"…we've found some new evidence at the crime scene. Do you have time now to discuss it?" Officer Rock finished asking me over the phone.
I was stunned. I had never expected this to happen. I was filled with anxiety.
Did I miss something? Was there any evidence left behind that I had overlooked when changing the crime scene?
But then, why wasn't I arrested yet? If it was something that could be discussed over the phone, then didn't it not relate to me at all?
I was confused. I needed to know what they knew. About how serious it was and whether my father could use it against me. So, I responded, after a short moment of deliberation.
"I have time. But, I have a friend next to me. Is it alright if I put the phone on speaker so she can listen in as well?"
"That's not a problem. It will become public knowledge soon anyway."
…Was it related to the shadow? Had they found something that I had missed?
My heart was pounding in my chest as I told Elise what the officer wanted to tell us, and she agreed to listen in. I then put the phone on speaker as we both listened to the officer talking, sitting next to each other on the bed.
He began with a summary of what they had confirmed thus far, through my testimony and the evidence they have found in my house and around.
A struggle had occurred, confined to my living room. I was wounded by the shadow with a knife through my hand and a bruise on my chest, which the blood and floor damage at my house, together with William's testimony of when he had operated on me, confirmed.
My mother was present, confirmed circumstantially by her hair on the couch, the book she was reading, the fact that I had peeled an apple for her, her fingerprints on the shattered beer bottle, and witness testimony that she had not left the house during that timeframe. She also hasn't reappeared anywhere yet, confirming that she is still missing,
There was also some alcohol residue at the site of the burn mark. It was concluded that my mother had disappeared there in a sea of flames with the shadow, like I had told the police.
Looking at the damage done by the fire, it was concluded that the fire had started by supernatural means. They could not confirm that the content of the shattered bottle had been the ignition source, since everything had evaporated. But, combined with the residue on the floor and my testimony, they believed that the alcohol had indeed come from the bottle.
No evidence that my mother had come to harm or died was found, so she was still considered alive.
After saying all that, Officer Rock suddenly asked me a question.
"Jack, before I continue, I want to confirm what your shoe size is."
…What? Does the new evidence they found have to do with bootprints? How? I knew they were investigating my house for it when I went back there, but how could that shadow have left behind bootprints? Or us, for that matter? We were wearing socks!
Can… can they still see our prints even if we were not wearing shoes? Then… was this question a trap by the officer? Have they seen the suspicious movement of us when we went back to the house to change the crime scene!?
I… I was filled with doubt. I didn't know if I should lie to the officer, or what lie to tell. I… needed to think…
Elise subtly pinched the top of my left hand.
I snapped out of my thought spiel. I glanced at Elise with my eyes. I saw her shift her gaze to my phone.
Shit! I got the message. I was not composed enough to have stopped time while thinking just now. It would be too suspicious if I took too long to answer.
I decided to speak immediately and tell the truth.
"Uh, my shoe size is 10, maybe 10.5. They're getting a bit small. I've been meaning to get new ones."
"…I see. I think that confirms it."
"Confirms what?"
"We've found an indent on the floor in the shape of a foot. Likely an adult male, size 12. You had the largest shoe size out of everyone present at the crime scene, so I think we can now conclude that the footprint belongs to the shadow you described."
I was astonished. And then, my heart was filled with warmth. I realised how that footprint was there.
I hadn't been strong enough to save my mother, but my bravery had not been for naught.
When I attacked the shadow and it counter punched me, it had pushed back all my momentum without moving an inch. All the force had traveled through the shadow's body, into the old, soft wooden floor through his back foot, leaving that indent.
The implications are huge! My father could not pin the murder on me anymore, since the conditions to do that have been negated.
That I was the only culprit present, and my mother's remains are found.
Now, there was physical evidence of the shadow, and my mother's remains are forever lost in nature, unable to be traced back to me.
All the judicial leverage he had against me has become ineffective.
And I could now turn justice against my father.
Because the evidence still pointed towards him, and he couldn't use it against me anymore.
I could now point them towards my father, and make the law arrest him.
It was not possible yet, because he had the police still in his pocket. But, I could always find ways to turn them to my side, or elicit even bigger judicial forces outside of my fathers control.
The justice system was now another way to deal with my father, besides outright killing him via the shadow.
My options expanded exponentially with that, because there were also ways to combine the two.
All sorts of ideas filled my head, and all of them filled me with confidence.
Thus far, I could only predict, react, lure and trap my father's shadow to kill him. I had been on my back foot the entire time.
But now that my options have expanded, I have ways to take action myself, and put my father on his back foot.
That monster will face justice for what he had done to my mother. For what he had done to me, my brother, and sister throughout our childhood.
The hunt is on again. My previous trap had failed due to circumstances outside of my control, but now I can control the circumstances again.
To start with, I wanted to increase my interactions with the police, and get some more info out of them to see what my options were.
I spoke into the phone again.
"That's huge, right? Do you think it will help with arresting the culprit?"
"Of course. Any evidence helps with identifying the culprit, and finding your mother."
"…You haven't identified him yet? Do you have any leads, or at least a motive?"
"I… no, we haven't really, to be honest. But, please understand that we're dealing with the supernatural."
"So? Has no one at the police department gained abilities that help them solve crimes?"
"Nobody has that. Most of us have gotten supernatural abilities related to gun shooting."
"…Nobody? I can't imagine that. What about other departments? Surely there's someone that can find the culprit and my mother?"
"…Jack, I get what you're asking, and we of course looked into it. But because of the [Grace of Athena], nobody in the world has abilities like that."
"…Oh!? Oh yeah, of course. Sorry, it's just, after what happened to my mother, it… slipped my mind."
"It's okay. I understand."
…A silence fell between us. Well, it was awkward for me to have forgotten something so basic.
…Right? Why then was my heart pounding and my instincts screaming at me?
I looked at Elise. She was looking at me with compassion and sadness in her eyes. It didn't take a detective to deduce why she had that expression on her face. She thought I had forgotten something so basic because my mother's death was still heavy on my mind.
And it was wrong! Her expression was wrong! I realised that she should also be filled with doubt about this [Grace of Athena] thing, because we had previously not known about it!
When I had come to Elise's house after obtaining my mother's ashes, we, among other things, discussed what we could do about my father. I made up something then, and while I was lying, I said that the police could always arrest me when they discovered what exactly happened if they would use supernatural powers during the investigation.
She believed me, and I believed that it was a valid lie.
Which I now discovered was impossible. We would have only believed that if we didn't know about the [Grace of Athena] yet.
…How did we know it now? Because officer Rock told us? How did he know? I… couldn't comprehend what had happened to me.
…What… what's happened to the world? The Whiteout, everyone gaining superpowers, countries being cut off from each other. Air travel and modern sea travel are not working, and now this 'grace' thing.
Were all these phenomena also related to 'graces'?
I had absolutely no clue. And I'd have to shelve any thoughts of contemplation, because the man on the phone started speaking again.
"Jack, if there's nothing else, should we end it here?"
"Uh, sorry. I was lost in thought. I was wondering, how do you plan to continue the investigation?
"Well, we are still gathering witness testimony around the neighborhood, although they haven't yielded anything substantial yet. We're also still investigating your house, for as long as your mother is still missing, but we'll likely not get any more clues from that. So…, what we can do here is limited. But, the MEPA has gone out, so the whole country will be looking for her."
"I see. But what do you mean when you say that what you can do is limited. Haven't you started interrogations yet?"
"Interrogations? No, of course not. We have no idea who the culprit is."
"You have suspects, right? Don't tell me it hasn't crossed your mind that he would have needed to know where my mother lived? Something that is not public knowledge."
"I… yes, but that's not enough to interrogate someone."
"What do you mean, not enough!? You're grasping at straws already, you should follow every lead there is! What about that stalker? What happened to him exactly? That's the first person I'd look into if I were you!"
"…You're right. And we looked into him already, his alibi is solid. And, we have to follow procedure too. Please understand and trust us, okay?"
"Procedure huh. You're keeping my father informed, right? What does he think about your procedure? Maybe I should call him myself and ask."
"That won't be necessary. We keep your father informed and he understands everything that's going on. He puts his trust in us."
"…Fine. But, if you can, I'd like to be kept informed too. Can you give me a call if a new development happens?
"That's fine. We'll do that."
"Good. …And thank you, for doing everything you can for my mother. I'm sorry that I've been a bit hotheaded."
"Don't worry, I understand. We'll do everything here to get your mother back safe and sound."
"Thank you. I've nothing more to add, so I'll hang up now."
"Alright. And you stay safe too when walking to your house."
"I will. We'll speak again soon."
"Yes, goodbye."
"Bye."
I hung up the phone, and let out a deep internal sigh as I thought about the conversation just now.
Damnit. Counting on this police department will be far too risky. My father might really have them completely in his pocket.
I found that officer Rock's story had too many holes for me to believe that everything is going as it should be.
It's mainly because I found that the police department was inconsistent in what they could and couldn't do when they suspected someone.
He had hesitated a bit when saying they have suspects, but that they couldn't interrogate them willy nilly.
Yet, when I mentioned my mother's stalker, who's still on at large because my mother wouldn't bring any charges, he told me he had an alibi. How could you know that already without interrogating him almost immediately?
It's not like they were constantly keeping tabs on him. Why would those officers otherwise patrol my neighbourhood if that was the case?
And then, when I questioned him about their procedure, and threatened to contact my father, he said that they have his blessings.
I found it all odd. But it would start making sense if I imagined it from another angle.
What if my father was telling those officers, maybe the department itself, exactly what to do.
If he told them that they shouldn't interrogate someone on vague grounds from a legal standpoint? Then, they would indeed be very careful. He's the world's most famous lawyer, after all. Only fools wouldn't follow his legal advice. They wouldn't question it either, even if it was nonsense. That's the effect of fame, after all.
The stalker could have a valid legal basis for interrogation. But for cleaner suspects, like my father himself, that wouldn't hold.
I'd have to give it to him. What my father was doing was extremely smart. Who would ever suspect someone who was giving them genuine advice?
And that advice was double edged too. If someone really suspected my father, he basically already told him that they would be destroyed legally if they even attempted to interrogate him.
Not to mention my father also knows the police chief. The highest authority.
Even if a low ranking officer gained any suspicions, they had to communicate it first to the top, since implicating such a famous man as my father was bound to have consequences.
And through authority any suspicions would immediately be dismissed. Buried and forgotten, together with the poor fool who uttered them.
That police department will become a death trap if I involve myself with them too explicitly. Any attempt from me to turn them to my side will be communicated back to my father out of good faith, and he'll then realise what I'm trying to do and deal with me.
I believed it was not the right option to go for. But there are other options available. Options I gained confidence in now that I know his strategy.
Indirectly subverting police suspicion through legal advice is a very clean way to avoid any suspicion falling on my father, as compared to for example threats or extortion.
If he handles the police department from goodwill, it will not develop grudges that they would enact upon should the situation turn for him.
But, that indirect strategy has downsides too, which are exploitable.
He can't easily interfere directly.
The fact that he can't suppress evidence this way is one example. And he can't easily change strategies now, because suddenly jeopardizing all the goodwill he's built will come at the cost of too great suspicion.
All the evidence that exists now will stay, and will be of use to me.
Shoe size 12 is also my father's, from my estimation.
My sketch of the shadow's face, the fact that it's a skilled martial artist, knowledge of my mother's whereabouts, motive, and now the footprint.
All of it points toward my father.
This police department, and likely other lower rank legality systems, wouldn't act on it. But higher enforcement would, with the right motivation.
That was the best course for me to handle this. It's complicated to initiate, but not impossible. I knew where to start looking at least.
My father was deeply involved in the Blue Party, even having served as Attorney General when they were in power.
And he had made a lot of enemies to come as far as he has.
My father had come from nothing. White trailer trash, so to speak.
He had fought his way to the top in martial arts, to get a chance at life.
Then he studied, became a lawyer, argued, outsmarted, and outcorrupted his way to the top.
It was the only way for someone from ordinary roots to have reached the heights he has, by selling your own soul and sacrificing those in your way.
As long as results remain, he would be tolerated. But the people who would like to see him fall are still left in the wake of his success, waiting and biding their time.
The Red Party is now in power. I'm sure that they would be pleased with any opportunity to get rid of my father. He certainly hasn't done them any favors.
Sadly, the evidence that is there right now would not be enough. I had smoke, not a smoking gun. I'd need absolute proof to get the Red Party involved. They would not act on something vague that could politically backfire, especially so close to new elections.
The flipside is that if I have sufficient proof, they will act. Bringing the murderer of the world's most famous actress to justice would guarantee them reelection.
And I knew where the proof was. Officer Rock had told me himself over the phone.
My father had left a safety net. Someone to pin the murder on, next to formerly me, if things start pointing too much to him.
My mother's stalker, who the police had already located and questioned in a suspiciously early timeframe.
He has an alibi? The police aren't that stupid. If his power was that shadow, he could be at two places at the same time, and kidnap my mother while leisurely sipping a cocktail at a bar.
His motive and criminal history would be all that's needed as evidence. He had stalked her after all. He knew where she lived.
My instincts screamed at me that the stalker would turn out to be the difference between success and failure.
I'd have to locate him before it's too late, and see if I can deliver him to the Red Party to start the process.
I didn't know if the stalker realised the truth of what was going on. But I was confident I could turn him to my side. It was my father or him, after all. If needed, I'm sure I could make him falsely confess that my father is using him to escape justice, so that he doesn't become a scapegoat.
And a 'false' confession for the Red Party, together with the evidence thus far, would be enough for them to act, since it will still lead to the real, beneficial truth.
I now knew my course of action. First, I'd pick up Ken and then the three of us could immediately scour the town for him by car.
A confident smile crept up my face. I finally had some certainty again. It was time to move.
I looked at Elise, and my smile froze.
She was looking at me with a slight hint of worry and anxiety. It was the first time I had seen fear on her face since she had learned the truth about me.
"Wh… What's wrong?"
"Oh…, nothing," She said, her expression returning to neutral. But I briefly caught her gaze shifting to my phone and the door."
"…What do you think about what you heard?"
"…I'm glad that they found new evidence. I'm sure they're closer to finding the culprit now."
"…Yeah."
Elise was lying? No hiding something. Her tonality was too flat when she said that. Didn't she believe that the evidence will lead to something?"
Her hands shifted low in front of her. Her fingers were entangled and she was twiddling her thumbs close to each other.
I got the message. She was air typing. She had noticed something but couldn't tell me directly because the shadow might be watching. It was likely related to the phone conversation. Was it something I had missed? She was sharp after all, it seemed likely.
Damnit, there was no way to know either. If she sent a message to herself, it would show up on my hidden phone. But I couldn't whip it out and look, because the shadow would then become aware of it.
I'd… have to put my trust in Elise. I'm sure she knows best right now.
"Should we go to Ken's house now, like we planned."
"Yeah, we should," she responded, composed.
Okay…, maybe what she noticed wasn't so immediate?
I got up from the bed, grabbed my phone, wallet and sheathed knife from on top of the nightstand, and put them in my pockets.
I turned around to Elise, who was still sitting on the bed. She then put out a hand towards me.
…?
I grabbed it, and pulled her standing.
Once standing, Elise readjusted her hand and kept holding mine. She then led the way, walking toward the door with me lagging slightly behind.
All the while, she kept moving her finger on the inside of my hand.
Once I realized what she was doing, my heart was filled with fear. I squeezed her hand when I got the message.
She had been writing letters with her finger, and it spelled out a word.
HURRY