Acess Code for Murder

Scars and Tumors

- Did you see anybody come near the house? - I asked when we settled down by the table on Anne's kitchen. I had asked her not to disturb us, since isolation is one of the most effective methods of getting the truth. Of course in cases like this stuff like that doesn't work, since isolation needs to be heavy and the victim needs to be affected for several days or months, but it still worked: Anne couldn't indicate what details needed to be withdrew from the conversation.

Imagine having to spend your whole life isolated in a mountain... Shadows would start to fill the blank between your little gray cells, and you'd become friends with them. Like a schizophrenic, you'd listen to the voices in your head and their unreasonable requests, and you'd end up dying as it all began: lonely and happy.

Isolation is one of my biggest fears, but it's still only second on the list - my fear of ignorance is far bigger and greater. Your ignorance represents your boundaries on the world you live, that is, if you even know that boundaries are fictional. There is a reason why boundary and barrier are two different things: one is real, one is not. Like a true friend, or a voice in your head.

- No, - She said. - but I wasn't exactly paying attention. I'm not a security guard, I'm just the cleaning lady.

- Did you leave the house at any time?

- Only to take out the trash.

- And how much time did that take you?

- 5 minutes, maybe? Although I was also clean the frontyard and the backyard.

- So somebody could've sneaked in. Ok... If someone entered through the back, is there anything that would corroborate that?

- Not that I know of but you'd be better off asking Anne about that. I only came to this job two weeks or so ago.

- That day, did anybody else come in?

- Yup... Some red-haired came in, and the gardener too.

- The gardener?

- Yes... Some woman with a huge scar on her face, black hair and blue eyes. She was in the back for quite a long time.

- Did the red-hair look like this? - I showed her a picture of Maggie, to which she nodded.

- Yes. She stayed here talking to Anne and me too.

- Anne? - I called. She quickly showed up, peeking her face from the wall that separated the hallway and the kitchen, making me assume she had been listening to the whole thing.

- This gardener... What company did you talk to?

- "Leaf it to Us." - She quickly answered. - But they said the gardener couldn't come here... Are you sure you saw anybody?

- Ma'am, I'm pretty sure about what I saw. She parked the white van and went in through the back, carrying a ladder amd some basic tools. I letted her be since I didn't think about it.

- What time did she come?

- About one hour after Ms. Smith came home. She was out at that time again, to talk to the police about the theft.

- One more question. - I said, whispering to her ear. - Did you enter her room at any time?

- Yes. But I didn't see any ring... I got the key from a little cupboard and went in just to see who I was dealing with. But I swear to God I didn't touch the ring.

- Ok. Thanks, Mrs. Portman.

- What did you ask her? - Anne was curious and couldn't even hold it until I left the kitchen.

- Doesn't matter. I was seeing if I could make her lie just to understand how she told such lies. - I said, making up a really bad excuse. She grinned her teeth in response.

- You're the only liar here.

I left her house in a hurry. I needed to ask Sarah and John some questions, but I had no idea what to do after that. I knocked on her door a bit nervously, expecting to be thrown against the wall or something by the true facet of Tobias. Said facet opened the door, but didn't do anything, fearing for their security. However, he still looked annoyed (and I mean really annoyed) over my little "visit".

- What do you want? - He asked, without a sliver of humility,  not even changing his expression.

- Am I supposed to say something deep like "the truth"? I need to ask Sarah something.

- You can't. - He said, growing whiter and whiter. - She... uh... She's not here. Had to go pick up her mother from yoga.

- Ah ok. What's that over there? - Blocking my entrance with his arm, he turned around. I slipped underneath his member and sprinted up the stairs.

- Son of a... Get back here! - He yelled in a much deeper voice.

Opening doors at random, I finally saw what I had been looking for: Sarah. But it didn't even look like her.

She was sitting in a hospital chair, with several thin tubes going in and out of her, carrying clear and transparent liquids. Her hair was just gone and she looked like hell, with several drops of sweat in her forehead.

- What the hell happened?

- Cancer. - She coughed. - I'm good at hiding it, ain't I?- She took a rag and wiped her forehead.

- How long?

- 5, 4 months maybe. Even the doctors don't know. Why are you here, James? - The charade of a pitiful me was gone in a blink of an eye.

- 'Cuz I know about Anne's ring.

- Ah, I see. - She signaled me to seat near her, on top of a bed that was there. - So you know that I knew where it was? - I just nodded. - Well, then. I think it's safe to say that I couldn't take the ring. - She paused.-  My, uh... illness, gives me certain limitations: I can't run, I can't drink, and - she emphasized. - I can't go up a flight of stairs without somebody helping me. If the ring was in her room like she showed me, I couldn't have possibly taken it. - She wiped her hands after saying those words. - You must be wondering how I hide it... Well, hm... - She coughed once again. - Tobias has been a gentle soul ever since I was diagnosed. We're not even husband and wife: he is just my caretaker. But he was very nice in all that he has done... He has been the biggest help ever. 

- That doesn't explain a lot, you know?

- Well, makeup makes me look fine. I just pretend like I sweat a lot to disguise it and try to stand still so I don't give anything away. - We stood quiet for a little while. - It was diagnosed a long time ago. - She said, after a loud sigh. - Nobody here knows about this, although they do wonder why I've become such a rude person... Pain messes with someone's brain, don't you think? I mean, I'd assume you'd be the one that understands this the best. 

- I don't exactly disagree. All you need to do is plant a facet on yourself to distract others and maybe even yourself. Wouldn't that be nice? - I asked, smiling for once. She now reminded me of an old and wise lady, with wisdom nobody could even begin to comprehend, and I was her only student, to which the passed all her wisdom too. 

- Indeed it would be. This dialogue isn't at all natural, James. It's like a dream world. - She paused again. - I see something in you that I don't see in the others. Youre a tormented soul. - I stood still and quiet. - You can try to deny it if you want to, but I know what you are: disturbed. But I like it... It reveals personality and character in this neighborhood, something I didn't think we'd have. - I slowly turned to her, and rested my hand in the bed.

- Let's make a deal. I don't tell about your little secret here... - I pointed to Tobias that still stood by the door. - and you won't share your opinion here. But now I still have a question... Did you share your knowledge with anyone?

- I might've mentioned it to Tobias, but I'm sure he wouldnt do it. - She said.

- I'll be the judge of that. - Not really a judge, as I've said, since I was not interested in justice here, but in the law. - Goodbye, Sarah. We'll see each other soon when I found out what happened.