Sleep Well Fighter

Chapter 4: It's a productive day after all

First, I'll go to the crime scene and look for any clues which the police have failed to notice, and also talking with the police would help me get an idea of what might have happened.

The crime scene is situated about half a km from the main road into the forest. There is actually a small clearance to this location and surprisingly at this exact place there a patch with no trees except one in the center. Riya was the first person to discover this hideout, she invited us once long back. This would be an ideal place to gaze at stars at night, but I don't think anyone will ever come here now. I find the whole area sealed off with tape and there are 3 police officers at the scene, I also see some people of the town who were gossiping at some distance.

It must be a constable who is standing guard at the crime scene, the one who is reporting the news to the reporter is Assistant police Inspector Khanna. I've heard he is a capable man, but I am not going to put my trust in them. Beside him, is a man holding a pen and a notebook, he must be the head constable. I somehow try to get as close as possible to hear what they were speaking. Based on the conversation I overhear; it seems that someone murdered Riya in-between '12:30-1:00 am' and we the people of town found her body at around 1:20 am.

There was a piece of interesting news I was able to obtain, it was Riya's dad who identified her, so that was him shouting last night before I became unconscious. She seemed to have left a note in her room, which made him suspicious until he saw the body and her burnt bag. In the note, she said, "Thank you for everything you have done for me but please don't look for me".

So, she was trying to run away from her home, she did seem to give us hints yesterday but why would she run away? Did she hate her home that much? Her dad seems like a good person, even though she might hate her mom, I am sure she would have at least considered him. Alright let's not keep making assumptions, I'll first gather as many clues as possible and finally start deducing.

The inspector looks at me and calls out, "Hey hero! Come over here". Inspector Khanna looks like a man in fifties, with a clean shave and a bushy moustache, his belly sticks out of his uniform, which I am sure is due to his age. but the important feature is the friendly natured smile and the voice which is really soothing for a policeman who is generally feared by the public.

"Yes Sir?"

"Seems like you were the first person to notice the fire and alerted everyone?" asks the inspector

"I-It's..." wait I don't want to mention that coward's name to him. It's better to keep him out of this case.

"Um, well, you see I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom and upon returning I saw a bright light coming from the window, so when I pulled the curtain I saw the smoke and fire, I immediately woke my dad up and as you know we ended up waking the whole town."

"That's great my boy, you really have good observation skills, so do you know the victim, were you friends with her?"

How does knowing a person make them friends? It seems like he does know about our friendship.

"Yeah, she is in my class, and we are friends. I, Akash, and Riya hangout out every day at the park"

"Aww, I am really sorry, this must be hard for you as something horrible like this has happened to someone close," he says with a weak apologetic smile.

"Yes Sir, but I am going to find whoever that bastard is, this is no time for me to be brooding over something that has already happened" I reply with huge determination.

"I am glad to hear that you want to help find your friend's killer, but you see, he isn't someone that is easy to catch, so I don't want you to go charging towards danger. Just a sec" he tears a page from a notebook "Here is my number, call me if you find or remember anything related, even if it seems insignificant, promise me you won't run into danger, ok?"

"Y-yes Sir"

"Good boy, now tell me about Riya, how was she yesterday and also tell me what you did yesterday?"

I explain to him about things that transpired, from the morning fight until she left with Uncle Sam, I also mention the question she asked us before she left.

"Thank you, kid. So, who is this Uncle Sam? What is he like?"

"Well he is a really nice person, he lost his wife and daughter in an accident many years back, he just loves us, because we remind him of his daughter, especially Riya. You don't think he killed her, do you? I am sure he won't kill her; he isn't that type"

Or is he? You never know, Damn! I don't want to suspect him, but according to Miss Marple, you must suspect everyone.

"No, no" he laughs out "we are just making inquiries about everyone, it's just a police routine, we aren't suspecting anyone at the moment, it might have been someone from other villages, we don't know anything until we get the autopsy report"

"I am glad inspector, I thought police were rude people who don't do work properly, but seeing you my whole perspective has changed, please let me know if there are any further developments in the case, I know I seem like an immature brat but I really have skills"

"Haha, thank you kid, I am flattered, but you seem to have been reading a lot of mystery novels. Things aren't in that fashion; the crime is always straight forward in real life. Even though it's unethical to disclose the details of the case to the public, I'll ask for your help in case we have trouble. Alright, you can leave now, I have some work to do" he winks at me and waves me goodbye.

Just when I am leaving, I hear the head constable murmuring something like, 'he seemed calm even though his friend is killed'.

I think the inspector mentioned that it would take 2-3 days for the autopsy to arrive, in the meantime, I'll find out more clues. I return back to my house as I can't sneak up on the crime scene tonight as it will be guarded strictly for the first few days. I hope there would be fresh developments tomorrow.