4 Chapter 4 - The important talk led to a body
"That's why I have to work hard Endy. Everyone thinks my dream is to become a singer. But they are not right. Not perfectly. My real dream, my life's mission is to find my family and go home. I will become famous. I have to be. I will become a very successful singer. But I will only stay in industry for like six to seven years. After that I will take a break and look for my family. I will achieve my dreams and one day I will go live with them. I promise you that. And I only tell you about my life because I trust you and I believe that you won't share this story with anyone."
Her voice hardened as she went on. I could sense anger, sadness and determination in her voice.
I replied.
"Of course. I won't tell a soul. I promise."
And then she asked about me.
I blurted out everything about my past just like she did. She sympathized me and said
"Well I guess we both have our own goals to reach in life. Don't we, huh? Let's try harder than ever and help each other and make a promise that no matter what obstacles we will face, we will overcome. Together. OK?"
I said.
"OK.I promised".
She thought I was too believing, smart, a little naive and sweet.
And I thought she was strong, ambitious, fiery and sometimes compulsive.
(That's where we got our nicknames from. Me, Sugar and her, Spice).
Once again, my thoughts were interrupted by taxi's driver voice.
"We are here. That'll be 20$."
I paid him, got off the car, went up to my apartment, did some case studying. Like Devvy,I also have a life's mission of my own. That is to solve a case from 15 years ago. The one that involved my parents. That is the whole reason I have become a lawyer for.
The case was closed. But I can't accept the verdict yet. And I've been studying that case with very little clue I have for past 5 years every night of every single day. I haven't missed a night yet. That's what Devvy was talking about earlier. I don't know how but she must have found out that I've been consumed by that case that I couldn't sleep properly. So last night, I did the same thing and called it a night.
............................................................................................................
The next morning, when I woke up I saw a text on my phone's lock screen from Devvy. It says"Hey Endy, can you come to my place at 9 in the morning? I want to talk to you about that important thing from last night."
It was sent at 2:14 a.m. The text seems....WEIRD. I don't know why it felt kind of off but it was already 8:30 when I looked at the clock. I got out of the bed quickly, took a shower, called a cab to Devvy's apartment.
I knew that I was not gonna make it at 9.On my way to her, I realized I hadn't eaten anything. I was thinking of having that conversation with Devvy over breakfast when I get there. It was already 9:20 when I got to her condo.
I hastily took the elevator to 5th floor where her apartment is. I rang the bell and waited. But no one answered the door. I tried again. No answer.
I thought of calling Devvy from my cell. Just when I took out my phone out of my pocket, the elevator door chimed and opened.
It was Daisy. She was holding two cups: one in each hand.
Ocne I got a closer look I realized they were a Cappuccino for her and one green tea for Devvy. Devvy doesn't drink coffee. Any kind at all cause she has insomnia.
Daisy seemed kind of tired.
"Hey Endy….good morning. Are you here because Devvy called you?"
She asked me.
"Yeah. You too?"
"Yeah Miss. Princess summoned me here to talk about last night."
I wondered why Devvy would want to call two of us at the same time since she was gonna talk to us about different matters but I covered my doubts and said
"I've been hitting the bell but no one's answering. Maybe she is still sleeping in and Josh is not home yet."
"That's weird. Dev needs to wake up early because she has a photo shoot in about two hours and
Josh was home last night when I took her back here. Did you press the bell right? That thing is jammed inside you have to give it a hard push sometimes. Here let me."
She tried to reach the bell but her hands were full. So I took a cup form her. It was the Cappuccino. It was not hot anymore. "Thank you Endy."
She said as she pressed the doorbell really HARD with her free hand. Then she stepped back and let out a yawn.
"Long night?" I asked as she seemed super beat.
She finished her yawn and answered
"Yeah. The after-party was supposed to be only two-hours-long but it got carried away. It was almost 1:00 o'clock when we got back here. I had to take Devvy back here because she was way too angry to drive."
"Devvy was angry? Why? "I asked
"Oh…she and Edward had a huge fight last night during the party. She got SUPER upset. So I didn't let her drive. You know when she lost her temper." She answered.
I know that. One time Devvy hit the light-post with her car just so she could release her anger. Thankfully she wasn't injured and the charges were dropped. As her confidential lawyer, I had to handle that case. Man it was one troublesome case trying not to go public.
We finished talking but there was still no answer from the other side of the door.
"That's it. She must be oversleeping. She needs to wake up right now or she will look like a bloated penguin at the photo shoot."
Daisy lost her patience and punched in the password code to Devvy's door. I was not surprised that she knew the code to the apartment. Devvy's is bad with passwords. Even I could have guessed the code.
We entered the room. Daisy gave a shout out.
"Dev,I am here. With Endy. Are you still sleeping?" As she was calling her out, she went further into the rooms. I followed her.
About a minute later before I could catch up with her. I herard her scream. It was coming from Devvy's bedroom.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............................"
I dashed into the room.
"What is wrong?"
She didn't need to answer that. I know what happened by my visions.
The scence was devastating. In the middle of the room, on the floor, there was a body leaning on the bed side. Beside it was Daisy.
"Devvy.Devvy.Dev...Endy!!She is not responing. Devvy wake up."
She hold her shoulders and shook them off.
I approached quickly in terror but as I expected it was already too late.
"She is dead."
"What?"
"She is dead. I can't feel her pulse!!There is blood on the back of her head"
Daisy now cried out loud.
"OH MY GOD....Devvy...How could this happen to you??How could you just die from a tiny blow on your head....hee.eeeee...How could you just leave me alone? I am not ready to live without you...heee....pls....Devvy...pls....heeeee.........."
I felt as sad and overwhelmed as Daisy but I need to do something. So I calmed myself down and talked to Daisy.
"Daisy." She looked up. With tears in her eyes.
"I need to go out and make a call. Can you stay here and secure the scence? Make sure nothing is amiss?"
"OK" she said…faintly.
Then I got out of the room and called the police station and reported a crime. Before exiting the room. I scanned it (Devvy's bedroom) with my eyes to make sure I got a general view of the crime. When I got back into the room. Daisy has calmed down a little bit but still sobbing.
"Is she really dead? Is she really gone?"
I sighed "Yes…..Daisy. Yes. My friend is gone."
Then I looked around the room. I found a statue on the make-up table. It was one of Devvy's awards.
As I recall, it was her very first award. The award of outstanding newcomer. It is shaped like an elegant woman is reaching for a star.
The star is the valuable part. It is all made of pure gold. The statue itself is made of bronze. Now there was splatter of blood around it and the star is missing. Maybe the killer took it.
Just then we heard some noises from the front room. Daisy and I, we looked at one another. Without a word, we approached quietly the door and got out of the room. Then we saw.
Coming out of his room seemingly still half-asleep is the other residence of this apartment, JOSH.
"What's going on? I heard a scream. Why are you two here? Did my sister call you? Where is she?"
A thought occurred to me.
YOU are in a lot of trouble, buddy.
