The Things Only He Knows

Chapter Five

       "Inspector! Inspector Robinson!" Layla ran frantically through the MPD, looking for Robinson. She had just received a call from Theodore and heard the news, and after calling someone from the department, she learned the inspector came back after he returned home and sent his family to the hospital.
    "Inspector!" She banged the door of his office open. "There you are!" She ran to his side. He was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall and his head buried in between his knees.
    "I...I'm so sorry..." She sat down next to him. She didn't know what to do or say when her superior's family gets wiped out. She didn't know how to console him about the fact that his own daughter killed her own mother and brother...then took her own life. She just didn't know what to say.
    "She's always been ill..." He said.
     "Yes...you've told me...but she never killed, no?"
     "She would pickpocket...but that's all! She'd take things, and return them right after taking them! She never took anything for herself, ever! She just liked the feeling of doing something dangerous from the movies. But her teacher kept saying we should take her to a therapist...and that worked..kind of. But now, it doesn't matter, because she is dead. They are all dead! And I'm alone..." He sniffed. He was all out of tears to cry.
     "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry this happened! Had I caught this killer earlier, I...I would've saved her.."
    "What?!"
     "I...I don't know how to explain this in a way you'll believe, but...I think what happened was the phantom killer's doing. He made your daughter do this, just like with the red-capped-guy and the stroller-woman. Your daughter was a victim, too. I don't think these people were in their right minds when they killed, and proof on that is that your daughter killed herself so she wouldn't have to kill you. It's almost as if she was brainwashed and decided to save you. She was able to break out of the spell for a few seconds and she used them to save what's left of her family. Your daughter is a hero, not a murderer, Inspector Robinson."
    "I..why do you think the phantom killer has anything to do with this?"
    "Because...you won't believe me even if I tell you!"
     "Yes, I will! I will do anything to take revenge on the person who ended my family in such a gruesome way! Tell me, Layla! I'll believe you, just help me!" His eyes lit up with hope. Layla contemplated on whether she should tell him, but she decided he needs to know. He deserves to know.
    "Okay...but first, you need to come with me to Theodore's clinic, we'll talk there."
     "I can't wait till then!"
     "I'll tell you on the way, now, c'mon!"

     Meanwhile, the other two were sitting in the office all alone, doing a bunch of things, but mainly Theodore trying to get Archie to sober up even a bit.
    "What're ya sho mad 'bout? I get it, the boy I shaw was a gal! No big deaaaaa--" he was going to stretch the word longer but a hiccup interrupted him.
   "Oh my dear Archie, you're a hopeless case, right now. Listen, Layla said she's going to the MPD and look for the inspector. I told her we should bring him here to explain things better. You must be on your best behavior in the poor man's presence."
     "Layla's not coming!" Another hiccup. "She don't like ya!"
    "Perhaps, but she wants to help him."
     "She can just tell him there! Why bring him here?"
     "Because I'd like her to explain in front of me.."
     "Why?"
      "Because she herself doesn't understand that much! I'll need to supervise what she says!"
     "Yo don't undershtand either! Only me doesh!"
     "Right...well, you don't actually understand either. I'm the only one who actually knows what's going on."
    "Why arencha shayin' it, then?"
    "Because...I'm not dumb enough, my dear Archie. I'm glad you're not sober right now. Listen, you should go to sleep. Layla would want to catch the phantom killer tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Archie."
     "Oh...okayyy.." he laid on the couch with his face down and his left arm hung on the side as his finger touched the floor. He started drooling on the cushion soon enough, and his snoring made itself pretty loud and clear too.
    Theodore watched him sleep, like a mother would her child. He smirked and his eyes gleamed with an unknown emotion. His expression was...by normal human standards, unsettling.
    In a matter of twenty minutes, Layla and Inspector Robinson arrived. As they came hurling in, Theodore put his index over his mouth and asked them to remain silent since Archie was asleep.
    "This ain't the time for a nap! Wake him up!"
     "Don't shout, Layla! Also, he has a hangover. It's only natural he'd need sleep. When he said he was a light drinker, I didn't take him seriously. My bad!"
    "This isn't the time for drinks! Why can't you feel the dilemma we're facing right now! He's the only one who can help!"
    "Did you tell the inspector?"
    "Yes, I did. And he's waiting for Archie to talk to him! Not me, not you. Archie."
     "I'm sorry, okay! It's what happened! No use talking about it now!"
      "Excuse me! I don't exactly have time, here. So...I just wanna bring whoever did this to justice."
      "That's understandable, inspector! You know, I can help with your case. You must be traumatized! I'll help! Also, you must be seeking revenge. Let me tell you revenge isn't as sweet as people may perceive it to be. So, I ca-"
     "The best revenge is putting whoever did this behind bars and having them executed for their crimes. That's what I will do. I'll find that phantom killer, and bring him to justice, even if it kills me. But I'll make sure no one else is hurt. That's my duty, after all. Not just to the people, but to myself, and to my family."
     "Ooooh, family guy! That sounds promising!"
      "Men! We need to wake Archie up!"
      "No, we need to let him sleep. And at three a.m. when he wakes up, we'll have him tell us what he saw, then we go there, and stop the crime from happening! Easy as pie!"
      "But--"
      "It's okay, Layla. He's right. If this whole thing is real, then that really is our best plan."
     Theodore nodded in victory and Layla huffed. Robinson simply sat on a chair and threw his head back.

    "Daddy! Look look! I took that lady's shoe!" She pointed at the woman sitting on the pavement with her little finger.
     "No, why would you do that? You must give it back to her, clear?"
     "But daddy! Her shoe is torn apart! Let's get her a new one. She also only has one shoe, so let's get her a pair of shoes so she can wear them on both feet at the same time!"
      "That's why you took her shoe?"
      "Yup!"
       "I...I'm so proud of you!" He hugged her small figure tightly, "But next time, you should give her the new shoes first then take the old, okay? So she doesn't feel like she's been robbed."
     "I'm sorry, I'll apologize to her. But let's get her new shoes first!"
     "You are definitely your mother's daughter. C'mon, let's get her shoes."

     The inspector was deep in thought. He thought about Layla's words. Despite how unbelievable it was, Archiviste could help him save his daughter. Not by bringing her back to life, but by proving she's not the murderer. And that all the phantom murders were made by hypnosis. That was what he wanted to prove the most. His toy train of thoughts was interrupted when Layla brought him back to earth. Archie had woken up. After introducing and reintroducing themselves to the half-asleep Archie, they asked him what he had seen in his dream.
     "I..I saw a factory. But there was no one there this time. In fact, there was nothing at all. Just a bunch of creepy dolls sitting around. I went up the stairs, then I opened a door, and then another door, and then another,  then I...I woke up."
      "A factory?"
      "With dolls?"
      "Hold up! Archie, you don't think what you saw was your factory do you?" Asked Theodore.
     "Oh..no. Wait. Maybe. I think it could be? I don't know, I'm not sure."
     "That's our next destination ladies and gentlemen! Archie's World factory!"

        To be continued.