The next day, when Leon went to the college, it was closed. So he decided to drop by Layla's house to meet her and spend some quality time together. However, when he was about to get on the train, he got a call from college saying the cops were asking for him.
Leon didn't want to go back to college, but he knew if he ignored the call, the cops would come to his house— which was more annoying for him. So he reluctantly went back to college.
He went to the room he was told to and noticed there were a few more of his classmates, 6 of them to be exact. When Leon entered the room, they started gossiping.
"Is there something wrong?" Leon asked with an innocent look on his face.
"No, we are just surprised that you are also called here," the first classmate replied.
"Why are we called here?" Leon asked as though he was completely oblivious about everything.
"You don't know?!" the second classmate exclaimed in surprise.
"No." Leon shook his head.
"Do you know that guy who was bullying you yesterday?" the third (female) classmate asked.
"Yea…h."
"He was found dead in the pool," the fourth (female) classmate replied.
"Well, they didn't announce anything yesterday and just dismissed the classes. So I won't be surprised if other students don't know about this incident," the fifth classmate added.
"So, why are we called here?" the sixth (female) classmate asked. "Surely, they don't think that one of us did it, right?"
"No, but you are the suspects." Two detectives entered the room. They glanced at the seven students and marked them on the list.
One detective looked to be in his late fifties. He had a small beard and a long mustache. The second detective seemed fairly young, young enough to be called a teenager.
"Only seven are here. Where are the last three?" the old detective asked.
"How would we know?" the third (female) classmate replied.
"Well, seven are enough. I am sure we can get enough information from them," the young detective commented.
"Excuse me, but who are you? You look too young to be a detective," the second classmate remarked.
"You can refer to me as Mr. L," the young detective answered.
It was the common rule accepted by the entire world that all the government officials or the people who worked for their respective government shall be addressed only by the initials of their name. Not complying with that rule can get anyone into prison for a minimum of three years.
The second classmate furrowed his brows and asked, "Are you the country's most genius person? The one who graduated from high school at the age of 9 and completed the higher studies at the age of 12? Then, gained an international experience training program at the age of 14. And in three years, you have solved 199 cases, including the infamous case of the serial killer Josh?"
"Ooo! Someone has done their homework on me," Mr. L said.
"I am your big fan, bro! But you look different than the photos," the second classmate reached his hand forward to shake hands with Mr. L.
"We can do that later. First, I want you seven to answer my questions, honestly," Mr. L asserted.
After asking questions to the six classmates, Mr. L turned to Leon. He checked the notes on his report and asked, "So, you are the prime suspect behind this."
Leon gazed at Mr.L with an emotionless look on his face. He nodded and said, "So, what are your questions?"
"There are no questions for you, Leon. But do you have any proof that can prove that you haven't killed Ray Marriat and the guard?"
"What guard?" Leon continued his act to play dumb.
"No need to play dumb in front of me," Mr. L remarked. "I have solved 199 cases in three years; 70 of them had no leads, yet I found the culprits and brought justice to the victims."
"Do you mean 'framing innocent people' as culprits?" Leon commented.
Mr. L raised his brows and scoffed. "I see, so you are a tough one. I like it."
"Excuse me, but do you have any idea who he is?" the fourth (female) classmate said to Mr. L.
"I don't care who he is," Mr. L remarked.
"He has only been here for one day, that too only half-day. And he was bullied by Ray. How can you even suspect an innocent boy like him?" the fourth (female) classmate stood up for Leon.
"That's exactly why you all are called here," the old detective finally said something. "You all are the victims of Ray's bullying. So if anyone has killed him, it has to be one of you."
"I think it's pretty obvious that his death was an accident," the sixth (female) classmate uttered.
"That would have been the case if another body wasn't found on the campus," Mr. L stated.
"Wasn't that also an accident?" the first classmate wondered.
"Two deaths by accident? On the same day. And both deaths weren't captured on cameras because they malfunctioned. Do you truly think it was an accident?" Mr. L asked as he glanced back and forth at everyone.
"Even the backup drive was clean," he added.
"...!" Leon didn't show the change in expression on his face. 'There was a backup drive?' he thought to himself.
'But… he said it was clean, so I am safe.'
Suddenly, the door opened, and a girl walked in.
Everyone looked at the girl with puzzled and confused looks on their faces.
"Uhh… excuse me, but we are having an important discussion here," the old detective uttered to the girl.
"I know, and that's why I am here," the girl replied.
"But you are not on the list. Who are you?" the old detective asked with a curious and confused look on his face.
"She is Anna Townley," Mr. L stated. "I read the report."
Anna glanced at Leon and said, "I have a testimony."
****
Weekly target.
100 power stones - 1 chapter.
250 power stones- 3 chapters.
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Author's Note- I will not name the characters who are not important. Why? There are three reasons.
1) I am bad with names.
2) I am bad with names.
3) I am bad with names.