The days at the orphanage passed in their usual rhythm, marked by the monotony of daily routines and the faint hope of adoption that never seemed to come for Janya Marple. She was sixteen now, no longer the small, shy girl who had been brought to the orphanage all those years ago. Her once timid demeanour had given way to a quiet, watchful presence, and though she was still reserved, there was a certain strength in her eyes that belied her young age. It was a strength born from years of solitude and observation, of watching and learning in silence.
It was during one of those ordinary days that something extraordinary happened—something that would change the course of Janya's life forever.
It began like any other afternoon at the orphanage. The younger children were playing outside, their laughter echoing through the old stone halls, while the older ones, like Janya, were scattered about the common room, engaged in their quiet activities. Janya, as usual, was sitting by herself, engrossed in a book. She had developed a passion for detective novels, finding solace and inspiration in the tales of clever investigators who solved the most perplexing mysteries with their sharp minds and keen intuition.
She was so absorbed in her reading that she barely noticed when Mrs. Parker, the orphanage's headmistress, entered the room, accompanied by an unfamiliar man. It wasn't until she heard Mrs. Parker's voice, slightly louder than usual, that Janya looked up.
"Children," Mrs. Parker announced, "we have a special visitor today. This is Detective Michael Turner from the local police department. He's here to talk to you about his work and answer any questions you might have."
The name caught Janya's attention immediately. A detective. Her heart skipped a beat as she closed her book, her eyes fixed on the man standing beside Mrs. Parker. He was tall, with greying hair and a serious expression, dressed in a dark suit that gave him an air of quiet authority. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him at first glance, but to Janya, he was the most fascinating person she had ever seen.
The other children seemed mildly interested, some more than others, but for Janya, this was an opportunity she never imagined would come. She had read about detectives and imagined what their lives must be like, but here was a real one standing right in front of her.
Detective Turner gave a polite nod to the room and began speaking in a calm, measured tone. "Hello, everyone. As Mrs Parker mentioned, I'm Detective Turner. I've been a police detective for over twenty years, and in that time, I've worked on a variety of cases—from burglaries and thefts to more serious crimes like assaults and missing persons. My job is to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and piece together clues to solve these cases."
He paused, scanning the room, his eyes settling briefly on each child. When his gaze met Janya's, she felt a jolt of something she couldn't quite explain—an unspoken recognition, perhaps, or just a mutual understanding. He continued speaking, explaining the basics of his work, the importance of attention to detail, and the satisfaction of bringing justice to those who had been wronged.
Janya hung on to his every word, her mind racing with questions she longed to ask. But her natural reticence held her back, and she remained silent, content to listen and absorb as much as she could.
After his brief introduction, Detective Turner invited the children to ask questions. A few of the younger kids, emboldened by curiosity, raised their hands and asked simple questions—how many criminals he had caught, whether he had ever been in a gunfight, what the most dangerous case he had worked on was. Turner answered each one with patience and a touch of humour, careful not to frighten them with too much detail.
As the questions began to dwindle, Janya felt a surge of nervousness. She desperately wanted to ask him something, to engage with him in some way, but the words seemed lodged in her throat. It wasn't until she noticed that the other children were starting to lose interest, their attention drifting back to their activities, that she finally mustered the courage to speak.
Her voice, when it came, was soft but steady. "Detective Turner, what made you want to become a detective?"
The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Janya. It was rare for her to speak up, especially in front of so many people. Even Mrs Parker looked mildly surprised. Detective Turner, however, didn't seem taken aback. He turned to face Janya fully, his expression thoughtful.
"That's a good question," he said, nodding slightly as if to acknowledge the seriousness of her inquiry. "When I was younger, I was a lot like you—I loved solving puzzles, figuring things out. But what made me want to become a detective was the idea of helping people, of bringing them justice when they've been wronged. There's something very fulfilling about uncovering the truth, especially when it seems like no one else can. It's a challenging job, but it's also incredibly rewarding."
Janya felt a warm glow of satisfaction at his response, her heart swelling with a sense of connection. She had asked a genuine question and received a genuine answer in return. It wasn't just his words that resonated with her—it was the idea that someone like her, someone who loved puzzles and understanding people, could find a place in the world as a detective. For the first time, she allowed herself to imagine that such a future might be possible for her, too.
As Detective Turner continued to answer a few more questions, Janya's mind began to race. She knew she had to speak with him again, to ask him more about his work, to learn whatever she could. But how? The idea of approaching him after the talk was intimidating, especially with Mrs Parker nearby, but she couldn't let this chance slip away.
When the Q&A session finally ended, Mrs. Parker began to usher the children out of the room, thanking Detective Turner for his time. Janya's pulse quickened as she realized she was running out of time. She stood up, clutching her book tightly, and made her way toward the door with the others, all the while keeping an eye on the detective.