Year 2022

"Did the police find any lead?"

"Sir Lucian, we have a murderer roaming among us, what can the police do to ensure that the public is 100% safe?"

"How is the investigation going? Is the police doing anything at all? Hello? Please, can you answer?" Another reporter chimed in, asking questions.

"Detective Lucian, you are the lead investigator on this case, have you really found nothing? All the suspects were seen released, what's the meaning of this?"

 More reporters started appearing out of thin air, all asking the same questions but every time it's rephrased.

My head...

Seriously, all I can see and hear are their mouths blabbering non-stop. I can't even catch a break with them buzzing in my ears like pests.

I'm Lucian Celeste, a detective inspector with black hair, blue eyes surrounded by dark circles, tall and my looks are pretty above average if I'd say so myself. Many people respected me when I first joined the force, and over the years I aimed higher, and here I am, with a pretty decent rank. I have solved many cases over the years– both alongside my colleagues and on my own.

But there is this one case that I can't solve. Every time when I think that I finally found some lead, it turns out to be a dead end.

"I cannot reveal much about the investigation, but I can say that we are doing our best to-" Someone cut in – a young, brown hair man, with fierce blue eyes, look at Lucian.

"How can you say you are doing your best, but all the suspects are released, and we haven't heard anything about the police finding any concrete evidence that points to who the culprit is? The public demands an–"

"I was about to answer, but you decided to cut in, young man."

Lucian answered, irritated by everything happening.

"As I said, we are doing our best to ensure that we catch the culprit."

I mean that's literally our job, obviously we are trying to solve it.

"I can't say much, but I found a new lead, but we must further look into it in case it's just a false one. And I advise the public to stay at home at night, and close their doors and windows properly, as the murderer hasn't been caught."

"I assure you that our top priority is to find the culprit, for both the victims and the public's safety."

Murmurings can be heard among the reporters, some are even checking their phone or notebook for more questions.

"Sorry, but I must leave now, thank you for your time," I immediately started walking to my car, then I saw Dan.

I looked behind, and thankfully they didn't follow me– some good reporters they are.

"Shouldn't you be at the station already?"

"Oh you know, I just couldn't help but enjoy how those reporters were, how should I say? Appreciating your hard work? Yeah that!" Dan snickered.

He hasn't changed at all since highschool, even if he managed to grow a whole ass beard.

Dan is one of my colleagues, helping me with some cases. Big and bulky, with chestnut coloured hair and eyes, however his personality-towards me- is...well, shitty.

"Oh God please, not with your so-called insults again," holding my laugh is harder than I thought as I burst out laughing.

I started walking to my car, as he followed me.

"Why are you laughing!" he yelled, walking aggressively.

"Please stop, you are embarrassing me," I sighed as passers-by snickered.

"Hey why are you following me?"

"Give me a ride to the station, my car is at the mechanic."

"Can't do. I have a day off after several weeks, and my wife and kid are waiting at home."

"Why are you even here then! It's literally 7 a.m. You wasted my time, tsk," Dan rolled his eyes.

"Oriana love this bakery's cake, but it's closed," I look at the sign saying 'close'.

"Oh Oriana? How is she? Haven't seen her for a while," his face instantly lights up, as if he's talking about his own daughter.

"She's fine, work's pretty tough for her, but she's strong."

"Ah well, working for the police can be hard, can't say we have it easy," he shook his head while smiling faintly.

"Right, by the way, this bakery's going to be closed for a while. Apparently the owners' son is going overboard to study, I think France?"

He stopped for some seconds, then continued, "Yeah France! He's going to study about pastries."

I looked at him.

He looked at me.

"What?" Dan asked, oblivious of what I'm thinking.

"How did you even know that? Even I'm close to them, but don't know."

"Never mind, I don't even want to know how you obtain such information" I lift my hand, as if I'm stopping him.

"God, just how do you think I know that? I'm just very close with them, that's all. And actually, everyone knows, but you don't because you were buried with work for the last couple of weeks."

"Anyway, I have to go now if you won't give me a ri- Oh never mind! Tiana's car! She's probably here for the cakes as well, found my ride, see you later Lucian," He gestured a goodbye then ran off to Tiana.

Now that he is gone, what should I do? The bakery is closed. How come I wasn't aware...

Was I really that busy?

Ah forget it, I guess I will just buy breakfast at another place.

Sigh

......................

I stepped out of my car, with a bag full of pastries, even though it's not my daughter's favourite.

I stepped in the house. The aroma of sweet tea filled the air.

Oh, they are awake?

Sigh

"What's with the sigh early in the morning, dad?" Oriana appeared, black hair and beautiful dark brown eyes like her mother's.

"Orianaaa!" I cried while hugging her.

"Woah there, calm down," she said hugging back.

"It's closed, and won't be opened for a while..."

"The bakery? Yeah I know, they told me a few days back."

"Are you actually upset because of some pastries, dad? Hhm, I mean yeah, I understand, it's deli-"

I broke the hug and grabbed her shoulders gently, and looked in her eyes, "But it's your favourite! You like it since you were young!"

"Lucian, they gave us some cakes just before they close," my wife, Evangeline, chimed in.

"WHAT?!"

They both looked at me, astounded.

"I knew he would do that, I told you mom! You should have just told him it's closed," Oriana sighed.

"No way, he hasn't been home for ages. Count it as a punishment for him," my wife, Angel–shortened for Evangeline– chuckled.

"Ah come here you!"

"No stay awa-" I grabbed her by the waist and gently pecked her flushed cheeks.

She's just so mesmerising. I love her so much. With her, we created a beautiful daughter.

I looked at Oriana, proudly and with a smile.

And we finally formed a perfect family.

"Come here, Ana, group hug" I extend my hand to her.

She smiled, a beautiful smile like her mother.

"Okay, but quickly, I'm hungry!" She took my hand and hug us tightly.

I feel like tearing up.

I hope nothing will break us, my precious family.

Year 2024

"Ugh...I just want to sleep," I sighed.

"Hey Audrey, want some coffee?" I sighed again as I got up from my chair.

"Sure," she said looking over at me, while sitting at her desk, "What's up with you sighing every second?"

Audrey Fay is one of my best friends, as well as my colleague–a brunette, tall, and pretty. She has been helping me since I became a private detective.

"Uh nothing much, just that I want to sleep," I replied, walking over to the coffee machine.

"We told you, a lack of sleep will affect you dude, you must sometimes understand," she shook her head, and showed me a disapproving look.

"I know, but I need to work on this more..." I poured the water in the cup.

"It's important for me, Audrey," I hand her the coffee, "Careful, it's hot."

"Look, I know how much you want to solve this, or at least get some clues, but you need to take better care of yourself," she paused for some seconds, "You know I can just tell your mom about how much her workaholic of a daughter is not restin-"

"OH NO YOU WON'T!"

"Oh yes I would, since she has been calling us to ask about you," she looked at me with a devilish look on her face.

She grabbed her phone.

"I swear to God, if you call her right now you-"

Beep Beep Beep

She put it on speaker.

"Hello? Audrey? Are you alright?" the voice of my mom came through the phone.

"Yes, hello auntie!"

"Audrey don't," I glared at her.

"Fine I'm going to sleep now," I whispered, for my mom not to hear, "Just don't tell her," I told her, and signed a big 'NO' with my hands.

She looked at me with glistening eyes, and signed back with 'Ok'.

That girl, seriously.

She continued talking with my mom, laughing and all. At least I know mom is alright.

The door suddenly slammed open, the whole building shook.

"Victor? Where the hell have you been? Are you alright?" I stood up and walked towards him.

Viktor Raphaël, my other best friend and colleague–dark black hair, tall, and often described as difficult to approach by many due not only because of his appearance, but also personality–appeared in front of me, sweating like crazy.

"Sorry auntie, I will call later, bye!" Audrey quickly hung up and ran towards him.

"Sorry, I was busy but forge-"

"Oh no, stop right there," Audrey cut him off mid sentence.

"You could have messaged us, informing us of your sudden disappearance," her face suddenly became stern, and her eyebrows creased with anger.

"Audrey baby, I'm sorry, seriously, I didn't mean to," Victor grabbed her shoulders gently and looked into her eyes, "but I got a good excuse this time," he grinned ear to ear.

"Oriana, for God's sake hold me before I kill him," she said, grinding her teeth and clenching her hands into ball.

"Okay yeah, let's calm down," I took Victor by the arm and told him to sit down, while Audrey is standing crossed-arm glaring at Victor.

"So, what happened?" I asked, as I sit opposite to him, but I can still feel Audrey's glare from behind me, "Please come sit down," I sighed.

"Sure, as long as I get a nice explanation," she added.

"I have been trying to tell you both! I found a lead!" he exclaimed, standing up.

"What?!" me and Audrey looked at each other.

"Well, you remember the notebook? Your father's? The one you showed us?"

"Right yeah, what about it?" I asked.

"Wait, the last thing we were talking about was the name right? Illia? That one girl who your father couldn't found?" Audrey continued.

"The suspect? Illia Duvois? He wrote about how much he searched but couldn't find anything about her, apparently she was the victims neighbour or something," I said, in deep reflection.

"But here's the thing, Illia Duvois never existed," Victor revealed.

"What the hell? How?" Audrey was visibly confused, and so was I.

"I mean she does exist, just that the name is fake."

We all sat down, listening attentively to Victor.

"So look, we all know who the victim's neighbours are right? We know their names, relations to Mr Alceste, and just everything there is to know."

Yeah he is right. Mr Alceste had quite a big neighbourhood, but we know everyone there, except the one opposite of his house.

We searched everywhere, even asked some of my colleagues from the police if there is someone named Illia Duvois, however the database showed nothing.

So we thought she just fled the country, and perhaps my father concluded she is not affiliated with the victim, since he didn't write that Illia was the culprit.

But he didn't also write that she is not the culprit– her name was just there, and suspect written near her name, but he didn't write anything about her after that.

I thought she was just a foreigner, that went to her own country, and that it's just a coincidence that Mr Alceste just happened to died around this time.

How was I this stupid...

"Illia is the only one who we don't know anything of, and then these past few days I did some digging and found something," Victor said proudly, tiredness escaping his mouth.

"Her real name is Wisteria Twirl, live in an apartment pretty far from here, and has two kids," he added.

Both me and Audrey were confused, however we finally found a real lead.

My mind is racing for answers, multiple questions appearing, and my determination just grew stronger.

"Victor, I love you, you know that," I said, walking over to my desk.

"Yeah, I know," he said with a smug.

"Woah who knew you were working on the case?" Audrey laughed teasingly.

"Okay so let's write down what we know," I grabbed my marker, and cleaned the board.

"Alceste was murdered on November 12 2022."

"Several suspects were taken in, his neighbours and relatives, but none were the culprit."

"There was this one mysterious neighbour your father was suspicious of, but she wasn't officially arrested by the police, and we don't even know her face."

"And she obviously plays a greater role, as her name was in the notebook," I added.

"Though nothing except her name was present, maybe your father found out she was innocent?" Audrey said, "Hm, but the fact her name is fake tells me otherwise," she sighed.

"Right," I shook my head as I analyse what's on the board.

"How about I go undercover? I might find something pretending to be her 'neighbour'," I suggested.

They both looked at me instantly.

"I mean, it's not a bad idea," Victor closed his eyes, thinking deeply of what I just said.

"But we don't know what this Wisteria is capable of," Audrey stood up like lightning.

"Ugh, I admit it's actually perfect for a coin caseher arm crossed, and a sigh escaped her mouth.

"And I looked into where she's living, it's a pretty good apartment, and there's a room available next to hers, I thought of looking into it incase you pulled something like you just did," Victor looked at me, a smile visible of his face.

"Thank you, Victor, I will treat y'all to some delicious food toda-" Victor cut me off.

"Let's go then! C'mon!" Victor, who used to be just lifeless a second ago, became full of life, quickly leaving the building.

"He never changed when he comes to food," Audrey shook her head.

We turned off the lights, and went in the car.

"So what will you two eat? Seafood, meat?" I asked, as I started the car.

"Anything, as long as it's good," Audrey said, while looking out the window, her hair fluttering along the cold breeze of the afternoon.

"Let's go to a new place, try something new, no?" Victor grinned.

"Sure, whatever you say," I chuckled, looking outside in front.

The breeze directly hit my face as it started to rain.

What a day. We finally found something.

Dad, I hope you're happy, and your notebook was very helpful.

I chuckled.

"Why are you laughing alone? Share with us too girl!" Audrey tap me gently.

"Just thinking of my father.."

"Hmm, he's definitely here with us," Victor added.

"Oh I hope not, I'm scared of ghost dude," I quickly turned at him, "Seriously?"

They all burst out laughing.

"C'mon it's not funnyyy!" I sniffled as the laughs continued.