Artificial Tears

Chapter 17

A phone rings, it's detective North's. Even though he is rather busy working on the case alone right now, he decides to pick up.

It might be important after all.

What if the girl from before had another one of those dreams.

He can't really wrap his head around it, but he didn't want to distrust her immediately. She had been more than right about the man on Lincoln street after all and it had saved the man.

The detective does believe that there might be more possibilities than the most logical ones. After all there is truth in lies and this case couldn't be more strange.

Detective North used to be a big superhero fan when he was younger. Also a big part as to why he became a detective, for the other part it is his father.

His father had been in the force until he couldn't anymore.

His father had seemingly been nothing else but a cop.

Detective North picks up his phone and clicks the button for 'answer' with his thumb.

"Good day, Detective North speaking."

"Hi North, that client of yours... she hasn't arrived yet."

He immediately recognizes the voice from the other side, it's Juli, the psychologist he had recommended to Edith.

"Hi Juli, do you mean Edith Shaw?"

"Yes, she didn't show up. She should have been here like an hour ago."

"Maybe trouble with the train?" Technology might have advanced pretty far, but the trains do still get stuck sometimes.

"I checked, but right now they should just be driving like always."

North leans further back into his seat: "Have you called her?"

"Yes I have, at least twenty-six times and I send her over a billion texts."

"That is a bit much."

"You told me about her and I'm worried."

"I will give her a call, if she doesn't answer I will contact her friends."

"Thanks, just let me know how it went, okay?"

"Yes I will."

They hang up and Detective North quickly calls Edith, she had left her phone number after the whole murder at her workplace. It's on the list for the police and thus in the database.

.

.

.

It doesn't matter how long he waits, Edith doesn't even pick up.

In the list was another phone number from Edith, most likely either one of her friends or her parents.

He presses the number on the screen and the phone starts calling.

It doesn't take long for there to be an answer.

"Hello?" It's the voice of a woman on the other side, most likely the roommate... Nona? Nova? Noga? Does she not have a parent or a guardian whose number she could have given? Just any relative closeby?

"Good day, I'm the detective investigating the murder case where your friend Edith Shaw is a witness."

"Ugh... did she give you this number?" The girl sounds annoyed.

"Have you seen Edith today?" He asks, ignoring the tone in the receiver's voice.

"No, she's out with a friend right now."

"Did she tell you that?"

"No, one of our mutual friends talked to her this morning. Supposedly it's a work friend."

"Do you know which one?"

"No, how should I know those things?! And why do you want to know all these things?"

North leans forward again facing the screen of his computer.

"We had an appointment, but she never showed up."

"Seriously, I think she just did it because she doesn't want to talk to you!" Then another voice appears in the background, a man's voice: "Nova, please let me handle this. Good day sir."

Must be one of the other roommates who stayed over. Supposedly they have been friends since university.

"Good day, who am I speaking to?"

"Jonathan Ward, sir. What can I do for you?"

This kid seems nicer than the other one.

"I'm looking for your friend Edith. I can't seem to get a hold of her."

"She said that she was meeting up with a friend."

"Are you sure?"

A small pause: "I honestly don't believe she was telling the truth, I know her quite well. It's obvious when she lies, but I didn't want to pry."

"I think you should go look for her, she might be in danger."