Beyond My Control

Chapter 3: Deduction

Nicholas gave Herman a room in his place where he could stay while his house was under investigation. He let Charmaine settle at his place, too, giving her a room and providing them with everything they needed. They were like family to him, but sadly, will legally never be. When they were fixed at his place, Nicholas decided to head back to Herman’s house, so he could begin with his work.

He met up with Mrs. Garcia and detective Sam at the doorstep. And upon entering, a police officer approaches them giving them new information from the investigation.

“Chief, I think you should see this,” the police officer said and lead the way back to the attic.

On their way to the attic, Nick’s heart began to pound again wherein it became all that he could hear. And when Nicholas found what the police officer meant that Mrs. Garcia, the chief of police, had to see, he felt he just lost his mind. It was some lettering, investigated to be from Hermeine’s blood stains, giving the possibility that Hermeine could have been the one to put it there. Nick was shocked. But he was so much more shocked when they finally picked out a name after another wave of investigation. “Out of all names?!” He yelled in his head. The name that was revealed was heart-breakingly, “Johnna.”

Mrs. Garcia had her jaw dropped. She was shocked, that was clear. Detective Sam Hernandez was shocked, too, his feelings more dominant than that of Mrs. Garcia’s. And sadly, the most shocked and also the most confused of all was Nicholas. He knew Johnna Williams what with being good friends with Hermeine… or so he’d thought. Johnna was an older sister to Hermeine. As far as Nick had known, she looked out for her, just like how older sisters are expected to go with younger sisters. He had never known of any feud or quarrel or whatever fight the may have had. He couldn’t believe it.

Nicholas was so shocked, he couldn’t speak. Then he suddenly thought, “What if it’s true? But what if it’s not?” Nick, as a detective, knew that there would always be distractions and red herrings in life and in the problems in it, too. He was confused and at the same time, in disbelief. He didn’t want to believe in what he saw just yet. He decided to investigate first, and hope that Johnna Williams was not the culprit. And so his thoughts scrambled for answers – should he believe in what he’s seen today, or in whatever she would have to explain herself with?

A few hours later, Nicholas, Mrs. Garcia and detective Sam, along with a few more cops headed to Johnna’s place. After a few knocks and short introductions, they decided to let themselves in, opening the unlocked front door. Unexpectedly, they opened the door to John Xavier, another of their friends, on his way out of the house. He was fully dressed wearing a black leather jacket covering a white and red shirt, with black jeans that seemed to have darker spots near the feet. He had a strip of band aid on his forehead, just right above his eye brow, making him look badass as ever. But critically thinking, what would he have been doing at Johnna’s place at 6 in the morning if – as far as everyone knows – they’re not even together?

“Xavier, man, is Johnna around?” Sam asked casually, a hint of failed-to-keep-hidden sadness lingering in his sentence (voice) – and even in his expression. Nick greeted with a smile – same with Mrs. Garcia – more forced than wanted. But the only response they got was a blunt and emotionless stare – and a death glare for Nicholas – as he walked passed them and out of the house.

They called out for Johnna and soon enough, looking exhausted, she came down the stairs. When she noticed the cops, she slowed and, metaphorically speaking, question marks formed in her eyes. She was evidently surprised, but not really nervous as Nick and Sam had deduced to themselves.

“Nick? What are you doing here?” She focused on Nicholas when she asked, and then continued as she roamed her eyes, scanning the faces of the additional people in her house, “What is going on…?”