Bloody Riddle (REVISED)

Disappeared

Philip stared back at the body piece in front of him. This time the evidence was in a house owned by Lucy Graham.

They have investigated about her when emergency calls appear. Lucy's neighbor, Ratna called, she heard a rowdy noise from Lucy's residence. They have reported Lucy missing for a few days. Now Lucy is dead. No one knows where she is until they found her body.

Someone who found the Lucy's body first is her boyfriend, Aaron. He makes a noise at Lucy's house. Ratna think if there is someone who wants to rob the house, call 911.

Police have done interrogation of Aaron. He testified, he got a message from her if she is now at home. Without thinking, Aaron comes to her home. As usual, he goes inside and found Lucy already dead. Shocked and panic Aaron dropped the vase from the table. Aaron's alibi is very strong, and they declare him free as a suspect.

Karin came from another room, holding paper when she saw Philip came out from the lab. He seems not in the mood. "Hey, are you okay?" Karin took Philip's arm.

"I'm just tired. I'm going back to the office." Philip just walked away.

Karin walked into the lab to find Katherine crouched, tidying up the scattered papers on the floor. "Let me help."

Katherine smiled. "Thank you."

They stand together. "What happened?"

Katherine's smile turned sour. "Just a slight argument." She walked away, put papers near the computer and then returned.

Karin standing beside Katherine. She couldn't bear to discuss the two's quarrel, so Karin cleared her throat, refocusing on work. "So, what about this?" Karin stared at the corpse.

"Well, it's hard to explain. She was cut couple day ago with something medium tool but very sharp. Blade or knife maybe." Katherine pointing at the hand. Karin gets closer and saw something.

"Hey, look at this." Karin pointed. "What is that?"

Katherine raised her glasses as she narrowed her eyes.

"Wait! I think you found a clue, Karin." Karin smiled but she don't understand. Katherine grinned. "The killer uses a knife, surgical knife and uh.. maybe carving knife too, you see..." Her finger touched the meat. "It looks like the culprit was sculpting her corpse."

Karin clapped her hands together. "Great. We can analyze it now."

Louis knocked on the glass door, making the two women stare at him. "What are you doing here?" Katherine asked.

"I just want to make sure about something." He said and see the victims body.

"Like what?" Katherine said, and then she looked both confused and annoyed. She groaned. "I got it." She throws her hand in the air.

"It must be James, right?" Karin and Louis smiled. "What are you guys doing now?"

"We had a fight again." Karin replied, there was regret on her face.

"Can you guys not doing something regrettable." Katherine sighed. The detective stared at each other and smile bitterly. "You guys really.

Katherine waved both hands, driving Karin and Louis away. "You better apologize, whatever you've done."

Karin and Louis sighed. "And don't come back until you guys make up."

**

James didn't move in from his couch. He had just woken up from fifteen minutes ago staring at the ceiling.

After yesterday's event made him realize he would never trust his friend again. Especially Karin, whom she considered as his friend since two weeks ago.

Last night he really drowned himself in alcohol. Half the shelves almost empty and all the contents are on the table near the couch. James wasn't aware of it.

This time he felt betrayed by friends. After an ultimatum he gives Karin and Louis yesterday, he didn't sure if they will be back again. Or want him to come back.

He wipes his face with both hands. This isn't a time to be sad. He still has a lot of work to do. He looked at the clock. It's three in the afternoon.

James off the couch and walking his room. His greenish eyes looked at every inch of the room.

It's time to end this.

He walked to the table is near the bed. He is still remember put it there. He pulled out a small box from the rack. He opens the box, there's a gun, Baretta M9A1, his favorite gun. Full black and looked elegant.

James exhaled deeply and looking back to the photo behind him. Saw the man in the picture made him sick. This guy will pay everything he done to Julia. He will revenge for her.

It takes a long time to clean up the house again because everything is a mess. He keeps all the bottles on the table. His room didn't forget he cleaned. He pulled out all the red threads and evidence he had collected over the past seven years.

Nothing left.

He has considered it. He will never come back again. He put all the trash in the bag and took it out, then dumped it.

**

It's already night when Karin back to the office. She directly landed her ass to the chair and looked at the screen seriously because she forgot to create reports so now she must stay up.

Karin stared at her computer screen while typing quickly. Came the sound of the keyboard keys loud as both hands pressed hard. Philip glanced around and found Karin putting on a sullen face for an entire hour.

"You look so ugly." Philip said. Karin stopped typing, glared at him. "None of your business." Philip didn't budge. Karin gets annoyed.

"What do you want?"

"Meet him."

"Seriously." Karin groaned. "You definitely had a fight with him, aren't you? Itll be better if you meet him. At least you have to talk about it."

The look on Karins face drastically changed. Whether what grabbing Philip today but suggestions he said there is a point. Karin smiled shifty. "Its rare heard a wisdom from you."

"Fuck you." He spat. "Just talk to him already." Karin smiles, standing of her seat then turns off the computer. She s about to run but stops. She turns back to face Philip. "Thanks for suggesting Phil. I owe you this time."

Karin comes to James house. With nervous she knocked the door. As usual, James not answer immediately. Maybe he was drunk again, she thought. Karin knocked again. However, there is no answer. Is he fallen asleep?

Karin remembered she had forced James to give her his phone number. So she took out her cell phone and pressed a button to dial the number. Karin waited for the third ring, but unfortunately no one answered. Karin calls back.

Vaguely, a voice heard from inside the house. It petrified Karin.

The voice heard from inside James's house. Karin held a gun out from her jacket, slowly turn the knob. The door is unlock. And the ringtone is still ringing.

Karin hastily pressed the light switch and ran inside, but all she found was James's phone lying on the couch. Karin turned off the call. She looked around. The room is neat and clean as new.

But her concern was none other than office room. She saw light peeked from inside. Karin slid the door and found the room clean. When she goes deeper, she finds a box on the table. She opened and gasp. It places to keep firearms. Karin grabs her cell phone and calls Louis. "Sir, sorry to bother you, but this is an emergency."

"What happened?"

"James, he's gone."