For what is mine, I'll come myself

Part 6

10 am, Orchid Block.
Jason stood outside the single story house. Blue tiled walls with large windows, staring blankly out into the open through shattered glass. According to reports, the raiders didn't bring a gun or a knife just one of them had a metal rod with which the scientist had been hit several times. Barely surviving their violent attacks he had run all around the house, blood spilling on the carpets until the crime makers made a run after hearing the sirens. He was taken to the hospital next.

He could see some of the interior through the broken windows. Jason rounded the corner of it facing the 27th street. This is where the police had chased them all the way ahead before losing their tracks. He started walking the length of it. The street was broad enough. Both of the sides were lined with gardens except for the three shops located at intervals... One of them was a coffee shop at the left hand, a lone one in that lane. Jason paused in front it. He sure was craving for some. The morning events had left his mind stressed out.

On his drive back to bells he had given some serious thought. The lady...she came and left, leaving nothing but a note with a name of the town where it all started which had got to his nerves but then again he had learned everything just by that. Just by the name of the town. He felt as if he was being played in a game. But meeting that old woman he was sure this was real.
Awkwardly strange it was though.

He looked past the gardens.
23rd lane, Pearl's flower shop.
Where Lina Bretz used to work.
According to the old woman the shop was run by a couple who were friends with Mr. and Mrs. Bretz.
He walked back until he reached the beginning of 27th and continued all his way across 26th.

The shop was closed, oddly. At this time of the day it was odd enough. 23rd lane was quiet occupied by shops of all sorts.
Jason scanned the glassy little building from bottom to the top. A lively one though. Past the glass windows the flower pots stood out placed neatly in shelves, flowers of all colors and types. A maid was cleaning the foot of a toy shop, maybe some people here were always a little late than usual other than that most of the shops were alive with customers already. He looked at the maid again, two buildings across Pearl's.

"Excuse me?" Jason said as he approached her. The maid stopped halfway through her cleaning and turned to greet the expected customer.
"Im sorry we are just about to open."
"No its fine. said Jason, Im not here for toys." He took out his detective ID and held it out.
"Do you know when does that shop open?"  He asked pointing out to the flower shop feeling almost sorry for her disappointment.
"Uh... the owners are not here. Its closed since two days. replied the maid."

Two days...the day following the one when Lina had gone missing
"How many people work here?"
"Two....mostly..."
"Do you know them?"
"Not personally....the owner, the woman and she had a helper.. a young girl....I havent seen her much myself but I know she works here."
"What about the day before? Was the shop open?"
"Um...yea...it was."
"With the helper or without her?"
"Probably.....it was running as usual so probably both of them were there."

So she had been here. Lina had gone missing from here.
"Do you know where they went? The owners?"
"I guess.. no."

The owners had gone away. The very next day after Lina had disappeared. Did they even know about her gone missing?
There was a lot to learn though he felt his negative instincts kicking in. Something was off.

"Im sorry to have disturbed you. Thank you very much." He held out a card to her.
"If you could please call me if the owners return."
The maid hesitated before taking the card. He could feel her curiosity plus the confusion of being interrogated all of a sudden by a detective.
"Y-yes sure." She agreed as she took the card. 

12 pm
Jason entered the station and usual enough people started swarming around him with papers and files. The police didnt have much to give at the scene and he had returned after a little more survey of the crime place. Someone came around and told him Isaac was there and he hoped for something useful to be waiting at his end. He looked around to fetch for Wendy or Benet instead a far away corner caught his attention, the corner with an old and empty desk and chair, the empty corner in the company of a well known stranger. He stopped and changed coursed making his way through a line of tables rapidly without noticing the calls coming from behind.

They had met a few hours ago.
Why would she just drop by now?
He stopped at the table and she immediately turned her head to acknowledge his arrival.

"What brings you here right now?"
"Information? I said I would."
"Do you have something to tell?"
"No. Do you?"
"I- -----he did, yes he did. What perfect timings.

He took the chair. "The owner of Pearls is away. He began. They left the next day following Miss Bretz disappearance. But she had been there the day before, worked there and left as usual."
A Coffee cup had been served to her that remained untouched.
"Hm....at least you know that much."

That's it? What did this lady want anyway?
"You said you know everyone Miss Bretz does. Do you know anything in specific about the owners of the shop?"
"Cant say. They are very kind. Are you suspecting anything of them?"
"Not sure, Ill find out."
He wasn't sure if he should not be suspecting her instead. Maybe this was just like her.

"We.....we were never introduced properly...."
He suddenly thought he should. Exactly things had never gone there. It had been a weird meet.

"Aline Rosavelt, nice to meet you detective Jason Albert." She said.
He lost anymore words. So particularly there wasnt any need for him to be introduced. He didnt know whether to be annoyed or rejoiced by this fame.
"Nice to meet you too... Miss Rosavelt."

Aline Rosavelt....
Sometimes dolls were named matching their looks. He wasnt sure how to match this one with her name. But it seemed like a perfect name for someone like her.
He felt mused by his imagination.
Doll of a person she seemed, still was human. A strange one though.

The lady rose from her seat. Ill be going now. "We shall meet again Mr. Albert."
Uh yea. had been too sudden. Sure.

Jason entered the meeting room files tucked under his arm. Isaac waved at him from the other end of the table as he made his way to him.
"What have you got today?" asked Jason.
"Something just for you."
Seating himself in front of him he took the file Isaac was offering and opened it.
"Whats this? Isnt this one of my past investigation?"
"Yes, and very important one." Said Isaac
"Jason," Isaac continued leaning forward, "It seems like the two of these had been in league with the people who made a scene in one of your past investigations. They were never found right?"
"No, but defeated."
"I wouldn't doubt that since it was you who was on it. But this is closely related."

Jason read the new report. He seemed right.
"Im not sure how this is supposed to help. Those people ran away and so had these ones. Its almost like I know I wont be able to catch them even now."
"You don't know now but you will. I know that. And maybe this is the right time everything falls into the right place." 
Jason scratched his forehead. This was tough but he felt a tinge of excitement.....and hope.
The robbers will not get away from bells. If they tried, they'll be caught.
Nice enough. Now he only needed his own time to work things out.