11
The police looked around the house before came to ask us questions.
They told us that our house wasn’t the only one faced this situation. Many houses in the same neighborhood suffered a similar problem as well. The message was all the same, but only some houses had the jigsaws painted red.
The policed presumed that the culprit was some out of control teenagers who didn’t want to threaten specifically someone and the color was painted randomly. There was any hidden agenda.
I immediately knew that the police was there only because they had to. This case wouldn’t have any further investigation. The faster this case could be closed, the lesser burden for them to bear. That was exactly what they wanted.
However, having the police looking around still had a good point. The culprit wouldn’t dare to take such blatant threatening for quite some time but if you looked from the other side, having the police showing up was a way to force the culprit to use the more severe method.
And that meant I was in danger.
“Dad, have you seen anyone suspicious around here?” I asked.
Dad looked at me expressionlessly, and I realized that he was still angry with me.
“Someone suspicious?” He raised his eyebrows. “What have you done to ask me that?”
“No.” I shook my head. “And have you?”
“I’ve seen no one suspicious. Oh, but I met… uh… Bill? That’s your ex-boyfriend’s name, right?”
“Bill? Why did Bill come to our house?”
Dad sighed. “He said he wanted to see you. I told him that you went out. After that…”
“After that what?”
“After that… He just became rowdy. Saying you went out with him. Who is this ‘him’’?”
I lowered my head. Heat spread throughout my face.
“He’s a friend.”
“A friend?” Dad raised his eyebrows. “But you’re all red. Are you sure he’s just a friend?”
“Let it be, Dad!”
“Fine. After he was done making a scene, he left.” Dad shook his head. “But he came back again after a while and kept walking around here. I thought it didn’t look right, so I called the police.”
I nodded before took out my phone and called a familiar number.
“Hello, Ton,” I said.
“I think I found something you might find interesting.”
Ton looked around my house before headed back to the front. He rubbed the color with his thumb and smelled it thoughtfully.
Just his appearance made me feel safe. I breathed in slowly and let out the stress I’d been kept in.
“What do you get?” I asked.
“I’ve walked around here, looking for the houses that haven’t cleaned these jigsaws off.” He shrugged. “It likes the police said. Only some houses have them and just a few that the jigsaws were painted red.”
Ton stared at me before continued.
“But I know that you don’t believe what they said, do you?”
“Yeah, I know it’s a threatening message for me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Something is off, but I can’t tell what it is.”
Ton laughed while waving his hands.
“You’re not wrong, but you can’t use only your feeling to explain it. In this case, we need to use some logic as well.” Ton said dryly. “Before I arrived, I’d already looked at the other houses. The police weren't wrong, but the culprit also left us a sign.”
“A sign? What sign?”
“At other houses with painted jigsaws, the red is indeed color from some spray paint,” Ton shook his head. “But here it isn’t.”
I recalled the intuition appeared when I first saw the threatening message.
“Blood…” My face became ashen. Ton nodded.
“Yes, blood.” Ton said and turned to look at the jigsaws. “The police seem to didn’t pay attention to this point, but don’t worry. The culprit doesn’t use the human blood. This is pig blood.”
“How do you know?”
“Anyone cook often enough would be familiar with the smell of pig blood.” He smiled. “Moreover, I’d fought often enough. I used to be a rogue and fought with anyone came in my way. I often had small wounds that drew blood and rather used to with the smell so I can distinguish them.”
Finally, I could understand why Ton could fight against Bill without much afford. More than his intelligence and systematic thinking, Ton had a great physical ability too.
“But that isn’t the only thing the culprit left for us.” Ton pointed at the jigsaws. “There’s another one here.”
“What is it?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Can you see that the message becomes smaller?” Ton pointed from top to bottom. “What did the police say about this?”
“They didn’t say anything. They didn’t even care about this case.” I told him. “I think that the culprit put the jigsaws on many houses’ walls to let me know that his threatening is for real. The culprit probably knows that we always play jigsaws together. Painting the color randomly is just to divert the police’s attention, making them think that this is a random act. If he put the jigsaws on every house’ walls, it can divert the police’s attention, but then his purpose will be lost.”
“Why do you think the culprit does that?” Ton bore his hand as if inviting me to continue my explanation.
“The culprit wants to threaten me. If he put it on every house, it’s possible that I wouldn’t pay attention to the message. However, if it happened only to some houses, I will realize that the threatening message is for me. This theory doesn’t have to be true because putting the jigsaws on every house’s walls costs a lot, both money and time.”
Ton nodded. “This way is effective for diverting the police’s attention. You realized that you’re threatened, and the police didn’t even care to check whether the red is a paint or blood.”
“And what about another important point you said? What is it?”
“Another important point… is a real proof that he wants to threaten you.” Ton touched the letters with the tip of his finger. “When you see the illusion, what object is used to hurt you?”
“The weapon?” I looked up, trying to recall the memory that my brain tried to seal off forever. “I think… it’s a knife.”
“Take a few steps back and look at these letters again.”
I stepped back a little and stared at the letters that gradually turned into an image.
“It’s a knife…”
“Yes, a knife. The culprit remembers what weapon was used to hurt you. I don’t think the culprit chose the sign by coincident.”
I nodded before said, “But this is… strange… I felt like it’s more than just a threatening message.”
“It’s strange? Why do you think that?”
“Like you said, it’s just my memory. It’s even some unclear memories. If the culprit knew what we’re looking for, then he must know about this point, too.” I rubbed my chin. “If I don’t have anything to proof in court, letting me pursue the truth should be a better choice. Doing this is like resurfacing an old case that the police hasn’t initially paid attention to.”
“You’re right.” Ton leaned on the wall. “I’m thinking the same thing.”
Ton and I stood there thinking for some times. Suddenly, I remembered something out of the blue.
“I think I understand now.” I nodded, admiring the theory that I could think of on my own.
“What do you understand?”
“I just feel that threatening me now isn’t wise. Even if he wants to threaten me, doing it on the internet like the last time is better and easier. I might get scared and stopped pursuing the truth as he wants and it wouldn’t attract the attention of the police as well.”
“The culprit might don’t want the case to be permanently recorded.” Ton said.
“I don’t think that’s the case.” I shook my head. “Social network has the better information security, maybe better than the police’s. Moreover, if he wants to delete the message, he can do it. See the earlier messages as an example.”
“Are you trying to say that the culprit wants to make the case known?” I nodded then Ton lifted his hand to stop me.
“That will be too contradicted. The culprit wants to do this secretly because he intends to divert the police’s attention and only you would be aware of the threatening. What you said will make everything goes against one another.”
“You’re right,” I lowered my head. “But I’m certain about one thing. That’s doing it like this is way too strange.”
“It’s a normal threatening,” Ton said. “But I feel the same. When the culprit is clever enough to divert the police’s attention, he shouldn’t make such a small mistake. About the proof in court, too.”
“I agree,” I said. “but now we know something important.”
Ton smiled, nodding his head with satisfaction. “So, you feel it, too.”
I nodded in reply. “If the culprit chooses to do it like this, that means he wants to cover himself. Even if he could escape from the police, he doesn’t expect me to know who he is. It means that…”
“The culprit is someone close to you.” Ton said abruptly with a smile.
I nodded in agreement.
“Well, at least we know the important point now.” Ton laughed. “It seems that playing the Milk Jigsaw with me every day benefits you quite well. You’re far smarter than before, you know?”
“I’m already smart enough.”
“Okay, okay.” He scratched his head. “Then, let’s think about who can fit the description.”
“Good,” I replied. “It’s you…”
“Me, too?” Ton pointed at his face.
“Yes, you too,” I said. “Because you also know about this case. Thus, you said it yourself that you can be the culprit as well.”
“Fine. Who else other than me?”
“Bill… and Max.”
Ton stood still. His eyes revealed his agreement.
“Good, then, what do you think is the motive for each of them?”
“Shall we start with you?” I spoke playfully.
“Got it, my lady. Why do you think I would do it?”
“You might want to play a prank on me.” I laughed evilly. “Or you used to live in my neighborhood and pretend not to up until now.”
“Maybe I am.” He smiled coolly. Ton could always make the atmosphere more relax.
“How about the other two?” Ton asked.
“The other two?” I repeated his words. “I can’t think of anything now.”
“Then, I’ll say it for you.” Ton said. “I believe that you're not ready to suspect them, especially Max, right?”
I sighed, resigning for Ton’s sharpness.
“Let’s start with Bill.” Ton said. “For Bill, I don’t think we have much to say. He likes you and follows you every day. Regarding this, he shouldn’t have a reason to cover himself.”
“But it also quite contradicts.” I rejected. “I told you that Bill has been involved with the drug. Moreover, if it’s indeed as you said, Bill should have even more reasons to cover himself because he would be the most suspicious person. If he threatens me like this, I’ll immediately know who do it.”
I paused for a moment. Ton smiled and signaled me to continue.
“Another point is if we consider that Bill hasn’t had a reason to cover himself, but he’s always been like this, why would he try to cover himself now?”
“Then, you suspect Max?”
“Max…”
“However, if we base on your reasons, it means that while Max is the least suspicious person, he also has the highest possibility to be the culprit because he doesn’t have a reason for us to suspect him.”
“You’re right.” I nodded with defeated. “I forgot to tell you something. Bill was around here yesterday.”
“Is that so?” Ton said. “Then, there’s a fair chance that both of them can be the culprit, right?”
“Probably,” I said, feeling tired.
“Max might dare to threaten you because he knows that you’ll never suspect him while there’s proof that Bill can be the culprit, too. Well, this is difficult.”
I sighed. Many times, I thought back to Ton’s warning that we shouldn’t involve ourselves in this case. Everything was as he said. I brought both of us up to this point. Even when Ton was satisfied with finding the answer to this puzzle, but he also had to risk himself because of my problem. There was no excuse to release me from this fact.
“Well, if the culprit doesn’t have a reason to threaten you, who would he do it?” Ton rubbed his chin. His expression became serious again.
I shrugged. This was the question that I didn’t know the answer.
“I think…well… other than the culprit’s nature that doesn’t want his prey to know who he is, there should be at least another reason. Dream, can you remember when I asked you about Max?”
“Which one?”
“That Max might like you.” Ton said thoughtfully. “If Max likes you, trying to cover himself might have some benefit.”
“Benefit?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Like I said,” Ton started. “Do you notice that before you see the illusion, your life has been very normal? However, now, the culprit chooses to send you the threatening message. Rather than to scare you from pursuing the truth, it’s also a truce.”
“Can you make it simpler?”
“The culprit is offering a proposal… If you agree to retreat, the culprit promises that he won’t do anything to you and will let all of us live peacefully. This makes me think that the culprit might gain some benefits from you being safe.”
“What does that mean?” I tried to think about what Ton said, but I couldn’t really understand it.
“The culprit wants to be with you.”
“What!?”
“The culprit also wants to remain living like this.” Ton insisted. “My guess is if the culprit really like you as I think, he’ll want something from you. Now, he chooses to threaten you. Even when you’re wary that one of the people around you might be the culprit, the safety he offers you will make you let down your guard eventually. A warrior who lives a peaceful life for a long time will forget how to fight. It’s something like that.”
“And what does he get from waiting?” I asked.
“Like other ordinary people, if he stays with you, as usual, there’s a chance that the relationship between you and him might get better, or at least, he’ll feel good to stay near you.”
“That sounds creepy.”
“I think so.” Ton nodded. “As long as the truth hasn’t been revealed, the culprit can expect something from you all the time.”
“I feel strange,” I argued. “Why does the culprit make this up from the start? Those messages, too. Why did he have to send them to me? I’d already give up finding the truth then. This is like he wants to encourage me. Moreover, if the culprit really is Bill, why does Bill have to do that? It goes against what he’s doing now.”
“I don’t understand the messages either. About Bill…” Ton shrugged. “Personally, I don’t think Bill is that bright but it’s also strange that Bill can make a plan now. Moreover, Bill might have other reasons.”
“Other reasons?”
“Yes, he might come to hurt you later because you know about his illegal stuff. What if Bill hasn’t only managed drugs? What if the case is still active?”
“You mean…” My eyes opened wide. “Bill killed someone?”
“It’s possible. It can be other cases, too. What I’m certain is that if Bill does this, there’s a high possibility that the evidence still remains. Any witness might be useful. You knowing about his crime can also affect the case. His reputation is already ruined. If you can remember something more, things might be worse. However, if he can get rid of you, he can also get rid of another witness. Bill might have a way to deal with the evidence he used to kill someone. If it’s really like I suspect, dealing with the evidence wouldn’t be too difficult. If you forget everything like you’re now, the evidence, the place you used to know, the face of related persons you used to remember, all of these will disappear. Even if you know what Bill had done, when you report to the police, they will just ignore you. Even when they don’t ignore you, Bill can find some excuses easier because the information you give to the police is unreliable.”
“I know that Bill is annoying, but I don’t think Bill can do something like that.”
“Don’t be so certain,” Ton looked away. “It might contradict what we’ve thought so far. However, if you think carefully, following you around might be a method Bill uses to divert the police’s attention or confuses us from the truth. If Bill has to be punished, referring to this will lighten his punishment. Sometimes, the police want to close the case as soon as possible. If it’s really like what I said, as long as you don’t know the truth, even if you know who did it, you can’t do anything. It depends on whether the culprit pays more attention to the person or the truth you might know.”
Ton let out a big sigh before stared straight at me.
“Both of them have a fair chance to be the culprit. It depends on what you use to consider the matter.”
I looked up at the sky, feeling drained from finding the truth of what was happening around me.
“It’s strange that no one else knows about this,” I said.
“That’s true.” Ton said. “I also don’t understand this. Not only your father but even your neighbors also don't know about the accident. You can’t remember anything. No news reported. It might be a small matter, but there should be someone else knows about it.”
I became silent. Ton looked at me with worry.
“And after this, what do you plan to do?” He asked.
“I… don’t know. I don’t know what do to next.”
“You can retreat. If it doesn’t worth, you shouldn’t do it.” Ton said.
“But it’s just a threatening message. I don’t think anyone would really do it.”
“But you’re finding the truth because you were harm.” Ton shook his head. “Threatening is like a law. It exists to stop us from doing something in the first place. If we really do something, not following a law will cease its sacredness. The same goes to the threatening.”
I nodded slowly. Ton walked over to me and placed his hands on my shoulders to comfort me.
“I’ll respect your decision, but I want you to be certain that what you choose won’t make you regret it later.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling the warmth through his hands.
“You don’t have to decide in a rush…”
“I’ll keep going.” I looked at Ton with determination. I had faced many uncertainty and fear. This is just another one. “It might be dangerous, but if I don’t know the truth, my life can’t be truly safe.”
Ton smiled while patted on my shoulder lightly.
“The culprit might know you well.” He laughed. “But he doesn’t know one thing.”
He smiled, looking at me with confidence.
“You’ve never give up.”
Talking with Ton could reassure me, but the puzzle left behind still made me worried.
I sat on the bed, thinking about what we’d talked today.
The culprit might be someone close to me.
Bill. Max. Even Ton. All of them could be the culprit.
I might have some conflicts with Bill, but I didn’t think that he would kill anyone even though he’d caused troubles for others all the times.
Max might have changed, but I could feel that the same Max was still there. Max tried to help me as he’d done in the past. He was another person that helped me through the hardness of my life. The bright smiles of the boy at that time gave the liveliness to the me now.
And Ton…
While I was deep in thought, I heard someone knocked the door.
“It’s me,” Dad said from the other side of the door. “Can I come in?”
I headed to unlock the door. Dad opened it slowly and walked hesitantly into my room.
“I think…” Dad smiled apologetically. “I think I should end this. I’m sorry.”
“No… it should be me who say sorry.”
Dad dragged a chair from in front of the computer to the bed and sat down with a more relaxed expression.
“Thank you, Dream. For forgiving me.” Dad smiled. His eyes were bright.
I sat down on the bed, letting myself sunk in thought for a while before realizing that Dad still sat there.
“What’s the matter, Dad?”
“Nothing.” Dad denied with his lifted hand. “I just feel that you’ve grown up so much… so much that I can’t understand my girl anymore.”
I looked at him without any expression. I didn’t know how to answer him. My thoughts were complicated. I could see only problems waiting for me.
Dad looked at me as if he knew how I felt. He touched my shoulder. The warm touch was gentle and made me strangely comfortable.
“I know that you have something in your mind.” He winked. “Since you asked about that photo, I already know that you might have some problems. It might be a problem that I can never understand, but please, believe me, I really don’t have anything hidden from you.”
He sighed and looked out the window absent-mindedly. The stars shone bright into the room as if guiding a lost soul.
“You told me that you dream of something, right?” Dad asked. I nodded in reply.
“You might be too stressed. You dream of something terrifying, and now we have to face something like this. It probably scares you. Don’t worry. I promise you will be safe. I promise on your mom behalf as well, okay?”
I smiled before lowered my head.
“I’m sorry… that I cursed at you the other day.”
“It doesn’t matter. Just let it go.” Dad rubbed my head gently.
“But I…”
“It’s okay.” He smiled. “I used to be a teenager, too. Even when I can’t catch up with ones nowadays.”
Dad laughed. He tried to make me relax. I’d fought him, but he still forgave me without expecting even an apology. He chose my happiness over his own. His kindness reminded me of the shameless thing I’d done to him. I was such a bad daughter.
“Well, I want to ask you something.” He leaned back on the chair. “Who did you go out with the other day?”
I hugged my knees, hesitating to answer this question. Dad looked at me thoughtfully before smiled.
“It’s fine. You probably don’t want to tell anyone. Everybody has a secret.” Dad rubbed my back. “When I was your age, I have things I didn’t want to tell anyone as well.”
I looked up at him to see that he winked at me again.
“You look at me like that. Are you curious how do I know?” Dad smiled. “Because I’m your Dad.”
I smiled back. So many feelings were overwhelming inside my mind. The heat spread throughout my face. A tear fell from my red eyes.
I threw myself into his arms and silently cried the tears that mixed with happiness and sadness. Dad rubbed my head gently. I felt like a baby in its parent’s warm embrace. I felt safe.
“It’s fine. It’s fine.” Dad's voice was gentle.
Every tear drop was from my pain. Dad let me cry until I had no tears left, letting all pain to go away.
I cried in his arms like that.
Let the tears fixed our broken relationship.
I cried like that… until I fell asleep.