731PM: Solart City
John Norred: "Irene, you must understand. This could be the biggest opportunity that I ever get! Our family would never have to worry about money again!"
Irene Norred: "John, you can't just leave Elias and I behind. When we were married, you made a commitment."
John Norred: "Irene, we have struggled for money ever since Elias was born. That is six years we have been worried about our house payment. Six years of worrying about what we are going to eat for dinner. I'm tired of it. We need this money."
Irene Norred: "But if you go, there is absolutely no turning back, John." She looked out the window at the front of the house to see Elias playing outside with a random street cat. "The boy needs his father... and I need my husband." Her lip quivered as she spoke.
John Norred: "If Oliver and I can pull this off, we will have all the money we can think of. Does that not at least tempt you?" He said in desperation.
Irene Norred: "I would never think of leaving my family behind for something that could break us apart like that."
John Norred: "This won't break us apart, it will grow the possibilities we have as a couple, and as parents! Don't you understand that?"
Irene Norred: "What Oliver is asking you to do is an unforgivable crime, John. Nothing you could ever do, not even money could lead me to forgiving you. These words are not spoken by the man that I married, but from a boy who has no sense of what it takes to be a man."
As she spoke, Elias opened the front door.
John Norred: "You stupid bitch! Have you lost all of your common sense? Money is the only thing that can make us a real family again!" He shouted.
Irene Norred: "To me it sounds like you have just given up-" She noticed Elias walking inside as she spoke. "Hey honey! Is everything alright?"
John turned to look at where Elias was, clearly flustered.
Elias: "Mom, why is Dad yelling?" He looked confused, and a little frightened.
John Norred: "W-we were just-"
Irene Norred: "Your father and I were just practicing a few lines from a performance the Chief asked us to do at the Fireworks Show this year!" She quickly butted in.
Elias: "Oh wow! That's so cool. Are you going to be famous?" His eyes lit up.
Irene Norred: "Not quite, honey, but that would be quite amazing wouldn't it?" She walked over to Elias, crouching in front of him. "Why don't you go play some more, it will be dark soon?"
Elias: "Okay, I just heard Dad yelling so I came to make sure you were okay this time!"
John and Irene were married after just a year of being together, and had Elias a mere 4 months after. They fell in love at first sight, but over the course of the six years Elias had been alive, they started to come to many disagreements. Some say they rushed things, others say they changed, but what was an undeniable fact was that they were completely incompatible. For the past year, John had started to yell at Irene more often, and sometimes he would even hit her, leaving bruises all over her face and body. It got so bad to the point that she had to quit her job so people would stop questioning her. They did not make enough income with just John working to support the both of them along with Elias.
Irene Norred: "Everything is okay this time." She assured him with a big smile as tears began to fall from her eyes.
Elias: "But you are crying!"
Irene Norred: "Because I just love you so much, and I am so grateful that you are my child." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Now why don't you go play before your daylight runs out?"
Elias: "Okay, bye Mom! Bye Dad!" He then ran back out of the house. And returned to the street cat he was "taming".
All of this had been observed by an outside viewer. A humble old man watching from his kitchen window that had been open the whole time. Their neighbor, Mr. Riley.
741PM: Mr. Riley's house
Mr. Riley: "Come to think of it, I do recall something your father once said, Elias." His face now looked serious.
Elias: "W-what was it..?" He leaned in.
Warin clearly sensed some sort of tension coming from Elias.
Mr. Riley: "Do you remember the year that your parents performed at the Fireworks Show?"
Elias: "Yes I do. Why?"
Mr. Riley: "One day your mother and father were fighting in the living room, and before you walked in on it, they were discussing something."
Elias: "I vaguely remember that. Go on."
Mr. Riley: "Your father was telling Irene that Oliver had asked him to do a job with him. This job had something to do with the Carters. If I remember correctly, your mother mentioned that it was an unforgivable crime."
Elias leaned back in his chair, clearly taken back by what the old man just said.
Warin: "Are you positive that is what you heard?"
Mr. Riley: "As positive as I can possibly be."
Warin. "Mr. and Mrs. Norred performed at the show ten years ago... correct?"
Mr. Riley gave a nod.
Elias: "So that means my Dad could have been guilty too."
Mr. Riley: "I am afraid so, young Elias." He said in a somber tone.
Elias: "Thank you Mr. Riley. Let's go tell the others, Warin." He stood up.
Warin nodded as he stood up as well.
Mr. Riley: "I am sorry Elias." He said as he stood. "I know you did not expect to hear such a thing today, but if it can help your cause I'm glad I told you."
Elias: "Sure it hurts to hear, and it just adds to the list of reasons why I can't forgive my father, but my friend is hurting too. This will help him more than you know." He walked to the door.
Warin: "It will. Thank you." He said to Mr. Riley before following Elias.
The both of them then walked out of Mr. Riley's home, and back on to the street.
Warin: "Are you okay?" He looked at Elias as they walked.
Elias: "I think I know the real reason my parents are dead." He said, clearly avoiding the question.
Warin: "What is it?"
Elias: "It wasn't a stupid disease. Oliver Kauko killed them for knowing too much."