Mind Breaker

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 6

Raden stared blankly at the documents on his desk, all stacked neatly on top of each other. His mind was latched on Roman and his ghosted wife. It's been a week since the incident, and there was something bugging Raden.

What it was? He didn't know.

But it was most definitely something to do with the case. He'd ordered for someone to find medical records of Roman; truthfully, there had to be a reason he killed his wife.

Already at the looks of things he must have been an alcoholic.
But it's too risky to assume.

Thanks to Roman admitting he did kill his wife, the case was closed? This is what they do, they never really go into detail about any case. The state has a nag for not caring. Raden, on the other hand, always ends up working further on finding out more, especially when it comes to missing people.

It hurts to know that somewhere a family is crying because they have just lost someone precious. Whether it was a murder or kidnapping, Raden would venture deeper.

Just maybe, maybe... Somehow he would find these innocent people and bring them back.
Just like he did with his favorite pair of socks.

But in the end, it may just be a silly dream...

The mall was buzzing with people left and right. The air was full of different smells from different shops.
Raden's nostrils were only attracted to one. The coffee Cafe.

He entered the small Cafe, looking at the display board. He stood there deciding which one to take, but everything looked delicious, he thought as he looked at the sample of different cakes.

He ended up buying the mocha, even getting a free newspaper which he politely declined.
He left right after drinking.

As he walked, there was a warm tiny hand wrapping around his. He was about to go check out the new colognes in stock.
He stopped and looked down. A little girl was pressing herself closer to him, her eyes wide with fear as she clinched onto him.

He followed her gaze to a man in the crowd, pushing people away. His eyes landed on her, and she let out a tiny squeak.

He bent down to her level to whisper something in her ear. She nodded repeatedly, and he told her to stay calm.

"Want to go buy some sweets, Mara?"

"Mhm"

Raden looked up to find the man standing close by, his eyes red as he stared. Raden took Mara's hand in his and started walking. He kept a close eye on the man.

"Do you know where your mother is?"

The little girl shook her head no.

The candy store was quieter than all the other stores. He grabbed a bag and two cups. He handed them to her.

"Fill these up with as many sweets as you'd like"

Her face lit up, "Really?"

"Yes, go ahead"

"What about the creepy man?" his face fell, and she looked worried again. Raden, annoyed, took her shoulder lightly and smiled.

"I won't let him touch you, I pinky promise"

She had a stern look on her face and nodded proudly. She hurried off without another word, and Raden quickly walked after her. He helped her scoop in some sweets that were on a higher rack.

"Raden," An angelic voice said. Astoria looked from Mara to Raden then back at Mara.
"I didn't know you had a daughter—"

"He's not my father!" Mara said, unnecessarily loud.

"Oh," Astoria looked confused and worried.

"Why don't you go get more sweets, yeah?"

"Okay," The little girl continued getting what she wanted. Astoria turned to Raden with raised eyebrows.

"She lost her mom, and a guy was following her"

"For a second there, I thought you just grabbed a random little girl to get sweets"

"No, no... I wouldn't do that" Raden chuckled to himself. He looked at her hands in which she was holding a bucket scooped full of sweets.

They walked back to Mara as she told them she was finished. They went to check out.

"So how do we find her mother?"

Raden scanned the crowds, trying to figure out the answer to that question.
He looked a the little girl.

"Can you tell me your mother's name?"

She nodded.

"We should go to the office, and ask her mom over the intercom to wait at the front of the mall"

"Okay, great."

Raden took her small hand in his as they walked.

"Oh, sweetheart! You're okay!" the woman wrapped her arms around her daughter. "Thank you," she said, wiping her tears away.
"I don't know where she ran off to"

"It's a good thing she found me, there was a man following her. She was really brave, I could've been someone else"

"Oh no, she knows you well."

"Yes! When I grow up I want to be just like you"

"I'm sure you'll be the best detective"

"Hear that Mommy, you heard from the man himself"

"Yes, yes I did. Let's get going now shall we"

"Bye-bye!"

They waved off, watching the two disappear in the parking lot.

"Do you still have shopping to do?"

"No, I think I'm done for today" Astoria nodded.

"I can take you home if you'd like"

"No, no, I don't want to trouble you, you must be tired"

"Please, I insist"

"Thank you"

The two got in his car just in time, before the sky started crying.

The seat belts clicked, and the engine hummed. Raden reversed out of the parking lot.
He silently glanced at the woman next to him. She was staring out the window lost in thought.
She fidgeted with the ring on her index finger.

He turned away as her head turned to him. She kept looking tilting her head.
Raden tried to hide his smirk.

"What?"

"Nothing"

"You're looking at me"

"You were looking at me first"

"You're looking as if you want to say something"

"I wanted to, but forgot what it was," she said sheepishly.

"That's okay"

ꫂ ၴႅၴ

"Thank you" Astoria smiled as they stopped in front of her house. It was raining more heavily now.

"Be safe"

"I will"