Chapter 176: Case Cleared?

[Edward POV]

 "Looks like it didn't only happen to her." The detective said after checking out Kiernan's story. Apparently, the bathroom was locked for a while, therefore some people decided to relieve themselves in a creative manner all over the house.

"I was thinking about moving to a place like this, or maybe even this house... But right now, I kept thinking that my current house is good enough," Sean murmured.

I nodded in agreement. During our earlier conversation, Sean had suggested that I explore other living options since my current house's address had been leaked to the public.

'Maybe I won't move, but alternate between houses to make people think that I don't live there any longer. If I keep posting videos from the new house, I can subtly change people's minds. Then, I can come back to my current house anytime I want,' I mused, rubbing my chin.

This decision wasn't made arbitrarily. In fact, I had been using my part of the lottery money, as well as my dad's, to buy a few companies and properties. The 2008 housing market crash had left real estate prices at an all-time low, and I saw an opportunity to invest.

"Ah... That's why Phil was struggling as a realtor in the early season of the series," I realized.

After my revelation, I approached the detective and suggested, "If there are no other leads, I think we should just wait for the lab results to come out. The party is already ruined, and people can't wait to go home."

Chloe sighed but didn't argue. "Yeah, it's better that way."

Curious about her sigh, I asked, "Why are you sighing?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. It doesn't have anything to do with you, or the case."

"Come on, tell me. Please?" I coaxed her with a sweet voice. Taken aback, she decided to end the matter quickly.

"Well, I'm just sighing because... I can't close the case tonight, and--"

"And... that'll get you in trouble with your captain?" I interrupted.

Her widened eyes confirmed my assumption. Picking up on her situation, I patted her on the shoulder to cheer her up.

"Don't worry. I'll give you a nice and thorough review, so that your captain can't nitpick on anything."

"Well, that's going to make you the nicest celebrity I've ever served," she joked, smiling. Managing celebrity cases was considered a career killer due to their impossible demands. She was already tired of them, and it was only her first year as a detective.

"By the way, you have a daughter, right?" I asked, startling her.

She narrowed her eyes at me and questioned, "How did you know?"

"Ah, sorry. I saw your phone lock screen before. How old is she now?" I politely inquire, aware that my behavior seemed suspicious.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she responded, "She's six years old right now."

I widened my eyes in disbelief, realizing that the timeline didn't match up. So, it's not following the timeline at all. I remember the daughter was seven years old when the series premiered in 2016. 

'Ah, I guess both she and Dr. Linda were not part of another alternate universe, so that's kinda good. I don't think I want to mess with all the gods and angel stuff.'

"Mr. Newgate? Mr. Newgate?" Chloe called, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Ah, sorry. By the way, does your daughter know me? Do you want me to sign something for her? Or record a short video?" I offered.

"That's... alright. You don't have to do it--"

"But it'll be better for you if I did, right? In this way, your captain can't really say that you made the department's prestige go down or anything like that," I reasoned.

She pondered for a moment, then flashed a smile. "Alright. In fact, Trixie is a huge fan of yours. If she knew I rejected you, then I'm going to be the darnest mother in the world."

"We can't let her down then," I smiled. Using the detective's phone, I recorded a short message for Trixie. Chloe quickly wrapped up the investigation and left the house with her officers. The partygoers also departed, as I had mentioned earlier, the party was already dead. I could revive it if I wanted to, but I was already tired and wanted to go home.

…

[General POV]

Shortly after Chloe left the house, her partner told her, "Damn it. I left my badge in the toilet."

Chloe said, aggrieved, "Now why would you take it off?"

"I don't like the way it's hitting my leg as I was trying to take a shit!" Her latino partner replied.

Chloe sighed, and then made a U-turn. Luckily, she was only a few minutes away from the house.

But, as she was driving back, she saw the Turkish Ice-Cream man by the side of the road. The ice-cream cones were scattered on the ground. The handcart trolley seemed to burst open, causing the Ice Cream man to shout profanity in his language while pointed at the direction of the house.

"Sir? What happened?" Chloe asked as she stopped by the ice-cream man.

"That Bitch– I'm sorry Sir…Someone was inside…."

"Inside your cart?" Chloe asked in disbelief.

"Yes! She's scared me! She has a knife! And wanted to cut me!" The man cried in grief.

Chloe was alarmed, "Where did she go?!"

"She went back to the house!" the Turkish man shouted while pointing in the direction. Chloe slammed the accelerator quickly and to catch up with the girl.

"Hey! What about my ice-cream stand?!" The Turkish man yelled as the cops left him alone there. 

…

[Edward POV]

I was waiting for Renaldo to come into the living room with Ashley and Jessica while Sean was getting some drinks for himself. It may be because of the incident, that he needed time to actually check on the drinks, causing him to take a long time to get it in the kitchen.

"Jessica, you should really stop by my house sometimes." I invited the latina girl.

Ashley hugged my arms from the side and whispered seductively, "Only her? You're throwing me away?"

I smiled and said casually, "I need her for an acting role."

Jessica was startled, and Ashley was biting her lips in jealousy. Ashley protested, "But I'm an actress too! You saw me act today!"

"Ehh… You're alright." I teased.She held back her laugh and then pretended to pout. Jessica stammered, "Wh-What do you want me to do?"

"Play the role of an estranged daughter searching for her dad. I'll give you the script later. But you're going to improv for most of the time."

"Huh?" Both of them were confused by my planning. Sean came back with a cup of coffee, and asked, "Hmm? Why are their faces like that?"

"They couldn't comprehend the things I asked them to do." I replied.

Sean was a bit taken aback and then whispered politely, "You know. Maybe, you should get to know them better first. That's all I'm saying."

My forehead vein throbbed and I said angrily, "Not that kind of thing'. You know, just..things in general."

"Whatever you say man." Sean said.

"And why are you making coffee?" I asked him with a raised brow.

He complained, "I had to make it myself! I can't pick anything out from the fridge."

I laughed at his misery, when suddenly the doorbell rang.

"Hmm? Weird. It's unlocked." Jessica said as she walked toward the door. I was still bickering with Sean, when suddenly all of us remaining there, heard Jessica's scream.

"What the hell!?" Sean exclaimed in bewilderment as we watched Jessica walk slowly to the living room with a knife on her throat. She was held hostage by a pale-skinned girl with freckles on her face, and unkempt long hair that hid most of her face.

"DON'T MOVE!" The captor yelled, causing the room to be deathly silent.

"Umm…Ed…She's got a knife." Ashley said in fear.

"I know. I can see that." I replied without changing my tone. 

"Edward!" The psychotic girl squealed as she saw me. But when she look at Sean, she screamed at him.

"CLOSE YOUR EYES!" She pointed her finger at Sean.

"W-What?" Sean was confused. He held his arms up as if someone were pointing a gun at him, and sweats heavily.

"I SAID CLOSE THEM!" The psycho yelled again.

"Okay Okay!" Sean said hurriedly and then closed his eyes. "Are you happy now?"

"YOU SHOULD NEVER OPEN THEM WHILE I'M HERE! OKAY!?" The psycho shouted at Sean.

"O-Okay! I don't want to look at you either-"

"Sean. Shut! UP!" Ashley whispered while hiding behind my back.

"Hey." I called out the girl while putting my arms up to show her I meant no harm. She turned her head quickly, but her gaze softened as she saw my face. I immediately knew her aim, and then smiled at her, "Hi."

"Hi Edward." She smiled while her hand that held the knife shook for a bit. Jessica cried from the threat, and looked at me in disbelief.

"What's your name?" I asked the girl.

"Ed. What the fuck are you doing?" Sean scolded me while keeping his eyes closed.

"I just want to know the whole story. Cause right now, I have no idea why this is happening." I explained in a slow and calming manner as I took a step forward.

"S-Stay right there!" The psycho girl released Jessica's throat, pointed the knife at me, and then put the knife back when I stopped.

"Alright. I'll stop. But, can you answer my question first? Who are you? And what do you want?"

…

The sudden escalation made me a little nervous. Just a little though, because it wasn't my throat that was held by a knife. 

"Who are you?" I asked her again.

"I'm…Mandy…" The psychotic girl replied with hesitation.

I smiled kindly at her and then asked, "Alright Mandy. That wasn't so hard was it? You're just answering some questions. So can I ask you again,Mandy, if that's okay with you? Why are you here?"

"I'm…I'm…" Mandy held her head with one hand, while keeping the knife's up in the other. "I want your blood!" She said as she pointed her knife at me again.

While the crowd gasped, I nodded in understanding and the said, "Okay. If it's me you want, then, maybe you can let Jessica go, and I will take her place?"

"NO! I don't want to hurt you! I…" Mandy said hysterically.

"Hmm? You don't want to hurt me? So…what do you need my blood for?" I asked.

"So you will fall– SHUT UP! EVERYONE SHUT UP! I NEED TO THINK!" Mandy shouted.

I furrowed my eyebrow as I came to a realization. "Mandy…that drink…the one that made the cops come…Were you…the one who did that?" I asked her in a calm manner.

Mandy looked me in the eye, and when she gazed into it, she felt like she had fallen into a quagmire, and there wasn't any exit for her. She confessed immediately, "This…All of this…wasn't supposed to happen! If…If you had drunk it, instead of that BASTARD!!!!! – then, I wouldn't need your blood!"

"For a ritual?" I added.

She didn't realize it and then said, "The LOVE POTION ritual! I did everything the website said!"

"What website? What exactly did they tell you, Mandy?" I asked her using a concerned tone, at the same time activating my soul voice.

She was in a daze, and unconsciously released the knife on Jessica's neck. The girl ran away hurriedly and went to hide behind Sean as he was the biggest guy there. I saw the police light flashing at the curtains, so I knew that help was coming.

However, that still doesn't satisfy me. I wanted to know more about the whole situation.

"Mandy? Hey… Look at me." I called her in a flirtatious manner.

"Dude, are you for real?" Sean finally opened his eyes and then moved a few steps back while protecting the girls. Ashley had already run towards him when I took a step forward to Mandy, so I was free to do what I wanted.

"Mandy? Hey? Did these websites ... teach you rituals…to make people fall in love with each other?"

"Um." Mandy nodded.

"I see. So, you're…in love with me?" 

"Yes." Mandy replied with teary eyes.

"And you wanted to be near me so much that you decided to believe in these…rituals?" 

"Ed…do-do you hate me?"

"Nah. I don't. But honestly Mandy, you don't need these kinds of rituals. I think you're pretty cute on your own."

"Really?" Her eyes lit up and she blushed slightly– she completely forgot the fact that most of her face was covered, so my words were unfounded.

"Yes. So for me, why don't you let the knife go, so that I can hold your hands~?" I held my hand near her face to tempt her. 

"I WILL DO IT RIGHT NOW!" She threw away the knife immediately and grabbed my hand. We interlocked fingers together, and detective Decter entered the door while holding a gun.

"Mr Newgate. What happened here?" She asked immediately.

"Um…It's a long story, detective." I muttered tiredly.

…

The next day came quickly. After the whole fiasco, for normal people, they would take a few days of rest to calm themselves down. But not me. I had a lot of work to do.

"Linda." I called the therapist as I entered her consulting room. "Long time no see."

"It's been a while. You're a master of escaping your scheduled sessions Edward. I believe that no one could make excuses like you do." Dr Linda said in a joking manner.

I laughed before I sat in front of her and checked my wristwatch, "I have an hour before I need to go to my next music video shoot. So…"

"I understand. And out of curiosity, when will you have another 'free time'?" She asked with subtle sarcasm.

I joked, "Well, December 25th, but I want to celebrate Christmas on that day…so…"

She shook her head slightly and said, "That's understandable. Christmas is a special day where you need to spend time with your family."

"Yes. Exactly." 

"By the way, if you're joking about it, then I will be amused. But if that was really true, I can't help but think that you're torturing yourself with a tremendous amount of work, with an ulterior motive. So tell me Edward, what do you want to avoid?"

I didn't expect that, and was defenseless for a moment. My smile disappeared, and I replied to her honestly, "My thoughts."

"And why do you want to keep them away?"

"Cause I'm not prepared to deal with them."

"Why?"

"Because they involved someone that I don't want to see ever again. Alright, that's enough for today. Good session. We should totally do it again some time– Adios!"

I stood up to run away from the room, but Linda grabbed the edge of my shirt to stop me. "Edward, wait. Alright, we don't have to talk about that! Why don't, we focus on what happened last night. I believe, after experiencing that, you should have a lot on your mind right now?"

I calmed down for a bit and then looked at Linda with a scowl on my face. She blinked twice with a smile on her face, and before I could ask, she said, "The incident is all over the news right now."

"Sean…"

"Oh no. It wasn't Sean…at least that's what the article said. The witness is supposed to be one of the lead girls in the music video, but they were unnamed."

"Hmmm…" I sat back down while groaning inwardly.

"What happened last night?" She asked. "I can see that this incident is really bothering you. It's almost on the same level with 'talking about your mother'."

I rubbed my chin for a while, and then looked at Linda before I said, "I may….have started a cult."

"???" Linda was confused. "I mean, you do have a lot of fans, but they can't really be categorized as cultist– Wait, they are worshiping you madly…"

"Not that. But…That incident last night…that… might have had a lot to do with a mistake of mine."

"What do you mean…by your mistake?"

I sighed and contemplated on whether to tell Linda the truth about it, and then decided to just let it all out. 

"A few month's back, a wikipedia entry about a lost religion popped up out of nowhere, and it gained traction in the academic community because of how accurate it was. Problem is, they didn't know who had written that entry."

"Yes. I remembered that. It was a hot issue talked about in the summer…You're saying…that religion has something to do with you?"

"It wasn't a fake religion. But it was lost throughout history."

"What do you mean by that?" Linda's eyes flashed a trace of curiosity. She couldn't help but lean forward a bit as she was interested in the story. "If it was lost, then how did you know about it?"

"Let's just say, someone special told me about it." I dismissed the question and then continued, "Unknowingly, because no one could confirm how the religion started, people have been clamoring about the second coming of the Great Sage– In case you don't know, was a major god in this old history."

I rubbed my head and then cursed in anger, "And several fuckers decided to besmirched the Sage's good name by creating multiple scam strategies, dirty dealing with fake potions, voodoo, and a lot of that stuff."

"Last night, that girl who wanted my blood…she had fallen for one of those scams. She had paid over 10 grand to get the so-called 'ritual' method, and almost went to jail because of her subsequent actions!"

"Not only did I turn her life upside down but who knows how many more people have fallen for these scams!"

Linda thought for a moment and said calmly, "And, because you're the one who made the Old religion reemerge, you think the blame is on you?"

"Isn't it? I know for sure I'm going to get a lot of bad karma for this!" I muttered in irritation.

Last night, after Chloe talked to Mandy, I spent a lot of time with Jessica to convince her not to press charges. I also promised her a few benefits, which made her forget about the matter immediately. For her peace of mind, she still filed a restraining order against Mandy and I didn't blame her for that. She kinda totally needed that.

"Why…do you think…that this is all your fault?" Dr Linda asked.

"Because none of this would've happened, if I had just kept—" I paused before I could blow my top off, and then took a deep breath to calm myself down.

(A/N: No need to worry about his bad karma. He wasn't at fault here.)

"Anyway. I spent a lot of time last night uprooting those websites and making all of those who tried to take advantage suffer. But, I still don't know if it was enough."

"I see." Linda then jotted down a few things, and then she asked, "Are you ready to talk again?"

"I'm calm now." I replied with a nod.

"Alright. Even though I know you're going to go into your hardcore self-blame routine I still feel like I need to say this. Edward. It wasn't your fault."

I inhaled sharply and stopped her. "Don't." I whispered with a frustrated expression.

"Soo…period of self blame it is." Linda changed the topic immediately. "By the way, the article said that you acted like a hero. You didn't flinch in front of danger, and saved everyone there from the psycho."

I chuckled a bit and then said, "She's not a psycho…Maybe a little bit unstable, and also borderline mentally ill…but not a psycho."

"And to your definition, what is a… 'psycho'?" Dr Linda asked with a smile.

"For me, a psycho is someone who will act nicely in front of you while hiding their crazy side and only when you're already used to the 'nice' persona will they show you what crazy really is."

[General POV]

While Edward was busy with keeping his secret locked up deep inside, a young teenage girl walked to a red brick house in a sub-urban housing location.

She knocked on the door, and when the owner – a balding white man with a chubby face and thick beard answered, she told him directly, "Hi. I like your house. I want to buy it from you."

"???" The owner was confused.

The girl then took off her sunglasses while looking smug, but the owner still didn't recognize her.

"I'm Taylor…Taylor S. I will pay you 30% over market price if you sell this house to me. And I will even make it 50 if you can move out in 2 days."

The owner smiled and then offered his hand for a handshake, "You got it! Ummm….KIDSSS!!! PACK YOUR BAGS! WE'RE MOVING!"

Taylor smiled in satisfaction as she got what she wanted. Even though the house wasn't to her taste, it had something special that made her desperately want to buy it.

"Selena will kill me for this…Well, it's not that bad to buy the house next to Edward's…right?" Taylor muttered to herself while smiling creepily.