Chapter Three

The homework was done for the day. Hugo was stretching out a bit when he heard a knock on the window.

"It's open," he said.

Verdell pulled the glass up and slid through the gap. He had a stupid grin on his face as always.

"You wouldn't believe it."

"Cut the drama," Hugo sharply said.

"Dr. Frost has been found dead in her office this noon," he said.

"Dr. Frost?"

The name seemed familiar to Hugo. In fact, it took him just ten seconds to realize that he had seen that name in his very house.

"She is a psychiatrist. Was, I mean," Verdell said, confirming Hugo's suspicion. "She has drunk poison, or so it seems. But, I think she has been killed."

Verdell, like a few other teenage boys in the school, had a knack for crime. He liked to try and solve unsolved murder mysteries. He might not be successful all the time, but he was ambitious and never gave up.

"So what?" Hugo asked, shrugging. "It's not like she is someone close to me or you."

"No, but I cannot help but notice a connection. Do you know who her patients are?"

'Of course, I know. I know about her because Rhea and her mother are among her patients. Dad has all kinds of information regarding his friend's family.'

"Our classmate Rhea," Verdell said. "She is one of her patients and in her diary, she wrote that she was one of the toughest ones and someone who creeped her out as well as confused her."

"Where did you get Dr. Frost's diary?" Hugo asked. He realized it almost immediately. "You stole it?"

"Well, even the police suspect she has committed suicide because she was dealing with a bit of pressure regarding her marriage. So, basically, the case is closed. Well, maybe the investigation will go on for a few days. But that's just that. Besides, I haven't actually stolen it. I just copied the pages. Did you forget my mom is a detective?"

"What does your mom think?" Hugo asked.

"She thinks it's murder too. She will be questioning our creepy queen tonight," he said. "I will be there too."

"How?"

"It will be at our house because Rhea has given an official statement already to the police and mom has requested another one."

"She accepted?" Hugo asked, surprised.

"Since it's not an official one, she has the right to refuse. But she agreed. I even bet with Mom that she would refuse; had to give her five bucks," Verdell said. "Alright, come with me. You got to be there."

Albeit Hugo's disinterest, Verdell always shared the details about the case he was on about at a time. Hugo did not intervene because he could pass his time just fine.

It was six in the evening. Hugo lived close to Verdell; it took only fifteen minutes through the forest to reach Verdell's house.

Verdell opened the door cautiously. He was careful not to make any extra noise. "Good lord, she isn't here yet," Verdell sighed in relief.

"Why are you so afraid of her?" Hugo asked. "Not just you, a lot of people. She hasn't done anything to you?"

"It's not like I'm afraid… She just… kinda creeps me out. I mean, she never smiles or says anything. She wears black all the time like it's the color of her soul and her eyes look dead. I mean, she… I don't know, man. Doesn't she creep you out?"

Hugo thought. She had never done something wrong. She just never expressed herself and had any friends. To Hugo, she was a strange girl, but she was not creepy.

"Not really," Hugo said.

"Oh, Hugo, my boy… Verd, did you sneak out again?" Mrs. Morrison came out to check who it was.

She was braiding her hair into locks. It was almost finished. She liked to braid her hair herself and thought the hairdressers were not as experienced as she was and she never could entrust her beautiful thick hair to them.

"Just gone out to get Hugo. He is gonna help me with my math," Verd said.

"Good evening, Mrs. Morrison. How have you been?" Hugo asked, offering a small smile.

"Haa, what can I say? There is a new case now. Gonna have to make sure I get enough coffee to stay up all night," she sighed. "The girl should be here soon. I heard she is your classmate. But Verd says she ain't the talkative type. Should have guessed as she was in therapy."

Hugo did not know the exact reason why she was in therapy. He just knew that it had something to do with her father's death. That man had died in a car accident, but the two siblings survived by chance.

"Come on. We are going, Ma," Verdell said and went upstairs with Hugo following.

After a while, they heard a bell ringing. Both of them were looking outside the window the whole time, but they had not seen anyone walking down the path.

"Have you seen anyone?" Verdell asked and Hugo shook his head. "We missed something? Who is it?"

They tiptoed down the stairs and stood behind a wall that separated the stairwell and the living room.

"Good evening, Rhea. Come in," they heard Mrs. Morrison's voice.

It was the second time Hugo had seen Rhea outside the school. The only time before was at the riverside at night. Rhea had been walking down the riverside with some thick books and a mango ice cream in her hands. Behind her, was her brother who was trying to annoy her with a stick.

No one was surprised to see her in black attire once again. She was wearing a turtle neck black t-shirt and black distressed jeans. She never wore a short-sleeved cloth, not even when it was burning hot.

"Sorry for telling you to come this late. Have you come alone?" Mrs. Morrison asked in a soft voice.

Hugo could tell she did not like her. But what he did not understand was how could someone hate a person without knowing anything about them.

"Ronan is at the hospital. I have come alone," Rhea replied.

"I see. Please take a seat. Coffee, tea, juice, anything?"

"No. It's alright. Thank you," Rhea said, sitting down.

Just within a split second, Rhea's eyes found Hugo and Verdell hiding. Her dark brown eyes were like those of a vulture.

"What the fuck…?" Verdell cursed under his breath, moving away so his head would not be seen anymore. "Don't tell me she still doesn't creep you out?"

Hugo's eyes were fixed on her. "Is there anything bothering you, Rhea?"

"No," she replied, shifting her gaze back to Mrs. Morrison.

"I have heard about your mother. It was unfortunate."

"Yes. You said so this morning too."

"Right… How are you dealing with it?"

"Just like I should. The house feels a little empty though," she said.

"Ah, yes, your brother must be going back and front between the hospital and home. You have to stay alone. But why don't you go to a relative's place? Or, can someone not come over for a few days?"

"My mom was disowned by her parents when she got pregnant at fourteen."

"What about your father's family?"

"Grandma doesn't like my mom. Dad was an only child. Grandpa is dead. He died five years ago of a heart attack. There is no one else."

"I see… It must be hard."

"Yes."

"Alright, I will ask you a few things about your life. First of all, you and your mother were Dr. Frost's patients, right?"

"Yes."

"Your mother had depression."

"And she showed signs of insanity," Rhea added.

"And what about you?"

"I have a memory loss problem. I don't remember a certain period of my life and I want to remember that. And according to my mother and Dr. Frost, I show signs of psychotic behavior."

Verdell gasped. He was looking at Hugo knowingly as if to say that was why she creeped him out.

"Who told you that you need therapy?" Mrs. Morrison asked.

"My mother," she said.

"Why?"

"Because she thinks I show psychotic behavioral signs."

"What did you do?"

"I don't know."

"Do you think something might be wrong with you?"

"That is utterly disrespectful, but yes, I do think something is wrong with me, but not in the way you think I do."

"What do you think I think?"

"Detective, I have told you all I can help you with. There is nothing more I can help you with."

"I heard you got a cat two days ago."

"Yes."

"You have always wanted a cat, haven't you? But your mother always was against the idea."

"Yes."

"Now, your mother can't stop you."

"Detective, you make it seem like I did something to my mother just to get a cat."

"Did you?"

"I haven't. I love my mother."

"You love your mother so much yet you have never once visited her in the hospital."

"It's for my mental health."

"What do you mean?"

"My brother said so."

"I see. I will need to talk to your brother too, it seems."

"You can do that."

Mrs. Morrison was writing constantly in her notebook while keeping her eyes on Rhea, just like Hugo did. Hugo's eyes never left her face and her movements. He never thought she had anything to do with the death of Dr. Frost. But he was curious. He wanted to break the hard shell of hers for some reason. He wanted to see her for what she truly was.