Karma

It was a rainy day at the police station. Everyone was busy due to a crime that has kept the entire Sicily in fear for the past three months. A crime that brought terror back after eight years. Riccardo Mancini was leading the investigation, and he had found one last person who was suspected to be at the crime scene.

"Mr. Gonzalez, do you know why you're here?" He questioned the man who was sitting right in front of him. The room was dark, and only the source of light was a white bulb that was hanging on the roof.

"I don't know, sir," the older man replied as he tried to hide his panic through his cough.

"You know about The Karma Judge, right?" He tilted his head as he examined the photos of the dead bodies of many young girls that were on the table.

"The entire Sicily knows about that," he sounded unbothered.

"You also know The Karma Court," he slides a photo of an unfinished building for the man. He took a glance at it and scoffed.

"I know. I live in this town officer. I still don't understand why I am here, though," he said innocently, making the officer furious.

"Where were you on June 9 at 12:30 am?" He got straight to his point, not wanting to play this game any further.

"I was at a club,"

"Which club?" He crossed his arms, not believing his words.

"Catania," he leaned back to the chair, making himself comfortable.

"What time did you leave from there?"

"Around, hmm 1:45," the man narrowed his eyes, attempting to get the exact time.

"How long does it take you to get to your home from the club?"

"Thirty minutes maximum."

"Your wife said that you came home at 4 pm," the man was shocked by this statement. "Why were you that late?" he placed his palm on the table as he looked the man dead in the eyes.

"I ... I was with a friend," he smiled even though his cheeks were shaking nervously.

"You pass this building while driving back home, am I correct?" he pointed at the unfinished building. The man nodded in agreement. "This boy was killed on that exact day at the exact same time you should reach that building," he explained as he passed him a picture of a teenage boy's dead body. The man shivered in fear when he saw that boy covered in blood.

"I ... I don't know," he shattered, and his whole body started trembling.

"What don't you know? I didn't even ask anything," he stated, making the man in front of him silent. "Your wife said that your car was covered in mud. Why?"

"The road was kind of muddy."

"It was summer, and the road was perfectly fine. However, the road that is across the building was, of course, muddy."

"Are you trying to frame me?"

"Are you hiding something?"

"No," he said hesitantly.

"Did you see his face?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"So you're not gonna talk."

"But I told you, everything officer," he replied, making the officer furious.

"You know what I mean. Don't play around," the officer warned in a dangerously calm tone.

"I don't know what you're talking about, officer. I honestly told you everything I saw."

"Which was nothing," he glared at him.

"Officer, look, I think you got the wrong person," he tried to joke, which was the wrong idea.

"Who killed them? Who was it? TELL ME EVERYTHING. I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING. COME ON! " The officer slammed the table angrily.

"I..I..t..told you.." the man shattered, not knowing what to say.

"Why are you shattering then?" the officer asked.

"I. . ." Someone cut him off.

"I am here for my client," A man in a suit came with a briefcase. The officer looked flustered. He knew what was going to happen since this was not the first time. Every time he brings a witness to investigate, there will be a man in a tidy suit holding a briefcase with a bunch of documents in it.

"Okay, then you may leave. If we need more information we will contact you. Don't turn your phone off, " The officer looked disappointed. This is the officer's last hope of catching the criminal who has been playing with him. But like the other days, nothing happened.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Were you seriously gonna tell everything?"

"N... No. Why did you ask?" he backfired, trying to sound as brave as he could.

"You were kinda shattering, and you still seem scared,"

"I wasn't afraid. I was just nervous, which is normal for a person who had never been to a police station, " the man tried to explain without seeming too anxious.

"Good, you know the boss doesn't like betrayal. Not to mention the despise that the boss has for you."

"I know that," With that, the man went to his home. Then, the lawyer dialed someone.

*O.T.P

"All good, boss."

"Good then. Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Nothing. But the officer seemed pissed. I don't think he would stop, though."

"That's the best part," the person ended the call. The lawyer sighed in relief and went to his home.

Meanwhile, the officer was frustrated. He was throwing everything as he just lost to a criminal, again. He thought that this time, he would win and bring justice to the victims. Nonetheless, he failed at keeping the promise he made.

*Flashback

"Officer, we found another body!!" his co-worker came rushing.

"Where?" he asked, grabbing his gun and coat.

"At the same building," he answered, handing him his ID.

"Let's go then," he got out of the office as his coworker followed.

*at the crime scene

A lady was crying, holding the lifeless body that was lying on the ground. It was covered in a white sheet, although it was changing its color because of the amount of blood that is coming out of the body. Officers wearing a white cloth above their uniform are trying to get some information from the scene. Ambulances and police cars were waiting around the building. Riccardo picked up the lady who was a crying mess.

"They killed my son," she said, hitting his chest.

"I know you are really mad, Ma'am. But please just try to calm yourself down so we can investigate further," He tried to comfort her, but she yanked herself from his grip.

"No, I. . ." she suddenly looked scared. She started trembling and started shaking her head continuously. He turned around to see what she was looking at, but to his surprise, there was nothing there. But the lady was still shivering.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" he asked

"N..N... Yes," she was still scared.

"Ma'am, what is it? What did you see? Tell me. I will protect you. Just tell me," He almost begged.

"Promise me, officer. Promise me to find that bastard who killed my son," she said, grabbing his collar.

"I promise, but ma'am You need to. . ." The lady got shot in his arms. He got shocked and looked in the direction where she was shot. However, there was nothing there.

"Shit!! Take the lady.." she grabbed him again.

"P..P...Promise..m..me..t..to..get..t..that..bastard," She said, taking her last breath.

"I promise ma'am. But you have to.." she closed her eyes.

"Ma'am. .Ma'am. ." he called her, but there was no response. He checked her pulse, and there was nothing. The nurses came to pick her up. They brought the stretcher and took her to the ambulance. After that, they went to the hospital. He stared at the disappearing figure of the ambulance. He looked around to see her killer. But there was no one in the area.

"I will catch that bastard I promise,'' he promised, gritting his teeth.

***Flashback end***

***Present day***

"I couldn't even keep my promise," he slammed the table. Suddenly his phone rang. He saw the caller ID. It was a private number. He immediately knew who it was, and his blood started to boil. He finally answered, squeezing the phone, thinking that he had choked that person.

*O.T.P

"How was your day, Detective Mancini?" the person on the other line asked.

"What do you want?"

"You're so rude, officer. At least you could say, 'I had a good day. How about you?' You hurt my feeling, ouch."

"Just tell me what you want."

"Woah, Officer. Are you sure you will give me what I want?" The mocking tone of the other person was getting on the last nerve he had.

"Say it."

"You, I want you."

"Stop your nonsense, Eliana. Why did you call?"

"Ahhh, you're so boring. You know that, right?"

"How did you escape this time? What did you do to make him change his mind about telling the truth," She laughed, making him more furious than he already was.

"Babe, you know that I don't know what you're talking about."

"DON'T CALL ME BABE!! YOU DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT!"

"Ok, then . . .daddy," He hung up because he had enough of her. But she called again. He declined. She called again. This time, he picked it up, knowing she wouldn't give up easily,

"WHAT ELIANA?!" he screamed at her.

"Daddy chill. Look, I know you are all 'I will arrest you and cuff you' thing, so I wanted to surrender."

"What are you talking about?"

"I will surrender. You will put a handcuff on my wrist tonight."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am. I mean, I can't see you like this. You deserve a little rest."

"I don't understand why you want to surrender now?"

"Anything for you," she said calmly. Although he didn't believe her, he still wanted to try his luck.

"So when are you going to do it?"

"Tonight. But you have to come to my place for that."

"Why is that?"

"Is it okay to do it in your office then?" Now he is dumbfounded.

"What do you mean?"

"I can't scream your name in there," she whispered seductively.

"Why would you want to do that?"

"You're so innocent, babe," she mocked, and he finally understood what she was talking about.

"Fuck you, Eliana!"

"That's what I'm telling you" she joked. He then furiously ended the call.

'I hate you, Eliana.' he threw his phone.