Chapter 19

Aper finished the file just in time. The clock stroke 10 pm, as he got up and left to his house. He had to plan a trip to District 2.

Before leaving, he had to make sure the team could handle the case themselves for a while. The files got directed to them, and Kyle was happy to do more for Aper. With hope in his heart, Aper let the guys take care of themselves and the city while he was gone.

Once home, he did his bags and searched for the library. The internet said that it was a stone tower in the middle of the district. "I guess it won't be that hard to find," he thought.

When morning came, he took his car - a black Mercedes - and drove one hour until he reached the second district. That side of the Condemned City had many shops, and the people were pretty secretive. No one dared talk about anything unless they had to. Even the officers of the district were quiet. Nothing much ever happened there; the people always kept a low profile.

Aper found the tower just fine, but it was closed. It didn't look like a library, though. Aper circled the column and found no windows, only the main door. "Maybe the books are upstairs," he thought. It was 9 am, but the library was not open. The only thing to do was wait.

❧

Skyleene woke up and kept thinking about the conversation with Old Dulles from the previous night. They stood in the middle of the road, looking at the beautiful scenery, without saying a word. She understood that he cared for her, but she found his actions selfish. Sure, she did appreciate the time spent with him as her tutor, but she wished the mission did not last that long. Maybe there could have been a difference in the case as well if she knew Awo Aro.

The sun showered the room with light and signaled she had to get up and do her job. She freshened up, got changed and greeted Old Dulles in the living room. He also got ready, and both of them left towards the field once again.

The road there was quiet; the man drove while the girl tried to learn the path to the field. It was a straight line on the right from their hotel - nothing too complicated. The meadow of Awo Aro looked like any other patch of grass at first glance. The plants were short, some large leaves appearing here and there. The flowers had two faces: a green side and a purple side. The plant showed the purple colour during nighttime because the bits of pollen glowed in the dark, attracting the fireflies, which were beneficial. During the day, the flowers looked like a three-leaf clover - during the night, they looked like a magic island.

Both Old Dulles and Skyleene took samples of the flower.

"It's incredible how there are so many here but none in District 1. Funny how many people didn't know about this place", Skyleene said.

"It is in the open. Many get fooled by the green coverage - that and the fact that these flowers don't last long."

"I know. The flowers last up to five days a year and then vanish like they were never here. Your books gave good information, it seems."

"I wrote them. Of course, the info is good" Old Dulles smiled.

Skyleene looked at him in disbelief, continuing to collect Awo Aro flowers. It was incredible how he was still so confident in situations like that. She had in plan to use some for Aper and the other souls who would come to her.

Seeing her deep in thought, Old Dulles decided to bring up an intriguing topic for him: Aper Koden.

"I wonder if the boy found the book", he whispered.

"What book?"

"You heard me?"

"We are next to each other. Don't change the subject."

"I told Aper about the ritual of souls. You know, the one I taught you in class, about how you need souls to reach a deadly power."

"I remember. You need three souls involved with the dimensions, like a portal or talking to the dead."

"Yes. Usually, those souls end up being from the living vessels. Their bodies get transported to one of the cities while the souls get stuck in the Sea. I thought this might help in the Purple Case."

"It actually makes sense", she said, stopping from picking samples. "Charlie Nim's body got found in Condemned City, with no soul; Sasha Shaw's body parted from the soul as well. The culprit may have parted their souls for this ritual. The only lead we have for now is that man in Sasha's pictures. He had a scar on his chin, next to his mouth. I saw a man like that at the reunion."

Old Dulles shot his head up.

"You did? How interesting…Now that I think of it, the man in the picture looked familiar with Nicholas Wade. He's one of the academics - a good man. I didn't talk much with him, though. He came ten years ago in the academy."

"How come you didn't recognize him?"

"I saw him a couple of times. That scar reminded me of him, but I didn't think much of it."

"So you're saying you knew who that man was, and you couldn't tell me that?"

"I didn't know who he was. In that picture, he seemed different. As if it wasn't even him. He usually smiles when you see him. In those pictures, he was stoic as hell. And like I said, I didn't see him much."

"I can't believe you. Any information is good when it comes to this! How could you keep this to yourself!?"

"Skyleene, it might not be him! I didn't want to give a false lead!"

"And what if it is him!? Have you thought of that!" she got up. She reached for her phone and dialed Aper's number, hoping he would pick up fast. "Do not move. We didn't finish", she shot him a glare.

Skyleene walked a bit closer to the car, a black SUV, and waited for Aper's voice to echo through the phone. It did not take long, and he picked up, his hoarse voice filling her eardrums.

"Yes, Skyleene."

"Aper, hi. Are you busy?"

"No. Did something happen?"

"Where are you right now?"

"I am in District 2. Mr. Dulles gave me some details about a book that might help. I am waiting for the library to open so I can take it and go back to the case. Uh- I am sorry I did not mention it to you, I realized this now."

"Ah, ok. Don't worry. I just wanted to know if you checked Sasha Shaw's background. Any people found?"

"I know Kyle took care of that. I left this morning, leaving them to do the protocols. Why?"

"Old Dulles told me just now about the man from the pictures. He waited like an idiot but oh well. His name is Nicholas Wade, an academic from my school. I believe he has something to do with this case. I also met him that night at the academy. He wore a mask but I recognized his scar."

"Maybe. The guys will do interviews with everyone today: the hotel staff, the people in the pictures - name it, it's there."

"Alright. Any luck with the ritual book?"

"The tower is closed. I can't get in. I don't even know how this book looks like, but I'm getting there. I hope an imbecile would just come already to open this damn building."

She chuckled: "Alright, alright. Good luck. I'm heading back to my research."

"Aight. Keep me updated!"

"Same here!"

Skyleene ended the call and went to Old Dulles, who kept picking flowers as if his life depended on it.

"Old man, how much do we need to research on?"

"I have two bags already. I only need two or three flowers for analysis."

"Right. I'll take some more for my patients. Then we can leave."

"Very well. I'll put these in the trunk and wait there."

Skyleene nodded and did her business. It was clear that Nicholas Wade was a suspect. He was the only lead they had. Charlie Nim may have been from Earth, but Sasha Shaw had business with a condemned soul. They could not bring photos from the living world, so those had to be in CC.

She picked a few more flowers and got in the car. The next stop was the hotel room, where they had the equipment. Their job was to take that equipment and move it to the botanic laboratory. The road was once again quiet. No one dared to speak.