EPISODE 7

CRIME 007

Now that everybody appears to be more interested in what I'm saying right now. Michael gave me a serious glance as if he was trying to tell me that I should keep going. 

"What son are you talking about? I-I just got my brother with me! You're nuts! "Elizabeth said hysterically before she went to take her "brother" with her. She made sure that no one would get next to him. "Stop talking about the gibberish! You know, I will file a case against you if you try to suspect us of something we haven't done. And right now, you're talking crap to a minor! "She screamed at me, making me shut my eyes tight.

As I opened my eyes, I felt like someone was looking at me, so I glanced around and then my eyes found Pahmares, he was just standing there with his eyes fixed on me. I feel like he's watching me carefully and hoping for something good to say. 

"Should we have a DNA test on your brother? I think our laboratory can do a test here to make sure that my claim is true. You and Greg used to date until you decided to go to marry his dad." I cock my head to the other side. "You said that this kid is your brother, but why does he look like Greg Baker?" I grinned gently at her, leaving her eyes somewhat wide.

"I can see if her mother had given birth to another kid," Michael went to disrupt me, and then I saw the nervousness in Elizabeth's expression. 

Greg stood up and went to see Elizabeth and the kid. 

"You don't have to go through all this, so why does it matter if Gregory is our son? It doesn't prove anything. You just started talking about our family past and didn't even solve the real deal here," he said before taking the kid's hand and squeezing it gently.

The little boy he called Gregory looked frightened as he blinked his eyes at me. 

I don't really want to involve a kid here, knowing he's a minor, but we're here to unveil the truth. I'm here to solve George Baker's murder. 

"Parents will do whatever they can to protect their own kids, even though they have to bear the consequences. It's the same thing with a kid; they'd do whatever they can to defend their parents." I slowly move into the picture frame where Greg and Gregory were in the picture. They're both carrying a gun, probably one of their hobbies together.

“Gregory knows how to use a gun,” I showed them the picture. “You guys are just trying to tell us that you or Elizabeth is the ones who killed George Baker even if it’s actually your son.” 

All the stories they told us is just to cover up the truth. They started to show us that they are pointing fingers at each other so we would really focus on the two of them. It’s probably true that Greg and George had an argument and he left to cool down himself but after that, their alibis are just made up.

When I looked carefully at the kid, he had bruises on his face and some part of his body. Elizabeth has messy hair that’s probably got pulled by someone and she just tried to tied it up. 

"You don't have a new boyfriend, but you're trying to have an affair with Greg again." I started to watch Elizabeth slowly faint and leaned on the chair beside her. "Greg and George had a fight when they found out about your adultery. When Greg went out, it was your turn to speak to George, and he got violent and began to hurt you because of his rage. And to defend you, your child was only trying to help you end up getting hurt, too. That explains all of his bruises in his body." Then I went to show them the pictures of her stiletto. "This is the murder weapon; it struck your husband in his head. And to cover up the fact that he was the one who killed George Baker, you begged him to shoot him over and over again only to prove that he died as a result of gunshots and let us think that it was Greg who did that because he's the only one who owns a gun here. You probably texted Greg about it, which is why he came back to help protect your child. Since both of you are willing to be in prison rather than risk your child's future."

"The killer is Gregory, your son..." I said to bring an end to my argument. 

All I've said is based on what I think happened, based on the facts and all the stories I've been told. I could be right or wrong, that could put my career in jeopardy. But I definitely hit the bullseye on the basis of how they behave right now. 

"Your child is a minor, and he will be brought before the juvenile court," said Michael. 

"Please, just have me arrested! Don't do something to my child; he's just trying to defend me! "Elizabeth went down to her knees and began to beg us.

“Don’t worry, since you tried to cover up the crime and lied to us. We will still file a case against the two of you.” I said and then looked at the officers to come and get them. Gregory will be put in rehabilitation since he is underage, a minor.

Self-defense is what happened and the judge will be the one who will decide for their punishment.

“Don’t take my mother!” Gregory snapped when the officer started to take Elizabeth. Everything went fast; I don’t even know what happened. I just know that Gregory pulled the gun from one of the officers and he pointed it at me. “This is all your fault.” He said to me and then he pulled the trigger, I was stunned, I trained years for this but everything caught me off guard that I couldn’t move.

The next thing I know, someone pulled me to the ground, and then instead of hard ground, I fell to a hard chest.

When I snapped back into reality, I heard them shouting, and then I saw Pahmares lying on the floor while I was on top of him.

“That was close,” he said and chuckled before he closed his eyes and tried to rest his head on the ground. “Wake up, Detective. You almost died,” he continued to joke around.

That’s when I realize that he risked his life just to save me.

“Detective Taylor!” Michael immediately went to approach me. That’s when I realized that I’m literally lying on top of Pahmares so I stood up and Michael gave me a hand to help me stand up. “Are you alright?” I could sense the concern in his eyes as he tries to look over my body to check if something is wrong.

“I-I am alright, Michael…” I said shyly because he’s becoming too close to me already that it makes me feel uncomfortable. Not because I am not comfortable having him around but because he’s showing me a lot of concern that it’s making me feel flustered.

He noticed that, so, he immediately stepped back and avoided my gaze. I turned my look at Pahmares who’s sitting on the floor while looking at the both of us. I went to reach my hand to him to help him stand up; he stared at my hand first before he took it and let me help him.

“I am so sorry,” I said and then bit my lower lip “And thank you so much for saving me,” when I turned my gaze at him. I saw that he is staring at me, too, he smiled at me and then his hand went to pat my head softly.

“You did a great job today,” he said softly as he gave me that warm smile making my cheeks slowly turned red.

No!

Not because I’m feeling butterflies in my tummy or I’m flattered. But because the compliment came from someone I idolized and it’s making me feel happy.

“T-thank you…” I looked at Greg, Elizabeth, and Gregory’s way and they are already cuffed and the police officers are now taking them to the police station for further investigation.

“But you should be careful more next time, the crime scene is usually a very dangerous place.” I blinked my eyes at him and listened to how he carefully talks to me as if I am a fragile one that he needed to be careful of.

I bit my lower lip. Embarrassed that I really got stuck on where I was standing earlier that an eight-year-old kid almost shot me, he could’ve been committed another crime today. Once should be enough, he is still young to even think of doing it again.

He should really undergo some rehabilitation.

“I will be careful next time,” I smiled at him, and in my mind… I’m really hoping that there will be another next time that I could be part of a real case.

“I guess I’ll see you more often from now on,” he said in a manly manner before his eyes went to look around the whole place.

“I’ll go and talk to the officer outside then we will leave after this and make reports, Detective Taylor.” Michael interrupted us and I had to nod to him.

“Oh… okay, Michael. I’ll wait for you in the car.” I said and he just looks at me with his sharp eyes before he decided to leave and do whatever he is going to do.

I went back to face Palmares. I noticed that he is holding a small notebook, too, where I think he’s writing there the piece of information that he might need in his report.

“I heard that you went to our department to ask the Chief if you could work with me.” I didn’t try to filter anything; I just want to get straight to the point now. I don’t know where will be our next meeting or when can I see him again so I have to ask him now.

It is now or never.

I don’t what got me interested in working with him. Is it because I idolize him? Maybe that’s one of the reasons. I know it is bad to use someone but part of me wants to take this opportunity, to work with him so that I could get more exposure in this field, and I could get more real cases to have.

Having Pahmares beside me will surely going to help me a lot with my job.

And I know that my Chief isn’t that crazy to just give me a case because of my connection. Having Pahmares would just help me to get acknowledge more by them and they will start noticing my abilities.

That’s what I am thinking.

That’s why I want to take the opportunity.

And I know he didn’t just pick because of boredom but because he saw my potential.

He licked his lower lip before his lips twisted a bit “I’m glad you mentioned that, I don’t really know if you’ll be interested in working with me because I am just a mere reporter and you’re a great detective.”

What he said made my heart flutter.

He really sees me as a great detective and I can’t help but feel good about it. He witnessed me solve a case today, and even when I feel like at some point I messed up, hearing him say that is like him telling me that he sees me as someone as great as the other detectives.

I was about to say something when an officer went close to me and said “Detective, a crime just happened nearby and since you are here, I think you could give us a hand and help us with the problem.”

I guess today is really a lucky day, huh?