It was deep night. Mobile sound suddenly broke the silence.
But he could not sleep and so. There was a feeling that something terrible had happened, unpleasant taste and sticky horror. When he answered the call was all understandable. It was a call from the police. Officer heavy voice announced the death of Patrick. He had to go to identify the body. Shock covered him as a huge wave covers boat - with his head. In a minute the phone rang again.
- Mark, hello. Happened horrible. - The voice of women I trembling, - Patrick has been killed. I'm the main suspect. I have a little time. But you're the only one who I could call. I suspect in the murder,
but it was not me! You know - I loved him, and why should I kill him? Help me, I beg you.
- Mary? - On the other side heard beeps.
Next 10 minutes he was sitting motionless and just could not believe that his best friend is dead. He was scrolling between different memories, even since they lived together in the orphanage. He as a Patrick is orphan. Together they have been trying to get their place under the sun. Once upon a time he even saved his life when he fell over drugs. Now he is dead. In fact it was hard to believe. He put on and was going to leave the room:
- Where are you going at midnight? - Asked his wife. Neither phone ring nor tense silence awaked
her. But from grinding the floor is still awake.
- I will explain later. I want you slept.
- Again some secrets? As you wish. - it turned over to the other side and tried to sleep.
He went outside and started the car. Memories and thoughts on Patrick didn’t go out of his head. Probably, he shouldn’t have driven in this state. He recollected all the details of yesterday's meeting with him. Mark went to see him in the midday for work. He had been quarreling with his colleague on the project is almost completed, when Mark entered the office. He shouted about injustice in profits sharing. Mark is not well remembered, but it seemed to him a good motive. Than they saw each other together with his daughter, who was taken them from school, and had a lunch together. Mark left them in cafes, because was too hurried to work. No special memories. Patrick didn’t say that he had been threatened by someone, and anything notified of trouble.
He broke engine suddenly at a traffic light, while it had been passing by a woman. It looked like a strange Patrick’s ex-mother-in-law. Apparently, it seemed - he thought. But all seemed to have a rather strange coincidence. What women can do outside at the middle of the night? He further and further flipping through all who he’s knew who could be motived of the murder of Patrick. Mary – his ex-wife, who has been hurt by his adultery, and already was in custody. Mrs. Christie - her ex-mother-in-law, who always found the reason of which she could have started the quarrel with Patrick. Carol - his last prolonged delight, with whom he was not very good broke up. Considering her hysteria, she was really capable of murder - Patrick came to an official familiar with her parents drunk in the company of prostitutes. Mark took engine down near the central morgue. Identification of the body took place in a very large fridge with many of the same bodies - very eerie place. He was showed Patrick in a blue sheet. He could see a huge neck wound. Perhaps the blood, which would be a lot of body – was already wiped. He confirmed Patrick’s personage and came out of the hated building and again started the car engine. District police station was nearby. He decided that Mary would be there.
- Can I meet with Mary Christie?
- Wait here. This is not a reference table.
He had to wait about an hour. During this time, Mark even managed to doze off on an uncomfortable
bench in the hallway and see a police jail carry a group of prostitutes that looked very ugly in the morning.
He was noticed by young inspector.
- Are you waiting for someone?
- I would like to see Mary Christie. She arrested last night on suspicion of murdering Patrick Gery.
- You know that she is at the interrogation - it can’t see her. Who are you to her?
- I'm the best friend of victim. Who is investigating this crime? Perhaps I could be useful.
- We will call if you it necessary. You are waiting for nothing.
The helplessness of the situation increased as much as possible. Mark was only his true friend and he really care who did it. For him it was more than important. Morning was approaching. He decided to rectify the situation out and find who may be involved in this. Mistrust the police is standard thing, so Mark didn’t trust investigators and inspectors. It seems to be an illusion.
Night was near to completion. It was dawn outside. He sat in the car and drove to the nearest fast food. Head didn’t leave strange thoughts. Who could hate Patrick so that could risk a murder? He was successful and rich, always had been envying enough, but not enough for that murder? Mark recalled the case of month ago. Patrick said that met an old friend - our classmate from the orphanage. It was an evening at the bar - the usual Saturday evening for Patrick. Andrew was the bartender at this bar. Drunken Patrick began to grovel on his success and wealth, Mark guessed. They never were friends with Andrew and even orphanage not led to tolerant relations. In short, there was a fight. I do not know what Patrick could tell him, but knowing him he could probably touch the inner core. Mark cannot even imagine could Andrew make such murder or not.
Mark drove to the former home of Patrick. The only intention was to talk with his daughter, but how? It is unlikely the ex-mother-in-law would be delighted if he just fell for them in their house. Well - there was no choice. He got out and rang the bell. The door opened a young girl of twenty - twenty-two years old. He didn’t know her yet.
- Are you looking for something?
- Good morning? You are Emma’s nanny, right?
- Exactly. My name is Adrian. And you are?
She had long blond hair and blue eyes - very attractive girl. She looked like some well-known actress, but he didn’t remember the name - he always had a bad memory for names. He noticed that pause delayed - I look blankly at her and did not answer. I reached down:
- My name is Mark. I am friend of Patrick. Do you know what happened that night?
She looked bewildered at him. Mark decided that it was not exactly he, who should tell her about what happened - apparently Emmy as yet knew nothing. He was interested in fact how Mrs. Christie managed to hide from them that Mary in jail? He remembered Mrs. Christie, or a woman like her, he nearly knocked down on the road that night. At this time, the silence broke a call from the police. Mark summoned, as it was revealed some additional details.
- Excuse me, I have to go. Until what time you're here? Maybe I’ll have time to go back?
- I'm here all day. Of course, you could come if you want me to talk.
Mark started the car again and went the same way. At the police station he was told about the Patrick’s PC, which were dozen candid photos from a completely different girls with Patrick. He wasn’t shown the photos, but began a long and tedious conversation of whether he knew about Patrick girlfriends or longer relationships lately. It seems they try to be done with version of Mary about revenge for adultery or attempt made from Patrick more money on maintenance through blackmail. “This is absolutely ridiculous assumption,” - thought Mark. “He earned so much and kept as Mary and Emma and after divorce. They never imagined indigence, and quarrels regarding to this Mark didn’t mind. Actually he told to investigator the same. The conversation was very long, but he realized that they have to be ready with every version. Mark looked at his watch, it was nearly one o'clock. At first called from work, but police gave the sanction and the boss was not in principle opposed. Then his wife phoned. He promised to tell everything that happened, just get home at night, because it would injure her on the phone, but he felt in her voice that she intuitively realizes that something is wrong. The conversation with the investigator didn’t stop after the family they went to work. Mark told about Patrick’s colleagues, about the quarrel, which he had seen in his office on the. In general, he told all-knowing. About Andrew Mark decided to keep silent, would not expose unnecessary suspicions until they meet with him personally. It seems no one could know except him on this occasion, so he could keep above suspicion for the initiation of any details of the investigation. Finally Mark was allowed to see the pictures of girls. They all were very different, including Chinese woman he recognized from his trip to China two years ago, two twins obviously Jewish, the girl in Hawaiian wreath. Each of these photos was frank. The latest victim was Emma’s nurse. He just became rigid in place. Investigator had to repeatedly ask again about the file, as Mark began to falter. He brought a glass of water. This was Adrian, with whom he spoke in the morning. He heard from Patrick about his latest girl, but he didn’t say that it was his daughter's nanny. Only imagine – nanny, twenty years old living in the house of his ex-wife and oversees his daughter. Mark was frankly shocked. Pictures of her were particularly brutal. He explained that recognized this girl and investigator responded instantly. Adrian was now also under suspicion, but the investigation was continuing.
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