The 100 Year Old Debt #Wattys2023

Chapter XII: The Suspect's Disappearance

3rd Moon

27th Phase

2018

2:01 pm

Sharing what we had learned so far, Ms. Gushiken finally understood where our investigation had landed us. Her anger overshadowed the revelation, as she was furious over being kept in the dark.

"That jerk. I can't believe he withheld information again!"

"I apologize on his behalf. He wanted to confirm things first before he shared any more information."

"Did he tell you that?"

"Um."

"Whatever, I don't care. Here I thought he was starting to become different, but I guess he hasn't changed at all."

//Why does the air feel so awkward suddenly?//

"What do you make of the papers, then?"

"As much as a pain as he is, the dirt he dug up regarding his past presents an interesting case to be made against Facsimile. But it's not something that I can definitely say to be conclusive."

"I agree. At first, I thought it could be a stretch, but the more I thought about it the more probable it sounded."

"Any theory is probable. But if you have no evidence to support your theory, it's all fantasy and what-ifs."

"I understand. But even so, it is a possibility worth investigating."

"No, it's not."

//What?//

"What makes you think we have the time to consider 'possible' ideas? That would just be wasting everyone's time, your organization's included. We don't have time for that."

//But you are an officer! Is it not your job to get through the facts and examine every angle of the case?//

Inclined against the wall, the captain let out a resounding sigh.

"Besides, it's not like we can convince anyone with just theories. Try telling that to the judge. You'll get nowhere if you can't prove he was there, let alone did the kill. It would do you well to just ignore his incoherent rambling and just keep doing yourself-"

"So, you would rather give up and not fight? You would prefer to leave an innocent imprisoned for life than investigate every possibility? All for the sake of saving time?!" I cried in anger.

"It's not like I don't want to consider everything! I want to get this right too, dammit!"

Frustrated, she hits the wall with brute force, her fist visibly shaking.

"Then trust in us. Trust in Mr. Allegro. I know he will come through in the end. Just give him some time, please."

With my conviction, she quietly retracts her rough demeanor and softens up completely.

"I just hope you're right. Because if he doesn't, our suspect is going to be taken to court tomorrow. And by then, everything will be out of my hand."

With nothing else to do I followed Ms. Gushiken towards the rest area. With a cola in my hand, all we could do was wait, and what seemed minutes turned into hours. Boredom was beginning to take possession of me, and Ms. Gushiken was growing impatient at no new development. It was then that suddenly the familiar officers came running towards us with great urgency.

"Boss! Boss!" exclaimed the pair.

"What's the matter? Hm? Why do you guys look like you've seen a ghost-"