ℂ𝕃𝕆𝕊𝔼ℝ 𝕋ℍ𝔸ℕ 𝕐𝕆𝕌 𝕋ℍ𝕀ℕ𝕂

║ EIGHT║

     SIPPING A MOCHA, Nicole starred at the photos of the crime that occured at Winston street, at the McBride's home, two years ago. The photos were sprawled on the kitchen table, she picked them one after the other, looking at them and thinking of a clue in solving the case. She picked the photo of the bedroom, she starred at it for a while before realizing something–  a socks, it was laying on the floor beneath the bed.

How come I  never noticed?

She thought.
    Placing her coffee cup down she zipped her office bag open to bring out the Murder book of the case she was working on. She quickly noted down some things before picking up her phone to call the lab that had the physical evidence gotten from the crime scene.
“I think I just found something as I was working on the case.”  she told the forensic scientist.
“What did you find?”
“A socks, as I was going over the pictures, I saw a brown socks.”
“A single one?”
“Yeah.” she chuckled. “ I guess we didn't notice it because it has the same color as the rug in the bedroom.”
“Thanks for the useful information. See you at the crime scene.” the forensic scientist said and hung up.
“Whew! At last we have something to work on. Can't wait to tell Neil.” she sighed. as she was about dialling Neil's number, he called.
“Good evening, happy Sunday to you!” Neil said enthusiastically.
“It's really a good evening, Mr Darwin. Guess what I found out?” she smiled as she starred at the murder book.
“I am not in the mood for guessing right now. Just spill the beans, Miss Harper.”
“I found something that can help us with the murder case of the McBride's.”
“What did you find?”
“A brown socks under the couple's bed.”
“Whoa!”
“Yes. I've called the forensic scientist, he'll be coming to pick the evidence up tomorrow. I  will also be going there too.”
“Okay, that's good. Well, I called because I wanted to tell you that we have a new case.”
“New case? Is it a homicide case?” she creased her eyebrow as she rubbed her forehead.
“No. Missing person case. It's a young teenage girl–Janice Crawford who went missing on Friday afternoon.” Neil told her.
“Okay…Have you gone through the file?”
“Not exactly, but I'll be interviewing the friend of the teenage girl, since she is the last person that saw her before she went missing.”
“Good luck with the case.”
“What?! It's the both of that's going to be working on the case. Come early tomorrow because it's the two of us that's going to be interviewing the girls friend.”
“Ooh!” she hit the table lightly and Neil laughed.
“Good night. Have a great night!” Neil said and hung up.
“Whatever!” she slouched on the chair, picking up her mocha.
“You just spoilt my day, Neil!”
She said irritably.

   ☬                 ☬                 ☬

“Good morning, young lady. Please kindly introduce yourself.” Neil said to the Black English girl seated across him and Nicole.
“I am Melody Evans, I am fifteen years old, I attend Diamondhill highschool, I am in form three.” Melody fidgeted as she spoke.
“Alright. Who is Janice Crawford to you?” Neil asked her with pen poised in his hand.
“She is my friend and we are both in the same class.”
“Since when have you been friends?” Neil asked.
“We have been friends since form one.” Neil looked at Nicole expecting her to say something. Nicole smiled wryly and cleared her throat.
“What do you know about Janice?” she said.
“Janice is a shy girl but very intelligent, she is nice and beautiful, she is also funny and a good swimmer.” Melody smiled sadly.
“Hmm” Neil sighed.
“Was Janice ever in a relationship?” Nicole said.
Melody nodded her head slowly.
“With who?” Nicole asked.
“Travis… Travis Tristan. He is in form four. They dated for two months and broke up.”
“Why did they break up?”
“I don't know, she never told me.”
“Tell me about Travis?” Neil spoke this time.
“He is a famous, talented basketballer in my school, he is handsome and nice but he is narcissistic because he thinks all the girls in Diamondhill highschool likes him.” she rolled her eyes placing her hand on the table in front of her.
“His he a bully or has he ever gotten into trouble?” Nicole asked.
“No.”
“According to what you told Janice mother, you said both of you were walking home from school, immediately school closed. Then, Janice said she wanted to urinate and she went into the bush along the lonely path you two trekked, you waited and waited patiently for her but she didn't come out, so you went home. Is that so?” Neil stated
“Yes.”
“How was her countenance when she told you she wanted to ease herself?” Nicole asked her.
“Normal, though she was uneasy because she wanted to pee.”
“After Travis broke up with her, did he enter into another relationship?”
“No. I guess she was the first girl he dated.”
“What about Janice?”
“I don't know… but,” Melody sighed as she raked her hands through her brown curly hair.
“But what?” Nicole asked.
“She normally talks about a boy in her church.”
“What did she say about him?” Nicole asked.
“She said she likes him…that's all I know.” she bit her lips as scratched her hand on the table.
“Is that all?” Nicole looked intently at Melody.
“Yes.”
“What is the name of the boy she likes?”
“I don't know, she didn't mention.”
“Did her parents ever know she was in a relationship?”
“No… her parents were against her being in a relationship but, she wanted to be like other teens who had boyfriends, she wanted to be popular.” Melody looked down at the table, tears blurring her vision. “I warned her…I warned her against having a relationship because it isn't godly at this stage of our life.  The feeling we have towards opposite sex are just infatuation, when the time is ripe God will give us a perfect boy with a perfect heart that loves us.” she sniffed.
“Here,” Nicole handed her a tissue to wipe her tears. “All you told her was right.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” Neil asked her.
Melody looked up as she dabbed her eyes.
“No,” she blubbered,“and I won't have until I'm ripe for marriage.”
“Good… good. I love that, how I wish all teens can be like you. I don't know why they are so crazy about being in a relationship. By the way, what they want now, they will still get it after all and get tired of it.” Neil said
“Melody I am so glad you came. I know you'll be going to school from here and your Mum is waiting for you so I guess the interrogation stops here or Neil do you have anything to say?” Nicole said as she closed the notepad she has been writing on.
“Well, not really. Melody, I must say you're a good friend, thanks for coming.” Neil patted Melody's hand on the table, smiling.
“Thank you. I won't stop praying until the police find my friend and I'll also be praying for you two so that God will give you the solution to the case.” Melody smiled bleakly.
“Aw, thanks so much.” Neil stood up and went to hug Melody, admiring the girls sincerity and faith in God. Melody waved a goodbye to them before leaving the police department.