Chereads / A Murderer's Logbook / Chapter 4 - Chapter Three

Chapter 4 - Chapter Three

As I stared at the old shack, right where this crazy story began, a cold breeze swept through the woods, making me shiver in my clean white shirt and giving me weird thoughts. It wasn't just any breeze; it felt like a spooky reminder that the person pulling the strings on this weird story left a bunch of weird clues in this hidden forest place.

Thinking that anyone could find that messed-up book sent a shiver down my back. But what really freaked me out was that Chipego and I came here on our own, driven by curiosity and a lot of fear. In the quiet forest, it was just the two of us, looking around nervously, showing how scared we were.

We got to the shack, our bravery slipping away, both of us scared to open the door and find out what was inside. While Chipego went to check the rickety balcony upstairs, I stayed put, my eyes locked on the door that was kinda open. Then, suddenly, she saw something that made my heart race - the door was already open. In that moment, I had a bad feeling that only I could have, like we weren't alone in this creepy place.

"Hey, who's in there?" A voice yelled from the dark room, and it sounded familiar. I looked at Chipego and realized it was Mark.

"It's the police," I said, kicking the door open, holding a gun and a flashlight.

"Oh, Hi Adam. What are you doing here so late?" Mark asked, looking confused and curious, just like us.

Should I ask him about the lies? Was it even worth it? I wondered.

"We were on patrol and heard strange sounds coming from this direction," I finally explained, trying to choose my words carefully.

"Oh, sorry, I was just moving some stuff. This used to be my mother's place before she died," Mark explained.

I couldn't help but remember all the memories I had of this place, like the hole in the ceiling we made from playing too much, and the bed in the living room where we played games like Crazy Eights and Monopoly.

"Oh, sorry," I mumbled, even though I knew he was lying, because this house actually belonged to my uncle.

I couldn't resist asking more questions. "Who's the guy in the picture?" I pointed to a framed photo on a shelf nearby.

"It's my grandpa, Luke," Mark replied, shifting the frame slightly, like he was hiding something.

Chipego chimed in, "He was a good-looking guy."

It was clear she sensed something strange was going on.

Mark quickly picked up a box, even though it was open, handling it like it was super fragile and important. "Well, I think I'll head off now. You two keep patrolling, and we'll meet tomorrow morning."

"Sure thing, Sheriff," Chipego called out, and we left the house.

"Another murder with no clues," I sighed, looking sad and suspicious.

Chipego, always sharp, took out an evidence bag from her pocket, showing a field and a roll of tape. Did they have something to do with each other? It was a mystery that left us in the dark as we went back into the mysterious night.

Now, as we continued our patrol, the moonlight painted eerie patterns on the forest floor, and the distant hoot of an owl sent shivers down my spine. The darkness seemed thicker, the woods more mysterious, and the unanswered questions about that strange encounter with Mark hung heavy in the air. What secrets did this forest hold, and what mysteries would we uncover next?

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As we continued our patrol through the dark and mysterious forest, Chipego and I stumbled upon something unusual—an old cinema, strangely tucked away in the heart of the woods. It seemed out of place, a relic of the past amidst the trees and shadows.

Curiosity piqued, we approached the cinema, wondering what could possibly be playing here in the dead of night. As we got closer, we noticed a sign that read, "Police Only." It was as if the cinema had been reserved just for us.

Feeling a mix of intrigue and trepidation, we decided to enter, showing our badges to the uniformed officer guarding the entrance. He nodded and allowed us inside.

We took our seats in the dimly lit theater, the soft glow of the screen illuminating our faces. The film began, and we soon realized it wasn't just any movie; it was a documentary-style presentation about a man named Marcus Belling.

The documentary detailed how Marcus Belling had broken into the mayor's house, killed her, and stolen a precious diamond. Shockingly, this horrifying act had been caught on security cameras, and the twist was that Marcus Belling wasn't just an ordinary criminal; he was the president's secretary.

Despite Marcus's attempts to cover his tracks and dispose of evidence that pointed to him, one detail had slipped through the cracks. A small bloodstain on the mayor's doorstep, accidentally left behind when he had injured himself during the break-in, matched Marcus's DNA. This discovery had been confirmed by an official DNA test authorized by the state house.

My heart pounded as I realized the gravity of this revelation. Marcus Belling wasn't just a criminal; he was deeply connected to the highest levels of government. And the evidence wasn't just circumstantial; it was solid and irrefutable.

As the documentary ended, Chipego and I exchanged wide-eyed glances. This was far more than we had bargained for on a routine patrol. Jacob, the seemingly eccentric man we had been investigating, was tied to something much bigger, something that reached the highest echelons of power.

We left the cinema, the weight of what we had just witnessed hanging over us like a dark cloud. As we made our way back home, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. My wife, waiting for me, looked upset, her thoughts running wild.

"Is everything okay, Adam?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry. "You've been out so late, and with Chipego..."

I reassured her, my voice firm and sincere. "It's nothing like that, honey. We stumbled upon something unexpected tonight, something that goes beyond what we ever imagined. But you have my word, there's no affair. I love you."

She sighed with relief, her trust in me unshaken, even in the face of the mysterious and unsettling events that had unfolded in the woods that night.