I don't know why it was so but it seemed like our little group had a knack for getting into trouble - involving death. Only two weeks since our return from the horrendous 'holiday', cut short by two dead and several injured including myself, and here I was talking on the phone with Paul who had become a suspect of a murder at his colleagues' house.
"Don't worry Paul," I said into the phone, "I'll grab hold of Adrian as soon as I can and be there with him."
"Thanks Peter," he replied. "Adrian's phone is usually busy and I was only allowed one call so I decided to get to Adrian through you. Hope you don't mind the intrusion."
"Hey, come on now. Don't talk like that. I'd never mind a call from a friend, certainly not in a matter like this. Keep a cool head; we'll come to the police station and clear things up."
As soon as Paul hung up the phone, I dialled Adrian's number. It was busy, as expected. He was growing more and more popular with each new case he solved. As a result, he was always getting calls and emails asking for his help. I left him a voicemail and went to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. I never drank tea and coffee was an occasional thing when I either ran out of juice in the fridge or was tensed which I was right now.
It was twenty minutes later when I was busy cleaning the dishes that the phone rang. Washing my hands and wiping them on my trousers, I walked over to it to see who was calling. It was Adrian.
"Hello?"
"Hey, I got your voicemail." It was Adrian. "What's this with Paul a suspect and all? What happened?"
"Well, apparently Paul was attending a small birthday party at his colleagues' house when the lights went out suddenly. When the lights came back on, the birthday boy was dead, stabbed in the neck with a medium sized knife."
"And Paul is a suspect because?"
"He was standing next to the victim at all times. There's one other suspect."
"Only two suspects?"
"Well, they're the major ones. They were standing on either side of the dead."
"That doesn't sound good." He paused, probably thinking of what to do next. "I'll be heading over to the police station. Will you come?" he said, making up his mind.
"Of course! Paul's been suspected of a murder, why wouldn't I be there?"
"Okay then, see you there." With that, he hung up.
I tried to get a hold of Antei but his mobile was switched off. I left him a message explaining the situation and telling him to get his ass to the station or call me as soon as he was able.
Charlie was away in another state with his family, recovering from his injuries (a stab wound in his abdomen) he had received while on the holiday so there was no way he was coming to the station.
That left Michael.
"Paul's the suspect!" I had exclaimed on the phone to him.
"And Adrian's the detective who'll be no doubt taking over the case. As long as it's him, you don't have to worry and neither do I. Take it easy Peter and tell Paul to do the same. Adrian is more than adequate for Paul," he had replied.
I guess it's good that he has such faith in Adrian, I thought. But still, his nonchalant manner in the matter unnerved me.
In the end, it would only be me and Adrian in the station to help Paul.
Because I'd sent my car in to the garage for servicing, I had to take a train to the city. The ride was rather uneventful except for a short brawl between two drunks that I witnessed occur in the next carriage. By the time the train rolled into the station, the drunks had calmed down and were sitting calmly opposite each other. I could never understand people who drank or their actions when drunk. Putting that thought aside, I started walking to the police station.
The police station was a measly five minutes' walk away. I was there in three.
I found Adrian conversing with Inspector Cuthbert when I entered the building. He nodded at me as I approached them.
"Hello Peter. Here for the same reason as Adrian I suppose?" Cuth asked.
"Of course." I turned to Adrian. "When did you get here?"
"Just a few minutes ago. I was having a pleasant talk with Cuth about Paul's situation."
"Oh please, the talk was anything but pleasant. I've never seen you worked up like this before," Cuth retorted.
"That's because I personally know Paul and he is completely incapable of murder," Adrian said. From the look on Cuth's face, I could sense that Adrian had probably repeated that particular sentence in his 'pleasant talk' with the inspector.
"Who was the one who repeatedly chided me on emotions interfering with logic?"
Adrian looked away, irritated.
"Look," Cuth continued, "I understand that you're upset about Paul being suspected. And you're probably right about him being incapable of murder. But, as an inspector, I can't rely on your claim alone. I need evidence. The law requires-"
"I know all the technicalities." Adrian looked at Cuth, a twinkle in his eye. "You're giving the case to me, aren't you?"
Cuth shrugged. "You won't leave me alone otherwise."
I gave Adrian an amused look. "Aw, you do care about us all."
"Of course I care. What do you think I am? A robot?" he replied with a snort.
Just then, Paul and another man stepped in the room, followed by a police officer. The moment Paul saw us, his eyes lit up.
"I knew I could count on you two!" he exclaimed.
"Sir," the police officer behind Paul said, addressing Cuthbert, "Their interrogation is complete."
"Thank you constable," Cuth replied.
"Ah Cuth," Adrian said, "Since you have put me on the case, may I interrogate them myself?"
"There's no need for that, I'm sure the official interrogation has been recorded. You can use-"
"It's not the same as direct interrogation," Adrian interrupted. Then he stared at Cuth. "May I?"
"I've had a long day and I don't want to argue with you anymore. So, go ahead."
The interrogation was short-lived as Adrian asked Paul and the other guy (his name was Lance) only what had happened immediately before and after the incident.
Apparently, after having a small party outside on the lawn of the house, they had proceeded into the house at around nine at night. All of the people present were seated around a long table. Instead being seated at the top of the table, the victim (Damon) had taken a seat at the middle of the table. After the cake had been brought and Damon had blown the candles, the light had suddenly gone out. At that moment, in the sudden darkness (both Paul's and Lance' account matched), they had heard a grunt and a thud as something (it was clear now that it was Damon) hit the table. Someone had taken out their mobile phone and used the light to see what had happened. To their horror, they found Damon spasming on the ground, a knife in his neck and blood gushing out from the wound at an alarming rate. The ambulance was promptly called. But by the time they arrived, Damon was dead.
"They think one of us did it simply because we were standing next to Damon," Paul complained.
"I sure didn't kill him," Lance declared. "It must be you."
"Hey! Stop accusing me! You don't have any proof against me. It could well be you!"
"Calm down, both of you. Mr. Lance, as Paul said, you shouldn't go around accusing others just like that. You need proof," Adrian turned to Paul. "I'll bail you out."
"What about me?" Lance asked.
"Well, unless you can find someone to pay for your bail money, looks like you'll be staying here. Enjoy the food."1593Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kNai7f1JA
