The commanding officer announced in a booming voice, "We've apprehended the suspect. Let's proceed." Everyone nodded, visibly easing tension. A slender figure approached the officer, signaling him to join in the car while commending, "Good job, Steve."
Steve grinned and replied, "It was routine, Michael. The suspect cooperated, following instructions. It appears he's not our murderer." Michael concurred, acknowledging, "That should be the case. If he attempted to flee the palace, he'd walk right into our trap." As they conversed, Michael initiated the car's engine, heading back to the station.
"You are right, Michael. It seems our strategy of spreading rumors of cops being outside to catch the suspect was not necessary. Though, now the case has become more troublesome. If he fled and was caught in our trap, then we could have solved the case easily," said Steve with a sigh. Michael also expressed his agreement on the matter.
After that, during the drive, the officers engaged in a relaxed conversation.
Seated somewhat uncomfortably in the back of the police car, I overheard their dialogue, muffled by the glass partition. From the open windows on both sides of the backseat, I observed the different and unique areas of the city passing by—Wall Street had a vibe of New York, Kurfürstendamm had the vibe of Berlin, while Via del Corso had the vibe of Rome. Life seemed ordinary in these places, a typical day without any disturbances. People pursued their own activities, seemingly oblivious to anything that doesn't disturb their lives. The only thing out of the ordinary in the atmosphere was the police car, drawing attention everywhere it went. After approximately ten minutes of the ride, the car came to a halt, and the officers escorted me into the station.
The police station boasted a modern design with clear signage emphasizing functionality and security. The exterior exuded orderliness, featuring surveillance cameras for safety. Inside, a reception area handled inquiries, administrative offices dealt with paperwork, and interrogation rooms were equipped for investigations. I noted that almost all officers carried guns—mainly pistols and revolvers—along with steel sticks in their belts.
Steve and Michael ushered me into an interrogation room, instructing me to remain seated until someone arrived for questioning. They removed my handcuffs and exited, closing the door. After a brief wait, a man, seemingly of Eastern origin, entered. After seeing me, he gave a friendly and easygoing smile and introduced himself, "You must be Mr. Bittu. I am Qi Shu. I heard your music at the palace. It was mind-blowing." I was taken aback by his approach, expecting a more challenging encounter considering the forceful nature of the previous officers.
Qi Shu, around my height with an average face, appeared amicable. I reciprocated his smile, saying, "Thank you for the compliment, Officer Qi." As I stood up, he took a seat opposite me, adopting a more professional demeanor and expressing, "Mr. Bittu, although I admire your talent, I must proceed with my duties. I hope you will cooperate and answer truthfully."
The moment the officer changed his demeanor, I felt a chill run down my spine. At the same time, I felt as if he could see through me, as if I could not hide anything from this man—nothing, absolutely nothing. As a matter of fact, Bittu didn't know that at that moment, the officer had activated a skill. A skill named "thought." This skill helped the man know the thoughts of anyone near him. The only condition for the skill to be activated, though, was that the target must be in an excessive emotional state; no matter the emotion it may be. Qi Shu had used this particular skill to do a lot of things and rise in ranks too. He hadn't told this to anyone at all, as he knew that if anyone knew about this, he would not have a good ending. It's his most guarded secret.
When that feeling came to me, I felt my anxiousness rise rapidly along with a slight fear. Unknown to anyone, the moment the skill was used on Bittu, the seemingly ordinary coin that Bittu had gotten from John began to glow—not in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense that can't be seen by mortals. As it shined, Bittu felt his fear disappear like the dark does in the face of light.
Bittu became more confident after that. "I understand. I will answer all questions to the best of my ability," I responded, observing the transition from a friendly to a professional demeanor. Qi Shu then initiated the questioning, starting with, "First of all, do you know why you have been arrested?"
"I have a slight idea as to why," I replied, concealing my internal anxiousness.
"Oh... please do tell what you think," Qi Shu said, exhibiting a hint of surprise because, for a second, he couldn't read Bittu's thoughts at all. But when Bittu spoke again, he could hear. He shrugged it off, thinking it was his mistake for not paying attention closely to Bittu. He didn't know that it was because of the mysterious coin that was shining but stopped right at the moment, just as mysteriously as it shined. Though a change took place in the coin, there was no change on the surface but in the innermost part of the coin, it shed its original dull black and white color and now has shiny black and white.
"Is it because of... an assault
between a man and a woman?" I inquired, attempting to maintain a natural tone.
"No, it's not because of an assault but because of a murder," Qi Shu stated, his face devoid of emotion while he said this, showcasing his professionalism.
"What? Because of... murder? MURDER...?" I exclaimed, injecting a semblance of shock into my voice as I tried to be as natural as possible to not blow my cover.
Qi Shu, observing my reaction, reassured, "Mr. Bittu, calm down. You don't need to be overwhelmed. We will definitely capture the killer. For that, I hope that you will provide us with all the information you can think of. From your earlier statement, you seem to know something."
"Of course, Officer. I will help you with all I can. It's just that I didn't think... think that girl would kill him."
"What are you talking about, Mr. Bittu? The one killed is a woman, not a man," said the officer in confusion.
"Ehh... Did you say a girl?" I replied in confusion too. But seeing the officer agree, I said with a surprised face, "The girl was killed." After saying that, I added in uncertainty, "Did the girl... who was killed... wear a black dress?"
"You do seem to have witnessed the incident; if you can remember that," the officer said, expressing his agreement on the dress of the woman.
"Now, I get what happened, officer. That man was the one who killed the girl," I said with a face that showed realization.
"Mr. Bittu, would you please elaborate, I can't understand what you are talking about."
"Officer, let me tell you from the start." I said. The officer just looked at me as if telling me to continue. "I was resting on my bed with my eyes closed. After a while, I heard a sound coming from the window near the bed. As I looked at it, two people jumped into my room from the window; one man and one female. The man was the first to jump, followed by the girl. The man was empty-handed while the woman held a knife. The man seemed to be running from the woman. After they entered my room, they didn't start the fight immediately but instead looked at me. The man then requested me to help him while the woman ordered me to leave the room with a threatening voice while pointing the knife my way. I was very scared after that and immediately left the room and went to the lift to report it to the hotel management, but I first decided to go to the restroom. When I returned from the restroom, I heard someone speak, telling me to keep quiet and not tell anyone about what happened. After that, as I moved, I kept feeling that someone was following me, which frightened me a lot more. So, I decided to visit the police station, but I found that there are no police stations in the Abbey Roads. Hence, I decided to first attend the party at the palace and then report it to the police when the one following me would have probably left." I said as I tried to be as natural as possible.
After that, I stopped and looked at the officer who appeared to be thinking something. Taking the chance, I continued to say, "I wanted to report it to the two officers that arrested me, but they just captured me and brought me here and told me that someone would come to question me, which seems to be you, officer."
"Okay..., so you say that you have no hand in this murder and you are clean."
"Yes."
"Okay then, I got your statement. Now you can wait while I report it to the higher officials." The officer said while once again going back to his friendly state. Right at that moment, I felt most of my built stress and anxiety spent, which relaxed me. After all the taking the officer took his leave, while I was still left in the room.
I stood up and went near the door of the room. There I saw an officer, standing probably gaurding the room I was in. He looked like he was new, from his clumsy dress and position. I walked up to him and said, " I would like to use the washroom." I wanted to relieve myself as well as move for a while as I was too stif from the earlier conversation. The officer new and not knowing too much rules nodded and pointed to the restroom without talking anything else.
I nodded to the officer and went to the washroom he pointed at; the direction being west. I moved towards that direction and went inside. It was small pace that would fit at most three people at most. It only had one commode. There I relived myself as well as washed my face for a while. Just as I was about to open the door, I heard someone talking outside the door. From the voice it seemed to be of the same officer that interrogated me; Qi shu.
************
"Boss, it's confirmed. It's this guy that killed Sara."
"Yes, I used that, more so from the start."
"What should I do with this guy."
"I understand. I will tie the loose ends."
************
As I heard the conversation of the officer, my stress and anxiety that has just relaxed a moment ago, shot thought the roof. My mind raced as did my heart. I thought that, the interrogation was over and I will get some peace to plan what I should do further till the police find that imaginary guy, but it seems that fate has other plans. From the officers conversation many thing can be noted but most of those are not in my favor or outright dangerous for me.
When I thought all this, I made up my mind without wasting time. I need to run, escape this place, if I wanted to live even if that means getting the cops after me. The cold water that made me fresh not long ago, was now being used to cool and calm my heating mind.
I don't know why but as the cold water slide down my wet hair I remember something. I joined this game to enjoy fights that I always wanted, to do things that I was never able to, particularly when with them. I wanted to be free. Now fate has presented me before a violent scenario which will definitely endanger my life. As I thought all this, I felt the blood rush all over my body. I felt adrenaline rush through my body as all my anxiousness and stress started to convert into excitement and my body started to fell more powerful.
I opened the door and came out. I moved concealing all my thoughts. I came near the officer that was gaurding my room. I said to him, "Hey, I got a problem in the washroom, could you help me." The officer looked at me for a second, but didn't say anything and continued to gaurd the room. Seeing him not respond, I said, " You are guarding this room right. I was in this room and now I am in the washroom. I am sure you are told to watch and guard me not the room. So, why don't you follow me and help me, in this way you can keep track of me while also helping me."
Listening to me, the guy thought that made sense and gestured me to show what I wanted help with. I smiled as he agreed to follow me. I moved as he followed me. I came near the washroom and said,"look that doesn't work" I said pointing at the flush. The officer went into the washroom to check it. While he bent to do that, I moved in the washroom and locked the door.
Looking at the new guy, I was a bit unsure as to if I should really do that but, as I remembered the talk of officer Qi, my eyes started to get filled with madness and all I could say was, ".... I am... sorry" before I jumped on him keeping my one hand on his mouth while using the other to chock his neck. I used my legs to keep his legs in check, so that he wouldn't be able to call for help by banging the door. I didn't catch his hands as in the small space, the officer wouldn't be able to use them properly.
The guy struggled a lot, trying everything he could possibly do to survive. As all proved to be in vein, he decided to take the gun and shoot in self defence but, alas in the small space of the washroom he couldn't move his hands properly because of the commode. All this last for about three minutes, after that in the last attempt to survive the officer tried to fake death so that, the assailant will lower his guard and give him a chance but, fate was not in his favour because Bittu was too cautious, he didn't let go of the officer in just three minutes, he chocked the officer for the next two more minutes. After that, he loosened his grip on the officer to check if the officer was death and that was indeed the case.
After doing that, he took off the officers uniform and wore it while trying not to cause it any damage as that would give myself away to the others. He also made the guy wear his clothes. He then, made the guy wear his clothes. After that he made his hair and wore the cap and then opened the door slightly to check if there was anyone there. Finding no one there, he first tried to remember the way outside. After confirming and maintaining all he could remember and notice, he came out of the washroom.