CHAPTER 7 : THE PAINTING'S NOTE

Walking out of the house , I held onto my notepad as i walked to my car. According to what Mrs . Hayes had said , her husband had visitors three to four days before his death , but everytime someone came , he would tell her to stay upstairs and not come down until he calls.

My mind flashed images of what had happened minutes ago . How she held my hand and broke down crying , almost fainting at the end . She was begging me to help her .

Entering the car I sat there rereading the points I had noted. Keeping the notepad back , I took out my phone and called James.

James and Johnathan had went to get some information about the painting .

" Hey James , anything new ? "

" Yeah we found out something about the painting and the house the party was at ."

"Good . I'll meet you at the office ."

" We will be there with within an hour ."

~

She drove through the city , her eyes trained onto the road as the golden sun was now being kept hidden by the dirty grey clouds who had by now filled the vast sky.

Slowly tapping on the steering wheel , she stopped her car onto the roadside . Hearing the vibration of her phone which had been continuing for the past few minutes , she took it out .

Putting in her code , she opened the phone to see she was spammed with messages . Clicking on one of them , she read it.

" She's gone forever and you will too.Dont waste your time searching for me , be grateful and enjoy life. You won't find me . " An almost of twenty messages with the same note was present. Dragging her index finger to the top of the screen , looking for another message as her heart started to beat at a faster pace along with the rain that had started pouring , the tapping voices of the raindrops filling the car , almost as if someone was knocking on the glass , maybe it was death giving her an early visit , just watching her from a distance , looking at the new soul he will collect.

' Mrs. Hayes. '

Calling to the mansion immediately , she waited for the phone to be picked up , which ultimately went unattended . Going through her contacts , she clicked the name she was looking for , the phone ringing .

" Hello ."

" Rick , go to the Hayes mansion immediately. Possible death . " She spoke , words almost fumbling as she hurried to cut the phone immediately and rush back to the mansion.

" Okay. " He spoke understanding the situation.

Cutting the phone , she sped through the roads almost colliding with a few cars . If not by the killer or maybe his accomplices hands she will most probably be dieing on the road today . The thought passed through her mind almost like a flash , adding more pressure to her shoulders .

In her five months of being a senior , she had witnessed only seventeen dead bodies and none of them were this complicated. As a junior she had no major work similar to this .

Reaching the mansion, she stopped the car , immediately rushing to the mansion as the rain now poured harder , the cold water drops hitting her skin . Finding the front door left open she hurried in , the water now falling onto the marble floor . Almost falling down , she ran through the rooms screaming for Mrs .Hayes's name , wishing to hear a response.

The sounds of cars parking outside was now heard . She wandered through the rooms , her skin now cold . Climbing the stairs , she looked at the first room she saw . It was locked. Kicking onto the door , she got it open , the door opening with such force , the loud noise echoed through the mansion .

Walking in , there lied Mrs. Hayes , a pool of blood surrounded her , her face filled with marks , ' claw marks' almost make it tough to recognize it indeed is her .

Hearing footsteps getting closer , she turned around , fists in the air . " Its us ," spoke Rick , raising his hands in which one had a gun and we were soon joined along with James and Johnathan .

" You brought them ? " I asked , my voice came out almost as a whisper .

" Yeah , I thought it was best to bring them.They know more about this ,compare to us ". He talked .

" Thanks ." I said .

" Anika you can leave . Syl is outside . Get to the office. You are needed there.We will look at this . Some of the force will come along as well. "

" I will be back here after a while . " I spoke looking at the men infront of me .

"Sure . We will be here for a long time ." Nodding at James's answer , I turned around , walking down the stairs as the sound of my boots tapping on the floor echoed . The rain was still pouring . ' I could have saved her .' I thought , tears rolling down my face . ' All the time I was in with her here , she asked me to help her , but only if I had thought a bit more .'

Walking outside , I was welcomed with a hug from Syl . " It's okay ." She spoke . Taking an umbrella that was lying on the floor , she opened it and held my right hand , carefully placing the umbrella above us such a way that both of us were covered .

We walked through the rain as shivers ran through my spine each time a wind blew towards us. Even through the heave rain , she spoke. " I have a spare dress of mine in the car . I don't know if it would fit you , but you could try it. "

Smiling at her , I said , " It's okay , I have a spare in my car . "

~

I sat in my office chair , a number of files spread infront of me , both my hands on my head , clutching my hair as a headache ruled my head , almost leading me to cry , besides the situation was not helping at all .

The killer was in the house the whole time I was there . I could have easily caught him. She was asking for my help indirectly all along. The number of times she had used the words upstairs and help her , should have been the biggest clue .

Running my eyes , I opened one of the files. It was a small file about the painting . Looking at the photos of the painting , my eyes caught the writing that was written on the top left .

"TILL THE STARS STOP ACCOMPANYING THE MOON .

TILL THE HEART BREAKS INTO A MILLION VANISHING PIECES ,

MY HAND WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO HOLD YOURS AND THAT'S A PROMISE TO BE KEPT TILL THE END OF TIME ."