4 - Person of Interest
1240 Words
“YOU are not very good at hiding, detective.”
One side of Mia’s mouth lifted. “Only when I wanted to.”
A smile appeared on the tall woman’s face. Mia did not read anything on the other woman’s face aside from kindness.
From what she learned so far, the woman in front of her can be considered a philanthropist. She read about the voluntary missions she has done here and abroad. Overseas, most were in the poorest nations or in third-world countries.
“Do you need anything, detective?” The other woman pulled the stethoscope from her neck. She folded it in two and settled it in her left palm.
“I’m not here for you.”
Mia subtly removed the dirt from her shirt. It was also a way for her not to look the other person in the eyes.
Only now that she realized that the woman has the most striking eyes that she has ever seen.
For some unknown reason, she was drawn to the woman since she saw her this morning. Although this was not their first encounter, it was today that she was able to notice the other woman’s physique.
She was quite tall. She has fair skin and very pretty. Aside from her massive height, her purple eyes were very remarkable.
Mia has never seen such eyes in her life.
The purple-eyed woman looked like a runway model than a doctor. Despite the average attire, it never hid the long limbs and the lean figure.
Clearing of throat stopped Mia’s deep thought.
She blinked when she realized that she was staring at the woman. It did not help that the blasted woman was looking back at her with a smile on her barely there lipstick.
The detective frowned.
It turned to glare when another thought entered her mind.
This violet-eyed woman must be used to being a recipient of praise and admiration.
“Detective?”
“Don’t talk to me!” Mia snapped. She turned her back on the woman.
It did not settle well in her brain that the female doctor has a long line of admirers. Even the tall woman’s voice has a different effect on her. It sounded so sweet, and it pulled her heartstrings -----
Mia chastised herself when she realized where her thoughts were going.
She muttered incoherent words as she walked away. She headed in the direction where she could hear the interactions of people loitering in the place.
Truth be told, she was really here for the woman.
As she investigates Oswald Rivers, she learned that the man has no immediate relatives in the State nor he was related to the tall woman named Violet Woods. In fact, she found out that no one had seen the woman with the older male River except when he was bailed out of the precinct.
Oswald has no prior records. Even his coworkers have good words for him. He socialized well with them as he worked as a machine operator at the Steel Mill. The man never engaged in any altercation. Furthermore, he never had an enemy inside or outside work.
Even the teachers where his boy went to saw Oswald as a great father. He participated in all the activities and he attended the meetings of his oldest son.
The man can be awarded as The Employee and the Father of the Year.
In her initial inquiry, no one has seen the Rivers couple quarreling. He was a very affectionate husband who even remembered buying flowers for his wife for Valentine's Day and Mother’s Day.
The town’s people grieved for Oswald. They were enraged at the person who murdered his family in cold blood. They were furious that he was suspected of killing his own family.
The Saint Vincent community called for justice.
However, Mia was seeing another angle.
Oswald was too clean. A little too perfect for a human being.
In her line of work, the one who has a very perfect image was also the person who has a lot to hide. Often, they were the ones who were living a double life.
Who is Oswald Rivers behind the perfect guise that he was showing to everyone? Where did he live before he came to St. Vincent?
“F*ck!”
Mia’s eyes closed on their own when the cold liquid seeped in front of the shirt that she was wearing.
In her deep thoughts, she was unable to see the people walking towards her.
“I’m sooooo sorry!”
The apology sounded like a screeching metal to Mia’s ears. The tone sounded forced and unapologetic.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and glared at the person in front of her.
It was a young woman about her height. She was wearing a blue shirt identical to the staff working at this event. The logo of the organizer was printed on the upper part of her chest.
“I’m really sorry, Miss.”
The detective looked at the empty glass in the other woman’s hand before she glanced at the wet spot that covered her chest down to her middle. The top was plastered on her body like a second skin.
“I’m fine.” She retorted.
The damage has been done, and reprimanding the clumsy demeanor of this staff will not make her clothes dry in any way.
The uniformed staff was about to offer a tissue, but she raised her palm between them.
“I’m good.” She said before turning away.
Mia opened the door to the driver’s seat as she rummaged through the contents of the glove compartment. She was hoping that she had pushed an extra shirt in there. A clean one, if there’s any.
She looked at the window of the shotgun seat when she heard a knock.
It was the violet-eyed woman. She waved a shirt.
“I saw what happened.” The tall woman said when Mia pulled the window down.
Without a word, she grabbed the shirt and closed the window and the door behind her.
She threw the damp shirt in the back seat and put on the new one.
In all fairness, the shirt smelled good. The fabric conditioner that has been used was mild, and it was gentle to the nose.
It was one size bigger than her usual top, but it will do.
“Thank you.” She expressed to the other woman who has her back to her.
“You’re welcome, detective.” The violet-eyed woman gave her a glance. With a smile, she added. “If you need anything, you know where to find me.”
It took Mia a few seconds before she was able to ask.
“Where were you the night when the Rivers were murdered?”
“Am I a suspect now?”
“Just a person of interest.”
The detective was caught off guard when the other woman chuckled. It was not the reaction she was expecting.
“You have a way with words, detective.”
“I tried.”
“I’ll see you when I’m done. That would be in another hour.”
Mia stared at the retreating back of the person she came here for.
She took a deep sigh without realizing that she was holding her breath. She shook her head from feeling disappointed.
She was expecting that the woman would immediately reasoned or lawyered-up when questioned. It was the other way around.
- Writer
