The Young Detective

Gemma's POV I looked up the window and was mesmerized by the wondrous sight I saw. My parents and I have just arrived at the black yellow beach in Hawaii and our first visit to the beach after we discovered that I am allergic to salt water. Well forgive my manners, let me introduce myself. My name is Gemma van cleave and I am the only child of my parents Mr and Mrs Richard van cleave. They got a vacation leave from their companies so they decided that we should come to Hawaii for the vacation.

They also want to dip themselves in the ocean but not for me I just came to see and feel everything in the island But in this particular vacation, an incident that changed my life occurred and it was an unforgettable experience for me. A week before we went to our vacation, we lived at Tulsa,Oklahoma. I noticed that my Dad made a lots of call especially at midnight when everybody is asleep. I knew this because I always come to my study room to read which is close to my dad's balcony where he makes those calls Did I mentioned that he disturbs me with those calls. He is always discussing with different people every time because of the names he call when he is on the phone, not that I was eavesdropping but I couldn't help it . I didnt thought so much about those calls,I didn't even tell my mom. But I regretted not telling her because those were the clues we needed to prevent that horrible incident if we could. On that fateful day 25th June,2017, my parents and I went to watch the annual Hawaiian festival called "Le Sorufu festival". It was a pretty colorful festival with lots of performances but what I really wanted to watch was the surfers. We stayed at the festival till it was dusk so we went back to our hotel rooms. It was around 12.00am when I was awaken by some noise like something is breaking. I tried to wake my mom up but she was so exhausted and couldn't wake up. I then decided to check what happening by myself, I opened our door and then I heard the nose again. I followed the noise to a room used for storing wine and the first thing I saw was my Dad's head. Like literally his head removed from his body and a man butchering a meat or might I say my Dad' body. The shock that I felt at that moment was unimaginable, I couldn't shout nor move just stood there frozen and watch as my world crumbled and fell. My Dad's murderer made a phone call and I quote his words "Target down, family next" his last word made me turn around and walked back to our suite. I crazily woke up my mom and told her that a man is coming to kill us. she didn't ask me any questions but some how found a way to get us out of the hotel into a private jet and flew to her home town Texas. I couldn't remember how we made the journey but I clearly remember my Dad' body lying in pool of his blood and being butchered. We lived in Texas till she got a job at Alaska,I am now sixteen years old. All our days in Texas we lived on a low key because my mom is afraid that the people that killed my father will come for us. At first I didn't want to travel to Alaska because of its weather condition but my mom said that we are not longer safe in Texas anymore. During our stay in Texas she told me the stories of her and my Dad and that both of them were former FBI agents. She also said that my Dad's killer might be one of the hardened criminal he got arrested. she also taught me how to fight and shoot guns. I looked forward to living in Alaska because I am going to start school, I was homeschooled when i was in Texas. Alaska starts a new goal in my life, find my father's killer and get over the biggest trauma of my life. "Stop drinking" I shouted at my best friend Tammy as she gulped another glass of wine at a go. "Leave me alone" she retorted. Today is Sunday and also valentine day and we were at the club partying. Tammy reached for the bottle of wine again but I took it and kept it far away from her. She was already drunk and another glass won't help her. "I think it time for us to go home" I said to Tammy while helping her walk out of the club to our car. I helped enter her the car and also got in myself, I looked at the rearview mirror and watched as she sleepily found a comfortable spot to sleep. I smiled and wondered what life would have been without her. I still remembered my first day at school, she was the one that helped me locate my classes and sat with me at lunch. At first I tried to shut her out but my mom advised me to let her in that it would help me and it sure did. I started the car and drove off, of course Tammy is sleeping over today because her parents are out of town. As I was driving home, I saw someone walking alone along the abandoned shopping mall and her physique looks like someone I knew. I stopped the car and told her to enter that I will drop her anywhere she is going. She turned and I recognized her as one of the cheerleaders in my school, forgotten her name. She smiled and told me not to worry that she was already close to her destination, so I left her and drove off. But it kinda strange because I think I saw her at the club with her friends and none of them are with her now, well not my business. A few minutes later I pulled up at our house, opened the gate and drove the car to our garage. I help Tammy out of the car and into the house and my room, well technically our room because she is always here. I helped her got to bed and went to the kitchen where my mom was drinking her tea . " Sorry we woke you up mom" I apologized. "it is okay baby, not your fault I hope you guys had fun tonight?" she asked. "yes" I replied. "I am glad, goodnight baby " she said.

"Goodnight mom" I replied and watched her climbed up the stairs to her room. Ever since my Dad was murdered she has been a light sleeper, always waking up at the slightest sound. I signed, got myself some tea drank it and went to bed.

I woke up the next morning with a headache, pretty sure that it was from the drinks yesterday. The first thing I saw was my best friend singing along to some music on the radio and it was very loud. I got up from bed and went to the radio and switched it off.

"Well a good morning to you too Gemma" Tammy greeted.

I just ignored her and went to the cupboard to look for some pain relievers, I found some and drank it.

"Here you want some pain relievers?" I asked Tammy.

"No I am good" she replied.

"I just don't know how every time you drink, you don't get a hangover or maybe get sick but seem to get energized" I said to her.

"Maybe it is my super power" she replied. "I really need your super power" I said then went to the bathroom to prepare for school. We got to school five minutes late to our classes, you would probably laughed yourself off if you saw us sneaking into the class.

We sat on our seats and the lesson went on, I was a little sleepy because of the hangover but woke up instantly when I heard the teacher called Tammy's name. Mrs Smith ,our chemistry teacher is someone who you don't want to mess with. "Tamera O'Brian, you are dismissed from the rest of today's lesson" she told my best friend.

My guess is she caught her talking, after the lesson I was went to my locker when Tammy ran up to me grinning from ear to ear. "Probably another juicy school gossip" I thought. "Guess what?"she asked. "Girl you know that I can never guess what you are thinking"I replied. "OK whatever, Rose Scarlet is now dating Travis Scott"she said.

"How did you know"I asked her, not that I knew the people she was talking about but I pretended to be interested. "Well Mary told me that Travis asked her out before valentine's day and now they are together" she said. "Well congrats to them" I said.

Our next class was gym so I went to the changing room to change. I was putting on my shoes when Tammy came and told me that our gym today would be on the football field ,which means all day work out. When we went out to the field, it was already filled with students.

The cheerleaders were also there practicing their stunts but that girl I saw last night wasn't with them. I went to join my club handball while Tammy went to her baseball club. After our gym class, we went for lunch and went for our physics class which was our last class for the day, and went home.

The next day, our school was swarming with police when we arrived. Tammy and I exchanged glances and went straight to our class. Our classmates were all seating quietly with gloomy faces and our homeroom teacher was speaking to them softly.

When she saw us she asked us to take our seats. She told us that the reason the police are in our school was because a student of our school was missing by name Rose Scarlet. That she didn't return after leaving her home on Valentine day.

"Could it be that the girl I saw on Valentine day was Rose Scarlet" I thought.

"Hey Tams,who is Rose Scarlet?" I asked her and she looked at me with surprise.

"You mean you don't know her?" she asked.

"No I don't if I do would I be asking you, so can you describe her" I said.

"OK, she is red-haired,a little chubby and she has a mole on her her lips..."

"Do you have a picture of her or something, I am not getting your description"I interrupted. She scrolled through her phone and showed me the girl's picture and it was the same girl I saw that night.

The teacher also told us that the police will interrogate everybody in our class and also those that went to the club. "Do not be afraid,just answer the questions truthfully" she advised. "Yes ma"we chorused.

The interrogation starts immediately the bell rang, when it was my turn I went into the room. There were three policemen in the room, one was asking the questions while the other two were taking notes. I was told to take a seat and was asked if I saw Rose at the club when she was leaving and who she left with.

I then told them about my encounter with her when I was going home. They asked if there was something strange about her in any way. I answered no but later remembered that she wasn't wearing a coat and I told them that. They all exchanged glances, I don't blame them only a fool would go out in Alaska without a coat.

I was thanked and asked to go. Tammy was waiting for me when I came out, she asked if I was nervous when I was being interrogated. "No not even a bit" I answered". That's good for you, me I nearly urinated in my panties" she said. "Seriously?" I asked while laughing.

"Yes they were so mean, those policemen,anyway I hope they find the girl" she replied. Another bell was rang and the interrogation ended and we began our classes. By evening the news about the missing girl has spread through out the town. We all pray that nothing happens to her.

On Wednesday morning,Tammy went back to her parents house,they came back and wanted to see her.

I used the opportunity to go to the police station to ask them if they found any clues in that abandoned shopping mall but they said they found nothing.

I doubt that, there must be something there so I made up my mind to check the place out but first I need to go to school. Tammy wasn't in school today so I am all on my own, the only thing on my mind was the missing girl Rose.

"Where was she going that night and what happened to her?" I thought. I went home that day and helped my mom with the dinner and then went to bed. l planned to check the abandoned shopping mall to see if I could find any clues. I was a little glad that Tammy wasn't here today, don't want her to wake up and starts freaking out and looking for me.

I brought my school bag and put the things I needed inside it like a flashlight, a camera, a dagger and some leftovers burgers in case I got hungry. I dressed very well because I know it would be chilly outside. I got out of my room and started walking towards the front door,I scanned the living room to make sure my mom wasn't watching TV.

I opt for the back door because opening the front door will surely wake my mom, it makes a lot of noise when been opened. I went to the back door and quietly opened it and brought me bike and set out. I made sure I was a good distance from my house then zoomed off.It was 11:01pm when I set out and there was no single one on the street, I love it our street people were all busybodies.

To get to the abandoned shopping mall takes twenty minutes drive with a car, I wonder how long it would take me. When I was close to the place,I stopped a few distance away because I know the police might be keeping an eye there. So I parked my bike and quietly made my way to the site, when I was close to the building.

I saw something like a car, my guess is that it is a police car. I was wondering how I would get inside the building when the car started and drove off. I scanned the area for another car but I did not find any. So I took out my flashlight and went inside the building, the place was a mess and filled with damaged counters, trolley racks and shopping baskets were everywhere.

I looked everywhere but didn't saw anything. I was about leaving when I heard a rustle at the end of the room which leads to the backyard. "Maybe a rat" I thought while going towards the backyard, I heard the noise again close to me. I pointed my flashlight at the direction and saw two rats, they saw me and ran towards a room.

I heard a rustle again this time bigger coming from the room those rats went in, I got close to it and was greeted by a foul smell. The smell was so bad that I couldn't breathe, I took a scarf, covered my nose and opened the door and flashed my flashlight. I saw some rats like thirty in number and they were eating something or might I say a person.

The red pieces of silk clothing scattered everywhere told me everything I needed to know. Some of the rats starts at scatter all over the room so I quietly closed the door and walked away from the door. I was still trying to digest what I saw when I heard the faint footsteps coming from the front door, my flashlight was already off so I opened the nearest door to me and went in.

As God would have it there was no rats in the room. I heard the footsteps walked past the room I was in and opened the room the decaying body was in. After five minutes I heard the footsteps again walked out of the backyard into the mall and I heard a car start and drove away.

"Is that the police?" I asked myself. I waited an extra ten minutes before coming out and I pointed my flashlight at the door of the room the body was in, and saw that the door was opened.

I immediately got of the building, located my bike and went home. I hide my bike at a little bush beside my house and sneaked inside. I went inside my room and flopped into my bed praying that the body I saw wouldn't be Rose Scarlet.

I have experienced the very cold-blooded killing of my father then witnessed some rats feasting on a human flesh. I slept off hoping that I would have the stomach to eat tomorrow.

The next morning which is Thursday,I prepared for school. During breakfast my mom said I looked disturbed and asked if I was okay. I told her I was fine but I actually wasn't, I knew that not long the police would find body. I went to school and was very happy Tammy came to today.

During lunch Tammy was telling me about how she and her parents had a lots of fun yesterday but I wasn't paying attention to her. My thoughts were filled with the decayed and rat-eaten body I saw last night. I went home that day and met my mom in the living room watching the evening news.

The newscaster was reporting that the police found a body at the abandoned shopping mall and DNA test are going to be conducted to identify the body.

"Oh my gosh, what is that person doing at a place like that and what happened?' My mom asked no one in particular.

"Please baby be careful when you are outside" she pleaded.

"Yes mom I will be careful when I am outside" I replied. By next Monday, the DNA test came out and it was confirmed that the body belongs to Rose Scarlet. And that she was raped and then strangled to death.

When I reached school that morning, police were in our school but in small numbers. They called all the students into the field and the sheriff starts addressing us. "We are very sorry to announce that the dead body we found earlier on Thursday belong to the missing girl Rose Scarlet" the sheriff said.