Bass Case

Chapter 3 Another Victim

Sirens, red and blue lights. This is what awakens me from my already restless sleep. I pull open the curtain with a limp arm as I attempt to view the commotion outside. My eyes widen to realize that the vehicles are by the orchestra room once more. A man struggles as the police hold him down. I can faintly hear a scream above the noise of the sirens, though I cannot make out what the words are. Someone lays on a gurney...a white cloth is draped over the victim.

I shoot back from the window, trying to forget what I had just saw. My heart pounds hard inside my chest, I feel dizzy from its strength. I don't know what to think, my mind is a blur. I look towards the clock that reads "5:30 a.m." on it. The sun is beginning to bleed over the sky into a scarlet glow. An announcement rings through the speakers of the dorm, "The school is on lock down, no one is to leave their dorms until further notice."  Then silence. Only the flashing red and blue lights remained.
***
The day was silent. The usual playful shouts from the surrounding dorms were gone. Only the pitter patter of footsteps could be heard. Some continued on and on until they created a rhythm above. I laid in my bed the entire day until finally I could no longer stand it, so I got up and started to make my own rhythm, too. Back and forth, back and forth. It was just like an orchestra of pitter patters. Some were near silent and distant while others were loud and approaching. My own sound lays in the middle of it all. Some sections would drop out, resting, until finally rejoining the sounds once more. Funny, how even through panic I'm still relating things to orchestra.

Then it strikes me suddenly. Josh and Derek were out practicing last night! I reach for my phone and call the two violists. No answer. I call again. Same result. I call again, and again, and again...

Later I hear a soft knock on my door. Fear almost prevents me from opening it. Almost. But I knew it was the schools staff. When I open the door, I am greeted by a middle aged blonde haired lady. She has a pointed nose and pure white skin. Her lips are pursed, trying to find the words to say. "Hello. Mr. Daniel Mue is it?" The lady asks me.

"Yes, but just Daniel will do." I reply to her. My face straight and emotionless.

"Right, Daniel. I'm Ms. Goldean. I'm head of the security staff at the school." That explained the black uniform she wore, "Are you a friend of Mr. Josh Deller?"

I raise a bushy eyebrow at her, "Yes...?" I answer skeptically.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few questions about your friend." Ms. Goldean states.

My mouth opens, staying that way for just a moment before words can spill out, "What's this for?" I ask.

She lets out a deep sigh, "I'm sorry Daniel. Your friend, Josh, has been taken into custody for the murder of Derek Drayer."

    I jump back in a daze. Josh? Murdered Derek? I shook my head as shock and a sudden rage took over me. "Josh would never do that!" I growl in fury.

    "And that's why I need to question you. If you care for your friend, you won't hesitate to answer my questions." She says. Her face hard and emotionless.

    I push a hand into my brown hair. Guess I have no choice...besides...I don't know what happened anyways... "Alright." I sigh. My head feels dizzy as it is, but I manage to clear my mind just long enough for this woman to question me.

    Her cheeks tug at her scarlet lips slightly before she speaks, "When was the last time you saw Mr. Deller?"

    "Last night..."

    "Where were you when you saw him?"

    "Outside the orchestra room..."

    "What were you doing?"