A week later…
Chief Alejandro did not ask about the missing file, so Elizabeth was at peace.
"Hey, Hamilton." Elizabeth called in a whisper.
"Yes."
"Do you know anything about the previous Chief?"
"No, I came here a year ago after he had left. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, it's nothing… but, who has been here for the longest?"
"The chief, the rest of us came a year ago. It was said that there was a fire outbreak and most died except the chief though. He was really lucky to have been out at that time. Hahaha." Officer Hamilton laughed.
"Uh huh." Elizabeth nodded.
A fire outbreak? But a file of sixteen years was still intact?
A fire outbreak and the police station didn't even look like it was renovated a year ago, it didn't even look like it was ever renovated.
Elizabeth sat properly on her seat and her eyes met with Officer Louise, who was staring at her.
Elizabeth smiled at her but Officer Louise simply turned around.
Elizabeth shrugged and turned her focus to the papers in her hands. She was no longer new to her female colleague's cold treatment.
Elizabeth's phone suddenly rank and she picked it up without checking the caller.
"Yes?"
"It's me, Officer Brian. Please meet me outside at the corn field behind the station." The voice said and immediately disconnected the call.
Elizabeth stared at her phone with wide eyes, the voice was a familiar voice, one that she had heard only a few times.
She glanced at Officer Louise's desk but she was absent.
"I'll be right back, Officer Hamilton." She said to the officer on the desk beside hers. She stood up and went out to the empty corn field.
"You came." Officer Louise's voice said from behind her.
"...yes?" Elizabeth turned around.
"You…you asked about the previous chief, why?" Officer Louise asked, her lips trembled as she spook each word.
"Chief Kenneth Louis?" Elizabeth asked and squinted her eyes. Now that she thought about it, both officers had the same surname.
"Is he a relative?" Elizabeth asked again.
Officer Louise took a deep breath and answered.
"Yes, he is or…was my father." She chuckled sadly and added, "I was just surprised that someone actually remembered him."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Isn't it obvious? We bear the same surname."
"That can happen to anyone."
"Let's not talk here, there are a lot of eyes here." Officer Louise said.
Elizabeth looked around and saw an older woman at the other side of the field, staring at them from the door of her house.
The old lady smiled at Elizabeth and entered her house.
'What was that just now?' Elizabeth questioned herself and immediately followed Officer Louise.
"We didn't ask for permission to leave."
"It doesn't matter, no one would care anyways."
Officer Louise had brought Elizabeth to her own house, it was far from other houses and quiet. The house had a gloomy touch to it unlike the bright atmosphere that other houses had.
"Ha! Chief Kenneth Louis did not die in a fire." Officer Louise sighed and said.
"He didn't?" Elizabeth raised her eyebrow in question, though she already knew it was impossible.
Officer Louise nodded and took out a file from a suitcase and gave it to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took it and carefully scanned through it.
It was the report of an accident that happened on Sandeves road, the road leading to Vandhill.
-One casualty.
-Victim's name - Kenneth Louis
-Age - 53
The basic and necessary information of the victim were all written down but it was stated that he had no family members.
Elizabeth looked up at Officer Louise and asked.
"Why was the space for victim's family left blank?"
Her eyes brimmed with suspicion.
"That's because I came back a year ago."
"That is not very convincing, Officer Louise."
Officer Louise ignored her words and said.
"I saw the report case report you've been looking into for the past few days. Remember that seven years old girl ten years ago, that was me."
Elizabeth's eyes widened, she quickly brought out her small notebook and pen.
"Where you found and saved?" And by who?"
"I wasn't found. Please don't write anything down, if not for your good but for my survival."
Elizabeth gulped and nodded, she stuffed her items back into her pocket.
"The boy, what about the boy you disappeared with?"
"He didn't make it." Officer Louise shrugged.
"That…tell me the details later. For now, I want to hear all about Chief Kenneth Louis' death or should I say, your father."
"Vandhill said he died in a fire, the police of the town down the hill reported that he was a victim of an accident." Officer Louise explained and threw a few pictures on the table.
Elizabeth took the pictures, there were all pictures of a horrendous accident scene, the front of the car all the way to the driver's seat was crushed.
Officer Louise collected one of the pictures, pointed at the car and said.
"The damage this car has can't be caused by something small, but what caused such damage wasn't mentioned and look, the asphalt wasn't even scratched as if he never even attempted to hit the brakes."
Elizabeth knew that all Officer Louise said was true and everything made sense but at the same time, it didn't.
"Then if this isn't how he really died…do you know how he died?"
"I'm not sure but I have my suspicions. Don't you find it weird that a chief police was forgotten in the span of one year? And his body was found miles away from Vandhill but everyone said he died in a fire." Officer Louise pointed out.
"Are you suspecting the town's people?" Elizabeth asked.
"It wouldn't be too much if I suspect all of them, but as for now my main suspects are the current cheif of police, Cheif Alejandro and Richard Moore…it's clear that both of them knows I'm the missing girl but none ever bothered to ask how I came back." Officer Louise explained.
"It may…" Elizabeth was about to say something when her phone rang.
She looked up at Officer Louise before taking the call.
"Yes?"
"Eh, Officer Brian. You are needed here in the station." Officer Hamilton's voice sounded from the other side of the phone.
"Okay." Elizabeth gave a short reply and disconnected the call.
"I need to go now. Your shift is over, right?" Elizabeth said to Officer Louise.
"Yes." Officer Louise nodded.
"We would continue our discussion tomorrow then. I'll be leaving now." Elizabeth said and walked to the door. She suddenly stopped as if she just remembered something, she then turned to Officer Louise.
"Why did you bring me to your house instead of a cafe."
"You should have noticed by now… The sounds." Officer Louise gave an ambiguous answer but Elizabeth understood.
The music that was played at the town's centre, it was played from the early morning to late night, the song from the band was heard in every part of the small town.
Now that Elizabeth confirmed it, she was now sure that the music was somewhat like a hypnotic song that messed with one's brain.