Belle Stone

Part 38

Thursday morning at the police station started as interestingly as Belle's. The light shines through the darkroom, illuminating the white table. The shine reflects onto the policeman's face. His eyes are glued to his fingers that are tracing circles on the hard cold surface.
"What is it? You are so pensive lately. What is bothering you?"
The tall slinky guy approaches his short fit colleague.
"This case. These murders are so unpredictable, basically impossible to solve. No link between the victims. No clues, no witnesses."
"There are witnesses."
"Oh, yeah. A bunch of people who heard screaming. How does that help? They haven't seen anything. The screaming could have come from the victims."
"Have we questioned all the witnesses?"
"I think so. You think we missed someone?"
"The park is big. It can get quite crowded."
"I guess it is possible that one slipped through."
"Surely. So, why don't we go look for him?"
"Even if he does exist, how can we find him now?"

The tall guy sits next to the hopeless policeman. He locks eye contact. The steel determination in his eyes summons hope.
"There is always a way. Have we questioned the staff?"
"What staff? There are no workers in the park."
"Ah, but there are. Someone has to keep it clean."
The short policeman cracks a smile. A little bit of optimism ignites in him.
"That is true. I don't think we have. You are a genius."
"I always said I was but you never believed me."
"You never showed it until now." "Whatever. Let's just find the missing witness."
The tall policeman rolls his eyes. His tone is dismissive. The annoyance drips from it.
"Who was on duty that day?"
They gather around a computer. The short guy does a bit of research. The enthusiasm gorging through his fingers. A name pops up on the screen.
"Here he is. Norman Owens."

They rush out of the building. Their legs are lugging them to the goal they have in mind. They hop in the car. No words are said. A glimmer of hope shining in the distance distracts them. Finally, they could do something else than just sit and look at the crime scene photos. Something in their gut tells them that this won't just be another lost cause. Not just screaming that shook the ground, clue. In a blink of an eye, they arrive at the address. Norman, just like every other person that has seen the police at his door, was dumbfounded.
"Hello, are you Norman Owens?"
"Yes. Is everything okay?"
Norman's heart picks up the pace involuntary. His eyes are wide while looking at the policemen standing at his front door.
"Yeah, everything is fine. We have a couple of questions to ask you. Can we come in?"
The tall guy reassures him.

Norman takes a step aside inviting the police in. He extends his hand, pointing to his couch.
"Yeah, make yourself at home."
"Well, that much comfort is unnecessary."
"Yeah, sorry. Force of habit."
"It is fine."

The two colleagues sit carefully on the couch. Norman joins them. He plants himself abruptly on the sofa. He digs his shaky hands into his thighs forcing them to stop moving. The fabric of his pants slowly absorbs the sweat.
"So, what do you want to ask me about?"
"You were on park duty this Tuesday?"
"Yes, did I miss cleaning something up? What did I miss? I cleaned everything except the forbidden place but I am not allowed to go to that place. No one is. Maybe they think I went there but I didn't. I swear I didn't go."
Norman's brain is overflowing. He can't stop his train of thoughts from seeping out. Slightly his body rocks back and forth.
"Sir, it is alright."

The tall guy calmly interrupts Norman's rant. He sets the palm of his hand directly pointing at the floor. His fingers are loose. He slowly motions the hand down in an attempt to calm the nervous man. Norman takes a deep breath. His lungs followed the instruction of the policeman's hand. His hands were still shaking. The palm imprinted sweat in his pants but he wasn't rocking anymore and his voice was steadier.
"What happened? Was it something bad?"
The two colleagues look at each other. Their glimmer of hope is starting to lose its shine.
"Yes. It did. Something horrible. You don't watch TV?"
The short guy's tone is calm and reassuring. Drained of any energy. Drained of confidence.
"I do, but not news. News make me depressed."
"I agree with you but surely the stuff happening in your vicinity interest you."
The tall guy chirped in after hearing the loss of engagement from his partner. He was still holding on to his gut. There was something here that was going to help them. He knew it.
"Not really, they are the most depressing. Something bad happening to someone is sad enough but when it happens to someone you know... It is the worst."
"Makes sense, but don't you hear it from other people. Isn't that the same as seeing it on TV?"
"Not really. You see, I keep my interactions as short as possible. Just hello, how's your day going, and goodbye."
"Don't you have any friends to talk to or some relatives you are close to?"
"Well, yes. I interact with them like that. I don't talk to strangers."
"Oh, so you never talk to anyone longer than a minute."
"If I don't have to then no, I don't." "And when do you have to?"
"Now."
"Ah, okay. Anyway, Did you notice anything strange happening this Tuesday?"