Three of them sat in a room together, KJ and Cevil facing each other, and a forty-one-year-old adult sitting beside Cevil. The adult was leaning against the chair, shaking his right leg that was placed on his left leg, arms crossed together. He smirked as KJ and Cevil entered the room. Cevil slumped into the chair next to the adult, both hands rested on his lap with handcuffs around, while KJ sat next to them. Cevil examined him, no matter which angle, it seemed impossible that he was in his forties.
KJ cleared his throat, trying to get the attention of Cevil and the adult. "Mr. Leon Jackson, I'm afraid this might hurt you, but today morning, we found a lady corpse, aged about thirty..." KJ paused, then he took a glance at Cevil, "and we were able to deduce that she was your wife, Mrs. Berrington." Just then, there was a knock on the door. KJ's colleague entered with three cups of coffee, handed it to KJ quietly, and left the room. KJ offered a cup of coffee to Leon and Cevil.
Leon clutched his cup of warm coffee, his hands trembling in fear. "You're a liar!" he yelled, "That's- that's impossible!" he straightened his back.
"No worries, we've caught the killer," KJ reached his pocket for a pack of tissues.
"You're lying! She wouldn't die out of a sudden!"
"Why can't she?"
"They promised that they wouldn't harm my wife if I did everything well!
"It's true, and the killer is sitting right next to you, called Mr. Evil."
Leon turned his head around slowly and stared at Cevil with watery eyes. His hands were still trembling. Cevil glared at Levi, his lip corner turned slightly up. "This- this little boy...?" Levi jumped up from the chair and grabbed Cevil's shirt collar, "You, cruel beast!" he gulped back his tears. Cevil laughed like a psychopath, "Hit me," he whispered. "She's pregnant!" Levi cried, unable to force his tears back, the tears started to trickle down his cheeks. KJ stood up; the chair was pushed backwards. "Please control yourself," he warned. Levi released his hands and collapsed into his chair. "And, after our investigation, it was proven that Mr. Evil was sent by the same person that threatened you. However, Mr..Evil refused to give information about his employer." KJ said.
"Your name matched you, Mr. Evil!"
KJ sighed, "So, I know that someone has threatened you by using your wife, but since she was dead, it doesn't matter anymore now, right?"
Levi remained silent.
"And if you love your wife, you'll have to help her get revenge, right?
Levi's ears were pricked.
"If you tell us who commanded you, and more information about them, we might be able to arrest them, then, you'll be able to get revenge for your wife, isn't it? Think about it," KJ persuaded.
Levi stood up immediately, "I will tell you anything, but you must arrest this beast!"
KJ smiled and winked at Cevil.
"So, this is how it happened..." Levi began.
After five minutes of explaining, KJ walked out of the room, his hands on Cevil's shoulder. KJ began unlocking the handcuffs on Cevil's hands when the door was closed. "That was a smart plan!" Cevil said. KJ laughed, "I have to thank you for your acting too."
"But it was all a waste," Cevil sighed, "the person that contacted Levi had never revealed himself or his name. We can't trace him either."
KJ stopped, "What happened?" Cevil asked. "I've forgotten to do something," KJ looked grief and serious. Cevil had a nervous feeling, "Forgotten to do what?" he asked.
"Inform him that his wife is safe and alive." They burst into laughter.
It was already three o'clock in the afternoon when Cevil reached home after having lunch with KJ. Cevil opened the door and saw someone sitting inside his house in front of the television.
"You're back." Kent said.
Cevil closed the door.
"Let's have lunch together, I've been waiting for you since one o'clock. I'm starving," Kent said, as he stood up.
"Sure," Cevil opened the door again, and they went out for lunch.
"Where have you been?" Kent questioned, while he was filling up his hungriness. Cevil forced himself to take a bite of burger, he wanted to avoid explaining everything and replied, "I was at the police station. The cops wanted to know more about me and the drugs." Kent nodded, "Okay, how are you now? After the treatment."
"I'm fine," Cevil choked on his burger, then he pushed the plate of burger aside.
Kent finished his burger, "No appetite?" he asked. Cevil was annoyed, he was sure he'd puke if he continued eating. "Oh yes!" Cevil remembered, "The clue! I found Marco's paper on the day I got robbed!" Cevil exclaimed. "Where is it?" Kent asked calmly. "The driver stolen it, now it's gone," Cevil sighed. Kent stared at Cevil.
"But I remembered what it wrote," Cevil grinned, as he saw Kent's disappointed expression. He took a piece of paper and a pen and began writing it down.
I nodded off, when the teacher called me awake, 'What's 9 minus 3 plus 8?'
"What's this?" Kent asked. "That's what it wrote," Cevil answered. Kent frowned, then he took a sip of his drink, "What does this mean?" Cevil shrugged, "Let's google," he suggested, then he reached for his phone.
The two boys began searching for more information about this group of numbers. They tried different websites, and they even created a post online asking others for help. The sun began to disappear behind the clouds, and the sky turned gloomy and dark. People started leaving the fast-food restaurant. The workers in the restaurant leaned aside by the counter, every pair of eyes fixed on two of them. Some were drinking coffee while waiting, some were standing with crossed arms impatiently, and some just stood watching them.
"I got it!" They exclaimed at the same time, their heads looking up from their phones at each other. "It's the lyrics of the song!" Kent said, but both immediately sighed at the next moment. Although they knew it was the lyrics of the song, they didn't know what it wanted to express. They began to search for information again, while everyone continued watching them with frustration. One of them was quite impatient. He marched up towards Kent and Cevil and announced out loud, "It's about to rain, and our work time is over. Leave."
Kent looked up; Cevil almost dropped his phone. They exchanged glances and decided to leave. It was raining outside. The city was drenched by the rain. Pedestrians were running from street to street with their hands covering their heads. They did not have an umbrella, and they were forced to walk in the rain to the other side of the street.
They reached the other side of the street in front of a shop —— an old-fashioned shop that sold tins of biscuits and snacks. Cevil wanted to go, Kent grabbed his hand and stopped him. They entered the shop, an old man wearing a pure white t-shirt and a pair of oversized cargo shorts. He had thin and less hair which was barely visible for anyone to see. He smiled at them weakly as they entered, "Have a look around, everything's for sale." They greeted back at him, and Kent asked, "Do you sell umbrellas?" The old man hesitated, then he replied, "I'm sorry, we don't sell umbrellas..." he apologized quickly.
"Now, we're going to play the song "Childhood" by the International Super Star, Richard Wilson..."
Cevil nudged Kent who was about to leave. Two of them leaned closely to the radio as the song began to play. This was the song that had the lyrics 'I nodded off, when the teacher called me awake, 'What's 9 minus 3 plus 8?' They squatted down and continued listening to the song, perhaps it could help them find more clues.
A little boy aged 8 to 10 hopped out from a passageway and stood beside Cevil and Kent. "Hai! Do you both like Richard's songs? I like his songs too!" The boy had American accent, though, not very accurate, and he had a cute charming little smile on his face. He wore a navy-blue sleeveless shirt with a pair of shorts. The boys smiled at him and continued focusing on their business. "Did you know that Richard hosted a concert in Germany this Friday? He announced that he would be singing "Childhood" during the concert! If only I had the money to get the tickets..." the boy sighed, then he left the shop. The boys exchanged glances, and both had the same thought: Perhaps we could find some hints from the concert.