The crime scene devoided of the body, yet what remained at the scene were untouched items found the day of the investigation.
"A lighter and a wrist band from a band called 'RUL3R'," Adelai listed off as he lead us to where the clues were left untouched on the ground. "It's a bit of a walk from where the victim was found so we could only assume for now that they must have dragged her to the river in hopes she gets washed away,"
Hoped she would be washed away? I thought. I haven't lived in this town for long but I doubt someone who lived here their entire life wouldn't know how deep that river actually is. I continued to ponder on this thought as I scratch my cheek.
"What's wrong? Did you notice something odd?" Jayus asked, noticing my hardened expression.
"Well..." I began, "It seems unlikely that the suspect would drag the victim to the river hoping she'd get swept away. If I've lived here my entire life, I'd atleast know how deep that river actually is. I doubt teenagers wouldn't come and try swimming in the river, so the suspect would have known how deep the river could be."
Jayus's eyes widened in their sockets, as if suddenly hit with a momentary realization.
"That's true," He said, as he too pondered in, "But the river isn't all that deep so victim's body hadn't strayed far. That could mean the suspect didn't know about this place,"
For the first time today, Jayus and I were finally on the same page.
"That leaves us between Mika Stines and Fin Keinsley. Lous Darwin stated before that this was a place he and Anisa Fields often visited for some time alone. But just to be sure, have all three interrogated once more. I feel there's still missing information those three haven't revealed yet." Adelai instructed, his voice serious and deep in contrast to earlier's friendly conversation. "I'm counting on you two." With that, Adelai walked off.
"Yes sir!"
As soon as we got in the motorwagen, I was quick to slouch over the seat as Jayus began to write down indications of the new clues we got today. So this is what a motorwagen looks like. I've read about automobiles through history in highschool for our history class before but I'd never expect to actually get to ride one ever.
The ride to our first suspect's house felt more like a road trip with the motorwagen. From my spot here, I could properly see everything on the road compared to the carriage ride. But since we're going to be interrogating someone soon, I should at least prepare myself.
Who knows, I might just end up on Jayus's last straw if I continue to joke around. Taking out the notebook,I continued to read through the entries the Isolde of this world left behind.
It sounds so crazy the more I keep thinking about it. Why the hell am I referring to someone else as me!? I am also Isolde! Have I actually forgotten that!?
There has to be a reason why I'm suddenly here, and what of the Isolde of this world?
Where did she go?
But as continued to ponder on that thought, I only continued to feel more lost. Whatever the reason for this sudden transmigration be, the answer might be revealed if I continue to live this life.
I flipped back the thin pages of the notebook Isolde left behind. Aside from the parts I've read before, most of the past entries have been marked with bold red letters that read:CASE CLOSED.
Well, good for Isolde. She, at the least, better off than me, has achieved far greater lengths in life.
"When we get to the first suspect's house, be sure not to scare them off again like you did last time, they tend to be more closed off with your way of interrogation," Jayus said, his eyes never wavering from his notes as he continued to write.
So the Isolde of this world, from what I can garner from that, used to be an intimidating person. Noted. Maybe I can use that for future reference.
"So who do we interrogate first? I'll make them confess to everything in a single breath," I said, joking. Jayus seemed to react exactly how'd I'd expect him to react as I disregarded his words. Softly, he hit his head against the window of the carriage door.
"God save me." He breathed out.
In my past life, I had a friend exactly like Jayus. Someone uptight and serious, it became funny to mess with them. Pure, sincere ragebait. I never realized I miss her for falling for those baits.
After we entered two different colleges, we started to drift away from each other due to busy schedules that never aligned. I've only befriended her for two years before we both graduated from highschool but often times I wonder how she is.
"For now, we'll start with who we know to be a heavy smoker— Fin Keinsley," Jayus pulled out a brown file from his stack, within it contained merely three pages which he then handed them to me. It was a filled out form of Fin Keinsley's information. From his name, address, appearance description, and his background. It contained even more detailed description about Fin Keinsley, down to his alibi, much more than what I read in my notebook.
My notebook.
I never thought I'd refer to something I never owned as mine. But here I was. On my first day as a transmigrator, I was already claiming this life. May this life be filled with richness in contrast to my life, and though this job sounds far serious than all my jobs combined, may it be not as draining.
Because if this life ends up worse than the one I originally own, I will officially lose it!!!
As we rode a bit further out of town, the tall red brick buildings slowly lessened out, as did the busy people that crowded the streets. Until finally, we reach only a handful of red brick buildings in a discreet street, only then did I realize it was all apartment building, stuck together side by side. We had reached a quiet, sketchy neighborhood.
Though, even when I woke up in an apartment, I could easily tell we had lived at the nicer side of town. When our street bustled with motor wagons and nice looking people running to their errands and jobs, this place had been less crowded. But I could tell as I looked up the tall building that the people here just refused to venture outside, as they merely creeped by the windows, inspecting the noise made by a sudden, likely unwanted, guest.
When windows were shut, people peeked through the curtains and glared at those whose eyes they met. My own eyes met with dark, tired and wrinkled ones but almost immediately did they glare at me and shut the blinds closed.
Friendly neighbourhood... What a friendly neighbourhood.
And to those windows that remained open, well, they contained people smoking by the sill, and people who... I don't even want to look to confirm the truth.
"So how does this work?" I ask Jayus, who remained busy with his papers even when the carriage had stopped. I remained seated in place, unsure of what to do next, and patiently waited for Jayus to make the next move. To my misfortune, the motorwagen didn't grant me the same privacy as the carriage did so now the three of us, driver included, just stick out like a sore thumb!
"Like we usually do," Jayus replied, his book and pen slammed shut before he tucked them away into his messenger bag, and without turning his head to me once, he calmly whispered. And when I said calmly, I meant calm.
"Why haven't you gotten down the wagen yet!?" He whispered from the other side of the wagen.
"Me!? I was waiting for you to make a move, I was following your lead, remember!? Your words, not mine!" I shot back, leaning forward to shoot him a glare to get my point across.
"So now you decide to follow my lead!?" He asked, his head also peaning forward to glare at me. The motorwagen driver between us being the only wall keeping Jayus from lunging at me in any moment.
"Well, why haven't you gotten down!?" I asked back, shoving my notes in my own bag as I got ready to step down the motorwagen.
"Have you not looked closely around you!? It's scary!" Jayus claimed. And there it was. So I wasn't the only one thinking it, after all. This little nerd must be used to the nice part of town, just as I am!
"Also, you're braver than me, so I'd appreciate it if you lead the way this time." Jayus admitted, this time, his voice toned down in a more calmer demeanor with sincerity he'd only shown me now. For a moment, I was touched.
As if I didn't use the same tricks on my friends in my previous life!
"Don't screw with me, faker." I said, bemused he can also pull tricks like that,"I know your lying through your teeth, now get off!"
At my response, Jayus merely scoffed as he broke through his charade and stepped down the motorwagen. I too finally hopped down.
"We'll be right back, Karl. Stay safe," Jayus said, turning to Karl, our motorwagen driver as he remained seated on his spot. Before we entered the building, I silently prayed my first ever interrogation would go smoothly.