NUMB

6 - A plan so twisted

!W! Use of strong language and graphic depictions of violence

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"What!?" Magnus was speechless, he was here to attend his therapy sessions, but the turn of events was such, that left him in numbness. "But, officer, I haven't done it, please-"

"Shut up!" The officer holding him yelled. "Stay put, do you understand?"

"B... but..."

"What the fuck is going on here!?" Emmanuel's voice reached Magnus' ears and he breathed with relief.

"Mr. Stewart-"

"I said stay put!" The officer slammed him against the wall then turned towards Emmanuel. "Sir, whoever you are, we cannot allow you to-"

"Senior inspector, Emmanuel Stewart, NYPD headquarters." Emmanuel took out his batch and slammed it on the officer's hand. "Now what's going on here?"

"Sorry Sir, but this is a crime scene. We were informed that there's a possible assault going to happen here, and when we reached, we found these two dead bodies and this man right beside them."

"No! Mr. Stewart I didn't do it, you know I just reached here. You know-"

"Mr. Bane, calm down. Officer, I understand he seems like a possible suspect but-"

"Sir, he's more than a possible suspect. We have a witness here who has seen it happen. She confirmed that he is the murderer."

"What!?" Emmanuel exclaimed, eyes wide as he took in the surrounding then turned and walked towards the woman who was sitting beside a female officer, sobbing hysterically. "Mam, can I ask you few questions?" She nodded hesitantly.

"What's your name?"

"Lauren... Pierre...."

"Okay Lauren," Emmanuel started, voice calm and collected, "look you don't have to be scared. Just tell us what you saw, okay? Did you see the murder or you think that man did it?"

"S..saw..."

"NO! SHE'S LYING! MR STEWART SHE'S LYING!" Magnus screamed, tears falling on his face as he struggled in the officer's grip.

"Mr. Bane!" Emmanuel narrowed his eyes at Magnus, "screaming won't help you. Just be quiet for a while." There was reassurance in his tone so Magnus could only hope that whatever he was up to, it won't fail.

"So, Lauren," Emmanuel turned towards the woman again, "what did you see?"

"I... was in the b.. bathroom when I heard the door open... I thought it's the next p..patient so I should... le.. leave. I had only... only opened the door ajar when I saw h..him and the dead guy fi.. fighting. Be.. before I could come out, this man grabbed her surgery k..knife and started stab.. stabbing them. I got scared so I... hid in the bathroom."

"Sir," the receptionist spoke, "even I felt something off about Magnus Bane. He was very weird and had a heavy aura."

"Why are you all lying!? Why!?" Magnus sobbed, not understanding why everyone was adamant about proving him the murderer when that was far from the truth.

Emmanuel pinched the bridge of his nose, stood up, and turned towards the officer. "Where are the bodies?"

"Here, in this cabin. They had been brutally stabbed, sir."

Nodding, Emmanuel walked forward but froze when he finally saw their faces, eyes going wide and skin getting paler as if he had seen a ghost. "Oh my god! This is not good! Oh god!"