said the cop. 

I kept staring at Mr. George Baker's dead body while the crime scene photographer is starting to take photos of him. 

It was said that he died because of gunshots, depending on where he was right now. He's in the kitchen and he's just about to have dinner until someone shoots him.

The evidence recorder is beginning to pick up potential bits of evidence, and I watch them do their job properly. I cock my head to the other side, and I began to realize that something was going on. 

When I heard a sob coming from a lady, I was stopped. 

"George, my love! Why do you have to leave me like this?" The lady is weeping her heart as she was attempting to get closer to the body of Mr. George Baker.

She's probably the one who found the victim's dead body. She's wearing a red lace dress, and her blonde hair is tied up in a messy bun. She appears very young to be the wife of the victim. She looks more like a daughter than a wife. But I couldn't judge her; is she perhaps the second wife or something? 

"She's the wife," I was astounded when I heard a familiar voice coming from my back. And when I looked at him, I was right, the voice came from Pahmares. He grinned at me as our eyes met, and I was so mesmerized by his smile and presence that it took me a few seconds before I smiled back and greeted him.

"Pahmares!" I said that, and he smiled at me. "You're here!" I know it's not unlikely for him to be here, but I'm really shocked that he actually came and I really saw him again after days of not seeing him.

"Are you finally being recognized by your team and now you're in a real crime scene?" he asked in a small voice as he started to glance around. 

"Kind of," I shrugged my shoulders to him. Still not sure if I'm really going to be recognized, or Michael really needs an assistant. At least I get to be part of it, though, and I didn't just waste my entire day looking nowhere in our department. 

"You should start doing your job, I'll go there and ask for other details for later," he said, patting my shoulder before he began walking towards his team. 

"Oh... okay!" I'm not sure if he heard me, but I still said that. I went back to look at the wife of George Baker.

“Go and start asking questions, Detective Mayari…” said Michael when he gets close to me. “I just need to check the whole place to search for more evidence,” he continued, so I nodded at him.

“Alright, I’ll start with his wife.” I smiled at him and he just nodded at me.

I went close to his wife who is still busy crying as one of the officers is trying to calm her down. Although I don’t think she’s in the right mind to be interviewed, I still need to do my job and ask her now.

We don’t have forever here and I can’t just sit here waiting for her to be ready.

“Excuse me,” I said politely and she immediately looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I know you’re probably still in shock but I need to ask you some questions for us to be able to solve your husband’s death.” I continued.

She nodded her head and tried to wipe the tears on her face before she looks at back at me. As if telling me that she’s ready to answer my questions now.

I only took a few seconds to read the papers that the officer handed to Michael. It says that the time of death of George Baker is 10:35 in the morning.

“What time did you find the victim’s body?” I started asking.

Her forehead creases a little “I saw his body around 10:40 or 10:30’s… I don’t really remember. I just heard some gunshots then I immediately know that something is wrong so I went downstairs and found my husband lying there.”

I nodded my head and listened to her carefully while I try to write whatever she’s trying to say.

“Is there any person you know who’ll probably go to do this?” I asked.

She shook her head “My husband is the nicest person and everybody loves him. I can’t think of anyone,” she started crying again.

Loved by everyone

That’s what usually people say when someone dies.

“Sir, you’re not allowed to go inside. This is a restricted area,” I heard an officer saying as he tried to stop a guy whom I think is the same age as the victim’s wife.

“What do you mean I can’t go inside? This is my house and my father’s the one who died!” he said in a frustrated tone as he tries to push the officer that’s stopping him from going inside.

So, this is the victim’s son? I looked at Michael to try and ask if the victim does really have a son and he only nodded at me.

“Let him in,” said the wife of the victim. The police officers tried to ask for our help and Michael just nodded.

They let the guy inside and he immediately went to his father’s dead body. When he tried to touch it, I stopped him. “You can’t touch the body or your fingerprint will be imprinted and you might become a suspect,” I said to him making him flinched a little.

“Even if he don’t touch him, he’s probably really going to be the suspect!” said the wife making every one of us look at her.

Hmm, I guess something is becoming fishy here.