Writer's Recipe vol. 3 (2018)

INVISIBLE BULLET

Written by : Muhammad Zaid bin Abdullah Make

It was starless night. A man was walking alone in the town. He probably just returned from his night shift. He needed to walk home as there was neither train nor bus that late at night. Out of the blue, he sensed as if someone, or something was stalking him. Curious, he looked around but saw nothing. He trembled, but just continued walking. A ghastly voice called out to him. He stood rooted to the ground, gripped by fear. A masked man stepped out from the shadow, pointing a gun to his head at point blank. He only managed to let out a short scream before it was drowned by the deafening sound of gunshot.

"POLICEMAN MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD." Haruka, a student at Kanzaki High School was reading the news about the incident that happened last night on her smart phone.

"Hey, what are you reading?" asked Kazuya, her classmate. Haruka responded by showing her phone to Kazuya.

"A second murder? So that explains why there are more many police car in town," Kazuya said in a surprisingly calm tone. "Maybe we should go to the police station and find out more?" He added. At this, his friend smiled confidently and nodded in agreement. Actually, the unlikely duo were teenage private detectives in Tokyo. Despite their young age, they had extraordinarily amazing observation skills that helped them to crack cases which gave even the police trouble.

After the school session ended, they headed to the police station just like they had been agreed. They greeted the many familiar faces there and went straight to a room to the Chief's room. "Come in," said a voice from inside the room. When they entered, Chief Ryu said he was already waiting for them. He wasted no time for pleasantries and asked them to have a seat.

"I think I know why you two are here," exclaimed the Chief. Haruka and Kazuya nodded in unison.

"Please allow us to help you apprehend the culprit," Kazuya said in a serious tone. The Chief then briefed them all the vital information that the policed had gathered about case. Then, he took them to the forensic laboratory to meet with professor Yuki, a forensic investigator.

"I had made the comparison between the two victims. One of them had been shot in the head and the other had been shot at his nape." She explained.

"So, could it the murdered be different people?" asked Haruka. Professor Yuki shook her head and showed the bullet shells from both cases to them.

"It's the same type," said Kazuya after examining them thoroughly with a magnifying glass.

"Yes but it's not a common bullet type," added Haruka. Professor Yuki smiled and explained to them - the bullet was the proof that the murderer from both cases were indeed the same person.

"These bullet shells belongs to the M1911 gun; a gun from the United States of America. Its real name is Automatic Pistol Calib..."

"All right! We get it. Thanks," Haruka and Kazuya cut Professor Yuki's explanation short. They knew that when it comes to gun, her explanation may well end up being an hour long lecture.

That evening, when Kazuya arrived home, his mother asked him to take all the letters from the mailbox. When he took them, he noticed a letter that was addressed to him. He gave the rest to his mother and went upstairs with his. He was curious because he had never received a letter in his life.

"STOP INTERFERING WITH MY JOB OR YOU WILL PAY THE CONSEQUENCES." Kazuya scrutinized every detail of the letter, hoping for some clues. He was sure it was from the criminal they were after. "But how did he know I am involved? And he even knows where I live..." he mumbled. He quickly contacted Haruka about the letter and she told him that she had received a similar letter.

At the end of the school session the following day, Haruka and Kazuya were at the train station as usual to catch a train back home. After they bought the tickets, the walked downstairs. There station was packed with people, but amidst the sea of people, Haruka managed to spot a hooded man aiming a gun at Kazuya.

"Kazuya! Down!" she let out a scream. BANG! Kazuya fell down on the floor. Everyone there broke into a frenzy.

"Kazuya, are you okay?" Haruka panicked seeing her best friend on the floor.

"Yeah, thanks to you," he replied in pain. Fortunately, Kazuya had managed to dodge the bullet in the nick of time, causing it to only graze his arm. "Go after the killer. I'll catch up," he added. Haruka nodded and started chasing the culprit.

Haruka gasped for air. She had run very far but the killer was still nowhere in sight.

"Haruka, what's going on here?" a familiar voiced suddenly called out to her. It was professor Yuki. "I was supposed to take the train home when I heard gunshot," she said.

"I'm after the killer, he tried to kill Kazuya. Did you see a hooded man running this way?" said Haruka while trying to catch her breath.

"That was the killer? I think I saw him running in that direction," she pointed to the exit. Just as Haruka turned to look at the direction she was pointing, a devilish grin appeared on her face. Quietly, she took out a gun from her pocket and aimed it at the back of Haruka's head. She was about to pull the trigger when suddenly... CRASH! Professor Yuki fell onto the floor. Pieces of a broken vase scattered around her unconscious body.

"Thanks Kazuya. I knew I could count on you," Haruka said, without even turning around.

"You knew she was the killer, didn't you?"

"As soon as I saw her here. She was supposed to still be at the lab at this time. Besides, she said that she was going home, but the train at this station doesn't lead to her home area," Haruka said with a triumphant smile.

Chief Ryu arrived shortly to apprehend professor Yuki. He was appalled that one of their own was the criminal. He praised Haruka and Kazuya's heroic deeds but was also worried that they were putting their lives at risk. The both of them brushed the idea aside. That was the end of this case, but their detective days were far from over. If there were any crimes occurring, they would be ready to help.