1 5 M I N U T E S

KRIS

It was the eighth time I visited the police station, they said they couldn't find the culprit. Julie said that the prosecution has found some new witnesses that will help them but it has over a month. Over a month, no one asks about it anymore because they know the system well. Maybe I am just a fool. Today I found an old file of Thomas in which his cause of death is written as suicide. I am broken to see that, I never knew that the police lied to me. That said they could catch him. But I would never give up, what happened in room 408 is yet to be found.

I closed the diary putting a bookmark in between the pages, Thomas. The name that haunted the police stations a long ago but eventually like everyone the case also had to be put under a rug. I sipped my warm coffee that spread a great smell in the room, hot black coffee evaporated and the nearby fireplace burnt, the odour of sandalwood made the hotel more homey and warm.

But it was a gloomy day.

My phone rang and the screen displayed Victor's name. I answered it and squeezed it between my shoulder and ear, typing a message on my laptop.

'Hello.'

'Hey, how's it going?' His voice rang through the line.

'Horrible, I went through Thomas's wife's diary. You know the one that we found earlier. It has some shit written in it.'

'It's normal for someone like her to write like that.'

'And what does that mean?'

'September, 3rd. She pushed herself down from the seventh floor, Parkinson's hotel.' My eyebrows arched, disappointment filling in.

And yet another witness was gone. I sighed at his statement.

'I-I will talk to you later.' I spoke gazing outside the window.

'Hmm, you gotta meet her...what's her name?..uh-Bethany? Bella, B-

'Bellona.'

'Yea right. Bye.' I could hear him chuckle from the other side as I hung up.

Idiot.

I looked out from the window as the birds perched on the balcony railing, the snow had stopped but still the howling winds that rumbled made the city pretty cold. A knock on the door snapped me from my thoughts as I walked over and pulled the large oak door revealing a cold Bellona, she stood there in her oversized black coat, her legs slightly trembling from the chilly wind outside.

I stepped aside gesturing her to come in.

'Sorry, it's a bit cold outside.' She said tramping towards the fireplace, rubbing her hands in front of it.

'No problem.' I could see her remove her coat as she hung it on a hook and sat across me. Her lips quivered before the warmness took over her body and she finally calmed down.

-

BELLONA

The sun had passed the horizon and now darkness started to loom over the city, the shadows grew longer and the chirping of birds died. We both sat there with empty minds, the familiar taste of coffee and the sound of typing. It wasn't disturbed until one of us spoke, throwing ideas but none of them worked.

Massaging his temples the man in front of me adjusted his gold rimed glasses on his nose, silently reading the passages on a newspaper.

'Details, Who was the person that you suspected?' Kris asked as he penned something down on a tinted blue paper.

'Marcos, his name was...Marcos Fey, he was in his mid-thirties. I arrested him on the crime of stealing medical files from a cabin.'

'This means...he could be one of the people from that particular ogriup.. it's not just one person it's a group of people being led by someone. Twenty cases,....twenty people cannot be killed by a single human.'

'There is one opportunity.. I spoke typing down on my laptop.

..there can be a way to catch him, maybe if he goes down the rest will come out.'

'He had 2 cases filed at him but eventually they were 'lawfully not enough to capture him'. I know where he lives, I know him.' I spoke as the same brown orbs flashed across my mind.

'When shall I rejoin then?' I suddenly asked, Kris threw a questioning look at me.

'My job, When should I rejoin the police?' I asked, my voice now clearly audible.

He chuckled, my question was amusing to him and it left me confused. I could never understand him, not even a bit.

'Then you will be working under a corrupted system that certainly isn't going to accept the reopening of this case.'

'I can't work illegally work under any circumstances, I apologise.' I looked at him dead serious.

'Ms. Campbell..

He dragged his chair nearer and handed me some newspaper cutouts. Glancing at each page I could see various headlines of corruption that happened by the police.

20 year old Dennis was freed even after being involved in drugs.

'The newly built Sullivan Station is just a joke' spoke the newly elected government official.

45 year old man bailed out after the accusations on him were not proved.

'I have a legal license of being a detective, I have a known prosecution team and their is a whole damn team that you do not know so I prefer you to-

'All these things are legally certified in a different country, ruled by different laws. I don't want to go behind bars because I have seen what's there, I know what happens there.' I spat cutting him mid sentence, irritation filling my veins. The man in front of me thought he knew everything but he was wrong.

'What are you going to say to the deputy when he asks you about this case? What are you going to say, what are you going to do when he denies your request! This is not how it works!' His harsh tone came out, I could see how his jaws were clenched. Fury displayed in his eyes.

I glared at him. And I took all my strength not to throw him out of the window.

'All I am saying is Mr. Lin that its not legal to do so, if you had an authority then it would be permitted to you... but if you are trying to seek freedom and capturing people in a way you are not supposed to do then be ready to do this all alone.'

He cursed under his breath, placing his face in his palms he rubbed his temples before standing up and going near the window. I could sense the tension between us, I knew we had different opinions and saying I was stubborn was wrong, all I wanted to do was do my work legally.

'Ms. Campbell....I am going to be standing at your door tomorrow 7:30 in the morning, we are going to catch Marcos by making a deal with him and then, we shall proceed...

His shoes clicked as he came back to his place, finishing the last sips of his coffee he placed the cup on the desk with a thud.

...I will wait 15 minutes outside your door, you either have the choice to come with me or do whatever floats your boat.'

My jaw almost went hanging from from its place, did he just order me? I could feel myself burning, anger filling in.

'Fifteen minutes.' He repeated before taking out his brown coat from the hook, brushing a hand through his hair he yanked the door and slammed it shut, walking away like nothing had happened leaving me bewildered.

And yet again, I had to make a decision before all that it was going to be left, was a regret.