NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24: Change of mind
The next morning at 6 am, Aiden waited outside the station for Ryan and Daniel. The wind was cold, and the weather freezing. The air smelled of mud, a sign of impending rain. The clouds played hide-and-seek with the sun.
"Hey! You're early today," Ryan said cheerfully, approaching the station. As he reached Aiden, Aiden spoke, "Aren't you getting a little too frank? I'm your senior."
Ryan stood beside Aiden, imitating his way of standing. Both arms crossed, eyes fixed on the road. "Greetings, sir," Ryan said with a straight face.
A tone little too serious. Like a robot.
Aiden nodded.
"Except it or not, you have started liking us. We are a family," Ryan said with a decent smile. Not a robot any more.
"No, you are wrong," Aiden replied, his tone less serious, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Daniel Christopher reporting for duty, sir!" Daniel announce, startling them from behind.
"Gosh! You startled me," Ryan exclaimed, sounding out of breath.
"Where did you come from?" Aiden asked, eyes fixed on Daniel.
"You both were talking; I sneaked from the back. It was quite easy, actually," Daniel replied.
"Okay, let's go," Aiden said, walking toward the car parked on the side of the road.
"Where?" Ryan asked from behind, and Daniel poked him.
"Don't question him again," Daniel whispered, but it was apparently too late.
"You questioning me again? Young man?" Aiden spoke. Nobody answered.
Aiden and Daniel sat in the front, while Ryan occupied the back seat. They sat in silence, but soon Aiden's voice shattered the calm.
"We didn't get a warrant. They said, and I quote, 'you don't have any evidence except that stupid poem that can mean anything.' "
"Did you hear the rumor?" Ryan asked Aiden.
"What?" he questioned.
"Edgar and Aurora, his wife, they're both on a trip, outside, somewhere in another country," Daniel replied.
"Huh?" Aiden looked shocked. "Why?" he asked.
"It's their anniversary," Ryan replied.
Aiden was hungry, so they decided to eat breakfast at a diner.
The only restaurant opened at that time was "Shadow's Food," so they decided to eat there and discuss their next move.
"What an odd name," Daniel said. Sitting in the car, parked right outside the restaurant.
"It looks like it's been named by Tristan," he continued.
"What do you mean?" Aiden asked Daniel.
"Well, I mean, his poems have a lot of usage of the word 'shadow.' He refers to the greamripper as 'the shadow.' He even called himself 'the shadow,'" Daniel shrugged.
"Like in which verse?" Ryan asked from the back seat.
Daniel recited, "A shadow, through the world he roams, In hopes of finding his home.
Poor he, won't ever find one, Until burns the moon and vanishes the sun."
They left the car and entered the restaurant.The scent was heavy. The restaurant had a theme of orange and yellow. They took their seats.
Daniel, having already eaten breakfast, ordered only a cup of coffee, while Aiden and Ryan opted for chicken sandwiches with drinks.
As they waited for their food, they discussed the case.
"We have two options: either find the person who placed the phone or search for Mr. Someone," Aiden said.
"The person who placed the phone was trying to help, I suppose," Ryan added.
"I think Mr. Someone might have helped us too, without us realizing," Daniel said.
Aiden agreed, "Yeah, probably. But they should have come directly to help."
Ryan countered, "I agree, but what if they're not in a good spot? What if us searching for them makes their life harder?"
Aiden proposed they could be the same person, but Ryan and Daniel disagreed.
"What do we do then?" Aiden asked, and their food arrived.
"Well, for the time being, you both eat your sandwiches, and I'll tell you a story to keep you company," Daniel said.
"Let's just discuss the case," Aiden replied, but they eventually agreed on Daniel posing a riddle:
"An officer was involved in a murder case. He was, at the start, at the murderer's side. For some personal reason. But then, getting to know more about the victim's life, he wanted to help. He helped indirectly, making the case easy, and yet he made it more difficult because the evidence came out of nowhere. The officers were confused and baffled. But he still insisted on hiding in plain sight and helping to disclose the case and expose the murderer. Did he do right or wrong?"
"Right," Ryan said with a shrug, his mouth full of sandwich.
Aiden laughed and disagreed. When asked to explain, he said, "The case can't be fully solved until the helper, also included in the murder, is punished, not rewarded. His reward will be used to reduce his punishment for being involved in the first step. He should come out and explain himself and face his consequences."
Aiden got up and paid the bill. When they were back in the car, Ryan asked Daniel about the answer of the riddle.
"What was the right answer? "
"There is no right or wrong answer," Daniel replied. "There is just a better and worse option." Daniel continued, "Decide for yourself which one is the better one."
Time passed quickly, and they arrived at the police station. Before anyone could exit the car, Ryan began speaking in a low tone, his gaze downward. "I," he started. Both Aiden and Daniel turned back, looking directly at him.
"I have something to confess," Ryan continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please take the car somewhere safe." His gaze remained down. Daniel smiled and nodded once, while Aiden appeared confused.
"This might be the most confusing day of my life," Aiden said, starting to drive again.