Elif: Of Love and Money

Omer

March 13, 6:00 am, Istanbul Turkey

He was just fooling around with the boys when they got the call.. Arda was performing some random trick to try and get Pelins attention; like every time he did when he was around her. Essentially, making an ass out of himself, because Pelin kept on ignoring him.

Theyd been friends since the dawn of dinosaurs. Well, not exactly, but it had been a long time. So long Omer could no longer tell how long had it been.

He was back in Istanbul after what seemed like ages. After been unexpectedly transferred to Van to follow an investigation involving kidnapping and human trafficking., he was finally back. He expected to marry a wonderful woman soon.

Alright, you two, cut it out. Weve got multiple bodies on a silver Volvo.

Fun! Tell me something, Pelo, is it my birthday today?

Kapa çeneni, salak! Shut the hell up, you idiot!

This was clearly directed towards Arda. Pelin had yet to have her morning coffee and she was cranky as a two-year-old who downright skipped lunch and naptime.

Rude! complained the shorter man, to which Omer reacted with a laugh cut short by a death-glare from Pelin. Omer pointed at her.

You...behave!

What if I dont? she challenged.

Then Ill lock you in the supply closet with Arda. That set her off like a bomb.

Omer Demir, do you want to drive me insane?!

Impossible, Arda cut in, youre already mad as a March hare.

Immediately Pelin flew over him and started punching him the hardest she could. She was famed around the police station for having a heavy hand, something Omer could identify as a truth when he heard Arda crying in pain from the back of the car. He made a grimace, parked the car on the side of the road and turned to look at both of them.

Are you policemen or children? Pelin, let him be. You can beat him up all you want after we crack the case. And you, he turned toward the smaller man, you should know better than to talk to her before shes had any caffeine in her system.

Why are you looking at me for?! Shes the one hitting people!

Well, you deserved it! Pelin cut him off. Omer turned toward her and shot her a stern look along with a slight flick of his head to indicate her to move. She got down from the car and walked towards the copilot seat, buckled her seatbelt and crossed her arms across her chest like an angry two-year-old.

Omer started the car once more. The ride was silent all throughout. Finally some peace and quiet. These two together, alone in a car, was the perfect recipe for disaster. Especially if Pelin was decaffeinated.

He stopped the car in the middle of a road barricaded by yellow police tape. A team of blue-uniformed officials moved out and about, taking pictures and documenting evidence. There were yellow markers on the pavement, marking blood spatters and a footprint made by what looked like a boot. The silver Volvo remained closed and he could see the two people inside it from a distance. Omer came closer, saluting the boys and putting on a pair of green latex gloves.

Good morning, boys, what do we have?

Two bodies

Very funny, Umut. I already know that. I want the details.

Well, a man and a woman. COD, gunshot wound to the head, both of them.

Do we have a time of death?

Judging by the decomposition state of the bodies, Id say the murder took place between 1:00 and 5:00 am.

Who found them?

An early runner, Sir.

Very well, thank you Umut. You may go now. As the thin-looking man left, Omer approached the Volvo, squeaky clean on the outside but saturated in blood on the inside. The older man sitting in the drivers seat had a wound from temple to temple, indicating the bullet's pathway. The woman, on the other hand, had a couple lacerations on her forehead and arms. There were bruises on her forearms and wrists, probably from some sort of rope. But that didnt make any sense, wouldnt it? Unless they dragged her.

It wasnt until Arda opened the door to the passenger side and fixed the womans head that he recognized her. He didnt need to come to a single step closer. Ardas face said it all. It was her.

It couldnt be! How was this even possible? He, himself, had left her at home the night before. It was substantially late, what could she be doing out at that time?

His strength failed him, his knees wobbled and he lost his balance. For a second, his vision turned dark and blurry. This felt dizzy, like a nightmare from one of those stormy nights.

He felt a firm and slender hand grip around his shoulder, then two arms wrapping around him with less firmness but with similar unbreakable strength. The slight sobs and the firm hand gave his friends away. Theyd been here before, on that minefield in Van when he was informed his father had passed away. At Serats funeral, two years ago. At his own wedding, when Ipek left him standing for another man. Today he felt like he felt on those days. A destroyed man with nothing to hold on to.