Paint the town blue

Chapter V

Today is Friday, which means that the weekend is ahead, so I need to go to the post office today and at the same time decide what and how to do next. Of course, my decision will be influenced by the result of my visit to the post office, so maybe I won't have to ask Frederic for permission to visit my former partner. And I'm more than sure that he won't appreciate my idea.

When I woke up, I didn't stay in bed because I was planning to do the my personal job at the beginning of the day, so I won't have to worry that I won't be able to get to the post office before the end of their working hours. And anyway, my decision will depend on what I find, well, or not at the post office - whether I meet with the Dutchman or not.

Actually, I didn't like Valtteri's idea at first, because I'm still not sure I'll be able to behave normally when I see him. And how will he behave? Maybe he won't want to see me and will refuse to meet? Or, on the contrary, will be the same person I was in love with? What will I do then? I'm both scared and thrilled to think about a possible meeting.

After finishing my morning routine and having a quick snack on the go, I left the house and walked straight to the post office I needed. I don't know what I expect from going there, but I cannot just sit back and just guess what was the deal.

It was early in the morning, so there are no queues and, what's even better, there are no curious eyes around. I entered a small building and walked up to the counter where a middle-aged woman was working. I greeted her and asked her to provide me with information about correspondence in my name. Of course, she refused to give me such information, even after presenting my ID, although this is strange - I am essentially the recipient, so I'll find out the information anyway. But not wanting to push it, I showed her my detective ID and then, with a slightly exasperated sigh, she took my document and began searching for something on her computer. After a minute, she mumbled something under her breath and got up from her seat, after which she went to the room behind her. And what is this supposed to mean?

I stood at the counter and tapped my ID on the smooth surface. Damn, I have to admit that I'm a little nervous now. Did she find something for me? Or did she find information about the sender? Damn, where did she go?!

A couple of minutes later, the woman returned with a printout and a couple more envelopes without a return address.

"Here, these are the data about the envelopes: the date when they were delivered here, and when they were supposed to be delivered...to you."

"Did that person bring all of them at once?"

"That's right. But he asked us to deliver them at different times. A kind of "delayed delivery"."

I chuckled, remembering the delayed messages from those "burner" phones from my case. Taking the printouts, I ran my eyes over the text and saw that in addition to the first envelope, the sender left two more. I had already received the first envelope, the second was supposed to arrive on the anniversary of our acquaintance, and the third was on the day we confessed our love to each other. But why did he do that? Looking at the date when he brought them to the post office, I noticed that it was done shortly before his arrest. Did he feel that something was brewing and decided to act immediately?

I asked if I could take the envelopes, to which the woman nodded and said, "If the police need them, then yes." Yeah, the police needs them, madam, absolutely.

After taking both the printout and the envelopes, I put them in my backpack and went to the police station. I really wanted to open the envelopes with "messages" as soon as possible, but I didn't want to do this right on the spot - what if there was something personal? And in general, I wouldn't like to show my business publicly, especially since I already have an unpleasant experience of public attention.