When Lyra was having breakfast, someone rang the doorbell. Her mother approached it.
"I wonder who it is," Jea thought.
As she looked at the screen of the doorbell camera, she saw a police officer standing outside. The officer, whose name was Jale, spoke up.
Jale had come because he learned that Alfred's death wasn't an accident. Someone had murdered him. Jea remembered the previous police officer who had investigated her husband's case. She closed the gate and spoke to Jale outside, not wanting Lyra to hear what the officer had to say.
"What is it, Sir Jale?"
"Ma'am, I have some news for you. I apologize for what happened six years ago. The team I assigned to the case found something they missed. I'm here to tell you that your husband's death was not an accident."
Jea was shocked. She wanted to cry but held back the tears. She thought to herself, "Who could do this to my husband?"
"What proof do you have?"
"Our team found a ring at the scene of the accident. You said that Alfred didn't wear any accessories, right?"
"Yes, he wouldn't wear his ring. He was always afraid of losing it or that it would get stuck somewhere. It was also getting too tight for him, so I stopped him from wearing it."
"What did the ring look like?"
The police officer showed Jea a plastic bag containing the ring.
"Ma'am, do you remember anyone you know who might have a ring like this?"
"I don't know," Jea replied.
"Maybe it's someone your husband worked with," the officer suggested.
"Maybe," Jea said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Please, find the person who killed my husband," she pleaded.
"Of course, ma'am. You can count on me. I'll let you know as soon as I have any information."
"By the way, ma'am, where did your husband work?"
"At Star Company," Jea answered.
"Star Company?" The police officer seemed surprised.
"Yes," Jea confirmed.
"Okay, ma'am. I'll be on my way then."
"Thank you," Jea said.
The police officer left. Jea felt a deep sadness. She wanted to cry. Whoever had done this to Alfred would pay. She went inside the house.
As she entered, she saw Lyra leaning against the door.
"Lyra, why are you there? Where did you go?" Lyra asked.
"I just went to Aling Rosa's house across the street," Lyra replied.
"Oh, I see. You must have been chatting with her for a long time."
"Yeah, something like that," Lyra said.
Lyra noticed her mother's eyes and wondered if she was just blinking or crying. She went outside to the garden and opened the small house filled with flowers. She remembered her father. They often spent time there together.
Flashback
"Dad, carry me!" Lyra begged.
"I don't want to. You're too heavy," her father said playfully.
"Why did you put me down, Dad?" Lyra said, pouting at her father.
"Come on, Dad. I'll be sad if you don't. Please!" Lyra insisted.
"Alright, alright. Let's play hide-and-seek. You're it this time."
"Okay, I'm it. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. I'm coming, dad!"
Young Lyra opened the garden door and saw her father.
"What are you looking at, Papa?" she asked.
"Look at this flower. It's so beautiful, isn't it? Do you believe me when I say that if you put it on the tree, it will bloom with many flowers tomorrow?"
"Hmp, you're just kidding.I Don't believe you , dad. I caught you. You're it!" Lyra said, messing up her father's hair.
"Don't be silly, dad. I caught you. You're it!" Lyra shouted.
"Lyra, Alfred," Jea called. "Come on, dinner's ready."
"Okay, Honey, let's go. Lyra, come on," Alfred said.
Lyra remembered how they often watched the stars outside with her father. He always told her strange stories, which she loved as a child.