Exodus

3RD PERSON POV.

"Hey, Mary." A guy called, entering a restaurant.

"What are you doing here, Frank?" Mary asked him, with eyes on him as if he was a ghost.

Frank sighed, walking up to the counter. "I know we are not supposed to be meeting each other randomly." He paused then look around in fear.

"But these days I have been having bad dreams about before."

Mary furrowed her brows, then shook her head, realizing what he meant. "Don't go there, Frank. It's just your fear. That is the past we are all trying to forget, so please you need to leave. I've got to start my work."

He nodded. "But, you can serve me still, right? It is the early morning."

She sighed and nodded. "Okay. I'm just doing my job."

Frank went to sit on one of the chairs, as he waits.....

••••••

ARIA'S POV

"Detective Carson!" Someone called me.

I turned around from my desk to see it was officer Brandon.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Captain Reynolds calls for you."

"Why?" I asked with a raised brow.

He shrugged. "Don't know."

I nodded. "Okay. I'm coming."

He left with a nod.

"Are you shuddering to see the captain?" My partner Detective April Hale asked me.

I and April have been partners for three years, and equally friends.

She's black and beautiful, and we always got each other's backs.

I can't say the same for my first partner.

I scoffed. "Why should I be? I just don't know of any reason he should be calling me."

"I can actually think of one. Ever since you ran into that old town, you've been so obsessed with finding out more about it." April said.

"But he doesn't know about it," I told her as a matter of fact.

She looked at me like I was crazy. "You don't know your boss, do you? You have been here for 5 years, and you still don't know nothing can be hidden from the eyes of our Captain."

I narrowed my eyes in thought. "Seriously? You think he knows?"

She nodded. "Yeah, and it's high time anyways. After all, you'll need his permission."

Of course. I hope he allows it.

"I'd better get going, then," I told her, and she nodded.

I got into my Captain's office.

He looked up from his desk, and at me. "You're here."

I nodded.

"Have a seat." He told me, pointing at a chair.

I sat down quietly.

"So, you have something to tell me. Don't you?" He asked.

I sighed. Does he have to start it this way?

"I do, Sir, and I'm sure you know," I told him.

He scoffed. "You're damn right I do, but why?"

I gulped. "Well, being a detective is all about mystery solving, isn't it?" I asked him.

He nodded. "Yeah, only when it becomes our concern, but you in particular have a reason." He said.

"Well, don't know. I just... I just want to know the mystery behind it." I stuttered.

"I just don't think I should take that as an answer, and besides this is not a case, Carson."

I nodded. "I understand Sir, but please grant me this. It is highly possible, that there might be something involved, probably even death. We just need to investigate what happened that sent a whole town away from their home."

"That place has been there, and no one has cared to find out what happened." He argued.

"But we can, after all, it's under our jurisdiction."

He sighed.

"Sir, it's high time we know what happened in that town," I told him.

"It is not a bad idea, but the only problem is I can't grant you permission without the chief knowing, and I don't think he will allow it." He said, looking straight at me.

"I get it, Sir, but please try and make it work. It's our job to seek out justice, and I feel someone somewhere needs justice concerning that mystery town."

He nodded. "You're right. I'll try, and make it work. You and your partner will be in on it. And after the chief has approved it, then I'll assign an officer, and forensic pathologist to help you in case there is a death involved."

I nodded, trying to hide my excitement. "Thank you, Sir."

He shook his head. "Don't thank me yet, until the chief approves of it."

I nodded. "Yes Sir."

I really do hope the police chief approves of it.

******

"So, now we're waiting for the chief's approval," April noted.

I nodded. "Yeah, I hope he approves."

"Yeah me too." She said, sipping her cocktail, and leaning on her chair.

I furrowed my brow at her. "Why?"

"To be honest, this will be fun. Finding out something no one has ever cared to find out, and being part of it. It makes me wonder if nobody investigated at the period." April said in thought, making me wonder the same.

Then I heard her gasp. "Do you think something happened to people who investigated?"

I looked at her and scoffed. "I didn't know you believe in superstition."

She shook her head. "Sometimes superstitions are real, Aria."

I peered at her wondering if she was serious, but it looks like she is.

"Let's continue our work," I told her.

She nodded. "Okay."

"Detectives Carson, and Hale!" We both heard the Captain call our names.

"What does he want now?" April asked me.

I shrugged. "Dunno. Let's go."

We entered his office.

"I have a case for the both of you." He told us.

"A case?" April asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. There's been a death at the Clockwood town park."

"A death?" I asked.

"Yeah. A male." He answered.

"Is the cause known yet?" April asked.

"Nope. The police coroner has taken the body already to forensic, and patrol officers are there. You can go to them for further information." He told us.

"Why are you telling us now? 'cause it seems like things have already happened," I told him.

"I wasn't actually planning on giving the both of you the case, 'cause you've been closing a lot of cases, thinking the case might be just ordinary."

"And now you think the case isn't ordinary," April said.

He nodded.

"What makes it not ordinary?" I asked him.

He looked straight at us. "The both of you are one of the smartest detectives I have here in this department. You can work that out."

We confusingly looked at him.

"Now go do the jobs you are good at, and report to me." He commands.

We curtsey, still in confusion, and left his office.

"That guy's death has to be mysterious for him to act like that," April told me.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"So where should we go to? The murder site, or the forensic?" April asked me.

"The murder site. Let's talk to the patrol officers if they've yet seen any suspicious activities, before going to forensic." I said.

"We don't even know who this guy is yet." She stated.

"Yep. Another thing we have to find out."

"Detectives!" Officer Brandon ran to us. "You are here." He acknowledged.

"Yes, we are," April answered.

"Captain didn't say the both of you are coming." He said.

I nodded. "Yeah, it was kinda at the last minute. We'll be the ones handling this case." I informed him.

"So what do you have to tell us?" April asked as we walked to where the dead man died."

"This was where we found him." He said pointing at the spot.

An officer came, and offer me, and April a hand glove.

I looked at the spot.

It's clean. No blood.

"Have you guys made the report?" I asked him.

He nodded.

"Do you have his ID?" I asked.

He nodded, giving me a purse.

"Everything is inside. Even his money. Nothing was taken from him."

I looked at his ID.

Frank Harper.

"Have you found out more about him?" I asked Officer Brandon.

He nodded. "Though, not much. He doesn't have much on him, except a one time he broke traffic regulation."

"What about his profession?" April asked.

"A driver. A bus driver." He answered.

"Have you checked his phone records?" April asked again.

"Yeah, but it is suspiciously clean. We guess it's because he doesn't have many friends. His contacts are mainly his family. The last person he called was his wife." He answered.

"Have you contacted the family?" I asked.

"Nope, and there has not been a missing person report yet, since it hasn't been up to 24 hours."

I looked around the park.

"There should be a CCTV camera around here," I stated.

"Yeah there is, but there's not much to get from it, though I'll show it to you guys when we arrive at the station."

"So, what is the report?" April asked him.

"There is a possibility it was poison. You could tell by what he looked like, though it is still unofficial." Officer Brandon said.

"How did he look?" April asked.

"Decomposed." He answered.

I turned to him. "How long was he dead?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Don't know."

"If his body was decomposed, then he'd have died since," April said in utter confusion

"Yeah, or someone should have seen him before now, I mean, it's a public place," I added.

"Yeah, we thought so too."

"So who found him?" April asked.

"One of the park's Janitor."

He pointed at a man sitting at the back of the police van.

I turned to April. "Let's go talk to the Janitor."

She nodded, and we walked up to the man.

"Hi, Sir." I greeted him, seeing it was an elderly man.

He looked at us.

We brought out our badges and showed him. "We are RCPD police detectives, and we'll like to ask you a couple of questions."

"I've answered all I could answer." He said.

"But not to us," April replied to him.

"We just want to hear from your mouth, and picked something that might have been missed," I explained.

He sighed. "I was just doing my shift when I found the decomposed body."

"The body hasn't been there before?" April asked.

He shook his head. "No. I don't think so. Someone would have seen it."

I looked at April in the wonder of how impossible it is for a body to just decompose, but she just shrugged.

I looked back at the man. "So, apart from that, you have nothing else to say."

He nodded. "Yeah. After I saw the body, I called the cops."

I let out a huge breath, taking the information all in. "Have you ever seen the man before?" I asked.

"Yeah, maybe he's a regular in the park," April added.

He shook his head. "A lot of people come to the park, so no, I don't think even if I saw him, I'll recognize him."

I nodded. "Thanks for your time."

We left the man.

"He doesn't look like he's hiding anything," April told me.

I nodded. "Yeah, he's just an unfortunate man who happened to come across a dead already -decomposed body."

"That kinda gives me the creep," April shuddered with her nose cringed.

I shook my head and sighted the park's eatery.

I narrowed my eyes at it with the idea that there might be a huge possibility Frank went there. I looked at the site Frank died, and the eatery. There seems to be not much distance between the two.

It's not a coincidence. I'm sure he went there.

Someone might have seen him.

Someone has to.

Still looking at the eatery, "Let's go check out the restaurant." I told April. "There might be a possibility he went there, and someone saw him," I stated looking at her.

"Well we did ask, but no one answered." Officer Brandon said.

"They are probably scared of getting involved." April voiced.

"Let's try. Maybe this time, someone will step up." I said.

She nodded.

We walked into the eatery, and all eyes turned to us.

"We are RCPD police detectives, and we'll need some cooperation on things I'm sure you've heard about!" April voiced out.

"What kinda things?" A man said.

I huffed. "Oh, I'm sure you know."

"I don't know who the man was." A woman walked toward us.

"And who might you be?" I asked.

"The Chef." She answered.

"Aren't you supposed to know your customers?" April asked her.

She nodded. "Yes I am, but that man was never my customer."

I turned to April knowing the woman is probably lying.

"You're saying you haven't seen him?" April asked again.

I looked back at the woman.

"Yeah." She replied.

I narrowed my eyes at the woman, cause the way she answers, looks innocent, but in a smart way.

Someone who is pretty good at lying.

"You know lying to the law is an obstruction of justice?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "I'm not lying to you, detective. It's the truth."

I looked away from her, to the other people who are watching.

"Please, if any of you remember seeing the man, you know the number to call or the place to go to. Help us with our investigation, so whoever did this answers to the law. We don't want things like this repeating itself." I said to them, hoping anyone would stand up, and decide to help.

I was damn wrong.

I sighed, seeing no one stand up.

"Thanks for your time... Chef," April said to the woman.

"Miss Mary." She corrected.

"We'll go then," I said.

We walked out of the eatery.

"Something doesn't seem right," April said.

I nodded. "Yeah I know, but let's go to forensic."

"Luck to the both of you in looking for answers. We'll do our jobs here for anything suspicious." Officer Brandon said.

We turned to him, and nodded then we walked to my car, and I drove us off.

******

The sight of the dead man's body was horrible to look at, seeing he's already been experimented on.

Poor Frank.

"Isn't there a possibility the cause of his death is formaldehyde?" I asked Dr. Margot, trying to view it in a more logical form.

"Yeah, it's like thirty milliliters of formalin was given to him, considering it's only meant to preserve dead things, not living things," April added.

Dr. Margot sighed. "This is more lethal than formaldehyde, maybe a huge dose of it, like you said, probably even more than thirty, or it was mixed wrong."

"You're saying it might not be?" I asked for clarification.

She nodded. "Kinda, but it seems like it, but too much of it."

"Why would someone poison his fellow person with formaldehyde?" April asked.

Dr. Margot nodded. "Yeah. I haven't seen a condition like this in my line, and years of work. It's extraordinary." Dr. Margot mentioned.

April furrowed her brows at her. "I don't think that is the answer we want from you."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We want something direct. It's your job to know the diagnosis of a patient."

She shook her head. "I'm really sorry, but I still kinda need more time on this. It just doesn't seem like something a human will do, except that human holds a very dangerous weapon that contains a whole lot of formalin"

"You're saying we are probably not dealing with a human?" April asked her.

She looked at the both of us. "Probably?" She said unsurely.

I scowled. "That's a load of balls"

April looked at me. "She might not be wrong."

I looked at her. "You can't tell me you believe the shenanigans this pathologist is saying. We are dealing with a human, and we are gonna bring him or her to justice."

She nodded. "Yeah, but there's nothing wrong to be extra careful. Look at this man, and how he died. I don't think he'll be the last."

I sighed. She's right.

If we might not be dealing with a human, then what?

"I think you guys got me wrong." We heard Dr. Margot say defensively. We faced her giving her the urge to continue. "When I said we might not be dealing with a human, I meant a heartless one." Dr. Margot corrected.

"Way to go, Margot," April told her with a frown.

"So, what is the cause of death?" I asked.

"Bronchitis, before a lot of other things got damaged." She answered.

"And the mode?" I asked again.

"Formalin." She answered.

I nodded.

"Definitely a homicide," April announced.

I nodded in agreement.

"We haven't even gotten a person yet," I said with a huge sigh.

"We will in a matter of time, but let's check for his family," April said

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Knock. Knock. Knock."

This is hard.

This is so hard.

Walking to a family to give them the bad news. These are the kind of times I so hate my job.

The door opened, and a woman surfaced.

"Carol Harper?" April inquired.

She nodded. "Yeah. Who are you guys?"

"We are RCPD police detectives." We showed her our badges.

"OK. How can I help you?" She asked.

"Can we, at least, come in?" I asked.

She nodded and opened her door widely for us.

We walked in, and I looked around the house. The picture frames. Looks like a happy family.

"Is there a problem? You detectives in my house mean bad news." Carol let out nervously.

I looked at her. Ouch, that hurts.

"Well, you're right. We are carriers of bad news, and we've come to give you one." I confessed.

She shook her head. "Please tell me my husband is safe." By her voice, you could tell how worried she has become.

I sighed.

"That's the bad news. Your husband's lifeless body was found in a park." April spilled.

She let out a shaky breath, her eyes becoming watery, and she shook her head in disbelief. "Please it isn't true. You guys are lying to me."

I shook my head, giving her a look of pity. "We're not, and accept our condolences. We are also here to do our job, find out exactly who was involved, and bring them to justice."

She looked at me, tears falling down her eyes. "My husband is a free man. He has no enemy, as far as I know." She informed me emotionally.

"You're saying you can't think of someone who would kill your husband? He hasn't been involved in a fight lately?" April questioned.

Carol shook her head. "No..." She paused, looking like someone who was suddenly engulfed in thoughts, then she looked at April. "Wait. Are you saying my husband was murdered?" She asked putting her right hand on her chest.

I nodded. "Looks like, and whoever did that seems to be making a voice."

She sighed shakily.

Looking at her, it's obvious gravity is playing games with her. She seems to be stuck in planet freefall.

It's obvious the news weakened her.

"So, your husband doesn't have enemies, or whatsoever?" April asked.

She nodded. "None I can think of. I don't...I don't know everything, or who he relates with when he goes out to work, but he tells me everything."

I shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't so he could keep you from worrying."

She shook her head and shut her eyes closed for a while, then opened them back. "I just can't believe this. My husband?" Her breaths were heavy.

I nodded. "There's got to be someone, maybe from his past."

She sighed. "I don't know much from my husband's past, but I know his past wasn't a good one like he's running from it."

I furrowed my brows. "Running from his past?"

She nodded. "I don't really know, 'cause he hates talking about it."

"But, you found out something." April figured.

She gulped and nodded. "I did. He was running from his origin. I mean, it was suspicious, 'cause he, and his mom gets angry when I ask. I had to find it out on my own."

"His mom?" I asked.

"Yeah. She isn't healthy now. She's suffering from dementia. She went for a check-up." She answered.

"So what did you find out?" April asked.

She sighed. "I found out my husband came from a ghost town."

I and April glanced at each other.

"A ghost town?" April asked.

She nodded. "It's an empty town here in Reign city, but I didn't ask him about my discovery. I don't want him angry."

I furrowed my brows in thoughts. The only empty town here in Reign city is the one I found out.

Could it be what she's talking about? Of course, it is.

"Does this ghost town have a name?" I asked.

She nodded. "Exodus."

"How did you find out?" April asked.

"Well, he told me, not knowing I'll look more into it." She replied.

Exodus. It sure follows.

"Do you know anyone else who comes from there?" I asked.

She shook her head. "No, I don't. I didn't look too much into it. I just really wanted to know where he came from."

"But, you didn't bother to know why he's scared of telling you about it?" I asked.

"I was trying to protect my marriage. It always causes trouble when I bring it up, so I decided to drop it." She explained.

I nodded in understanding.

"D..do you think someone from there went after him?" She asked.

"We don't know yet. We are just trying to connect dots, and solve puzzles." April answered.

I nodded. "And you've helped us a lot in it."

"Please find out who did this." She pleaded.

I nodded.

"We'll try our best," April said.

"Where would he be now?"

"I'm sure by now, he'll be in the morgue," I answered.

"We have to go now. Thanks again for your cooperation." April appreciated.

She nodded, and we walked out of the house.

April turned to look at me. "That was a lot to take in. Isn't she talking about the town you saw?"

I nodded. "I'm sure, and according to her, Frank was scared of telling her about it."

"Then there is probably something that pursued them, and that thing probably killed him," April stated.

"Let's go report to the Captain."

She nodded.

**********

Putting two and two together, connecting dots, and solving puzzles are hard bitches.

"You know you guys should go home and rest. You've tried for the day." Captain Reynolds suggested walking to our desk.

If Frank is scared about his past and refused to talk about it, then others will too.

Right?

"So, tomorrow we'll have to put out an APB on the case," April said.

What was Frank doing at Clockwood park? He's got to be there to maybe meet someone.

"Yeah. That has to happen." Captain Reynolds replied.

I furrowed my brows in remembrance of everyone we asked questions.

My eyes widened. Mary. Chef Mary.

She was totally hiding something underneath those smart lies.

"Aria, what going on in your head," April asked me.

I looked at her. "I'm having a thought."

"About?"

"Mary. The chef we met at Clockwood. Didn't you notice she wasn't clean with us?" I asked.

April narrowed her eyes. "Yeah. She definitely wasn't."

"And you think she's got more answers than she answered?" Captain Reynolds asked.

I shrugged. "It wouldn't hurt, but to try. We've got to ask her more questions, and force the truth out of her."

April nodded. "But, that would be 'til tomorrow. I mean, it's late. She would have gone home by now."

"Yeah, you guys should go, and resume tomorrow. God knows you would want to rest your head." Captain Reynolds said and left to his office.

**********

Getting home. I took a shower and lay on my bed.

I know I haven't said much about myself, but honestly, there is not very much.

I've got black, long hair, and hazel eyes, I know I'm beautiful since boys tend to gawk at me. I'm five feet, seven inches tall, I'm not sure you care about all that.

I have nice parents whom I'm not living with right now. They live in another city. When I got a job here, I had to leave them to pursue it.

I really do love them. They are beautiful parts of me.

I am their only child, so they gave me all their love.

The only time I get to visit them is when I'm on my break. It's fun.

But, they are not the only ones I love though.

I found someone. Someone I really love, and I know loves me.

Our meeting was a long story. It was four years back.

He had something to deal with, and I and my old partner happened to be the detective on the case, and that was it.

He kept seeing me, taking me out, and I fell for him.

The day he confessed to me was one of the most perfect memories in my life.

I miss him. He's been out for two months since he needed a break from work. I'd have gone with him, but I don't give the last say on my work, unlike him. He is a boss of his own.

Phone ringing.

I smiled. Talk about the handsome, most attractive devil. I know it's him.

I took my phone, and see it is actually him.

"Hey," I said after picking it up.

"I wasn't sure I was gonna get you." He said.

I smiled. "Well, you did. I'm home now."

"That's good. Not a lot doing?"

"Well, there is a lot, but it can't be done a day," I told him.

"But, you are a workaholic. You only go home when given the command. If you're given the chance to sleep at that station. You will." He said.

I chuckled in a scoffing manner. "Don't say that, Damon."

"I miss you, though." He said.

"You're the one who left."

"Being a boss can be tiring you know. I needed the break."

I sighed. "I understand."

"Well, I have a surprise for you."

I furrowed my brows. "A surprise?"

"Yeah, but that would be till when I come."

"Now, you're making me anxious," I told him.

"Oh, don't be, baby. Always remember that I love you, and in no time, I'll be back."

"And I love you too, and I really want you back."

"Calm your nerves, and I think I should leave you to rest." He said.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

"Do I smell anger?"

"No. Just really missing you."

"As I said, I'll be back. I'll always be back with you."

I smiled. "Okay. Though one month is still a teeny far."

"Close your eyes, open them, keep thinking happy thoughts, and it will be here."

I chuckled. "Funny."

"Alright then. I'll leave you to sleep. Have a good night, and dream about me."

I smiled. "Believe me, I will. Good night to you too."

"I love you, Aria."

"I love you too, Damon."