The Silence it Carries

Chapter - 4: The relentless inquiry

The breakfast table was unusually quiet that morning. Joseph sat across from Robin, who was fully equipped for school, dressed in his uniform with his school bag at his side. Joseph watched him with occasional glances between bites of his meal. He was about to ask a question when Robin suddenly stood up.

"Son—" Joseph began.

"Oh, look at the time! I'm running late," Robin interrupted, shooting up from his seat and storming away. It was clear that Robin was avoiding any questions from Joseph.

Joseph wasn't going to work that day; he had taken leave. Meanwhile, Robin's mother, Annie Miller, had her duties and left for work. With the house to himself, Joseph had the freedom to investigate without interruptions.

He started by thoroughly checking the car—up, down, inside, and out. There was nothing unusual except for the persistent, strange smell. Feeling a bit demotivated, he decided to check Robin's room next. Again, he found nothing out of the ordinary.

His last stop was the basement, where Robin had set up his home laboratory. As soon as Joseph entered, he was hit by the exact same smell. There was no doubt it was the same odor. Joseph hurried to the tables where the scent was strongest. Among the clutter, he picked up a bottle lying there. It was labeled "CHLOROFORM."

A rush of realization hit him. Joseph tried to connect the dots—why was the smell of chloroform coming from the trunk? He knew he was onto something significant, something that could unravel the mystery surrounding Robin.

Joseph was now really confused about what to do next. He thought for a while and decided to check the farmhouse; his gut feelings screamed that something was wrong. Hurriedly, he put on some clothes, hopped into the car, and drove down to the farmhouse.

He reached there in no time, parked his car, and began investigating the whole area alone. The usually serene surroundings felt tense and foreboding as he started his search, determined to uncover whatever secrets the place might hold.

Joseph entered the barn, checking around quickly before eventually reaching the butchering section. Almost immediately, something struck him: the machetes were too clean. The farmhouse wasn't operational, with no livestock to butcher. The blades should have been dusty, but they looked like they had been used recently. These were not kitchen utensils; they were meant for butchering something large. Already feeling unsettled, Joseph moved inside.

Everything was too clean, not a speck of dust in sight. "Did Robin do this?" Joseph thought to himself. But why would he? Soon, Joseph unknowingly entered the same room where Sara had been captured and killed. As soon as he stepped in, a sense of foreboding washed over him.

This room was especially clean, reeking of chemical smells. It was obvious something had happened here. As Joseph checked around, he found a small crevice in the floor with a mysterious red liquid. He pulled out a cotton swab and a small packet, swabbed the liquid, and sealed it inside the bag.

Joseph was growing increasingly worried about the implications of his discoveries. He wished to God he was wrong about what he was thinking concerning his own son, Robin.

Finally, Joseph remembered that Robin had said he spent the whole day by the lake. Determined to follow every lead, Joseph made his way to the lake to check. He walked around for a long while, scanning the area meticulously. Eventually, he noticed a small, coin-sized drop of a mysterious dried red substance on a leaf blade.

Carefully, Joseph collected the substance in a plastic bag, adding it to the other evidence he had gathered. His unease deepened with each discovery, but he knew he had to keep going to uncover the truth.

Joseph finally had all the evidence he needed. He took pictures of the scenes and collected samples. Determined to act, he decided to swing by the police station where he was stationed.