They rode around the city when they reached their destination. John parked his scooter and they were both sitting in the huge building when an old man around the age of John, came with a large book when he said:
"Yes, Little flowers orphanage",he said while going through some papers.
"Here it is, thank you",he gave the cap back to John when he continued:
"We had sent them these items in the month of December. The graveyard wall was extended and we found an aluminum box while digging at that time. This cap was found among the other items", he explained.
"Was there anything else in that trunk?",asked John trying to gather more information. The man stood and looked around the graveyard when he said:
"I don't remember clearly. Items that were still useable were donated to the orphanage and the other items were thrown away",he exclaimed.
"God knows since how long it was lying there..",he continued.
"Since 8 years",John whispered quietly.
"How do you know?",asked the man.
"Thank you for your help",interrupted Martin and was about to leave when John said:
"No..No..wait..We need some more help"
Martin stopped and watched as John asked the man:
"Can you please show me the exact spot where you found this trunk?"We..might find something burried there"
"Oh but now there are only graves there. Only dead bodies burried in. Nothing more",replied the man.
"Before it became a part of the imambara, who did this land belong to?",he asked suspiciously. The man moved his eyes up and down, trying to think when he said:
"I'll have to check the records"
To this, John stared at the man then looked at Martin's face. They both shook their head in unison.
•••
They travelled a long way when they reached to a huge house surrounded by trees and flowers.
"Uncle John!what are you doing here?,asked a man wearing tinted sunglasses after ordering workers about construction.
"I'm looking for-"
"Still looking for a property of your son-in- law?", interrupted the man.
"We needed some information about the Shah's family",asked John.
"Oh but they are settled in USA. It's been more than 25 years. I handle all their paperworks. It's not easy to deal with NRLs",exclaimed the man.
"But we have heard that they donated a part of their property to the Imambara",Martin said while staring at the man.
"Yes they did. So? That's why Mr Shah himself had came here last year. He donated the land to the Imambara and gave me the job to find a buyer for this house",the man said with a little smile.
John blinked his eyes when he asked directly:
"Eight years ago in October..Was there anyone from this family staying here?"
"No,there was no one",replied the man.
John turned around and made his exit following Martin behind while the man rushed to his work. He was quite disappointed as well as surprised. That looked so strange how after 8 years, he still haven't give up and kept searching for evidences to catch the culprit. For an old man gathering proofs to catch a killer looked so weird and strange into people's perspectives but a man like John, was someone too determined and wouldn't give up upon something so easily regardless of what people saw him as.
The sun climbed down zenith. It was beginning to dawn soon. John left Father Martin in front of the church when Martin said after he got off from the scooter:
"You must start coming to church again. Instead of clawing at your wounds, find a way to heal them"
"Did your wounds healed, father Martin?"
He replied then left for his way home, leaving Martin speechless.
•••
When he reached home, he entered the house quietly as his wife was sleeping. He sat near his wife on the bed and held her hand for a second. Nancy was unaware of John's arrival. She used to wait for him all night but ended up sleeping while waiting as she was old and a woman who got tired easily. John sat near her for a while then made his way to his room. He sat on his chair and listened to the same tape again. He never really slept at night. His eyes refused to closed as they kept flowing tears of sadness and remorse.
YOU ARE READING
Angela✓
Mystery / ThrillerJohn Miller is a broken man. His life was destroyed when his precious grand-daughter, Angela Miller, was abducted and murdered. Likewise, Martin Gas, the investigating officer, was so shaken by the case that he had quit the force and turned to the p...
