Proofreader/Editor: Itane, Hwarang
-Who did this kind of a thing! Who! What kind of bastard!
Yes, it’s because I’m a detective. Because I’m a detective, the first thing I heard was that. When the detectives visit the bereaved, they show strong sadness and anger. Usually to the police, especially right after the incident, they might not show anger, but normally they question about the murderer.
But this time there was no such a thing like that.
It was only about being sad that the child died. There was no strong questioning or pressuring Jude to solve the case fast. If anything, Roy was the one who got mad. That looks normal right now. It’s the mother's side that’s weird that she got seriously mad at him.
Especially that expression, that expression with full of worry did not let go of him until the end. That wasn’t only full of sense of loss. Like seeing a ghost suddenly appear under the comfortable blanket at night, her face was pale with fear.
There is something that cannot be seen. And Jude who was thinking what will be the way to find out about that something, he lightly stood up from the seat and went to Roy and the lady who was still crying. Jude debated which one to interrogate first and approached to the lady.
“Ma’am, can we talk?”
“……Ah……. Is it a talk that we can’t have it here?”
“It can be little sensitive.”
“Ah, okay. Then where…..”
He turned to a stewardess, and she quickly told him they have an empty first class seat. They followed her guide and went into the side room –he didn’t forget to get amazed at the fancy inner room- He told the stewardess to go and do her work and sat down.
“What, talk…..”
“I’ll say it straight forward. Tell me your state.”
“Pardon? What state……”
“Simply. Like your financial status, problem with your family. It’s just a procedure so don’t get nervous.”
“Um……”
Looking like she’s hesitating, the lady put both of her hands on her knees. Her lips that she was kept getting bit, was pale and trembling. Her detailed manicured nails were also trembling.
“It’s embarrassing but….. After my husband passed away, we are having some financial issue. I can barely afford kids’ education with my salary…… The reason why we’re going to our relative’s house is because, I sold the house that we were living in. Until I find a cheaper house, we are staying there…. I didn’t have money for food also.”
“I see. Your husband…..”
“He died a year ago because of an accident. It was a car accident. Kids cried so much.”
“Ahh, then is El and Roy all from your deceased husband and you?”
“……That……”
He asked the question like passing by, but she couldn’t answer right away. She looked down and blinked her eyes several times. Her long eyelashes flinched, like she was wary of something.
“Why…..are you asking that?”
“No, I just thought that they didin’t look alike.”
“……..Roy…..is my first child. I got married when I was immature and had him. I was really careless…. I got a divorce with my ex-husband and got remarried. My husband was already married once too, so he had El. But he died a year ago and…… I don’t know what to do for the future.”
“Is that so? Then, did Roy and El have a good relationship? If they are step brothers, it probably was hard for them to get close.”
For another indifferent question, the lady’s eyes looked up. Her amber color eyes were shaking dangerously.
“Perhaps….. Are you suspecting Roy? That kid, did something to El?”
“I didn’t say it like that.”
“No way. Hah, it really doesn’t make sense….. That child, that child is a really nice kid…..”
“You’re not getting mad?”
The lady simper a few times like she’s dumbfounded. But Jude’s quiet stare did not leave her, and soon the laugh on her face disappeared. Her trembling chin flinched as if she were going to cry out.
“No, way….”
“Actually if you think about it little bit, it’s easy to figure out since it’s this situation. Even though it’s a plane that doesn’t have many passengers, it’s not easy to rule out a kid without anybody knowing. The one who can kill a child without any sound is either a very close person or family. I have to ask Roy first to know, but he could’ve asked him to go inside a bag and suffocate him to death. I’m gonna call Roy later, so I should ask him.”
“What, are you talking……”
“Huh? You can’t sense it? There was probably a sign. El’s joints were all dislocated, it’s not possible with your strength unless it’s a very healthy sports man.”
“De- detective…..”
“Even with the throat cutting, to rip it that much, unless with a sharp thing, you can’t do it with normal strength. There’s one person that comes to mind. Will it be more accurate if we can measure the size of the bruise on El’s solar plexus and Roy’s foot?”
“Detective…. What are you saying…..”
The lady’s breath was getting faster and heavier. Should I have brought a heart medicine? Jude worried a little, but asked apathetically.
“I thought it was weird when you didn’t ask who the murderer was. It was your mistake. The first thing a bereaved ask detectives is that. You should refer that next time……. Ahh, there can’t be a next time.”
“I…..I……”
“Did you incite it? To Roy? Why, did you have some kind of an insurance?”
“No way, that I killed El!”
A sharp voice rang in the room. The lady stood up with her face all red and breathed heavily and glared at Jude. But soon she became despondent. Tears started to fall on the floor. In front of Jude who was looking at her indifferently, she kneeled down. In a cry like an animal, broken words were mixed in.
“I…….didn’t know……. That much….. Kill…… didn’t…….. Roy did that much…….!”
“So it was Roy, why happened?”
“I just…… needed some money……. I was just….. really tired……. That’s why just…… just a small injury……. A small…….very small…….!”
“Is it an insurance?”
“I’m sorry…….! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, honey…….! I, I was just, planning to make a small…… a small injury like an accident……..! But Roy…… Roy……. Didn’t expect………! No way…… Someone tell me it’s just a dream…….. God……!”
I get why Alvin said it’s simple and not fun. Money and simple structure of a hatred of the step-brother. Those two got tangled and created a strange incident. It wasn’t enough to fill Alvin’s interest, or it can be a banal incident for him.
Now I should call Roy –When Jude stood up, the room door opened. And a brown hair young man appeared. He scanned his mother crying on the floor once and went to Jude with strangely calm face. The voice that was screaming towards Jude a while ago was now low. Jude was little tensed at his change and stood up properly.
“I guess you heard.”
“…….Mm. First, I want you to turn around with your hands behind.”
“…….You know, I really didn’t plan to do it. Just like what she asked, I was trying to slightly push him and hit his head on the restroom wall. I was trying to do it right but….. When El went inside the bag as usual, I felt like something exploded.”
“Okay, tell that to the counselor later. First put your hands back and turn around.”
“I hated him…….. I just hated him. I’m the son of my mom….. But, why did my mom have to take care of him after that ajussi died…… My mom, she was already having a hard time because of the money, why did he have to stick to us like a parasite……”
“Sorry, I’m not curious at all. So put your hands back……!”
Rattle! He didn’t even have time to scream –Why doesn’t this shaking change even in the first class room!- Jude collapsed on the floor right after the plane tilted a little bit. No, even before he collapsed on the floor, a strong hand grabbed his arm and twisted back. He moaned and bit his teeth –the vibration of the plane and the pain of the arm paralyzed his senses- a cold sharp needle-like tip touched his neck.
He looked down unconsciously and a shining metal pen tip was directly at the carotid. A trembling woman’s voice rang.
“Ro- Roy…..? Roy, what are you doing……..”
“If the Detective take me away, you are not fine either. You were trying to hurt El because of the insurance money, so you’ll be sentenced. Right, Detective?”
“……Pro...bably….”
“If I kill the Detective right now and say I did everything, I’m fine with that. If there’s a person who knows how to disappear, I’m good. I did it because of my mom, so my mom doesn’t have to get punished. So….. I’m sorry, Detective.”
Because of the strength from exercising, Roy’s hand that was holding his two hands didn’t move an inch. The lady held her scream, and when the blood stained pen shined, the door opened and almost at the same time there was a scream.
Puk! When the power that was pressing him down disappeared, Jude turned back right away. He looked like he got hit behind his head, Roy collapsed with his eyes out of focus. As soon as his knees touched the floor, he saw the face that was hidden behind him.
It was a face slightly smiling.
“I don’t have interest in stopping in this kind of situation, but it troubles me if you act this recklessly.”
“Uh……. You……”
“Kyaaaak! Roy! Royyyyy!”
The lady that was on the floor, hastily stood up and ran to her son. Alvin quietly said to the lady who ran to Roy on the floor.
“I just hit him. I didn’t kill him so relax.”
“What is this…….! Roy, Roy, Roy…….! Why, why did you……! Why did you…….Why El, why……! What do you mean because me, because of me……!”
“Uh? I guess the story was like that. It’s little different than I thought. No, it might be same.”
“…….What do you mean?”
Smile, Alvin smiled to Jude like a person who barely found something fun in a boring movie. Alvin turned to teary eyes, looking at him with a questioning face and composedly said.
“-Really, you didn’t know thing would turn out like this?”
“………..uh…… Wha….t?”
“If you wanted to make him get hurt a little, you didn’t have to ask your son. There was no reason that you obstinately did it? You really didn’t know this young man’s darkness in him?”
“What, are, you, saying………”
“So, Ma’am-“
Alvin smiled deeper and continued calmly.
“You really didn’t expect El to die?”
“What……. You……”
“Maybe you knew everything deep inside of you? You. You didn’t really like El, you only loved Roy, El was a burden for you to let your son have a better life.”
“No, no, wa…….”
“I’m disappointed. I thought you knew it and did this. Well, that’s fine.”
Just like that he really lost his interest, Alvin erased his smile and turned away. He went to Jude who was just handcuffing Roy and lightly put his hand on his shoulder.
“Did you get hurt?”
“……Ahh. Rather than that, how did you find out and come?”
“Since when the kid named Roy stood up suddenly. His face looked serious. I came here because there was an announcement that there will be another turbulence. I was also curious about the ending.”
“Is that so. I won’t-“
“Thank me? I understand.”
Alvin smiled really brightly. Tsk, Jude clicked his tongue like he doesn’t like it and made Roy who was still unconscious stand up. While he was using all his strength to withstand the healthy body weight, he turned to the lady’s side.
She looked like her soul went out. She was sitting down like an empty shell and kept repeating “I……I…..” like a broken wind-up puppet. She probably can’t smile innocently from now on. Because of the feeling that he got, he felt little uncomfortable. On top of her crying and screaming, a stewardess’s voice from the speaker covered it.
-This plane is arriving at Miami soon. All the passengers must remain seated and fasten your seatbelts.
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So that's how it was.....
Today was little late!
Continue to Part 18
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