Ray's Karate Kid Journey Part III

Chapter 2: The Crime Scene

The policemen arrived and went to check on the crime scene somewhere in the place where employees make coffee beans. Ray and Diona stood there outside the crime scene. They had eaten their breakfast before rising up from their chairs to do so.

So far, there were only two officers. One is manly, a bit muscular, has tan skin and he also had black sunglasses and dark brown hair. Another had dark skin with black straight hair and his muscles were rather really close to being as strong as the first police officer. By the look of his hands, the second police officer could come in handy when it comes to things like pickpocketing and writing things related to the files he must handle.

"How are we ever going to find out who stole every last bag of coffee beans?" asked the female employee with brown wavy hair with cherry red lipstick.

"First, let me ask you this question. When was the last time you saw the coffee beans?" the officer asked them.

"Well, all I know is that they're right here—" That same employee gestured to the table where coffee beans always were. "—the whole time until they disappeared out of nowhere."

"And have you tried discussing with each other about it?"

"We did, but we still don't know for sure who's the person behind all this."

"But we did checked the CCTV cameras. We couldn't find that much detail on who the real thief is," said the male employee with tan skin and black hair.

"Did you get any details?" the second officer asked them.

While they were discussing who the thief is, Ray heard Diona whispering to him from his left, "Are you really sure this is gonna work?"

His head turned to her and his hand reached for her right shoulder, "Trust me, Diona. I know the police can handle this, but there are unexpected clues that we might find in our way."

"If you say so," she said as his hand slipped away from her shoulder.

Right beside the coffee machine on the table are the small group of silver keys chained together in one circle going through its holes. It's as if it's been lying there the whole time. It crossed Ray's mind to suggest that the owner of the car keys belonged to the real culprit, but he reminded himself not to jump to conclusions and that there are other things that might lead to suspects. He knew this because Diona had told him a little bit about mystery novels. To be honest, Ray is not quite fond of mystery novels, but Diona is. She knew the details and the process of solving problems like the detective does.

Right now, he was keeping an eye on the keys just to figure out if it's a clue or not. Just as he was about to point it out, a young employee with fair skin and black hair ran to grab the keys.

"The car keys!" he said as his hand grabbed them,"I thought I lost them."

Then, his happy expression turned into a worried one. "Oh no! I had no intention of stealing the coffee beans! I've been working in this place for two years! I'm innocent, guys! I'm innocent!"

Now, it was Ray's turn to speak up, "Don't worry, sir. We're not going to accuse the suspect that fast. In fact, we still have to look for clues and the suspects that will lead us to the real culprit."

"This man here is right," the first officer said. "We need to check and double-check the evidence we can find after learning from each suspect."

"Let's talk to the manager to see what he has in mind," the same female officer suggested.

Words like "Good idea," "Yeah" and "That's great" were heard from the other employees and the officers.

That's when they all went to the manager's office, but there's one thing the same waiter must add. "Is it possible to let these customers in the crime scene?" she asked the officers. "It seems to me that they're part of the victims of the crime."

"Even if they're the victims of the crime, we will not allow anyone in the crime scene unless they have authority," the first officer answered.

"See, I told you," Diona told Ray.

"How about you bring the manager here, then all of us will talk things out?" Ray asked the officers.

"A lot more customers will be more than curious on what's going on," answered the second officer. "But we'll talk in a secret room here in the House of Pancakes." He then, turned to the employees. "If there already is one."

"I hope so," replied the same female employee, then she told Ray and Diona in a voice only they could hear, "For now, you two stay there while we bring the manager to you guys and talk about things in private"

"Alright," the two nodded their heads.

And so, the employees and the officers went to the manager's office to talk things out for a while. Then, Ray and Diona just stood there waiting for the manager to come out.

Five minutes later, they returned before them. Among the small crowd was the manager himself.  He was around 60 to 70 years old. His face was a bit wrinkly with his hair being a shade of dark gray. He was currently wearing a mixed shade of light blue and regular blue with a blue-and-white-striped bowtie on it. He also wears black pants and matching shiny leather shoes.

His head turned to the employees, officers, Ray and Diona, "Follow me, then we'll talk."

Then, he walked his way towards what Ray assumed must be the discussion room because obviously, the kitchen, and the coffee counter were part of the crime scene. Once they followed him to a place where they should talk, they were led in the backyard. Outside the House of Pancakes. The tables were empty because the main dining part of this restaurant was half full. The manager led them to a long, rectangular table. He sat on the spot where he can see everyone from affront. Ray sat beside Diona while beside her was the first police officer. Ahead of Ray was the first police officer. The rest of the chairs were sat on by the employees themselves.

The manager's sigh caught everyone's attention. "You saw the thief last night in the CCTV cameras, right?"

"Yes, we did," the same female employee said.

Ray heard him sigh again. "Last night, when I was about to close down the House of Pancakes, a man barged in without any permission."

It took Ray less than a moment before his eyes widen in surprise.

"Seriously?" Ray asked him.

"Yes, seriously. He had a talk with me and he told me the deal about the coffee beans."

"What kind of deal do you two talk about, sir?" asked Diona.

"He told me that if I were to give him the coffee beans, every last bag, then the income will rise higher. If not, it will soon go back to zero pesos and we have to keep working hard on this business for years. I told him I will think about it. But... the next day, when I came here, they were gone. Right now, I'm a hundred percent sure that man must've stolen the coffee beans."

"Who's this man you were talking about?" the second officer asked him.

"I didn't see his face nor knew his name, but the only thing I see is a shadowy figure standing before me. He wore a cap and the leather jacket. I assumed he wore a shirt, pants and rubber shoes. And as he walked away, I noticed that the cap he was wearing is from American Boulevard in Manila."

"That's where I usually go to buy caps," said Ray.

"Thanks for the info, Ray, but that's far away from here," said Diona.

"How about I ask both our families for permission. Then if they accept, we will go to American Boulevard," suggested Ray.

"That sounds like a great idea for both of you, Ray," said the first officer.

"I'll text my dad about it," he said as he took out his cellphone.

"I'll do the same with my mom," said Diona as she also took out her cellphone.

And so, they both texted their parents — Ray's with his dad and Diona's from her mom.