Mansion Mystery

Findings

The birds chirped their merry tune unlike the atmosphere on the pool grounds was far from merry as groups of officers stood around the floating corpse. The body was faced down while his limbs were stretched like a sea star above the water. His tanned skin and ruffled matted black hair certainly matched the pictures of Hao Ran they viewed whilst entering, however he was topless with only a pair of what Liya could make out to be Ralph Lauren shorts.

The clear pool was now tinted with the slightest shade of rose pink, fishing out the body at that moment were a few people in hazmat suits similar to Himari's. 'Forensics seems to be doing their job well', Kaili commented as she smiled.

'Well, we have to', Himari answered before twirling her hair into a tight ballerina bun, small strands of its dyed candy apple color stuck out of place when she strapped on her latex gloves

'This body is going straight to Ryuu', she stated, 'Hope he likes this gift at...12pm'

Dongmin blinked, 'Ryuu?'

'He's the new forensics guy', she smirked, 'Real smoothtalker, at least he gets the job done'

'Luckily', he breathed under his breath, 'We'll get to talk to him right?'

She nodded, 'I don't know about him though'

Pointing at Chen Fang, she tilted her head, 'After all things are complicated between you guys'

'I'm also on the case', he answered simply, 'It's only fair I obtain the same information as the rest of the detectives'

Glancing over at the others who made no attempt to object, she shrugged, 'Okay then', she answered right as the body was lifted on a portable medical bed and was carried away, 'We'll take more pictures around here, feel free to explore the house though because it's all at our disposal'

'I'd rather call the family and ask more questions', Dongmin suggested instead

'Then you can go do that', Kaili chuckled, 'I'll continue with the girlfriend, learn more about her'

'I'll explore the victim's room', Liya decided, '..What about you Chen Fang?'

He remained quiet before crossing his arms, 'I'll go with you', he answered as her face tinted with a cherry hue, 'Come let's go'

Kaili grinned sneakily at her friend who followed like a confused lamb behind him as Dongmin sighed, 'He'll come around right?'

'He can't resist his girlfriend', she answered before giggling, 'Let's see how long he can resist for though'

--

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As they both inspected HaoRan's room, they couldn't help but feel as though they stepped into a luxury hotel. The pillowy white bed was arranged perfectly with silken beige and tanned cushions and hung on the walls were timeless pieces representing the roaring seas and the great mountains that overlooked the large room. Opposite the bed was a great glass door that led to a simple balcony where two chairs were placed facing the bloody pool below. 'Looks like it rained heavily last night', he picked up after peering through the thick glass to see droplets remaining on the chairs, 'His room looks pretty neat though'

Liya immediately bent down to examine the expensive carpet, 'This shade...looks off', she murmured, flicking her eyes back and forth

'What?'

She pointed at a slight off white area at the edge of the pristine carpet, 'You see that too right?'

He viewed it carefully before nodding, 'Bag it up then'

As she tied up the evidence, she looked at him as he stared at the pool from the high distance above, 'Where did you go?', she asked, 'I'm genuinely curious'

He stayed silent, refusing any attempt to answer before she exhaled patiently, 'I just want to know', she continued, standing up with a building frustration bubbling in her, 'I feel like, I deserve to know. After 6 months of having to deal with you just disappearing can't you just tell me?'

The quietness only thickened and a ticking hanging wall clock was the only thing that could be heard for what seemed like centuries passing

'Fine', she spat before facing HaoRan's walk in closet, 'Stay silent and go wherever you want. No one will stop you anymore and...no one will care anymore. It's not like you have a girlfriend or friends anymore anyway'

His jaw tightened at her final words but he still kept his mouth shut and instead began envisioning what happened the night Hao Ran died. 'I'll tell her eventually', he kept reassuring himself, 'Eventually..'

Snarling, Liya balled her hands into fists and knocked the hollow wood of HaoRan's filled shelves aggressively, 'He just-ARGH!', she complained aloud right as her eyes lay on a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch perfectly lined up with other silver rings and leather bands

'Woah', she blurted intrigued by the classy items, 'But this..'

She stopped in front of a wooden framed picture standing attentively on one of the higher shelves. Inside showed several beaming faces holding scrolls with red ribbons tied neatly around each identical one. 'Graduation', she read the black markered words at the bottom of the image

What made her pick up the frame wasn't Hao Ran who had his arms around two other jolly men but a scribbled and etched out face in the photograph. The markings were purposely there to ruin and remove whoevers face he clearly didn't want in the joyous memory. 'I'll be taking this', she chuckled, putting the photo in a clear bag

'Liya..'

She turned, eyeing Chen Fang who crept up behind her. He lowered his head slightly and lead against the closet doors awkwardly while she rolled her eyes, 'About earlier, I'm so-'

'Save it', she interrupted before stomping her boots past him, 'The closet is all yours now, I'm done here'

And with that she walked away, the echoing clanking of her boots pounding into Chen Fang's head before he rubbed his temples, 'I think I messed up', he realized

Walking further into the closet, he judged the rich cologne and the laundry detergent that hung onto all the tailored suits that looked like different trees covering each square foot of the space around him. At the back of what seemed to be an infinite wardrobe, he expected to have reached another world by now just like his favorite book, however he saw a large safe instead. It was immovable and a simple pin pad was what kept whatever secrets it stored safely inside

Bending down near it's sturdy edges, he touched it briefly and his hand jolted back in surprise, 'It's loose', he realized, 'It's been opened'

He wedged his finger in between the door and pushed it gently. When it refused to budge, he gripped it tighter and ripped it open furiously. It's hinges screamed and the door lay open widely while he investigated using his phone flashlight. A few antique coins and diamond encrusted Rolex's dazzled against the bright light however he realized that they were arranged in a strange way, as though they were meant to fit around something. 'Someone took something from here', he determined, 'I doubt Hao Ran left this open intentionally before his death'

He rubbed his thumb on the cool metal surface in thought, 'Watch it be some documents. All victims love to hide those'

Sneaking out of the room, he noticed Liya slowly turning the doorknob to another room East of where he was standing. His eyes trailed her in amusement as her serious face reminded him of a bunny furiously trying to much a carrot. 'She became cuter somehow', he said to himself, 'Liya'

She stood up straight sharply at the sound of her voice before scoffing, 'Oh it's you', she looked at him as he lumbered towards her, 'Why don't you-'

He clamped his hand over her mouth to silence her, 'I'm going to investigate this room with you whether you like it or not'

She struggled to scream and her words twisted into a muffled lump, 'Deal with it', he suddenly smirked before releasing her

Once freed, she couldn't help but feel shocked yet in awe that he suddenly found the courage to acknowledge her again, 'Fine', she answered quietly after he entered the next room, 'I'll deal with it'