In mama jenny's café, Jake was sitting across two men. He realized that both of them were feeling hesitant to begin a conversation with him so, he took the initiative.
"You know it's really rude of me that I don't even remember the names of people who often invite me for lunch when detective is not around." The duo wasn't surprised by his remark, because they had never spent time together to get to know each other. This was the first time Jake accepted their invitation.
"Well before we begin, we both would like to introduce ourselves. I am Bobby, but you can call me Bob", the chubby man raised his hand. "I am Ben", said the skinny man.
"So, what were you talking about back at the office?"
Feeling Jake's curious gaze upon them Ben replied, "Well, you know, it's 3rd of October."
"3rd of October?" Jake murmured and asked in confusion, "What do you mean by it?"
Bob lightly hit Ben with the back of his wrist, "Why are you making it so suspenseful! Just tell him already! He needs to know"
Ben realized that Jake was getting anxious by every second so he briefed, "Well uh—today is the day—when~ detective I mean Simon lost his wife—by the hands of Whites. So~ you won't see him today."
Jake was stunned by Ben's concise explanation. He stared with focused gaze and asked, "When… did this happen?"
Knowing that Jake would be surprised, Ben replied, "It was five years ago. Risa was investigating a case regarding illegal weapon supply and human trafficking. When she dug up the case, she found clues which led Simon to the targeted suspects even though they had strong backgrounds but Risa still did it without being scared of any of them. She was really out ordinary. After a couple of weeks, Risa had already found the real culprits—" "The Whites?", Jake cut in. "Yeah", Ben nodded.
"I am sorry to cut in but would you mind telling me about, Risa? How come I never heard of her?"
"Well, you joined eight months ago so it's pretty obvious that there is a lot you don't know about Simon…. Risa, was the only daughter of Chief, Vincent Hart", Ben replied.
"What!?", Jake was bewildered by the latter's answer. His forehead was covered in wrinkles. He now understood why chief treats Simon so differently. He never knew that Simon and chief were so close. Jake became curious and asked, "How did she die?"
"Now that is the most tragic part of Chief and Simon's life!", said Bob. Jake's gaze shifted from Ben to Bob. He leaned forward against the table after hearing Bob. He knitted his brows in concentration. "What happened back then?"
Ben sighed, "I can't tell you!" he paused and raised his hand for a bit, "It's not like—that we don't want you to know. It's just—that its really hard for me to talk about this. Therefore—Bob, please tell him I need to go to the restroom for a bit. I've been holding it in since we came here, so I hope you gentlemen could understand my situation."
"Sure thing, Ben. You drink after every ten minutes so this was bound to happen!", Bob criticized. Ben raised his mid-finger and left the table.
"Drunk Fucker!" Bob scoffed lightly. His gaze fell upon Jake, the latter was staring at him and waiting for him to begin the explanation.
"Sorry about that (Ahem!)—anyways—Five years ago, on the night of 28th September Risa suddenly disappeared. The next day chief learned from Simon that Risa was nowhere to be found. He filed an official search for her whereabouts. We looked for three days and four nights but we couldn't find anything regarding her disappearance. On this very day, Simon received a recording from Risa's phone number. It was nothing but the cries of his beloved wife. We tracked the phone and reached the designated area with whole searching unit. But when we entered the building—"
Bob ceased talking for a moment. On the other hand, Jake was getting restless every second so he asked, "So, did you…find her?"
Bob nodded, "Indeed we found her—"
"….", Jake waited for Bob to answer.
"—we found Risa's body—at several places." Replied Bob.
When Jake heard the latter part, he froze for an instance and asked to confirm like he heard Bob wrong, "I am sorry, d-did I hear you saying that you found Risa's body at several places."
Bob could see that Jake was flabbergasted after hearing his earlier reply so he ceased talking when he noticed that the latter was getting suspicious of him.
Jake stared at Bob with squinted eyes, "Let me tell you something if you are here to do some prank on me then you got me. You really got me with my guard down—"
Bob was taken aback by Jake's sudden response. He wanted to clear his misunderstanding. "But what I told you—"
"I know now you two are really doing some kind of prank on me. You can call your friend out so that we could finish this nonsense already regarding Risa or whatever", Jake intruded the conversation. "But Jake you are just misunderstanding some—"
Jake raised his hand and curled his lips upward in an awkward smile. "I suspected this from the very beginning—baiting me over detective's absence—making me bringing you two here for lunch—man! You two are really cunning. I have to give it to you Bob! You really got me!"
Bob became annoyed over Jake's self-predicted conclusion. "Look here boy! I am not fucking around! What I am telling you is 100% truth. I swear!" Bob claimed in anger.
Jake chuckled and shook his head, "I don't know what to say—but—you really are a stubborn man, Bob?"
Bob sighed, "I thought you were an intelligent boy—but it turned out to be the opposite." Seeing Jake's mocking expressions, he asked, "Do you want me continue or just end it here?"
"Now that you are caught red handed but still acting naïve, I think you should continue!", Jake scoffed with his eyes closed.
Bob held his anger in and continued. "In the same room where we found Risa, we also received a message from the murderers. It stated that you shouldn't have butted in…this is the final warning for everyone, if you come after us, we'll come after you first …and after that horrible incident, no one tried to pursue that case ever again which Risa worked for so relentlessly."
"What about the chief and Simon?", Jake ridiculed.
Bob was getting agitated by the latter's response but he remained unfazed on the surface but inside he wanted to punch him on the face so bad. But nevertheless, he sighed and replied, "Chief took a leave of absence but returned after few months whereas Simon—he was devastated. He tried to solve the case on his own a couple of times…but he couldn't find a single clue against the Whites."
Bob continued dejectedly, "A lot of us already gave up after that night but Simon never gave up since he saw his beloved wife dead before him. We all thought that he had lost it, even though chief argued with Simon daily over the case and wanted him to stop pursuing it but Simon rejected him every time."
In the meantime, Jake saw Ben returned from the restroom. "Oh! Your partner is here too."
Bob sighed again, "I am telling you kid, it's not like what you think it is. We both are grown adults and we don't like to fuck around like playing childish pranks on capable guys like you. But—if you are the one who is failing to understand the situation around you then I don't know what to call you more than an idiot. Since, you are new to this type of work—I think, I should tell you something which will come in handy in future."
"And what is that?", Jake raised his brows mockingly.
"Never rush in making decisions", Bob answered.
Jake opened his mouth to rebuke but he swallowed his words back right after he remembered that a few days ago when Simon advised him the same thing. He took a deep breath in and asked, "So, chief never reopened the case?"
"No—never", Bob shook his head slightly. Jake leaned back on the couch and directed his gaze downward. Meanwhile Ben arrived at the table and sat down with Bob.
Jake raised his head and looked at Bob, "Is it because he couldn't put the life of others in jeopardy because of his late daughter and detective?"
Bob nodded and didn't say anything.
"…."
The three men remained silent for a moment.
"Your order of three tacos and beef stakes is here." Suddenly a waitress broke the silence and put the order before three men.
"I am feeling hungry all of a sudden", said Bob. Beside him Ben furrowed his brows retorted, "Bob when is the time when you never feel hungry?"
"And when is the time when you are not drunk?", Ben rebuked.
In front Jake chuckled and said, "Bon appétit gentlemen!" and began eating.
...….
The sun was setting. In the National Memorial Cemetery Simon opened his eyes. He noticed that he fell asleep while he was shedding tears beside his wife's grave. He looked at the vast blue sky with a somber expression and closed his eyes which were filled with sadness. Simon got up and glanced at the grave one last time.
As Simon entered the parking area, he saw a man was leaning against his car. It was already dark so it was hard for detective to clearly see the face. When he reached a certain distance, he stopped in his footsteps and asked, "Can I help you with something?"
"—It's really soothing to hear that from you detective."
Simon was familiar with that voice. He became surprised to see the owner of that voice before him. "Jake! what are you doing here?"
"Nothing sir! I was getting bored without your company so I ditched the work and came here instead. When I arrived, I saw you sleeping calmly beside—you know—so~ I came here and waited for your return." Jake shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
Simon rubbed his neck and looked away and said with an annoyed expression, "You! young ones are so reckless." He reached the side pocket of his torso and grabbed the keys and toss it to Jake. "Here!"
Jake caught the keys and asked in confusion, "Why are you giving me the key?"
"Because it's your wedding gift! DRIVE YOU MORON! CAN'T YOU SEE THAT I AM TIRED!", Simon replied. He stood before the door where Jake was standing and staring at him like an idiot. Simon noticed his face and said, "Didn't I order you to drive if you don't want to then go back on your own."
Jake quickly recovered and retorted, "Who said that I don't want to drive this car of yours? Today, I will make you experience the true thrill of driving."
"Do something foolish and I will revoke your driving license", Simon warned Jake. Jake was taken aback and said, "Yes! Yes, I know!"
"Man! What a pain in the ass!", Jake mumbled.
Jake sat on the driving seat and fastened his seat belt. He looked at Simon and said, "Sir!"
Simon looked at him, "Hmm!"
"I just wanted to ask you something." said Jake without even looking at Simon. Simon expected that Jake would make fun of him as he usually does many times in the day. But he was speechless what Jake asked him next.
Jake confirmed the past from Simon which he mistook as a prank from Ben and Bob earlier. Everything Bob told him was truth. After confirming it he cursed himself for being an idiot at that time.
"Looks like I am fucked!", Jake thought.
Jake pressed the Strat button. The engine turned on. He accelerated and left the parking area.