Living in the Shadows

PART 3: CHAPTER 1 THE NEXT MORNING

*DISCLAIMER! I do NOT own this music video! It is the property of YouTube, Pokémon, and its artist! (FYI: Check your volume before you play.)*

Early morning, May 4th

(Jake's POV)

It was almost six o'clock when someone knocked on the mansion's door. I was in the kitchen cooking breakfast when the butler came in and informed me that Officer Jenny was waiting in the reception room. I turned off the stove and made my way there. (FYI: The mansion doesn't employ a chef unless it's Founders Day or when Sakei hosts a dinner party.)

It must be really bad news if Officer Jenny is here this early, I thought. When she and I sat down, she told me.

"About midnight last night, there was a fire in the woods," she began, looking like she hadn't slept at all. And if she was at the fire scene, that could very well be true. "The Fire Pokémon Squad was able to put it out before it could spread across the forest. It's a good thing they did, as there were some campers from the other island's schools earning extra credit. Not to mention a bunch of hot shots hoping to catch that Darkrai."

"I didn't realize Darkrai was in the woods," I replied.

"It's not. That's just a rumor someone started."

"That reminds me," I began. "We had an incident here yesterday involving Darkrai. It attacked one of the Herdier, trapping it in a nightmare. Luckily, we were able to wake it up."

"I see. You too. There have been other reports of Darkrai attacking Pokémon in town. Most of them were able to wake up, but there have been some that weren't so lucky," she replied solemnly. "They're all at the Pokémon Center now."

"Did you come here to tell me that?"

"Sadly, no. It's about the fire last night," she paused as the butler brought in a pot of coffee. "The fire was at Riki's house."

I was stunned. Riki's house had caught fire. 

"I know that she is your sister's grandmother," Officer Jenny explained as one of the maids began pouring coffee into the cups. "By the time the Fire Pokémon Squad managed to put it out, the place had burned to the ground."

"What about Riki? Is she OK?" I asked before I shook my head when the maid serving us asked if I wanted any sugar or cream before she asked Officer Jenny, who nodded.

Officer Jenny was silent for a moment as she looked at me with sympathy. "I'm afraid there was no sign of her anywhere. When the Chief of the Fire Pokémon Squad questioned the nearby campers, most of them said they didn't see anything."

"So, there are no witnesses?" I asked crestfallen. Jenna is going to be heartbroken when she hears about this.

"Actually, there are." Officer Jenny answered with a bit more enthusiasm, but still solemnly. "Two boys were with their class group on a camping trip; the ones aiming for extra credit. They were sneaking around the woods looking for Darkrai when they saw a man with big wavy hair walking away from the fire."

"That sounds like Kontororu," I said as I felt my anger rise. "Do you believe their story?" If Kontororu is behind this..!

"They're Mrs. Tao's great-nephews." Officer Jenny explained calmly. "As much of a difference that makes, they're still just kids, and their testimony won't be enough to make an arrest. Especially since they didn't get a good look at the man's face."

I was crestfallen when I heard that. "I should wake my sister," I said as I stood. "She needs to know about Riki."

"We'll take care of that, Mr. Moore," one of the maids said. She went upstairs with two Minccino following her.