She was supposed to be at work, or that’s what the husband told me last week when he came into my office. Well, she’s not at work...she just got into a car with a man who definitely isn’t her husband.
I quickly call over a cab that was parked there.
“Follow that car, please.”
“I’m on my break pal.”
“I’ll pay you double the taximeter’s value.”
“Fine, get in.”
I should really get a car...I still haven’t adjusted to how many people use them nowadays. Can you blame me? During my time, there were horses. Now you can’t have them underground, because pollution is so bad they get sick.
We follow the car slowly but steadily until they reach a diner. I get out of the cab after paying and go inside shortly after them.
I sit at a table and order just a drink since I ate.
They talk, smile, laugh. Yes, they’re seeing each other...definitely.
I lean back into the seat and...just watch. When I deal with adultery gigs I always find myself wondering why the hell a partner wouldn’t just break up if they’re unhappy.
I can’t even remember what love feels like. I know I’ve felt it before, but now, after so long...I just can’t tell how it was, and...I don’t think I ever will again.
However, I’m pretty sure whatever this woman is doing isn’t out of love. She’s touchy. Her legs constantly move towards his, her hands brush his limbs an awkward number of times. His smile isn’t one of a man in love, it’s the smile of someone who has an erection.
She’s just bored, he’s just excited.
Is that something worth ruining a ten years old marriage?
I sip my drink and shake my head. I’m not here to judge, just to make sure they’re actually having an affair.
Finally, it happens. They kiss.
Poor husband, he was right...she’s definitely going to be boned by this random man if she hasn’t been already.
I’m ready to leave the money on the table, but before I can pull out my wallet, something unexpected happens.
“Is your next private gig an adultery case? You’re watching that couple with a disappointed face.”
“Lowe,” I mutter.
She just sat on my table without even asking. She needs to talk.
“I’m used to eating lunch here, it’s near the station. Quite surprising to find you here.”
“Yeah, I’m following those two for a client. They just kissed...so I’m done here. I’m going to tell him he’s got horns.”
“Horns?” She asks, smiling slightly with amusement.
“Yes, the betrayed one in a relationship has horns when...nevermind, it’s just a thing we say.”
“Where did it come from?”
I chuckle at her question and shake my head, “it’s just an old way of saying you’re being cheated on.”
“You humans are weird.”
“Thanks for pointing it out.”
Lowe sighed and joined her hands, “well, it sound like the perfect gig for someone like you. You can sit back and bask in apathetic cynism.”
“I’m not apathetic. I’m just sick of seeing the same thing over and over again.”
“Why do you humans even cheat on partners, anyways? Isn’t it easy to just…break up? Is the instinct of mating that strong?”
Other Ones don’t mate as often as humans, which is why Saubureau is 40% Other Ones and 60% humans. We just can’t keep our genitals in our pants, while they’re so cold and logical they don’t see the reason behind love.
Also, cross-breeding isn’t possible either...thank god.
“I’m guessing it’s both that and just...people choosing the wrong people to live their lives with.”
“Mhm, I suppose so,” Lowe nods, “I never fell in love, and I doubt I ever will. Our species just doesn’t bother.”
“Or maybe it’s not capable at all,” I comment.
“There are cases, Edward. Love is possible, just hard and unnecessary for us."
“Whatever.”
I scoff and stand up, already fed up with talking to her.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Wait, I didn’t come here to chat...of course.”
“I knew that from the moment you sat there, but I’m not really in the mood of talking to an Other One right now,” I retorted.
“It’s about Marie. Sit.”
I groan and sit back down, “alright. What’s up?”
“It’s good news for us...or at least I hope it is for you.”
“Just spit it out,” I sigh.
Lowe sighs and looks at me with her deep, red eyes, “internal affairs is willing to let your shooting go...”
I clench my fists. I already know what she’s going to say.
“But you need to be off the case."
“Bullshit!” I shout, slamming my fist on the table, everyone turns around, making Lowe sigh and cover her face.
I lower my voice, maintaining a pissed tone, “you couldn’t even talk to the club’s owners, how do you expect to keep going without a human’s experience?”
“Your human experience is valuable indeed. But his case is gonna cost me too much. I signed the papers already, you can't investigate.”
I furrow my brows, “are you serious? Just to cover you ass?"
Lowe sighs and fixes her glasses, the jewelry on the arm jingles annoyingly, “yes. I am serious. Again, as your supervisor, I can't risk-”
“Another woman raped and killed...AND FORGOTTEN!” I stand up abruptly, screaming once more.
Lowe doesn’t react, as always. She sighs and stands up too, fixing her uniform, “you’ll get your full payment up to what you gathered for us, Edward. Don’t worry.”
“This isn’t about money...it’s about respect. The case was mine! And Marie could be out there!"
“It’s not yours anymore,” she coldly replies, “I’m going to give you a couple of days to cool off, Edward. Come back to me when you’re able to think straight.”
“I’m going to find someone that cares about Marie, Lowe...I’m getting a private gig to keep digging. I can do that.”
She stands up and turns her head to me one last time.
“I’m telling you now. Back off. You don’t want to lose your license.”
And just like that, I’m kicked off the case.
“Fuck!” I hiss through my teeth, crumpling the diner’s receipt. Meanwhile, the cheating couple left.
The diner felt too suffocating. The dark streets of Noctharn look even darker now. I’m sitting in a random park...fake grass and fake trees entertaining young kids with a lie.
I’m off the case. I shouldn’t care, since I’m getting paid. But...Marie is definitely going to become an unknown face in a pile of cold cases.
“This world...is going to shit,” I sigh, blowing out the smoke of my fifth cigarette.
There’s nothing I can do, though. I can’t risk getting my license revoked. I’m going to stick with private cases for a while.
I finally have a reason to go back to my office. I wonder how many appointments piled up during the whole day yesterday and this morning. It’s a small building, I own it. It was my father’s in the past...private investigator, just like me.
It’s the only place where I feel at home. Not even my apartment cuts it anymore...I’m left alone with my thoughts, while here, I have the only friendly face remaining.
“Oh, hello Edward.”
Elima, my assistant. 24 years old. She chose to work for me as soon a she saw my posters requesting for a new assistant after my wife died. It started with a bunch of favors with small pay, then it became a full-time job.
“Hm…”
I unlock the door of my office, while Elima sets some papers at her front desk, right in front of the entrance. She glances at me and immediately senses something.
“Are you alright?”
The smell is amazing, old books...steeped in cinnamon and citrus thanks to Elima’s special candles. They make me feel better.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
But the lie doesn’t last long. Marie’s case isn’t on my desk anymore...fucking Lowe.
“Detective Lowe came and demanded I gave it to her. I’m guessing that’s why you’re down.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, leaning against the desk with my head hanging.
“Oh...do you, uhm, need me to fill up the schedule?” She asks, walking to me as she closes the door behind her.
“No, the money is...there. They’re gonna pay me...and, well, it’s a lot of money as always.”
“Ah...then, you’re just...down, right?”
She comes closer. I look at her from above and smile softly.
“Yeah. The stupid old me getting worked up with things that don’t even involve him.”
“You’re not stupid,” she chuckles, patting my arm, “you just love your job.”
“Yeah…”
My body relaxes as she comforts me slowly, rubbing her hand up and down my arm.
Elima is so kind. I wish everyone was just like her.
“Well, there’s nothing you can do, right?” She smiles bitterly.
“No, there isn’t,” I shake my head, “I’m...I just hate the fact that they’re definitely going to forget about her...about the blonde motherfucker…about everything. It always goes like like that.”
“Cold cases piled up…” she nods knowingly, “well, that’s just how it is.”
“Mhm.”
A moment of silence. Then, her lips move to speak again, hesitant, “well, you need some...help?”
“No…” I chuckle and squeeze her shoulder, “just...give me the schedule, open the office again...I’ll call some clients.”
She bites her lips and nods, “okay.”
She gives me the folder and walks out back to her desk sheepishly.
I sit at my desk and open the folder.
I need to tackle a good case right now, to get my mind off Marie’s.
The first one is a woman client named Claire Eisern. Quite the fancy name. Maybe she has a good pay for me.
I read a small note beside her name, written by Elima.
*This girl never came to the office, she insisted she talked to you through the phone.
Great. Nevermind...I’m already feeling like this is going to be a hassle.
I call her, the phone on the other side rings for a while.
“Detective D’arbie here.”
“What’s up?”
“Why don’t you go to the police?”
“It’s okay, I understand.”
She has a frail, scared voice. She doesn’t want to leave her house. I try to keep a calm, reassuring tone.
“Tell me everything I need to know.”
I grab my note block and write down what she just said.
“Describe this girl for me.”
I stop my pen, “wait, blue eyes?”
All Other Ones are white haired and red-eyed. The red color derives from the high concentration of hemoglobin in their system.
Other Ones become blue-eyed when they die. This girl, Claire, is saying something absurd.
I pinch my forehead. This is driving me nuts already, “keep going. What were you saying?”
I sigh, “why do you think she’s following you? What kind of life do you live, Claire?”
I hate dealing with scared clients. They never make it easy to deal with their problems. I lean back into the chair and soften my voice even more, “alright, Claire, I need you to take a breath...okay? Just tell me about yourself, as if we were friends knowing each other.”
“Okay...do you have friends, family…? Anyone who could be traced back to this weird girl?”
“Okay. What does this girl do, Claire?”
“Claire, it’s okay. Listen to me, here’s what I’m going to do now. Tell me where you live, I’m going to tail you and spot the girl for you and take it from there. I’ll make sure she doesn’t hurt you.”
“Yes.”
I immediately hear a sigh of relief on the other end,
“Just doing my job,” I reply, “I’ll be out of your house in a bit, okay? Don’t get scared if you see me. I’m a tall man with beard and long hair.”
She giggles,