TST, 2020
Macy’s body stiffened. Her whole life she had never killed anybody nor wanted to. But there were castor beans in her room. Who would hassle to believe even if she shouted that she didn’t put them there? But she had hope. As fire when thrown into water is cooled down and put out, so also she believed a false accusation when brought against someone of the purest and holiest character, boils over and is at once dissipated, and vanishes.
“Have you found the letter?” Hudson said.
Macy kept digging in her clothes.
“We’ve got the evidence. Why do we need the letter?” Greyson said.
Macy’s heartbeats increased. She kept looking. Her hands were trembling.
“She might be new to crime but not even a kid would leave the evidence in his own room after committing a crime.” Hudson said.
“Do you think she’s innocent?”
“I think something is missing.”
“Something like…?”
“A link.”
“A woman, who opens her heart to love someone, when it’s already broken, is braver than any person you’ll meet.”
Macy found the letter in one of her trousers. She didn’t believe all this was happening in her life because she loved someone. Her only crime was loving Leo. The two detectives were still arguing.
“I’ve found the letter.” She said.
Hudson took it. He turned it, taking a deep look everywhere. He handed it to Greyson.
“Visit all nearby stationeries, see if they have any clue of who printed this.” He said.
Greyson took the letter. “What about the castor beans?”
“Also take a look at Isla’s properties. See if you can find the letter as Macy alleges.”
“Sir—”
“Jumping to conclusions rarely gets us anywhere we want to be.”
Greyson left the room. He didn’t look happy. Macy hated him. Maybe because he wanted to conclude she was a criminal or maybe because he was just doing his job or maybe both.
“For how long have you been in love with Leo?” Hudson said.
“I swear I didn’t poison her.”
“The castor beans?”
“I swear I don’t know how they ended up in my room.”
Hudson smiled. Macy knew her response didn’t make sense. But it was the truth and she was terrified no one would believe her.
Hudson sighed. “Once, there lived a woodcutter, Ramu, who lived a very simple life. He was poor but he was a good man and worked hard. One day while chopping down a branch, Ramu’s axe slipped and fell into the adjacent river. He tried searching for his axe but all in vain.
“He sat down by the river bank and started weeping. Hearing his cries, an angel appeared and promised to help him find his axe. She dove into the water and retrieved an axe completely made of gold. Ramu said that this wasn’t his axe and refused to accept it. The angel dove again and returned with a silver axe, Ramu refused again and said that his axe was made of steel. The angel went into the water for one last time and returned with Ramu’s axe. Elated, Ramu thanked the angel profusely.
“Impressed by his simplicity and honesty, the angel decides to give Ramu the gold and silver axe too. Ramu went home happily.”
Macy smiled. She understood the moral of the story.
“It teaches us to be honest. Honesty is the best policy.”
“I’m not lying, detective.”
“If you keep lying, I won’t be able to help you.”
“I’m very honest with you.”
“Who do you think would hurt Isla?”
“No one I can think of.”
“Leo?”
“No, he can’t.”
“Why?”
“Leo might be everything but he’s not a killer. And why would he poison her?”
“So that he could be with you...”
“Impossible.”
Hudson smiled.
After half an hour, Greyson returned. He gave a distrustful look to Macy. Macy didn’t care.
“What’s up?” Hudson said.
“I checked the stationeries. Found one. A woman remembers someone printed something like this but she doesn’t remember any details on the appearance of the person. She can’t tell whether it was a man or a woman.”
“Then our friend is not very far from here.”
“I also checked Isla’s properties in the hospital. I found this.” Greyson handed a piece of paper to Hudson.
Hudson looked at the piece of paper. “They are similar.”
“Very similar…”
“Do you like games, Grey?”
“I don’t think it’s time for fun, detective.”
Hudson threw the papers on the table. “There is someone very close, someone who enjoys playing precarious games. We have to find out who.”