Anubis by Olha Sheludko

Maria didn’t like attention,

so Jessica found it quite ironic that now her body was bringing attention of everyone. 

It started with Maria's sister - Margaret - coming to her agency.

Jessica was returning home, which also happened to be the office of her detective agency (rent is expensive, okay?). She was trying to move her groceries to her flat when she saw a woman.  Her flaming red hair stood out, especially in contrast with her black dress and black shoes. She stared at the door of her flat like it was the only thing in the world. Unfortunately, she was blocking her way to get to the apartment with an intact bag. The woman seemed to have noticed Jessica.

-Detective Evans? - the woman asked and looked at her slightingly.

It probably was because of the fact that Jessica was still in her Darth Vader pajama pants and AC/DC t-shirt. In her defense, she stopped worrying about society's judgment when she was fourteen. That was truly a wonderful decision.

-That's me. If you are here to ask me whether I believe in God, then I am afraid you have to leave…

-Simon said that you could help.

Simon was a young man that one day appeared at her door and asked to be her student. Turns out Simon was extremely stubborn and managed to stay after several “no” and even started learning from her from a distance. After that Jessica gave up pushing him and reluctantly started teaching him. In a short time, Simon has  become her partner in the detective agency and the fact that Simon has sent this woman was both intriguing and worrying. Intriguing because that meant a new job for them, worrying because what exactly happened that made quiet Simon advised to go straight to Jessica?  Turns out - murder.

Margaret Duat was a sister of Maria Duat who died in mysterious circumstances. 

-My sister… she was quiet and kind and never argued. I… she died several days ago. She just fell down, she started shaking , so we called an ambulance, but before it arrived… she was already dead! - Margaret started her story, sometimes stopping to avoid crying.

- I assume you then phoned the ambulance and police. What did they say?

-Ambulance arrived and doctors confirmed her death and the police…officially they started an investigation, but they did nothing except look at her room and left! They didn’t even ask us any questions! They are useless, miss Evans, that’s why Simon recommended you.

-Did she show any abnormal behaviour? Like became louder or even quieter, avoided her family, became secretive, started going out with weird guys or broke up with her steady boyfriend?

-God, no! I just don’t know what happened! Everything was okay and then suddenly she is dead now….

Margaret got silent and Jessica stopped taking notes.

-I see,-Evans said,- before we start, you need to fill out few files and look at my contract…

***

Simon rubbed his ring.

-That’s quite a big house, don’t you think? 

 -Not big enough to hide anything from me.- Jessica assured.

Margaret was waiting for them at the doorstep. She greeted Simon with a handshake and gave Jessica a nod.

-Where did Maria died?- Jessica asked.

-Her room. I brought her some sweets  for the tea mom made. She was drinking the tea and then … happened exactly what I told you.

-Can I look at the cup and tea that was made?

-Cup broke down when she fell…. t I can give you the tea, but it can’t be it. It was just Earl Grey, I drank it before, and so did my mom!

-Still I would like to see it - Jessica assured.

Maria's room was already checked by the police, but if what Margaret’s told her was true, that means that police could have missed something or even avoided specifically. That means that they should definitely give it a shot.

It was a simple room excluding the fact that it was full of books. Table, wardrobe, bed and many,many bookcases. 

-What is bringing your attention?-  Simon asked.

Jessica ignored a question and went straight to a bookcase. There were many books. Jessica recognised the classics, romance novels, comics, but most of the books were…

-Was your sister an egyptologist?

-Pardon me?

-There are many books about egyptology. Did she study Ancient Egypt?

Margaret shaked her head.

-It was..a new hobby, she started it less than a few months ago. 

Jessica nodded.

-Bring me that tea,-Jessica said.

Margaret left and Jessica with Simon started looking at room.

Jessica was looking at Maria’s working table, when the old woman appeared at the doorstep.

-Simon!- she exclaimed. 

Simon, who was looking through a jewellery box, looked surprised.

-Mrs. Duat…

Mrs. Duat hugged Simon. Simon didn’t look pleased, yet the woman didn’t notice her.

-I am happy to see you, darling. You haven’t been there since…

-Funerals, I know.- Simon nodded with sad look in his eyes.

-Did you brought that detective here?,-she looked around and finally noticed Jessica.-Oh,I see.

-Mrs. Duat, I am detective Evans. I need to ask some questions. 

-Oh, sure.

-Can you describe what happened?

-Yes. My daughter… we were just arguing about her disappearing with those new friends all the time.

-Arguing?

-Yes, didn’t I make myself clear? She was hanging out with them all the time. Usually it was just Simon and us and then she started hanging out with them all her free time and avoiding us!

-Huh, your other daughter didn’t mention said.

-Well…I was the only one worried. Margaret was happy that Maria stopped sitting in her room all the time and so was Jacob, but I…I had a really bad feeling about that group. We argued for the first time in my life and then…I felt guilty. maybe, I was just overthinking and was too afraid to let go of my little bird,- tears formed at the corners of Mrs. Duat’s eyes.-Now she is gone.

Simon put a hand on Mrs. Duat’s shoulder,

-What happened next?- Jessica asked.

-Well, I made tea for her as an apology.

-Have you tried “ I am sorry”?

Simon was quick to intervene. 

-She has a…specific type of humor.

-I see. I asked Margaret to bring her some snacks and a few seconds later I heard a scream and ran there. I saw my daughter on the floor, shaking and her skin became pinkier. We called an ambulance, but she was … she was already dead in 15 minutes. I know how it looks like, but I would never ever ever do anything to hurt my….

-Thank you, Mrs. Duat, I heard enough,-Jesssica said.

Margaret returned just in time.

-I brought a tea.

-Can you bring your dad?- Evans asked.

Margaret gave Jessica tea.

-He is not at home today, but he will be here tomorrow…

-Then I will came by tomorrow… - Jessica hid the tea inside her bag.

***

Jessica was lucky that Simon had friends in the police, so the expertise of tea was quick.

-What our friends in blue say,- Jessica was turning chair here and there, her arms resting behind her head.

-Well, Margaret is right, it’s definitely Earl Grey and not poisonous.

-So I don’t have to go to the grocery store for the tea. Did you happen to find out what the cops have on that cup?

-Well, detective Blake said ‘quote unquote’: “ that’s none of your business, Neil”.

-Than let’s visit Mr. Duat,- Jessica said as she stood up from her chair.

Mr. Duat was an old man that was the loudest member of the Duat family and there was no need of being a detective to prove it.

-Those bastard police do nothing! Why are we paying our taxes if they can’t do their jobs?

-Luckily, I can, so can you tell me your version of events.

-It was a normal day. My wife was a little bit worried about Maria, but she is always worried about something. Simon as always came by to visit Maria, but she wasn’t in a mood, so Simon hugged goodbye me and my wife and left. Then Margaret brought Maria some cookies and sweets , but Maria fell down in convulse and then she was dead in 15 minutes.

-Did you notice anything else that happened to her? Your wife mentioned that her skin became pinkier.

Mr. Duat shrugged.

-She was drinking her tea, so it’s logical that her body is warmer.

Jessica stopped taking notes.

-Thank you, mr. Duat.

-When will..

-I am almost done, mr. Duat. Thank you for the tea.

Jessica stood up and went to the hall, Simon was already waiting nearby.

-Do you think it’s Margaret? She was the only one not mentioning the conflict.

Jessica shook her head.

-It’s too early to tell.  She could just be inattentive, maybe…

Margaret waited near the door, looking at her and waiting.

-Do you need any help?- she asked and yet Jessica knew she was hoping for an answer about her sister.

-Not now.

Then Margaret opened the door, the silver shined on her finger.

-Can you show me your ring?

-Oh, of course.

It was an interesting ring: it was a wolf with  big ears and a yellow cross on a head. 

-That was Maria’s.- she explained,-I thought that maybe I can feel closer to her.

Jessica nodded, then smiled.

-That’s a nice ring.-she said.

She didn’t say that she had already seen it before. She tried to remain calm because if  her assumptions are correct, then she only had time before she can reach her flat. She hoped that Simon wouldn’t figure it out before that time.

They were walking to the agency in silence, which was weird because Simon liked to voice his guesses on killers. On halfway, he started talking.

-I never knew you were a jewelry person.

-How long did you know Maria?

Her pace became faster, but Simon kept out.

-A while.

When they reach the agency, he will try to kill her. She can attack him first, maybe use a crowbar or…

-Be more concrete.

Simon isn’t dumb, he also knew that, he probably calculated his thoughts.

-Few months.

So she needs to make him act on his emotions, that’s it.

-Did you use penicillin like in that Jackson case?

Simon nodded.

-I learn fast.

-You threw it into tea when hugging Mrs. Duat?

-Yes.

-And the police….

-Yeah, I paid, so they won’t look into that case.

They were almost there.

-Smart move.

-Thank you. You also were smart enough to figure that out…

They were on the stairs, moving up.

-And yet not smart enough to be silent about it

They were at the door and the real battle would start there. She needs more time.

Simon shrugged.

-That was sort of a point. I picked you because you are so proud of yourself, always so confident. You managed to untangle so many crimes and yet you haven’t thought of the possibility of  someone by your side to do the same thing you hated.

-You were planning and learning. Then hoped to get away with evidence. I don’t get only one thing - why?

Simon pushed the door of the agency.

-After you.

It was not smart to enter the house with the killer behind you, especially a backstabber, but there was no choice. Jessica came in and Simon closed the door.

-I was a member of “ Anubis’s paradise”. I have loved Egyptian mythology since childhood, all that knowledge was boiling inside my head for years before I found them. There I found Maria. She was…my friend. And yet I knew that to please the Gods I needed sacrifice.I knew I can’t kill anyone like that, I am not dumb, I knew about laws, so I started thinking. That’s where I find you. I… I admit I underrated you. You were going out for groceries in your pajamas and added sarcastic comments when there was no need. You are smarter than I thought you are…

-On the contrary, you are dumber than I thought. I never knew that my smart student was a cultist murderer.

That’s worked. Simon snapped: his nostrils were flaring, he had noisy breathing and clenched his knuckles. He inhaled and said:

-I am sorry for what I have to do.

He ran towards her but Jessica thought about that and swung the crow-bar in his head.

Simon fell and Jessica let go of the crossbar.

-So do I.-she whispered.

She fell on her knees and started crying.