The Entangled Fate

Part Six

Fate is strange , thought Laura. When it opens the door to happiness , a plethora of blessings makes its way to life, but once it opens the door to grieves and uncertainties , sorrows flood the life in the form of vigorous tides , one after another , abundant and unstoppable. Laura's tears left their mark on the pages as she closed the diary. Her mind was exhausted. She wanted a break but since when was life considerate enough?

Laura felt trapped. She felt asphyxiated. The suffocation inside , made her feel as if her lungs had stopped working. She rushed out of the room to get some air.

Outside she paced , as fast as her legs could manage , across the garden hoping to get some load off her fatigued mind when she saw Mr. David standing in a corner. He was talking to someone on his phone with his back towards Laura. At once Laura's heart felt at ease as a thought crept into the devastated palace of her mind.

In that infinite moment , Laura took a decision that could completely ruin her life. But she wasn't afraid of sorrows anymore. She had nothing to lose. So she'll let her fate take control , like seafoam pounding against a rocky shore , she'll go in whatever direction the tide might take her. She can't handle the burdensome truth anymore, she'll let it reveal itself freeing her of all the freight. Even if she has to become the prime suspect , Laura will do it. She'll do it to catch the culprit. She'll do it to find her family.

Only now did Laura understand how burdensome it must've been for Alessa all these years. The burden of knowing truth and not being able to speak , is tortuously crushing.

After he was done with call , David turned around to find Laura coming in his direction. "Mr. David. I'm ready to answer all the questions regarding the murder." Her voice manifested a certain fearlessness.

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"The bruises on the body and blood on the shirt show that culprit wasn't experienced." , said Detective Paul Stirling on the phone. "We've concluded that the killer was not the same person who killed other eight people. The killer probably tried to copy his way to frame him. The size of knife he used is also different."

"Do we have a suspect , sir?" , inquired David.

"Not yet but the investigation will be handed over to another team now , this murder is not related to the serial murders in any case. You can come back tomorrow."

"Alright sir." The line hung up.

David turned around to find Laura coming in his direction.

"Mr. David. I'm ready to answer all the questions regarding the murder." David stood there , trying to find suitable words to tell Laura that their team is no more in charge of the case.

"Miss Laura actually-"

No. He can't take a risk. Laura had hardly decided to speak up , he can't lose the chance. Her statement is very important for the case. What if she changes her mind? David shouldn't tell her about the case being handed over to another team. He can hand all the information he gets to the other team later, he thought.

"I'm glad that you decided to speak up Miss Laura." He smiled gently.

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Laura sat on the chair with her arms crossed over her chest , David on the other hand had a pen and small notebook in his hands.

"Miss Laura , was there anyone else who used to live here with you and your mother? Or anyone who visited frequently?"

"No , as far as I can recall no one lived with us. Mom brought me here when I was four , this place is away from city , no one knew we lived here. Mom used to take a bus to university every morning ."

Confusion was evident David's expressions. "Do you recall seeing someone that day?"

"There was no one there. The killer must've run away by the time I found mom. Is there a problem Mr David?"

"Someone called an ambulance for your mother , Miss Laura. That's how we got there and found you unconscious on the floor. Miss Alessa had died by the time the ambulance reached , but you were found."

"Did you find out whom the phone number belonged to?"

"We couldn't. That person called from a burner phone. We failed to trace it."

"Does that mean-"

"Yes. Either the person was killer himself , but then calling the ambulance doesn't make any sense. We think that there was a third person on the scene. Maybe an accomplice or someone with a hidden identity. No ordinary man would use burner phone to call an ambulance. Do you have any idea who could it be?"

She was being suspected. She just wasn't told. Who knows maybe the detective wasn't there to 'guard' her in the first place? She thought.

"I have no idea. I'm just as clueless as you are."

"Miss Laura , if you're hiding something because you're afraid of being wrongly accused , I want you to chase the thought out of your mind. I assure you , we will find and punish the real culprit. You have nothing to be afraid of unless you did something wrong."

"I'm not hiding anything Detective. Trust me i'm trying to cooperate as much as i can. I'm just as eager as you to find the culprit. The victim was 'my mother' Mr. David."

David sensed a crack in her voice. Losing a family is agonising but being blamed for it is even worse. David understood but never felt that , he never wished to , but fate isn't bound to consider one's desires.

"What made you feel that it was all your fault , Miss Laura Washington." he had to be straightforward. For a moment Laura failed to utter a word. How did he know...?

"Please be honest with me. You won't be wronged Laura. We found blood on your mother's shirt , the killer must've gotten hurt while attacking your mother. The blood didn't match yours. We have an evidence Laura. I'm telling you , you won't be wronged. Now tell me why you kept saying that it's all because of you while you were unconscious?"

However unconvincing it might seem , Laura had to tell the truth now. She can't keep her paintings a secret for a long time , nor did she want to.

"There's something you must know , Mr. David Peterson."

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Arthur's note:

So what are your views on this chapter?

Do you think David will believe what Laura is going to tell him?

Or will he suspect Laura?

Will Laura be able to find her family?

Kindly rate on 1-10 scale.

Don't forget to vote , comment and share. See you in chapter 7.

Thanks for reading.